Alan Parsons
Encyclopedia
Alan Parsons is a British audio engineer, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of several significant albums, including The Beatles
' Abbey Road and Let It Be, as well as Pink Floyd
's The Dark Side of the Moon
for which Pink Floyd
credit him as an important contributor. Parsons' own group, The Alan Parsons Project
, as well as his subsequent solo recordings, have also been successful commercially.
, where he earned his first credit on the LP Abbey Road. He became a regular there, engineering such projects as Paul McCartney
's Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway
, five albums by The Hollies
, and Pink Floyd
’s The Dark Side of the Moon
, for which he received his first Grammy Award
nomination. He was known for doing more than what would normally be considered the scope of a recording engineer’s duties. He considered himself to be a recording director, likening his contribution to recordings to what Stanley Kubrick
contributed to film. This is apparent in his work with Al Stewart
's "Year of the Cat
", where Parsons added the saxophone part and transformed the original folk concept into the jazz-influenced ballad that put Al Stewart onto the charts. It is also heard in Parsons' influence on the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
" and "The Air That I Breathe
", sharp departures from their popular 1960s hits "Stay
", "Just One Look
", "Stop! Stop! Stop!" or "Bus Stop
". Parsons was also known to have swapped shifts during the engineering of The Dark Side of the Moon so he could work entirely on the project.
Parsons also produced three albums by Pilot
, a Scottish pop rock
band consisting of Ian Bairnson
on guitar, Stuart Tosh
on drums, and David Paton
on lead vocals, guitars, and on bass. Their hits included "January" and "Magic".
He also mixed the debut album by American band Ambrosia
and produced their second album Somewhere I've Never Travelled. Alan was nominated for grammys for both of these albums.
In 1975, he declined Pink Floyd's invitation to come back and work on the follow-up for "Dark Side," Wish You Were Here, and instead initiated The Alan Parsons Project
with producer and songwriter (and occasional singer) Eric Woolfson
, whom he had met at Abbey Road. The Project consisted of a revolving group of studio musicians and vocalists, most notably the members of Pilot and (on the first album) the members of Ambrosia. Unlike most rock groups, The Alan Parsons Project never performed live during its heyday, although it did release several music videos. Its only live performance during its original incarnation was in 1990, with Woolfson present but behind the scenes. After releasing ten albums, the last in 1987, the Project terminated in 1990 after Parsons and Woolfson split, with the Project's intended 11th album
released that year as a Woolfson solo album. Parsons continued to release work in his own name and in collaboration with other musicians. Parsons and his band now regularly tour many parts of the world.
Although an accomplished vocalist, keyboardist, bassist, guitarist and flautist
, Parsons sang infrequent and incidental parts on his albums. While his keyboard playing was very audible on the Alan Parsons Project albums, very few recordings feature his flute
. During the late 1990s, Parsons' career travelled an interesting full circle. Having started out in the music industry at the Abbey Road Studios in London as an assistant engineer in the late 1960s, he briefly returned to run the studio in its entirety. He reportedly managed to combine this role with the demands of a hectic performing and recording schedule. Parsons also continued with his selective production work for other bands.
Of all his collaborations, guitarist Ian Bairnson
worked with Parsons the longest, including Parsons' post-Woolfson albums, Try Anything Once
, On Air
, and The Time Machine.
As well as receiving gold and platinum awards from many nations, Parsons has received ten Grammy Award nominations for engineering and production. In 2007 he received a nomination for Best Surround Sound
Album for A Valid Path
.
In May 2005, Parsons appeared at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California
, to mix front-of-house sound for Southern California-based Pink Floyd tribute band
Which One’s Pink? and their performance of The Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety.
Since 2003 he has toured under a revised name, The Alan Parsons Live Project (with Woolfson’s permission). The globe-trotting band features guitarist Godfrey Townsend
, drummer Steve Murphy, keyboardist Manny Focarazzo, and bass guitarist John Montagna. The 2004–2005 shows offered vocalist P. J. Olsson
's track "More Lost Without You", while the later 2006 shows presented The Crystal Method
-featured "We Play the Game" and opened with "Return to Tunguska" along with successes spanning the Project years.
Beginning in 2001 and extending for four years, Parsons conceived and led a Beatles tribute show called A Walk Down Abbey Road
featuring a group of headlining performers such as Todd Rundgren
, Ann Wilson
of Heart
, John Entwistle
of The Who
, and Jack Bruce
of Cream
. The show structure included a first set where all musicians assembled to perform each others' hits, and a second set featuring all Beatles songs.
In 2010, Alan Parsons released his single "All Our Yesterdays" through Authentik Artists. Parsons also launched a DVD educational series in 2010 titled The Art and Science of Sound Recording ("ASSR") on music production and the complete audio recording process. The single "All Our Yesterdays" was written and recorded during the making of ASSR. The series, narrated by Billy Bob Thornton
, gives detailed tutorials on virtually every aspect of the sound recording process. Individual sections of the series are also being released in batches and are available to stream or download at www.artandscienceofsound.com.
During 2010, several media reports, one of which included a quote from a representative of Parsons, alleged that the song "Need You Now
" by country music
group Lady Antebellum
possessed the melody and arrangement of "Eye in the Sky
."
In 2011 it was announced that Parsons was creating and producing a new group called the Subclones. Parsons said : "I feel that the public deserves some genuinely innovative music and It's been a long time since I've heard some that truly excites me – it made me want to get back into the studio and do another 'Dark Side'," Parsons jokingly refers to one of the biggest-selling and most popular albums in history. The identity of SubClones is presently a closely guarded secret, but they are rumored to be known as well-respected, highly experienced and remarkably talented musicians. Some songs can be heard on their website
with his wife and her two daughters, as well as numerous pets.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' Abbey Road and Let It Be, as well as Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure...
for which Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
credit him as an important contributor. Parsons' own group, The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons surrounded by a varying number of session musicians....
, as well as his subsequent solo recordings, have also been successful commercially.
Career
In October 1967, at age 18, Parsons went to work as an assistant engineer at Abbey Road StudiosAbbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
, where he earned his first credit on the LP Abbey Road. He became a regular there, engineering such projects as Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
's Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway
Red Rose Speedway
-Additional tracks:-Original LP Recording:Originally planned as a double album, this is the tracklisting from the acetates of the early incarnation of the album dated 13 December 1972...
, five albums by The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
, and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
’s The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure...
, for which he received his first Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination. He was known for doing more than what would normally be considered the scope of a recording engineer’s duties. He considered himself to be a recording director, likening his contribution to recordings to what Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
contributed to film. This is apparent in his work with Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is...
's "Year of the Cat
Year of the Cat (song)
"Year of the Cat" is the title track of the 1976 album Year of the Cat by singer-songwriter Al Stewart, which album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London in January 1976 by engineer Alan Parsons and released in July 1976. The "Year of the Cat" single reached #8 on the Hot 100 in Billboard in...
", where Parsons added the saxophone part and transformed the original folk concept into the jazz-influenced ballad that put Al Stewart onto the charts. It is also heard in Parsons' influence on the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
"He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" is a popular music ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for The Hollies later that year and again for Neil Diamond in 1970....
" and "The Air That I Breathe
The Air That I Breathe
"The Air That I Breathe" is a ballad written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, initially recorded by Albert Hammond on his 1972 album It Never Rains In Southern California.-History:...
", sharp departures from their popular 1960s hits "Stay
Stay (Maurice Williams song)
"Stay" is a doo-wop song recorded by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. The song was written by Williams in 1953 when he was 15 years old. He had been trying to convince his date not to go home at 10 o'clock as she was supposed to...
", "Just One Look
Just One Look (song)
"Just One Look" was a hit single co-written and sung by American R&B singer Doris Troy in 1963. The song peaked at #10 in the U.S. singles charts.Details vary as to how the single came to be released on Atlantic Records...
", "Stop! Stop! Stop!" or "Bus Stop
Bus Stop (song)
"Bus Stop" is the title of a song recorded and released as a 7-inch 45 rpm vinyl single by the British pop band The Hollies. It became a hit in 1966, reaching #5 in the UK Singles Chart...
". Parsons was also known to have swapped shifts during the engineering of The Dark Side of the Moon so he could work entirely on the project.
Parsons also produced three albums by Pilot
Pilot (band)
Pilot was a pop rock musical group, formed during 1973 in Edinburgh, Scotland by the former Bay City Rollers members, David Paton and Billy Lyall.-Career:...
, a Scottish pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band consisting of Ian Bairnson
Ian Bairnson
Ian Bairnson is a Scottish musician, famous for being one of the core members of The Alan Parsons Project. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who has played saxophone and keyboards, although he is best known as a guitarist...
on guitar, Stuart Tosh
Stuart Tosh
Stuart MacIntosh is a drummer, songwriter and vocalist.Also known as Stuart Tosh, MacIntosh recorded and toured with a succession of well-known and respected bands during the 1970s and 1980s, including Pilot, The Alan Parsons Project, 10cc and Camel. Stuart now lives in the Bridge of Don area of...
on drums, and David Paton
David Paton
David Paton is a Scottish bass and guitar player, most notably with three different bands: Pilot, The Alan Parsons Project, and Camel. He has also worked as a solo artist, session musician, and sometime vocalist...
on lead vocals, guitars, and on bass. Their hits included "January" and "Magic".
He also mixed the debut album by American band Ambrosia
Ambrosia (band)
Ambrosia is an American rock band formed in southern California in 1970. Ambrosia had five Top Forty hit singles between 1975 and 1980.-Formation and inspiration:...
and produced their second album Somewhere I've Never Travelled. Alan was nominated for grammys for both of these albums.
In 1975, he declined Pink Floyd's invitation to come back and work on the follow-up for "Dark Side," Wish You Were Here, and instead initiated The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons surrounded by a varying number of session musicians....
with producer and songwriter (and occasional singer) Eric Woolfson
Eric Woolfson
Eric Norman Woolfson was a Scottish songwriter, lyricist, vocalist, executive producer, pianist, and creator of The Alan Parsons Project. He has sold over 50 million albums world-wide....
, whom he had met at Abbey Road. The Project consisted of a revolving group of studio musicians and vocalists, most notably the members of Pilot and (on the first album) the members of Ambrosia. Unlike most rock groups, The Alan Parsons Project never performed live during its heyday, although it did release several music videos. Its only live performance during its original incarnation was in 1990, with Woolfson present but behind the scenes. After releasing ten albums, the last in 1987, the Project terminated in 1990 after Parsons and Woolfson split, with the Project's intended 11th album
Freudiana
Freudiana is a rock opera, originally intended to be the 11th album by The Alan Parsons Project, but by release time was the first album credited to Eric Woolfson as a solo artist, marking his final project with former collaborator Alan Parsons, who is credited as producer. After recording the...
released that year as a Woolfson solo album. Parsons continued to release work in his own name and in collaboration with other musicians. Parsons and his band now regularly tour many parts of the world.
Although an accomplished vocalist, keyboardist, bassist, guitarist and flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
, Parsons sang infrequent and incidental parts on his albums. While his keyboard playing was very audible on the Alan Parsons Project albums, very few recordings feature his flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
. During the late 1990s, Parsons' career travelled an interesting full circle. Having started out in the music industry at the Abbey Road Studios in London as an assistant engineer in the late 1960s, he briefly returned to run the studio in its entirety. He reportedly managed to combine this role with the demands of a hectic performing and recording schedule. Parsons also continued with his selective production work for other bands.
Of all his collaborations, guitarist Ian Bairnson
Ian Bairnson
Ian Bairnson is a Scottish musician, famous for being one of the core members of The Alan Parsons Project. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who has played saxophone and keyboards, although he is best known as a guitarist...
worked with Parsons the longest, including Parsons' post-Woolfson albums, Try Anything Once
Try Anything Once
Try Anything Once is the first solo album created by Alan Parsons following the split of The Alan Parsons Project.This album features vocals by Ambrosia's David Pack, Duran Duran backing singer Jacqui Copland, Former Mindbender and 10cc guitarist Eric Stewart, and Manfred Mann's Earth Band frontman...
