Eric Woolfson passed back in Late 2009, and many didnt know in the music world Eric by name but his voice was the lead feature on Hits like "TIME" "Eye In The Sky" "Dont Answer Me" all top 20 hits for a group that never toured or really appeared in person, or was feature anywhere on their album artwork or covers. The project was the genius of a master ALAN PARSONS who basically crafted some amazing sound techniques in the studio and was one of the best engineers ever, some dont realize that he is the reason that PINK FLOYD's Dark Side of The moon sounded the way it did. Now ERIC was used many times as the lead vocalist, but at times Eric was not present to record, but he was a huge contributor to the "Project" what he would do, which is very interesting and pretty unique is that even if he wasnt going to be on a song he would still record a demo with his vocals as a guide to whomever ALAN PARSONS wanted to use, and many times it just ended up being Eric. I always thought the Project were very interesting and hearing these things now, after his death is bittersweet, also hearing his final recordings entitled Eric Woolfson "The Alan Parsons Project that never was" basically all material he had planned to do and did demos for became his final recording, the last track "Immortal" would be his last aptly put statement, and his voice and lyrics all metaphors for the death he was facing from cancer, some outside might find "cheesy" and over the top, but him knowing he was going to die very very soon, one cant be faulted for being "cheesy" and looking back at that time.

I remember "Eye In The Sky" very well. Was never familiar with anything else by them.

I think the only time they ever played live together was when Howard Stern went to England and had them on doing "Eye in the Sky", and this was when he was just a NY radio guy.

I bought the "Eye In the Skye album, my favorite song from that album is, "Old and Wise".

It's amazing when you think of artist / groups like Mr. Woolfson's / Alan Parsons Project ( Steely Dan comes to mind also) were "studio bands / musicians" but yet they were able to find a market and their music was played on the radio. I'm going have to pull out that album. l.d. any other recommendations you'd make I check out? thanx.

Nick715 said:

I remember "Eye In The Sky" very well. Was never familiar with anything else by them.

Check out "Time" that was a classic, that was another of their biggest chart hits. Also "Dont Answer Me" was Top 20 back in 1983, great cut, amazing animated video.

TD3 said:

I bought the "Eye In the Skye album, my favorite song from that album is, "Old and Wise".

It's amazing when you think of artist / groups like Mr. Woolfson's / Alan Parsons Project ( Steely Dan comes to mind also) were "studio bands / musicians" but yet they were able to find a market and their music was played on the radio. I'm going have to pull out that album. l.d. any other recommendations you'd make I check out? thanx.

To me outside of that album i would say "Turn of A Friendly Card" which had the classic hit "Time" and also a later one from 1983-84 was "Ammonia Avenue" which had quite a few great tracks, with both, seek out the remasters with bonus cuts, because you get Eric's "Guide" vocals on songs he didnt sing on, which is great stuff. ON Ammonia Avenue one song that is a real stand out is "Since the last goodbye" now on the regular album they had a different vocalist, who did it great, but on the rmaster you get Eric's guide vocal to the new singer so he would know how to sing it, also great froom that album are "Dont Answer Me" "Prime Time" and "You Dont Believe" as the main standouts

lastdecember said:

TD3 said:

I bought the "Eye In the Skye album, my favorite song from that album is, "Old and Wise".

It's amazing when you think of artist / groups like Mr. Woolfson's / Alan Parsons Project ( Steely Dan comes to mind also) were "studio bands / musicians" but yet they were able to find a market and their music was played on the radio. I'm going have to pull out that album. l.d. any other recommendations you'd make I check out? thanx.

To me outside of that album i would say "Turn of A Friendly Card" which had the classic hit "Time" and also a later one from 1983-84 was "Ammonia Avenue" which had quite a few great tracks, with both, seek out the remasters with bonus cuts, because you get Eric's "Guide" vocals on songs he didnt sing on, which is great stuff. ON Ammonia Avenue one song that is a real stand out is "Since the last goodbye" now on the regular album they had a different vocalist, who did it great, but on the rmaster you get Eric's guide vocal to the new singer so he would know how to sing it, also great froom that album are "Dont Answer Me" "Prime Time" and "You Dont Believe" as the main standouts

I would also add 1977's "I Robot" to the list. Has a couple of hits on it, but moreover, I always found it sonically fascinating.

JamFanHot said:

lastdecember said:

To me outside of that album i would say "Turn of A Friendly Card" which had the classic hit "Time" and also a later one from 1983-84 was "Ammonia Avenue" which had quite a few great tracks, with both, seek out the remasters with bonus cuts, because you get Eric's "Guide" vocals on songs he didnt sing on, which is great stuff. ON Ammonia Avenue one song that is a real stand out is "Since the last goodbye" now on the regular album they had a different vocalist, who did it great, but on the rmaster you get Eric's guide vocal to the new singer so he would know how to sing it, also great froom that album are "Dont Answer Me" "Prime Time" and "You Dont Believe" as the main standouts

I would also add 1977's "I Robot" to the list. Has a couple of hits on it, but moreover, I always found it sonically fascinating.

yeah dig that too, to me, i always dug the Project alot more than others that were out at the time, something about them, yes they were quirky, but like u said they were a "project" it was about the "project" not about what the group looked like or wore or even if they did shows.

