Fish released Suits

Suits Fish

Released: April 16, 1994 Peak: -- US, 18 UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: neo-progressive rock

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Mr. 1470 (Dick, Paterson, Boult) [6:04] Lady Let It Lie (Dick, Paton, Cassidy) [6:53] (4/5/94, 46 UK) Emperor’s Song (Dick, Cassidy, Boult) [6:18] Fortunes of War (Dick, Cassidy, Boult) [7:50] (9/19/94, 67 UK) Somebody Special (Dick, Boult, Paton) [5:22] No Dummy (Dick, Cassidy, Boult) [6:16] Pipeline (Dick, Paton, Boult) [6:43] Jumpsuit City (Dick, Cassidy, Boult) [6:49] Bandwagon (Dick, Paton, Boult, Paterson, Wilkinson) [5:07] Raw Meat (Dick, Paterson) [7:17] The Players: Derek W. Dick, aka “Fish” (vocals) Robin Boult, Frank Usher (guitar) Foster Paterson (keyboards, backing vocals) David Paton (bass, backing vocals) James Cassidy (keyboards) Kevin Wilkinson (percussion, drums) Marc Duff (flute, human whistle) Charlie McKerron (fiddle) David Murray (bagpipes) Fraser Spiers (harmonica) Lorna Bannon (backing vocals)

Rating: 2.910 out of 5.00 (average of 15 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: After being dropped by Polydor, Suits was “the first album to be released on Fish’s new own label, the Dick Bros Record Company.” WK The name emerged “during a spiritual session with the guy who had come in to examine the 'possessed studio equipment' and which was named after the garage which had been run by his father and grandfather.” ES “The album continues the cooperation with produced James Cassidy who had already produced [previous album] Songs from the Mirror. Cassidy also contributed keyboards recordings and co-wrote five out of ten songs on the original version of this album. Together with keyboardist Foster Paterson, who had been part of the tour line-up since 1992 and co-wrote three tracks, Cassidy takes the role previously held by Mickey Simmonds. Further songwriting credits go to guitarist Robin Boult and bassist David Paton. The album took Fish the longest time yet to make, several songs on it had already premiered live in summer of 1992.” WK By at least one reviewer’s account, “the album contains some splendid tracks but judging from their earlier live versions they could have been much better.” ES “Despite the lack of major label support, it went to no. 18 on the UK Album Charts, doing better than both the 1991 album Internal Exile (#21) and Songs from the Mirror, which didn’t chart. However, this would turn out to be Fish’s last UK top 40 album (as of February 2008).” WK “Mr. 1470 is a rock track with a ‘groove’ as Fish would say. It’s rock music but it’s got a certain ‘danceability’ to it. Fish had been wanting to try this direction for a while and Suits is probably an album on which it became very obvious.” ES “Lady Let It Lie is a beautiful semi-ballad which was also released on single. It’s a fantastic track with wonderful lyrics. One of the highlights of the album.” ES Emperor’s Song is an example of a song that reviewer Ed Sander says was stronger in its initial live carnation. “This version is more like its shy twin brother. Still a nice track though. They should have made this one a single; it's very radio-friendly.” ES The “lyrics and basic melody of Fortunes of War” ES make for “a good track,” ES but “the laid-back and jazzy arrangements did not do the emotional load of the subject justice.” ES Somebody Special is “one of those tracks you quite like but drags on too much to be really enjoyable. The re-recorded version for the Yin/Yang albums was better in my opinion.” ES “No Dummy is a track which…is more like B-side material. It’s got a silly text, a very un-Fish melody,” ES a “definite groove and lots of keyboard samples as well as slightly annoying backing vocals.” ES “Pipeline is another great tune of which the early live versions had much more power. It’s still one of the best tracks on the album though.” ES “Jumpsuit City is a another ‘groovy’ tune with great lyrics about hookers of the Reeperbahn in Hamburg.” ES However, while the “poppy arrangements” might make for “a very happy and positive song,” ES one would “hardly call the song essential in your Fish collection.” ES “Raw Meat is a beautiful emotional ballad about the ‘hard life on the road.’ Although there are some great live versions, this one is very charming as well. Another highlight.” ES “The CD features two bonus tracks which appeared on the ‘Lady Let It Lie’ CD singles. The first one is the amazing Black Canal which can best be described as Fish doing his own ‘Somewhere Down the Crazy River.’ And a very smelly river it is.” ES “The other one is another track which goes back a couple of years; Out of My Life. Whereas the Outpatient album featured the acoustic version this one is the studio version with lots of weird percussion and folky instruments.” ES “ The booklet of the remastered version contains new pictures, all lyrics (including those of the bonus tracks) and extensive liner notes about the origins of the album and the various tracks. The logo which has been designed for the Yin & Yang compilation albums is used several times.” ES “Most of the material on Suits is quite good and tracks like ‘Mr. 1470,’ ‘Lady Let It Lie,’ ‘Pipeline’ and ‘Raw Meat’ certainly deserve the title of ‘Fish classic’. It’s just that it could have been even better with different arrangements and production.” ES Notes: “Black Canal” and “Out of My Life,” originally B-sides of “Lady Let It Lie,” were added to the 1998 reissue.

