The question I have been asked more than any other over the past 30 years is: '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?" 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. At the time Alan and I first met, he was known in the music business, having worked on Pink Floyd's classic 'Dark Side Of The Moon' and with The Beatles. I, on the other hand, was relatively unknown. As well as writing the songs and lyrics for the Project, I was also the manager and I felt it would be more beneficial to stay in the shadows with the main focus on Alan's role as Engineer/ Producer. When Tim Fraser-Harding at Sony Music asked me in 2006 if there was any unreleased material or alternative mix versions of tracks in the Alan Parsons Project archives my first thought was - probably not much. However, on investigating, I discovered many gems, which I had forgotten about in the 20 years since Alan and I worked together in the studio. Alan and I didn't always agree on what would make a good Project recording. It is no secret that Alan's reaction on first listening to 'Eye in the Sky' and Don't Answer Me' was less than enthusiastic and I had to argue hard for their inclusion. However, I didn't always get my way and some songs fell by the wayside. In going through the archives we found abandoned songs or backing tracks of incomplete songs with little or no vocal line and some of these tracks have been included on the recently released, expanded edition APP albums in the untouched form in which we discovered them. All of this gave rise to an idea that I could perhaps complete some of the unfinished works, together with other material that would unquestionably have been candidates for inclusion had Alan and I continued working together on more Projects, It's often said that there can be a certain magic for the listener when a composer sings his own material. I certainly was gratified that when I did sing lead vocals on tracks such as Eye in the Sky', Time' and Don't Answer Me', the reaction was very positive, and they became some of our greatest hits. For this reason and in response to many requests and kind comments sent through the websites, all of the songs on this album use my vocals. Alan Parsons is now based in the US and is more focused on performing live with a band these days. We have travelled along very separate paths since our last collaboration on the album Freudiana in 1990. So for this album, I have turned to two other talented recording engineers - Haydn Bendall and Austin Ince. It has been great fun working on these songs, in various studios, in the comfort of my own home and, of course, in the legendary Abbey Road Studios. I have very much enjoyed the experience of revisiting and completing songs from many eras of my writing life. I hope you enjoy the results!' Eric Woolfson - November 2008
A**O
El otro lado de una Gran Saga...
He estado siempre conectado a lo que ha sido la evolución de APP primero, de AP y su banda después. Sin embargo, siempre ha sido más difícil seguir a Eric Woolfson, quien todo seguidor de APP sabe muy bien lo que significó para el emprendimiento.Este disco, además de descubrirnos más joyas del talento de este escocés, proyecta luces sobre lo que ha sido la historia oficial de APP. Reafirma la calidad como escritor e intérprete, su sensibilidad como artista, haciendo llegar muchas sensaciones que hacen que uno confirme que la música es el alimento del alma.Primero me enteré de la existencia del disco, después del fallecimiento de Eric, a más de un año de producido. Es increíble que después de tantos años de silencio con respecto a APP, justo poco antes de morir realice un trabajo como este, con comentarios muy jugosos, al menos para los que hemos intentado seguir conectados con estos productores de música.Es un disco que no tiene desperdicios y que para nada defrauda a los que siempre hemos admirado el talento de Woolfson. Particularmente me gustaron los tracks 3 (Rumour going'round), 4 (Any other day), 8 (Somewhere in the audience), 9 (train to wuxi) y 10 (Immortal). Respecto de esta última, prefiero esta versión de Woolfson a la de Steve Bálsamo, más allá de reconocerle una voz espectacular. Como dice el mismo Eric, es muy interesante escuchar al propio creador interpretar su trabajo.Los fanáticos podemos darnos el gusto de volver a escuchar a Ian Bairnson y su guitarra en alguna canción...y el propio Woolfson aclara que el hecho de que la gente lo haya solicitado tanto en el sitio de APP es lo que lo decidió.Creo que después de tantos años de silencio, habiendo Eric Woolfson dejado de existir, este disco cumple varias funciones: desempolvar trabajos olvidados o no registrados, deleitarnos nuevamente con su talento y cerrar un episodio de separación de caminos que a todos los que nos gustaba el Project siempre nos dejó gusto amargo.Es un "imperdible" para todo fan de APP y un excelente disco para aquel que gusta de la buena música.Muy buena la presentación del disco en cuanto a lo explicativo del trabajo, al detalle de cada una de las canciones, explicando su génesis y/o haciendo una composición de lugar y con algunas fotos de Woolfson que están muy bien logradas.Un disco excelente desde todo punto de vista.Sólo discrepo con Eric en una cosa: él dice que sólo la familia y amigos allegados saben de su importancia para el APP...creo que somos muchos los que hemos sido concientes de que su aporte fue siempre fundamental en la creación de la imagen y personalidad propias del Project. Siempre fue así y siempre lamentamos la separación de caminos entre Alan y Eric.He leido por ahí que habría más trabajos posibles de ser editados...si es así, ¡que se haga!alberto
J**R
for true Alan Parsons fans
The voice is familiar. some rhythms are familiar. Not an exciting album. for true Alan Parsons fans. Still I love the words. Alan Parsons was always thought provoking.