, On Air
On Air
On Air is the second solo release by Alan Parsons following the split of The Alan Parsons Project, however the album's chief creative force was the Project's long-time guitarist, Ian Bairnson...
, and The Time Machine.
As well as receiving gold and platinum awards from many nations, Parsons has received ten Grammy Award nominations for engineering and production. In 2007 he received a nomination for Best Surround Sound
Surround sound
Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
Album for A Valid Path
A Valid Path
A Valid Path is the fourth solo album that Alan Parsons recorded after splitting from his previous group The Alan Parsons Project. The gap between this and his previous album, The Time Machine, was the second greatest period between two consecutive albums, second only to the time between the split...
.
In May 2005, Parsons appeared at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California
Agoura Hills, California
Agoura Hills is a city in Los Angeles County, California, and has the ZIP code 91301. The population was 20,330 at the 2010 census, down from 20,537 at the 2000 census. It is located in the eastern Conejo Valley between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains. This city on the Ventura...
, to mix front-of-house sound for Southern California-based Pink Floyd tribute band
Tribute band
A tribute act is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act - sometimes one which has disbanded, ceased touring or is deceased. Probably the largest class of tributes acts are Elvis impersonators, individual performers who mimic the songs and style...
Which One’s Pink? and their performance of The Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety.
Since 2003 he has toured under a revised name, The Alan Parsons Live Project (with Woolfson’s permission). The globe-trotting band features guitarist Godfrey Townsend
Godfrey Townsend
Godfrey Thomas Townsend is an American singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter who has worked extensively with John Entwistle of The Who, Jack Bruce of Cream, and Alan Parsons...
, drummer Steve Murphy, keyboardist Manny Focarazzo, and bass guitarist John Montagna. The 2004–2005 shows offered vocalist P. J. Olsson
P. J. Olsson
Paul Josef Olsson is currently the lead singer for the Alan Parsons Live Project. He has five released albums. He has toured with various artists over his lifetime, including The Alan Parsons Project, Kid Rock, Muse, Train, Rufus Wainright, Iggy Pop, Beth Orton, Bob Geldof, Something Corporate,...
's track "More Lost Without You", while the later 2006 shows presented The Crystal Method
The Crystal Method
The Crystal Method is an American electronic music duo that was created in Los Angeles, California by Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland in the early 1990s. The Crystal Method's music has appeared in numerous TV shows, films, video games, and advertisements. The most prominent is the US television...
-featured "We Play the Game" and opened with "Return to Tunguska" along with successes spanning the Project years.
Beginning in 2001 and extending for four years, Parsons conceived and led a Beatles tribute show called A Walk Down Abbey Road
A Walk Down Abbey Road
Alan Parsons A Walk Down Abbey Road was a concert tour which was launched in North America in 2001 to pay tribute to the Beatles and promote the hits of various headlining band members...
featuring a group of headlining performers such as Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
, Ann Wilson
Ann Wilson
Ann Dustin Wilson is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, flute player, songwriter, and occasional guitar player of the rock band Heart.-Personal life:...
of Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
, John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, and Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
of Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
. The show structure included a first set where all musicians assembled to perform each others' hits, and a second set featuring all Beatles songs.
In 2010, Alan Parsons released his single "All Our Yesterdays" through Authentik Artists. Parsons also launched a DVD educational series in 2010 titled The Art and Science of Sound Recording ("ASSR") on music production and the complete audio recording process. The single "All Our Yesterdays" was written and recorded during the making of ASSR. The series, narrated by Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
, gives detailed tutorials on virtually every aspect of the sound recording process. Individual sections of the series are also being released in batches and are available to stream or download at www.artandscienceofsound.com.
During 2010, several media reports, one of which included a quote from a representative of Parsons, alleged that the song "Need You Now
Need You Now
"Need You Now" is a country pop song performed by American country music group Lady Antebellum. The song was co-written by Lady Antebellum and Josh Kear, and produced by the trio along with Paul Worley. It serves as the lead-off single and title track to their second studio album, Need You Now,...
" by country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
group Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum is an American country pop music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The trio is composed of Charles Kelley , Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott .The group made its debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone", before signing to Capitol...
possessed the melody and arrangement of "Eye in the Sky
Eye in the Sky (song)
"Eye in the Sky" is a 1982 song by the Alan Parsons Project from the album Eye in the Sky.Possibly the most successful song the group has ever had, it hit #3 on the Billboard charts in the US in October of 1982 and #6 in Canada and New Zealand. Says Parsons of the song, "...I hated the song when we...
."
In 2011 it was announced that Parsons was creating and producing a new group called the Subclones. Parsons said : "I feel that the public deserves some genuinely innovative music and It's been a long time since I've heard some that truly excites me – it made me want to get back into the studio and do another 'Dark Side'," Parsons jokingly refers to one of the biggest-selling and most popular albums in history. The identity of SubClones is presently a closely guarded secret, but they are rumored to be known as well-respected, highly experienced and remarkably talented musicians. Some songs can be heard on their website
Personal life
Parsons was born in London. He resides in Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSanta Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
with his wife and her two daughters, as well as numerous pets.
Albums
| Date | Title | Label | Charted | Country | Catalog Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| as part of The Alan Parsons Project The Alan Parsons Project The Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons surrounded by a varying number of session musicians.... |
||||||
| May 1976 | Tales of Mystery and Imagination Tales of Mystery and Imagination Tales of Mystery and Imagination is the debut album by the progressive rock group The Alan Parsons Project, released in 1976. The album's avant-garde soundscapes kept it from being a blockbuster, but the interesting lyrical and musical themes — retellings of horror stories and poetry by... |
Mercury Mercury Records Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal... |
38 | US | ||
| June 1977 | I Robot I Robot (album) I Robot is a progressive rock album recorded by The Alan Parsons Project, engineered by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson in 1977. It was released by Arista Records in 1977 and re-released on CD in 1984 and 2007. It was intended to be based on the I, Robot stories written by Isaac Asimov, and Woolfson... |
Arista Arista Records Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records... |
9 | US | ||
| June 1978 | Pyramid | Arista | 26 | US | ||
| August 1979 | Eve | Arista | 13 | US | ||
| November 1980 | The Turn of a Friendly Card The Turn of a Friendly Card The Turn of a Friendly Card is a progressive rock album by The Alan Parsons Project, released in 1980. The album focuses on gambling, and loosely tells the tale of a middle-aged man who grows restless and takes a chance by going to a casino and betting all he has, only to lose it all... |
Arista | 13 | US | ||
| June 1982 | Eye in the Sky | Arista | 7 | US | ||
| 1983 | The Best of the Alan Parsons Project | Arista | 53 | US | ||
| February 1984 | Ammonia Avenue Ammonia Avenue Ammonia Avenue is one of the most commercially successful albums of The Alan Parsons Project.It was the second of the group's three most accessible albums, beginning with Eye in the Sky and ending with Vulture Culture... |
Arista | 15 | US | ||
| March 1985 | Vulture Culture Vulture Culture Vulture Culture is an album by The Alan Parsons Project.The first side of the LP consists entirely of four-minute pop songs, and the second side varies widely, from the subdued funk of the title track to the bouncing, desert-like "Hawkeye".At the beginning of 1985, the lead single "Let's Talk... |
