Classical Composer Reaction/Analysis of Sirius & Eye in the Sky (Alan Parsons Project) | Ep. 621 

Tales of mystery and imagination by Edgar Allen Poe, is the album to go for. I robot Pyramid The turn of a friendly card These are also great albums.

Eye in the sky is a masterpiece

So glad to have Alan Parsons on the channel! Love his work!

Great song(s), great band. Engineer, Producer, Musician, Singer, Songwriter, former EMI Vice President, 13-time Grammy nominated, (One win). How is he not in the R&R HOF?

Tune of A Friendly Card is an incredible album-one of my favorites. Criminally underrated.

Alan Parsons also engineered Al Stewart's "Year Of The Cat" and "Time Passages" albums. Both are excellent.

Alan Parsons Project has been my go to music to chill and wind down to since I was like 15. I don't know how to explain, there is this rare tastefulness, subtlety and delicacy in their approach, which you don't often find in music, if you think about it. It's pleasant without being sugary or overly dramatic, approachable but not simplistic. It's the kind of music that you can find interesting to pay attention to and focus on, but at the same time it's perfectly fine as a background for whatever you do. My favorite are their earlier albums up until Eye in the Sky.

He worked with Al Stewart on 3 classic albums - most importantly, Year of the Cat.

The classic, 'Old and Wise' is a track of sheer beauty with the haunting voice of Colin Blunstone.

Would love to see the entire album "Tales of Mystery & Imagination" on the channel.

This takes me back to Saturday mornings as a kid. My dad would take me out running errands with him and we'd listen to Alan Parsons. It doesn't sound glamorous, but I cherish those times than I got to hang out with my dad and listen to great tunes.

"Sirius" and the Chicago Bulls are absolutely inseparable in my mind.

Ian Bairnson and David Paton (guitars and bass) were in the band Pilot that had a few hits produced by Alan Parsons in early seventies (Magic, January). Stuart Elliott played drums in Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, a band that also had some big hits that were produced by Alan Parsons (Judy Teen, Make Me Smile). DIrector Andrew Powell also worked on orchestrating Psychomodo, the second album of Cockney Rebel. Clearly many of these people have been working together for many years.

One of my absolute favourite bands of all time. Alan parsons and Eric Woolfson were amazing and Eye in the Sky is a timeless album. Well worth checking out Tales of Mystery and Imagination, which has lots of orchestral work, that album is my favourite by APP. So sad we lost Eric a few years ago. Thanks so much for reacting to this Doug.

At one time, I was an avid hang glider pilot. I incorporated my Walkman headphones into my helmet, and used to listen to music while I flew. I can recall one day, I was thousands of feet above Lookout Mountain in Tennessee, and “Eye in the Sky” came on the radio. I never forgot that flight, or how appropriate it was. I was fortunate to have heard Alan Parsons play those two songs a few years ago, and brought back some great memories.

I bought this album in 1983 as a 15 year old. 40 years later it remains one of my favourites and still gets played on a regular basis and I now have better quality equipment to enjoy it more. Thank you for exploring APP, a truly under appreciated catalogue.

Full album reviews of "Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Alan Poe" (their debut) and "The Turn of a Friendly Card" highly recommended.

Eric Woolfson (R.I.P.) is an integral part of APP that is often overlooked or unmentioned.

Their song, "Damned If I Do" has wonderful French Horn parts. Take a listen.

“Time” by Alan Parsons Project should be the next review. It’s ethereal! It’s emotional! It’s magical! It’s a perfect song in my opinion.

I was introduced to APP as a college freshman in 1978 through "I, Robot", and was completely blown away. The title track is an instrumental with kind of a unique rhythm. That album also had "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" which got a lot of radio play. Well worth digging into. Their first album, "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" has some really great tracks that aren't often heard. Based on the works of Edgar Alan Poe, Arthur Brown himself sings on "The Tell-Tale Heart. Also worth the effort.

Alan Parsons is just a pure genius...everything he touches.

You must listen to 'Tales Of Mystery and Imagination'. The first and the best APP album.

Sirius was my first intro to the APP. A friend brought the cassette of the just-released Eye in the Sky to school and when that opening giant tone came on, my life was never the same. I devoured all the APP albums and fell in love with bands that embraced electronic arrangements and instrumental tracks. Side 1 of Eye in the Sky might be the best example of the APP's lite-proggy, art-rock vibe; the way the tunes flow into each other, with two super-short tracks and closing with the epic, pastoral Silence and I. It's so very English and still timeless. I love all the Project albums, except Eve; I could never click with that one.

Thanks for this reaction Doug. Let us please remember Ian Bairnson, APP guitarist, who passed away recently. Ian was a truly phenomenal guitarist and a lovely man whom I once had the honour of spending some time with at an APP after-show party. RIP. Please react to more APP, Doug! Thanks!

