Monday, July 28, 2008

A Producer, A lawyer, What A Concept

With a storied career that began by working the boards for the Fab Four, Alan Parsons boasts one of the most eclectic resumes in all of popular music.

After cutting his teeth alongside Sir George Martin on the Beatles' Abbey Road, Parsons produced Pink Floyd's seminal Dark Side of the Moon. His stellar studio acumen also made Pilot's 1975 'Magic' a bonafide #5 hit. Later that same year, Parson partnered with attorney, producer and songwriter Eric Woolfson to form the Alan Parsons Project.

The entire creation of the band and all it's subsequent releases were based on concepts. Parson believed his contributions as a producer went above and beyond the mechanical tasks of a studio engineer and directly contributed to the overall finished sound. He sought to take the focus off the musicians and place it squarely on the producer, comparing his efforts to that of a Hollywood director. The Stanley Kubrick of pop music.

Each LP focused on a different concept, some apparent, some obtuse. Commercially, the duo (and backing musicians) achieved modest success, peaking at #3, with 1982's Eye in the Sky, from the album of the same name.

Often confused with Prog Rock to the uninitiated, The Alan Parsons Project was indeed just that. A project, a unique reformulation of the components of pop music that resulted in some notable critical acclaim as well as a few radio friendly gems.

I'm sure the commercial success of APP left Emerson, Lake and Palmer scratching their collective heads.

I'm just sayin'.

Don't Answer Me

Time


Pilot- Magic


Alan Parsons Project-Don't Answer Me


Alan Parsons Project-Prime Time


Alan Parsons Project-Time


Kids Incorporated- Games People Play

1 comment:

TCB Walsh said...

The Kids Inc version of "Games People Play" is truly definitive. Underneath the Reagan-era teflon sheen is a chewy center of wan ennui.