Arista | 46 | US | ||
| November 1985 | Stereotomy Stereotomy Stereotomy is the penultimate album by The Alan Parsons Project.Although generally considered better musically than its predecessor, Vulture Culture, it was not as successful commercially, perhaps due to much fewer vocals from Eric Woolfson... |
Arista | 43 | US | ||
| January 1987 | Gaudi | Arista | 57 | US | ||
| 1988 | The Best of the Alan Parsons Project, Vol. 2 The Best of the Alan Parsons Project, Vol. 2 The Best of the Alan Parsons Project, Vol. 2 is a 1988 greatest hits compilation by The Alan Parsons Project.-Track listing:All tracks written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson#"Prime Time" – 3:48... |
Arista | – | – | ||
| 1988 | The Instrumental Works The Instrumental Works The Instrumental Works is a 1988 compilation album by The Alan Parsons Project.-Track listing:All tracks written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson.# Pipeline # Where's the Walrus?... |
Arista | – | – | ||
| 1990 | Freudiana Freudiana Freudiana is a rock opera, originally intended to be the 11th album by The Alan Parsons Project, but by release time was the first album credited to Eric Woolfson as a solo artist, marking his final project with former collaborator Alan Parsons, who is credited as producer. After recording the... |
EMI | – | – | ||
| 9 October 1989 | Pop Classics | Arista | – | – | ||
| 1 July 1997 | Apollo | – | – | |||
| 15 July 1997 | The Definitive Collection The Definitive Collection (Alan Parsons) A 1997 2 CD release by Arista Records consisting of many of the best known works from The Alan Parsons Project. All tracks are composed by Woolfson/Parsons except "Turn It Up" - written by Ian Bairnson and "Re-Jigue" written by Alan Parsons and Andrew Powell... |
– | – | |||
| 15 April 1999 | Sound Check 2 | – | – | |||
| 27 July 1999 | Master Hits - The Alan Parsons Project | – | – | |||
| 2 August 1999 | Alan Parsons Project - Greatest Hits Live | – | – | |||
| 3 August 1999 | Eye in the Sky | – | – | |||
| 3 August 1999 | Eye in the Sky – Encore Collection | – | – | |||
| 9 May 2000 | Alan Parsons Project - Gold Collection | BMG International | – | – | ||
| 22 August 2002 | Works | Audiophile Legends | – | – | ||
| 23 March 2004 | Ultimate | – | – | |||
| 1 June 2004 | Extended Versions: The iEncore Collection Live | – | – | |||
| 2006 | Days Are Numbers (3 CD Compilation) | Arista | – | – | 88697016972 | |
| as Engineer | ||||||
| 1969 | Abbey Road (The Beatles The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr... ) |
1 | UK US |
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| 1970 | Atom Heart Mother Atom Heart Mother Atom Heart Mother is the fifth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in 1970 by Harvest and EMI Records in the United Kingdom and Harvest and Capitol in the United States. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England, and reached number one in the United... (Pink Floyd Pink Floyd Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially... ) |
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| 1973 | The Dark Side of the Moon The Dark Side of the Moon The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure... (Pink Floyd) |
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| 1974 | Hollies (The Hollies The Hollies The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s... ) |
28 | US | |||
| 1975 | Another Night Another Night (The Hollies album) Another Night is an album by English rock/pop band, The Hollies. It is the band's second album with vocalist Allan Clarke since his departure in 1972... (The Hollies) |
132 | US | |||
| 1975 | Ambrosia (Ambrosia Ambrosia (band) Ambrosia is an American rock band formed in southern California in 1970. Ambrosia had five Top Forty hit singles between 1975 and 1980.-Formation and inspiration:... ) |
20TH Century | 22 | US | ||
| 1976 | Year of the Cat Year of the Cat Year of the Cat is the seventh studio album by Al Stewart, released in 1976 and engineered by Alan Parsons; it is considered his masterpiece, its sales helped by the hit single "Year of the Cat," "one of those 'mysterious woman' songs," co-written by Peter Wood... (Al Stewart Al Stewart Al Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is... ) |