Great reaction Doug!! HIGHLY suggest checking the multi-part suite: The Turn Of A Friendly Card. If you like the Project's stuff, this progressive, amazing track would be totally up your alley!! Apart from that, so many great tracks to experience!

Bought this album when it was first released (on vinyl of course!) with money from my weekend job while I was in high school (we were all big Pink Floyd fans too back then and Alan Parsons had big respect for his work with them). Wonderful memories of growing up with this music

Yes. Eric Woolfson got the inspiration for "Eye in the Sky" specifically from casino lingo, after a behind-the-scenes look round.

This guitar player is one of those guys that makes all the right moves when it comes to soloing

I have goosebumps listening to The Alan Parsons Project

I definitly would enjoy seeing a reaction/analysis of the Edgar Allan Poe album (Tales of Mystery and Imagination). I recall that when I heard it in my youth I was struck by how Pink Floydish it did sound, and then I discovered afterwards that, yeah, he was the sound engineer of Dark Side of the Moon. Made total sense. Both Tales of Mystery and Imaginations and Dark Side of the Moon were big favorites of mine during my later teenage years.

Fascinating. Love the way you can break apart the song like a chef splitting a meal into its recipe components. Very clever! Wish I'd stuck to my music lessons when I was a kid! Best wishes from the UK😊

You should do the song that first brought them radio airplay and notoriety "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether"

Such a fantastic deep dive into the APP catalogue. Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, just an amazing partnership. Have been lucky enough to see different incarnations of the Alan Parsons Live Project over the years, once while lead guitarist Ian Bairnson was still touring with them and Alan never disappoints in the group of amazing musicians that he puts together. The APP album Stereotomy was released when i was in high school and that one always hits hard for me, especially the track, "Limelight", an amazing vocal from Gary Brooker (Procol Harum), as well as "In the Real World", vocal by John Miles. It is just such a brilliant sounding record with wonderful performances all over it, though I think that can be said for every APP album. Thanks for this one Doug! RIP Ian and Eric

I think Alan Parsons music is so close to perfect that it always impresses me. There's so many songs that makes me overwhelmed and so full of different emotions when I hear them. Thank you Doug!

Good to see/hear this. The suite "The Turn of a Friendly Card" from the album of the same name would be a fun video as well. (Also a classical music guy would have fun with "Fall of the House of Usher" though I won't give away why.)

Awesome choice! As a long time APP fan, I always struggle to decide what songs I would recommend to channels like yours. There is so much diversity from Pyramania, The Tell Tale Heart, The Raven, The Voice and Limelight. There is a comforting-anthem feel in the similarities yet differences of Shadow of a Lonely Man, Don't Let It Show, Silence and I, and Old and Wise. Even the newer albums have 'classics' like Brother Up In Heaven, Mr. Time, and Blown By the Wind. The theme-based albums have so many different moods! Dive deep!

I like when you get on the keyboard to explain things that are going on. Makes me wish I could play and really knew what you were talking about.

Great -video - Takes me back so many years ! Happy times. Mark.

Alan Parsons is, and always will be, a bloody genius!! Yet to this day I haven't heard anything from him and his mixer board that I didn't like. They could throw me down into the ground accompanied by anything from him, and I would be perfectly happy with it.

I'm one of those who started buying albums from The Alan Parsons Project over 40 years ago. There's a vast treasure trove of music to dig into. So thanks for the first of what I hope will be many such analyses and reactions.

Check out the 'Live in Columbia' version. Also, would love to see you do 'Time'. The chord progression/layering is phenomenal. It makes my allergies act up every time.

Gotta review Alan Parsons Tales of Mystery and Imagination. Stories of Edgar Allan Poe, any track. But Cask of Amontillado is awesome

When I saw the movie "LadyHawk" I could tell immediately that it was Allan Parsons that did the music for the movie. I used to have a number of their albums on LP's. I transferred them to CD when I got my first CD burner.

I love Turn of a Friendly Card. I think that's my favorite album. The title tracks is hauntingly beautiful, both part 1 and part 2.

I've always wondered what gives the second verse beginning with "Don't leave false illusion behind" that magical feel. It has to be the haunting underlying sustained chords that aren't there in the first verse. I absolutely feel like I'm ascending somewhere be it higher consciousness and I get the goosebumps when listening with a good set of headphones. Alan Parsons is a musical genius.

Eric Woolfson (singing) was the composer/writer for most of APP.

Doug, your point at about 13:45 about sporting events and anticipation is spot on. 'Sirius' was also used, in part, in the BBC's Record Breakers programme, to introduce the segment where a record was attempted live in the television studio. I was too young at the time to know that the tune was more than just a made-for-TV riff.

