Alan Parsons Project

This band is a throwback to the early 80's when I primarily listened to top-40 radio -- of course, back then top 40 music was actually GOOD!!

"Tales of Mystery and Imagination--Edgar Allen Poe"

  1. "A Dream Within a Dream"--instrumental (4:13)
  2. "The Raven" (3:57)
  3. "The Tell-Tale Heart" (4:38)
  4. "The Cask of Amontillado" (4:33)
  5. "(The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether" (4:20)
  6. "The Fall of the House of Usher"--instrumental (16:10)
    • I. Prelude
    • II. Arrival
    • III. Intermezzo
    • IV. Pavane
    • V. Fall
  7. "To One in Paradise" (4:21)

The band's first album, comprised entirely of music based on the short stories and poems of Edgar Allen Poe. Interesting concept, eh? Supposedly the CD was supposed to contain a bonus track, but I sure as hell can't find it...

"Pyramid"

  1. "Voyager"--instrumental (2:15)
  2. "What Goes Up..." (3:57)
  3. "The Eagle Will Rise Again" (4:04)
  4. "One More River" (4:16)
  5. "Can't Take it with You" (5:02)
  6. "In the Lap of the Gods"--instrumental (5:30)
  7. "Pyramania" (2:43)
  8. "Hyper-Gamma Spaces"--instrumental (4:20)
  9. "Shadow of a Lonely Man" (5:34)

The key track here is "Hyper-Gamma Spaces", a wonderful instrumental that I think I heard for the first time in some multimedia presentation about glaciers or something. The rest is rather dull, quiet and boring.

"Eve"

  1. "Lucifer"--instrumental (5:06)
  2. "You Lie Down with Dogs" (3:48)
  3. "I'd Rather Be a Man" (3:54)
  4. "You Won't Be There" (3:34)
  5. "Winding Me Up" (4:04)
  6. "Damned if I Do" (4:50)
  7. "Don't Hold Back" (3:37)
  8. "Secret Garden"--instrumental (4:42)
  9. "If I Could Change My Mind" (5:43)

This one's got the mind-blowing "Lucifer" instrumental, one of the best APP has ever done. As for the rest...well, "Damned if I Do" is a catchy tune, but the rest pretty much sucks dog.

"The Turn of a Friendly Card"

  1. "May Be a Price to Pay" (4:52)
  2. "Games People Play" (4:17)
  3. "Time" (5:05)
  4. "I Don't Wanna Go Home" (4:54)
  5. "The Gold Bug"--instrumental (4:28)
  6. "The Turn of a Friendly Card" (total time=16:19)
    • i. "The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part One)"
    • ii. "Snake Eyes"
    • iii. "The Ace of Swords"--instrumental
    • iv. "Nothing Left to Lose"
    • v. "The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part Two)"

The "Project" always uses a variety of different lead singers, which accounts for the variety of music on this album. "Time" is slow and BORING, but "Games People Play" has a nice, dark rhythm to it, and "The Gold Bug" is a typically wonderful Parsons instrumental.

"Eye in the Sky"

  1. "Sirius"--instrumental (1:53)
  2. "Eye in the Sky" (4:36)
  3. "Children of the Moon" (4:51)
  4. "Gemini" (2:11)
  5. "Silence and I" (7:22)
  6. "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned" (4:23)
  7. "Psychobabble" (4:51)
  8. "Mammagamma"--instrumental (3:34)
  9. "Step by Step" (3:53)
  10. "Old and Wise" (4:54)

Probably the band's best album...the title track has a wonderfully dreamy vocal which filled the airwaves back in 1982 (or whenever) and inspired me to get into the band. "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned" is an atypical rocker.

"Stereotomy"

  1. "Stereotomy" (7:18)
  2. "Beaujolais" (4:27)
  3. "Urbania"--instrumental (4:59)
  4. "Limelight" (4:39)
  5. "In the Real World" (4:20)
  6. "Where's the Walrus?" (7:31)
  7. "Light of the World" (6:19)
  8. "Chinese Whispers" (1:01)
  9. "Stereotomy Two" (1:21)

Sort of a style change to a more electronic/techno sound. Quite interesting. The original crappy vinyl came with a colored sleeve which would enhance or block out certain colors on the sleeve itself. Trippy to play with when on acid.