5 | US | |||
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| 1975 | The Best Years of Our Lives The Best Years of Our Lives (album) The Best Years of Our Lives is an album by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel released in March 1975. It was their first album that used Harley's name ahead of the band... (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel are an English rock band from the early 1970s. Their music covers a range of styles from pop to progressive rock. Over the years they have had five albums in the UK Albums Chart and twelve singles in the UK Singles Chart.-Career:... ) |
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| 1976 | Rebel Rebel (John Miles album) Rebel was the first solo album of John Miles. It was his most successful album to date with singles "Highfly" and "Music".-History:When Miles eventually signed to Decca, they introduced him to producer Alan Parsons in the summer of 1975... (John Miles John Miles (musician) John Miles is an English rock music vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, best known for his 1976 Top 3 UK hit single, "Music".-Career:... ) |
171 | US | |||
| 1976 | Year of the Cat Year of the Cat Year of the Cat is the seventh studio album by Al Stewart, released in 1976 and engineered by Alan Parsons; it is considered his masterpiece, its sales helped by the hit single "Year of the Cat," "one of those 'mysterious woman' songs," co-written by Peter Wood... (Al Stewart) |
5 | US | |||
| 1976 | Somewhere I've Never Traveled (Ambrosia Ambrosia (band) Ambrosia is an American rock band formed in southern California in 1970. Ambrosia had five Top Forty hit singles between 1975 and 1980.-Formation and inspiration:... ) |
20TH Century | 79 | US | ||
| 1978 | Time Passages Time Passages Time Passages is the eighth studio album by Al Stewart, released in 1978. It is the follow-up to his 1976 album Year of the Cat. The album, like its predecessor, was produced by Alan Parsons... (Al Stewart) |
10 | US | |||
| March 1984 | Keats Keats (band) Keats was a short-lived British band which produced one eponymous album in 1984. It was an Alan Parsons Project offshoot. Its members were Colin Blunstone , Ian Bairnson , Pete Bardens , David Paton and Stuart Elliott .-Track listing:... |
EMI | ||||
| 1985 | Ladyhawke Ladyhawke Ladyhawke is a 1985 fantasy film directed by Richard Donner, starring Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer. The film marked the second 20th Century Fox film to be co-produced and co-released by Warner Bros.. The first was The Towering Inferno; this time Warner got the U.S... (OST by Andrew Powell Andrew Powell Andrew Powell - musical composer, arranger and performer - was born 18 April 1949 in London, England of Welsh parents.- Early life :He began taking piano lessons at the age of four and later attended Kings College School, Wimbledon by which time he was also learning the viola, violin and orchestral... ) |
Atlantic Records | ||||
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| 6 October 1993 | Try Anything Once Try Anything Once Try Anything Once is the first solo album created by Alan Parsons following the split of The Alan Parsons Project.This album features vocals by Ambrosia's David Pack, Duran Duran backing singer Jacqui Copland, Former Mindbender and 10cc guitarist Eric Stewart, and Manfred Mann's Earth Band frontman... |
Arista | – | – | ||
| 27 June 1995 | The Very Best Live | RCA | – | – | ||
| 24 September 1996 | On Air | A&M/Digital Sound | – | – | ||
| 28 September 1999 | The Time Machine | Miramar | – | – | ||
| 24 August 2004 | A Valid Path A Valid Path A Valid Path is the fourth solo album that Alan Parsons recorded after splitting from his previous group The Alan Parsons Project. The gap between this and his previous album, The Time Machine, was the second greatest period between two consecutive albums, second only to the time between the split... |
Artemis | – | – | ||
| 6 April 2010 | Eye 2 Eye: Live In Madrid Eye 2 Eye: Live In Madrid Eye 2 Eye: Live In Madrid is a live concert performance by Alan Parsons released on both DVD-Video and Audio CD on April 6, 2010 on the Frontiers label... |
Frontiers | – | – | ||
| as Executive Producer / Mentor | ||||||
| 1999 | Turning the Tide (Iconic Phare) | Carrera Records | – | – | ||
Billboard Top 40 hit singles (U.S.)