I love APP; I often describe their music as “progressive soft-rock,” a brilliantly successful combination of prog musicianship with adult contemporary songwriting. I don’t think anyone else ever quite managed to master that compelling mixture.

I was one of the ones clamouring for some APP. Great stuff! From the same album 'Silence And I' is an incredible ballad with a ROLLICKING orchestrated middle eight that you would really get a kick out of and your teeth into. Important to note Eric Woolfson wrote the majority of the songs and lyrics with input from Parsons.

"Silence and I" is another great one I'd like to hear your take on.

For you as a composer I think checking out The Fall Of The House Of Usher from the Project's debut album is an absolute no-brainer.

The closing down of a tune and then opening up another tune on the sole remnant basis of same tone and tempo. No one else did that, nor does today, like The Alan Parsons Project did. Oh for a time machine...

That perfectly tasteful guitar solo ending Eye is by Ian Bairnson who also does the extended guitar solo ending Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush. I think Paton and Powell are involved there too.

A very underrated album is this one by Alan Parson's Project "Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Edgar Allan Poe) ". 300K congratulations Doug!!!

Great to see APP on the channel. You should not miss the 'Turn of a Friendly Card' Suite, believe me.

Sir, It's time you played The Alan Parson's Project "Tales of Mystery and Imagination". Epic album.

For more APP. Silence and I is just epic. I wouldn’t want to be like you, for a rocker. I Robot, for an instrumental.

I would say their most well-known tunes are "Don't Answer Me" and "Old and Wise"

If you do a full album reaction on Tales of Mystery and Imagination, you'll have a very pleasant surprise that I won't ruin for you. Great album all the way through.

Like so many others on this channel, I cannot say enough about Alan Parsons and all he has brought to the world. An awesome talent never to be forgotten.

To me, the lyrics are quite straightforward. The singer has been in a relationship where the other party has tried to play them for a fool by playing around, and then tried to blame the singer, saying that he had done the cheating (turning the tables). The singer says he has long known what was going on, but has been willing to turn a blind eye because some aspects of the relationship ("The sun in your eyes") made it worthwhile ("made the lies worth believing"). But now he's had enough, and is calling things to an end. He tells the other person not to deny it, not to try to blame him, not to cry in order to get him to change his decision because he (the singer) knows all the tricks ... and is better at them!

Yes, yes yes!!! Love the harmonic analysis! 🤓 More Cow...I mean keyboard 🎹! After watching hundreds of reactions, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your theory-centric approach. This sort of stuff engages my brain. People's emotional reactions are fine, but you seem to bring the best of both worlds. Please keep doing what you are doing! By the way, this probably should be a required freshman class at Berklee.😊😊😊.

The cover art for the album featured shots of cameras and a control room from a casino which is probably where that interpretation of the lyrics comes from.

For more dynamic compositions in the Alan Parsons catalog, I recommend: • The Raven, which has orchestral and art-rock influences. This is from the debut album which was based on Edgar Allen Poe writings. • The Turn of a Friendly Card suite, which is 16 minutes and has 5 movements. A wonderful variety of feels, held together nicely by melodies and such.

So awesome to see Alan included here. I would agree with those who say that TOMAI is worthy of a full album review.

Andrew Powell, Ian Bairnson and Stuart Elliot all worked with Kate Bush on her early albums in particular The Kick Inside.

Actually seen Alan Parsons as a speaker at a technology conference. He was the lead on a team which ended up inventing Dolby Stereo for Sony. He explained how it was done by trying to solve a problem. He also explained how working with Pink Floyd, they learned how to record by recording pieces and then overlapping them on an album. This had not been done before. So Alan Parsons is full of ingenuity for the craft. If you have a chance to see the APP live, go see it. They have many pieces which are well known.

I've made arrangements for Old and Wise (from this album) to be played at my memorial service. The lyrics make this song so special.

The Hi-Fi enthusiasts favorite band - every single album just sounds sonically perfect both in good headphones and even better if you have a good Hi-Fi system. Most albums have a specific theme like all good prog rock. Can't wait for more 🙂

Also one of my all time favorite artists. the albums "I Robot" and "The Turn of a Friendly Card" are incredible from beginning to end and best listened to in their entirety!

If you are not familiar with the band Tangerine Dream, just think of the Sirius type instrumental

My favorite song by Alan Parsons Project is the title track on I Robot. It is a masterful feat of engineering. I'm not sure if the vinyl version is better than CD or MP3 but I first heard it on vinyl and it blew my mind. That whole album though features amazing orchestral and choir pieces.

He was also recording engineer on Al Stewart's 'Year of the Cat' and (I think) 'Time Passages'

So many amazing moments fom Alan Parsons Project. Glad you are getting to their work. You're going to enjoy them all.

Doug…time to do “Music for Airports” by Brian Eno. I really want to hear your take on it.

