My favorite tracks from the collected Alan Parsons Project CDs are nearly all sung by Eric Woolfson. However if you’re expecting a lost Parsons Project CD (as the title implies,) you’ll be sorely disappointed here.
I’d expected to find at least an alternate version of “Time,” an acoustic version of “Don’t Answer Me,” or like Alan did on his CD A Valid Path; an electronic version of “The Raven.” What I got instead in my opinion, were under/over produced original album discards and show tunes that gave me nothing that even vaguely resembled The Project, except for that long craved-for voice.
In addition The Alan Parson Project CDs at least had an underlying concept, which is completely lacking here unless you consider songs recorded over the years but rejected for cause as a valid theme. APP CDs also had that infamous wall of sound that carries you thorough from the beginning to the end of each song that’s sorely lacking here. On some tracks of this CD you can actually feel the empty space between the words.
Any casual fan (despite a sort of doubting bitter denial in the liner notes) knows of Eric Woolfson’s essential contribution, voice and name to the APP since it’s inception with Tales of Mystery and Imagination.
From the liner notes:
Interviewer: “As you are the creator and writer of The Alan Parsons Project, and sometimes lead singer, why is it not called ‘The Eric Woolfson Project’? Or perhaps the ‘Parsons/Woolfson Project’?"
Woolfson: “I describe the decision to call it ‘The Alan Parsons Project’ as both the best and the worst decision of my career. The best, because I have enjoyed the benefits of the APP success without having to deal with public recognition and media attention. The worst because outside my family and friends, few people have any idea of who I am or what I do, which is a price, I have always felt, was worth paying.”
The above makes Woolfson come off as a bitter ex-wife, and this CD is a perfect explanation as to why they were called the Alan Parsons Project. Any fan would resent the fact that the above implies that Alan had nothing to do with the creation of the band by the use of "the creator" instead of "one of the creators." If he’d simply titled this CD Eric Woolfson… My Latest Solo Effort instead, I wouldn't have anticipated another version of the Parsons Project and maybe it would be more readily acceptable… or at least palatable. But getting my hopes up for the "Alan Parsons Project that never was" in my opinion is at best false advertising.
Article comments
1 - Jet Gardner
OH DEAR LORD! The comments notification e-mails work. Eric's late birthday present?
2 - Jet Gardner
Oh great, the comment e-mails stopped working as quickly as they started... par for the course?
No Roger things aren't all right. Workman's comp keeps appealing the last six decisions they've lost against me... they don't want to pay for physical therapy for my knee leg and ankle, nor to they want to pay for my shrink...
:)
Don't worry be happy?
3 - roger nowosielski
So what the fuck are you supposed to do? Is that another government agency at work, a foretaste of tomorrow?
4 - Jet Gardner
I was so badly hurt, they're still operating on me nearly 5 years later, and they're privately insured instead of going through workman's comp.
They're trying to claim a time limit like a statue of limitations or some such bullshit for the physical part.
Since during that time period I also was forced into bankruptcy by a bill they didn't pay, my father died and I nearly lost my car on a broken financial promise from Huntington bank, I was dumb enough to talk about that to my shrink, and they're trying to claim I'm being treated for non-work related problems.
Get this, since I wrote an article here about Heath Ledger's death, they're also trying to claim that my main problem is deep depression over a homosexual icon's passing!!!???
5 - Jet Gardner
By the way, apparently we're only allowed two comment e-mails a day before the system crashes and we don't get any more?
6 - Jet Gardner
By the way don't bother reading this article-in 2 words the CD sucks and I say so rather bluntly but get long-winded and take up several pages to say so... my bad
7 - roger nowosielski
That's unbelievable. They do anything to wiggle out and not pay. You should get a good lawyer, pro bono.
8 - Bliffle
Hang in there, Jet.
9 - Jet Gardner
I am, but my fingers are getting tired...
10 - Bill Walsh
Eric Woolfson, songwriter of the alan parsons project is on facebook, and he just released a stupidly low priced Fan package including his newest album through his facebook store: http://bit.ly/paBwr If you are an APP fan you will definitely be interested in this!
11 - Bill Walsh
Eric Woolfson, songwriter of the alan parsons project is on facebook, and he just released a stupidly low priced Fan package including his newest album through his facebook store If you are an APP fan you will definitely be interested in this!