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From the Vault...
06/15/2003
#842 |
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info
Alan Parsons Project
"Pyramid"
© Arista Records
Year of Release: 1978
Rating:
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track listing
Voyager
What Goes Up...
The Eagle Will Rise Again
One More River
Can't Take It With You
In The Lap Of The Gods
Pyramania
Hyper-Gamma Spaces
Shadow Of A Lonely Man
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Alan Parsons Project "Pyramid"
As a fellow keyboardist, I have always had an interest in my fellow Rock
artists, who displays their talents with the black and white keys. Ray Manzarek
(The Doors), Elton John, Billy Joel, Rick Wakeman (to name a few) have always
perked my interest (most recently, Wakeman), and producer/songwriter Alan Parsons
has always showed his expertise on his Project albums. More orchestrated, Parsons
has always displayed great works with synthesizers and instrumentation in their
most popular hits ("Eye In The Sky" -- the song used for the Chicago Bulls
introducing the players, is the APP's most famous hit.) 1978's Pyramid was
Parsons' third album, long before Eye In The Sky was released, 4 years
later. It shows Parsons as a gifted producer, arranger, and co-songwriter, where the
songs on this album could classify as New Age, Rock, and Progressive Rock.
The first two songs, "Voyager" and "What Goes Up..." has a
somewhat New Age Jazz sound mixed with Rock. Another interesting tune is
the soft ballad "The Eagle Will Rise Again," a song that could easily
fit most New Age Jazz formats. None of these 3 songs will bore
the listener, it has a continuing blend of music that will keep the listener
listening for more. "One More River" is definitely a rock sounding
tune, and the vocalist has a resemblence to Elton John, with a much more Rock
edge, than Sir Elton had performed in his heyday during the 1970s.
"Can't Take It With You" displays a Rock/Progressive Rock sound,
likewise the instrumental "In The Lap Of The Gods" showcases a sense of
mystery, and has great orchestration from start to finish. "Pyramania"
has a Pop/New Wave approach (as in the music of XTC), where another instrumental,
"Hyper-Gamma Spaces," has an upbeat, snappy, almost-Jazz sound, with expert
synthesizers.
The last song has superb orchestration and vocals, "Shadow Of A Lonely Man"
could classify as Progressive Rock, with a touch of Classical Music. A very impressive
tune, this one will want the listener go back and listen to it again, likewise the
entire album.
Pyramid displays the "high-tech" keyboard sounds Alan Parsons has
always provided in his music. His vocalists included ex-Zombie Colin Blunstone,
Dean Ford, David Paxton, Lenny Zakatek, Jack Harris, and John Miles.
(The CD didn't display who sang each song, that would of been nice...)
What is interesting, in reading the information about this album, is that Parsons
did NOT play keyboards on this album. He produced and engineered the album, and
played accoustic guitar. The keyboards were performed by Parsons'
lyricist/manager Eric Woolfson and Duncan Mackay. All of the songs were co-written
by Parsons and Woolfson. An amazing album -- for those who are not familiar with
Parsons' music, after listening to Pyramid, the listener will want to explore
other albums by Parsons, especially the ones that did not have any major hits, like
this album did.
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