The Alan Parsons Project is an English group which was born in 1974 from the meeting of Eric Woolfson, composer and Alan Parsons, more oriented towards sound technique.
The group's first album "Tales of mystery and imagination" was released in 1976. It was a success thanks in particular to the flagship title "The Raven".
In 1977 the album "I robot" was released which contained two excellent titles : "The voice" and "Don’t let it show". It’s still a success.
A year later, the pop-oriented album "Pyramid" was released. Of lower quality than the previous ones, the album will experience only relative success. Ditto for the following album "Eve" which came out in 1979 and with very relative quality.
The first major turning point took place in 1980 with the release of the excellent album "The turn of a friendly card" which included "Games people play" and "The turn of a friendly card". As well as the sublime "Time".
The interplanetary and commercial consecration came in 1982 with the top album "Eye in the sky" from which will be extracted the now cult single of the same name.
They re-offend 2 years later with the album "Ammonia avenue" which contains the group's other cult title, "Don’t answer me".
Other albums will be released later but the quality will be lower and successes of low amplitude.
The Alan Parsons Project will however have provided several titles which now reside in the World Musical Pantheon of the 80s and as such, it largely deserves our greatest respect.
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others ...) :
• The raven 1975
• (The system of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether 1976
• To one in paradise 1976
• I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You 1977
• Don’t let it show 1977
• Day after day (The show must go on) 1977
• What goes up 1978
• Damned If I Do 1979
• Lucifer 1979
• You won't be there 1980
• Turn of a friendly card 1980
• Games people play 1980
• Time 1981
• Snake eyes 1981
• Gold bug 1981
• Eye in the Sky 1982
• Old and wise 1982
• Mammagamma 1982
• You don’t believe 1984
• Don’t answer me 1984
• Prime time 1984
• Let’s talk about me 1985
• Days are numbers (The traveller) 1985
• Stereotomy 1986
• Standing on higher ground 1987
• Little Hans 1989
• Don't let the moment pass 1989
• Freudiana 1990
• So far away 1996
• P-Q4 2014
• Kt-QB3 2014
Clips :
1975 ... first title and first success, a start to say the least. Admittedly, it is still difficult to define the exact style of the group but let's give them a little more time to find their marks ...
1976 ... the group confirms a year later that their first success was not an accident and that they will have to be counted on in the years to come. Especially during the 80's ...
1976 ... the style is refined, as is the sound. It will take them several years to find THE style that is going well but when they will have found it, to unfold, it will unfold !
1977 ... a slow but inexorable rise in power thanks to a 70s decade which allows them to run in as they say. What more...
1977 ... their first Ultimate Slow. A sumptuous title which already shows the full extent of their talent in the Intimist area and which prefigures very beautiful things in the future ...
1977 ... and what about this one ! In a single year they will have demonstrated extraordinary skills for the Intimist and above all refined their style in an incredible way. And as paradoxical as it may seem, this title will not even be classified. Go figure ...
1978 ... the year 1978 will be slightly less favorable. Several titles have been released and only one will be successful. It's always better than nothing as we say !
1979 ... one step closer to recognition. They sign here their biggest hit of the 70s and above all we see finally emerging the style that will make all the difference in the years to come ...
1979 ... the last title of the decade in instrumental format. Everything is now ready for the great fireworks which will not be long in coming. The 1980s promises to be grand, that's for sure ...
1980 ... the start of a decade that will prove to be exceptional for the group in terms of global success. Which is not yet quite the case at this stage ...
1980 ... the beginning of the wave. And yet, paradoxical as it may seem, this title will not even be classified. But the inspiration is there !
1980 ... the first big hit of the group ! The beginning of a decade on the hats of wheel and which will change their destiny forever ...
1981 ... the WONDER ! They are surely signing here one of their most inspired songs of all their discography and at the same time show that they now have their place in the big leagues. MA-GIC !
1981 ... a second hit in the process which consolidates their status of sure value of the moment. And the best is yet to come, that's for sure !
1981 ... whether sung or purely instrumental, each title that comes out is immediately a hit. With a consistent level of success that will not stop rising crescendo in the years that follow ...
1982 ... then this title arrives ! A title of very large caliber which will immediately transform into a global mega hit and bring them definitively into the Court of the Greatest. They simply sign here one of the biggest hits of the decade and the biggest success of their entire career at the same time. MAS-TER-FUL !
1982 ... the 2nd WONDER. A decidedly extraordinary talent which outperforms most of the competitors in the Intimist domain and which shows in a striking way that this group is really a notch below the others in this very particular register !
1982 ... which will surely remain one of their most successful instrumental. All taken from a rare album which will undoubtedly remain one of the most famous of the decade !
1984 ... small transition phase before the arrival of a new title which, too, will mark the musical history of the 80s ...
1984 ... and here it is, this new HUGE title which allows them to obtain their 2nd planetary mega hit. A well-deserved ultimate consecration. MO-NU-MEN-TAL !
1984 ... a nice continuation but which absolutely cannot compete with the previous steamroller as the bar was raised. Anyway, we take it anyway !
1985 ... a quality which does not weaken but this title will be their last notorious hit. A magnificent adventure which is already coming to an end ...
1985 ... which is coming to an end but which is not yet entirely finished. They still have a little bit under the pedal, it is clear ...
1986 ... in delirious mode to finish ? And why not, after such a brilliant career, they can afford anything, that's clear ...
1987 ... well, this time, it is indeed the end. An exit at height and through the large door. But it is clear that there they do more some figuration than anything else compared to a competition which is now light years ahead ...
1989 ... come on, a little last for the road. Admittedly, this title will pass completely under the radars and does not have much more to do with what they proposed before but one will largely be satisfied with it !
1989 ... this title there, like the previous one, actually comes from the rock opera "Freudiana" written by Eric Woolfson. Compositions attributed to the group but which are not really so. Given the quality of the titles, no matter where it comes from, we take it !
1990 ... we can already clearly see the original style of the group. Despite an obvious quality, the title will not do better than its predecessors and will remain at least fairly confidential. Tough law of the trade ...
1996 ... they will reappear very punctually thereafter but each time these furtive returns will go unnoticed to say the least. At least they tried...
2014...we thought the case was definitely over and yet here they are back almost 18 years later. A return that will be summed up in a story without words...
2014...a lack of voice that will not necessarily help to attract the general public. On this one, only the basic fans will find their account...
Wiki :
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :