Search - Alan Parsons Project :: Eye in the Sky

It is not a standard DVD Audio

TRAJANOV Marina | 10/18/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"HDAD disks by Arista records do not play at DVD Audio side at my Harman Kardon DVD Audio 47 player. I did not have any problems with DVD Audio disks from other vendors."

The Project Continues

Dave_42 | Australia | 11/22/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In June of 1982, The Alan Parsons Project released their sixth, and what by some measures is their most successful album "Eye in the Sky". The album is very diverse in sound and has several pieces which are noteworthy from the groups catalogue of songs. Also notable is the album cover which features the Wedjat (Wadjet) symbol, also known as the Eye Horus or the Eye of Ra. Alan Parsons has claimed that the symbol has become synonymous with his identity after it appeared on the cover. The cover was created by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis.



"Sirius" is the piece which opens the album, and it is an easy recognizable instrumental, which has often been used by sports franchises for their introductions, most notably with the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordon era. The short piece leads right into the group's biggest hit of all time, the title piece "Eye in the Sky" with Eric Woolfson singing. "Children of the Moon" is another very good piece with David Paton handling the vocals. "Gemini" has haunting vocals by Chris Rainbow and a beautiful chorus section. "Silence and I" closes out the first half of the album with another vocal from Eric Woolfson. It is the longest piece on the album, and has tremendous diversity with an orchestrated section between the two vocal sections.



The second half of the album doesn't work as well for me. It opens with "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned", a decent but unexceptional song with Lenny Zakatek handling the vocals. "Psychobabble" is one of those songs which some people really like, but I am not one of them. Once again I would say it is decent, and it is memorable, with good vocals from Elmer Gantry, but for me it doesn't hold up to repeated listening. "Mammagamma" is a nice instrumental, but not as distinctive as "Sirius" which opens the album. Alan Parson's indicates on his website that "Step By Step" with vocals by Lenny Zakatek, is his least favorite of the Project's songs. In contrast, "Old and Wise" with vocals by Colin Blunstone is one of the best songs on the album, and helps improve the overall rating of the album with a strong finish.



For the most part, The Alan Parsons Project is Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson who wanted to create their own music rather than have to deal with the artists who they manage and produce. The group tended to use several different vocalists, and this album is no exception. The other performers on this album have, for the most part, also been involved from time to time with the group. The vocalists on this album include David Paton, Chris Rainbow, Lenny Zakatek and Colin Blunstone in addition to Eric Woolfson, all of which could be considered regulars of a sort with the group. In addition, Elmer Gantry has a vocal on this album after also having one on the "Turn of a Friendly Card" album.



In addition to the keyboards played by Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons, there is David Paton playing bass, Stuart Elliot on drums and percussion, Ian Bairnson on acoustic and electric guitar. All of which have been frequent contributors to the group, and Mel Collins playing saxophone who also played on the "Ammonia Avenue" album. The Alan Parsons Project always delivers something interesting to listen to, and "Eye in the Sky" is one of their better albums.

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