K**G
Love APP, love Eric Woolfson? This is a must have in your collection
Amazing how many of these songs never made it to APP albums over the years. If you love Eric's melodic voice and his songs, Golden Key, Nothing will change my mind, Any other Day, Steal your heart away will immediately jump to the top of your favorites list, I can see round corners, Rumor Goin round solid, but not necessarily song you will want to listen to over and over like the aforementioned. Along the road together, Somewhere in the Audience, I can see why were bypassed. decent songs, but not really up to the APP standards. Train to Wuxl, Immortal kind of forgettable.When I can 4 songs on a single album in my "listen to over and over anytime category and 2 others in my "solid good songs", while not the whole album, that is worthy of 5 stars. very few albums you can put 3-4 songs on the entire album that you would want to listen to regularly.This is a fabulous album and while it may not have fit in with the various theme albums over the years while Eric collaborated with Parsons, if you like his melodies and his sound this is absolutely a must add to your collection
C**N
Eric still had it!
Eric Woolfson was a brilliant writer/composer. When he teamed up with producer Alan Parsons, the end product was some of the most amazing music to come out of the 80's and 90's. Parsons had nothing to do with this album, as the two had broken up as a team by the time Eric worked on this. I have to guess the title was created by someone else after Eric passed away.The music is what you would expect, though the instrumentation is mild. There are keyboards and a few others to back Eric up. Remember Eric could sing quite well. He was the voice on The Alan Parsons Project biggest hit "Eye in the Sky." Had Alan taken a hand on this album, there would have been a bass and drums, and probably some synthesizer work done as well. Even without Mr. Parsons being involved, this album stands alone as a beautiful reminder of what the late Mr. Woolfson was capable of. If you are a fan of T.A.P.P, you will enjoy this album.
J**N
Good album.
I enjoyed this CD. It will be enjoyed by any fan of the Alan Parsons Project.
D**E
A beautiful bit disappointing gem
I keep wanting to like this new CD from one of the most important APP alumnus, but I can't. Despite a gift for lyrics and phrasing, there's something lacking in this CD from Eric Woolfson. While Woolfson was able to pull this off in Poe, that can't be said here.In listening over the past few days, it's clear that the brilliant layering of the instruments from the APP is what's gone, whereas in the APP, the vocals were one of the instruments, leading to some amazing compositions over the years, in "Woolfson Sings the Alan Parsons Project That Never Was" that magic mix is missing.I also would have enjoyed more extensive liner notes as to where these songs would have fallen in the bigger APP landscape, that would let me compare them more to their siblings that did make it onto the albums since so often an APP theme, both in concept and musical style was key to their success.For the die-hard collector it's a must have, but to the average listener, it will always feel like something is missing in this album.
O**O
AN EXCELLENT ALBUM
As a fan of The Alan Parsons Project (not Alan Parsons recordings) this CD was a great return to the roots as Eric Woolfson voice and compositions were an essential part of the project. If you enjoyed the Alan Parsons Project era give a try to this recording which will drive you back to those great days when APP music was all over around.
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