Games People Play by them is also really really good

I've got all of the Parson's Project CD's. One of my favorite artist's. Loved your breakdown of this.

The song Time (APP, not Pink Floyd) is one of the most beautifully orchestrated and recorded pieces in history, in my opinion. Brings a tear to my eye- every single time.

ALL RIGHT!!! 💥 Thank you! 🎶🙏😊

I imagine there'd be a great many of things by the Project to be looked at here on Doug's, simply because of the frequent rich orchestrations, as well as all the ever clever synth patterns based on respective keywork. Both of which I'm sure Doug has a few things of interest to tell people about.

Finally Alan Parsons. His importance in the music industry can't be overrated. Eye in the Sky is good but far from his best album. Although hearing it on the Blu Ray audio disc in 5.1 is great. You really need to do I Robot, Pyramid or Turn Of A Friendly Card. I Robot especially would be great as an all album reaction.

I remember when I heard these two songs and the entire album on "cassette" it blew my mind. He still does it. Excellent choosing for the channel.

I read through many comments and wanted to comment on all of them, but decided to make singular comment up here. I heard I Robot when I was starting teen life and it was a huge ear opener for me. The mix of Electronic and Classic instruments is genius! I was not aware of his working the the Beatles and Floyd at that time as I was very young and just taking all of this beautiful music into a young and un jaded ear. Now I wonder how much influence from both the Beatles and Pink Floyd informed his music and I believe it is all there in the subtleties of melody/harmony, the lyrical stories, his use of instruments (like the classical use of string sections) and also the use of Electric guitar with very tasteful solos i.e. David Gilmore. I see AP and Jeff Lynne in almost the same vein as Brilliant Brothers in every aspect of their abilities in the music world. AP for sure is one of those artists you can't say anything bad about, you might not like all of this music but he commands a respect in artistry, Innovation, originality and ability to dive into the Pop world and find incredible success -similar to the likes of Phil Collins or Peter Gabriel (not comparing them). Project Pyramid was one of my first vinyl records and I wore it out! I just love APP and am so happy to hear his music on the Daily Doug

You can make a whole video from his concept album : Tales of Mystery & Imagination, Edgar Allan Poe. (recommendation - 5 star album) Other great APP songs : Turn Of A Friendly Card, Old and Wise, Lucifer, Games People Play...

The Alan Parsons Project had great radio-friendly singles, but I have always thought their finest moments were their instrumentals. Check "I, Robot", "Lucifer", "Where's The Walrus?", "In The Lap of The Gods", and... oh, so many...

I, Robot album. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You, Day After Day, Don't Let It Show. First heard that album on release and still put tracks on my playlists because they are so good (and they take me back to when I was a young man in love with the girl I married). They make me smile, and sometimes get a tear in my eye. Part of my life's soundtrack I guess.

Doug, He was also Recording Engineer on Ambrosia's first album, which is quite progressive compared to the other albums.

Absolutely love Eye in the sky.

APP has so many deep thought provoking lyrics in their songs that is often overlooked by their great music.

Nailed it. Delay and that compressed, inorganically clean guitar that was such a part of the '80s.

Great reaction of one of my all time favorite Musician/Band/Project. Got the Blu-Ray of “the Alan Parsons Symphonic Project Live In Columbia”. Beautiful concert with great musicians and a live orchestra and choir. Did see them live a couple of years ago in my country the Netherlands. Had most of his albums. Thanks for this reaction.

"Turn of a Friendly Card" was my favorite album of theirs's.

Great analysis as always Doug!

Another vote for Tales of Mystery and Imagination... The album. Maybe around Halloween?

Great band and some more that have to be heard are “Time”, "Games People Play” and " I Wouldn't Want to be Like You”. In 1975 Alan was mixdown engineer for the debut self titled album by the band “Ambrosia”, a great prog release and every track on it is spectacular, thee one you have to start with off this album is “Drink of Water”, it will blow your mind, follow that one up with “Nice, Nice, Very Nice” (sets to music the lyrics to a poem in Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle), never heard anything like this one before or since. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Recording.

Outstanding one Doug. Towards the end when you were plying the keys, it made a similar sound to Van Halens opening on the song Right Now live when they made a comeback. Worth a listen sir.👍😎

The strength of the Project relied in Eric Woolfson's song crafting and Parsons ' wizardry on the engineering. This album, and specially side one was the very first time I heard of APP and I got hooked into prog rock thanks to them. Of course, they were crossover prog, pop prog, whatever. Not hard prog, of course, but they were the perfect place to start. The debut album might be right your alley. You should listen to it, specially The Fall of the House of Usher.

I think you’re the first channel I’ve seen to review any Parsons work. Thank you!

You should do "Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Allan Poe" by The Alan Parsons Project as an extended play. It's his first album I believe and utterly amazing.