- No. 37 – "(The System Of) Doctor Tarr And Professor Fether" (1976)
- No. 36 – "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You" (1977)
- No. 27 – "Damned if I Do" (1979)
- No. 16 – "Games People Play" (1980)
- No. 15 – "Time" (1981)
- No. 3 – "Eye in the Sky" (1982)
- No. 15 – "Don't Answer Me" (1984)
Canadian singles
- No. 62 – "(The System Of) Doctor Tarr And Professor Fether" (1976)
- No. 22 – "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You" (1977)
- No. 16 – "Damned if I Do" (1980)
- No. 9 – "Games People Play" (1981)
- No. 30 – "Time" (1981)
- No. 1 – "Eye in the Sky" (1982)
- No. 43 – "You Don't Believe" (1983)
- No. 20 – "Don't Answer Me" (1984)
- No. 89 – "Let's Talk About Me" (1985)
Nominations
- 1973 – Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
– The Dark Side of the MoonThe Dark Side of the MoonThe Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure...
– Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-ClassicalGrammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-ClassicalThe Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical has been awarded since 1959. The award had several minor name changes:*In 1959 the award was known as Best Engineered Record - Non-Classical... - 1976 – AmbrosiaAmbrosia (band)Ambrosia is an American rock band formed in southern California in 1970. Ambrosia had five Top Forty hit singles between 1975 and 1980.-Formation and inspiration:...
– Somewhere I've Never TravelledAmbrosia discography-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:...
– Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical - 1976 – The Alan Parsons ProjectThe Alan Parsons ProjectThe Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons surrounded by a varying number of session musicians....
– Tales of Mystery and ImaginationTales of Mystery and ImaginationTales of Mystery and Imagination is the debut album by the progressive rock group The Alan Parsons Project, released in 1976. The album's avant-garde soundscapes kept it from being a blockbuster, but the interesting lyrical and musical themes — retellings of horror stories and poetry by...
– Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical - 1978 – The Alan Parsons Project – Pyramid – Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
- 1979 – Ice CastlesIce CastlesIce Castles is a 1978 American romantic drama, starring Lynn-Holly Johnson and Robby Benson.It is the story of Alexis, a young figure skater, and her rise and fall from super stardom. Tragedy strikes when, following a freak accident, Lexie loses her sight, leaving her to hide away in the privacy of...
– Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual MediaGrammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual MediaThe Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media has been awarded since 1960. Until 2001 the award was presented to the composer of the music alone. From 2001 to 2006, the producer and engineers shared in this award... - 1979 – The Alan Parsons Project – Eve – Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
- 1981 – The Alan Parsons Project – The Turn of a Friendly CardThe Turn of a Friendly CardThe Turn of a Friendly Card is a progressive rock album by The Alan Parsons Project, released in 1980. The album focuses on gambling, and loosely tells the tale of a middle-aged man who grows restless and takes a chance by going to a casino and betting all he has, only to lose it all...
– Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical - 1982 – The Alan Parsons Project – Eye in the Sky – Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
- 1986 – The Alan Parsons Project – "Where's The Walrus?"StereotomyStereotomy is the penultimate album by The Alan Parsons Project.Although generally considered better musically than its predecessor, Vulture Culture, it was not as successful commercially, perhaps due to much fewer vocals from Eric Woolfson...
– Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental PerformanceGrammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental PerformanceThe Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was an honor presented to recording artists for quality instrumental rock performances at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards... - 2007 – Alan Parsons – A Valid PathA Valid PathA Valid Path is the fourth solo album that Alan Parsons recorded after splitting from his previous group The Alan Parsons Project. The gap between this and his previous album, The Time Machine, was the second greatest period between two consecutive albums, second only to the time between the split...
– Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound AlbumGrammy Award for Best Surround Sound AlbumThe Grammy Award for "Best Surround Sound Album" was first awarded in 2005, as the first category in a new "Surround Sound" field.-Nominees::*An Evening With Dave Grusin...
External links
- Alan Parsons Music Official Site
- Alan Parsons Project Official Site
- Alan Parsons in the Internet Movie Data Base
- Crawdaddy!Crawdaddy!Crawdaddy! was the first U.S. magazine of rock and roll music criticism. Created in 1966 by college student Paul Williams in response to the increasing sophistication and cultural influence of popular music, Crawdaddy! was self-described as "the first magazine to take rock and roll...
"Parsons Knows: The Tale of Alan Parsons and Edgar Allan Poe"