I like Alan Parsons Project. You guys know AP was the engineer on Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon right? Anyway, he obviously was very influenced by that experience but it's cool.

I really like the first 3 albums,

Tales of Mystery and Imagination ( about Edger Alan Poe

I Robot....a classic

Pyramid...underrated imo...

then I like some selected stuff after

lastdecember said:

Nick715 said:

I remember "Eye In The Sky" very well. Was never familiar with anything else by them.

Check out "Time" that was a classic, that was another of their biggest chart hits. Also "Dont Answer Me" was Top 20 back in 1983, great cut, amazing animated video.

Oh shit, I remember that music video. Watching on youtube now.

I've been a fan of The Alan Parsons Project since I first heard "I Robot" back in 1977. I knew back then that they, and Kraftwerk, were going to lead the wave into the future of music. I played these records on a regular, right along with my Parliament/Funkadelic and Earth Wind & Fire, lol. Though I had lost track with them in recent years, not realizing that Eric Woolfson had passed away. May he be resting peacefully.

These are some of my favorites from The Alan Parsons Project:

The Alan Parsons Project ...emastered]. The extra tracks are amazing, and you can tell it was all from the original session. I've always loved "I Robot" since it came out, but this remastered edition is a real treat!

Some of my favorite tracks are:

• "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" - Including the "Backing Track Rough Mix"
• "I Robot" - of course, lol.
• "Breakdown" - Including the "Early Demo of Backing Riff"
• "The Voice" - And others. Again, the additional tracks on this CD are really, really cool.

The Alan Parsons Project ...emastered]. Another one of my favorite albums. And once again, it's been given an amazing remastered treatment with extra tracks. Some of my favorites from here are:

• "What Goes Up"
• "The Eagle Will Rise Again"
• "One More River" - Which gave me this evil nightmare one night back in the day, lol.
• "Shadow of a Lonely Man"
• "Hyper-Gamma-Spaces" - Those who dug "I Robot" would appreciate this cut.

Overall, this album has some of the most beautifully haunting melodies I've ever heard. Along with some fairly trippy stuff, lol. I'm not surprised to have learned here that they had worked with Pink Floyd, lol.

Through the years I've wound up collecting most of their albums that I know are out there. Personally, I think they're off in a genre of their own. Somewhere between Rock, Classical, Electronic, and whatever else might be thrown in there. It's probably safe to say: The Alan Parsons Project is some very unusual and unique music.

JamFanHot said:

lastdecember said:

To me outside of that album i would say "Turn of A Friendly Card" which had the classic hit "Time" and also a later one from 1983-84 was "Ammonia Avenue" which had quite a few great tracks, with both, seek out the remasters with bonus cuts, because you get Eric's "Guide" vocals on songs he didnt sing on, which is great stuff. ON Ammonia Avenue one song that is a real stand out is "Since the last goodbye" now on the regular album they had a different vocalist, who did it great, but on the rmaster you get Eric's guide vocal to the new singer so he would know how to sing it, also great froom that album are "Dont Answer Me" "Prime Time" and "You Dont Believe" as the main standouts

I would also add 1977's "I Robot" to the list. Has a couple of hits on it, but moreover, I always found it sonically fascinating.

Thanks for the recommendations gents, I bought "Turn of A Friendly Card" & "I Robot" from iTunes yesterday. So far . . .

TD3 said:

JamFanHot said:

I would also add 1977's "I Robot" to the list. Has a couple of hits on it, but moreover, I always found it sonically fascinating.

Thanks for the recommendations gents, I bought "Turn of A Friendly Card" & "I Robot" from iTunes yesterday. So far . . .

cool hope u enjoy it

JamFanHot said:

lastdecember said:

To me outside of that album i would say "Turn of A Friendly Card" which had the classic hit "Time" and also a later one from 1983-84 was "Ammonia Avenue" which had quite a few great tracks, with both, seek out the remasters with bonus cuts, because you get Eric's "Guide" vocals on songs he didnt sing on, which is great stuff. ON Ammonia Avenue one song that is a real stand out is "Since the last goodbye" now on the regular album they had a different vocalist, who did it great, but on the rmaster you get Eric's guide vocal to the new singer so he would know how to sing it, also great froom that album are "Dont Answer Me" "Prime Time" and "You Dont Believe" as the main standouts

I would also add 1977's "I Robot" to the list. Has a couple of hits on it, but moreover, I always found it sonically fascinating.

That's a great way to put it. Especially when listening to it while in the 70's.

PDogz said:

JamFanHot said:

I would also add 1977's "I Robot" to the list. Has a couple of hits on it, but moreover, I always found it sonically fascinating.

That's a great way to put it. Especially when listening to it while in the 70's.

I used to use it @ sound check (spinning live in those days)..once we got the rig all warmed up & near peak amp---just because that track really gave those drivers a workout

JamFanHot said:

PDogz said:

That's a great way to put it. Especially when listening to it while in the 70's.

I used to use it @ sound check (spinning live in those days)..once we got the rig all warmed up & near peak amp---just because that track really gave those drivers a workout

Time has flown by, has it not?

my favorite song by them

I also like "I Wouldn't Wanna Be Like You" and "Eye In The Sky"