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Marillion DMDB encyclopedia entry for Fish ES Ed Sander, DPRP.net WK Wikipedia Last updated 6/13/2021.

Fish released covers album, Songs from the Mirror

Songs from the Mirror Fish

Released: January 20, 1993 Peak: -- US, 46 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: neo-progressive rock

Tracks: Song Title (Writers: original performer) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Question (Justin Hayward: the Moody Blues) [6:41] Boston Tea Party (Alex Harvey, Hugh McKenna, Zal Cleminson: Sensational Harvey Band) [4:22] Fearless (David Gilmour, Roger Waters: Pink Floyd) [6:15] Apeman (Ray Davies: The Kinks) [5:57] Hold Your Head Up (Rod Argent, Chris White: Argent) [3:47] (12/12/92, --) Solo (Sandy Denny) [4:46] I Know What I Like (Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hacket, Mike Rutherford: Genesis) [4:17] Jeepster (Marc Bolan: T-Rex) [4:10] Five Years (David Bowie) [5:19] (radio promo) Total Running Time: 44:53 The Players: Derek W. Dick, aka “Fish” (vocals) Robin Boult (guitar, backing vocals) Frank Usher (guitar) Foster Paterson (keyboards, backing vocals) David Paton (bass, background vocals) Kevin Wilkinson (percussion, drums) Mick Wall (voices) Lorna Bannon, Jackie Bird (background vocals)

Rating: 3.096 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: Fish’s second solo album, Internal Exile, “hadn’t done very well from a sales point of view. Polydor was getting restless and Fish needed more time to write a good follow-up record,” ES deciding to offer up an album of cover versions. His “idea to make a cover album dates back to the late Marillion [the neo-prog group he fronted in the ‘80s] period, but had been rejected by the band.” WK Polydor initially rejected the project, wanting a new studio effort instead. The company eventually relented and “accepted it as the second album Fish was obliged to deliver under their contract.” WK “As was to be expected, the partnership ended then and there.” ES “As of February 2008, Songs from the Mirror is Fish’s last ever output on a major record company.” WK It “wasn’t a success [and] loads of Fish fans consider it to be their least favourite Fish album.” The album serves as a tribute to the “artists who inspired him before his career started. The choice of songs by Pink Floyd, Genesis, David Bowie, The Moody Blues and others, all originally from a period between 1970 and 1976, reflects Fish’s taste in music when he was 12 to 18 years old. The title is a reference to the time when he would impersonate his teenage idols in front of a mirror.” WK “Some of the tracks are very good, like Question…, Fearless [and] Five Years.” ES “Solo is probably the least well-known track on the album. Nevertheless it became one of Fish’s best ballads ever.” ES “The rest of the songs are either just nice or don’t really fit Fish’s normal style (Apeman) but are still interesting.” ES Fish understandably covers Genesis here (his voice is often compared to Peter Gabriel and when Fish was with Marillion the band was often compared to Gabriel-era Genesis. As one reviewer says, however, the Genesis song of choice here, I Know What I Like, was already “just on the edge of being ‘too sweet’…[and then] Fish took it and made it even sweeter than the original.” ES “The core line-up on this album is the same as on the 1992 tour. Since the recording of Internal Exile, keyboardist Mickey Simmonds had been replaced with Foster Paterson, while drummer Kevin Wilkinson had taken over from session player Ethan Johns. The spots for guitars (Robin Boult, Frank Usher) and bass (David Paton) had remained unchanged. Other than that and backing vocals, only two tracks (‘Solo’ and Jeepster) feature an additional guest musician, Ben Molleson on violin and tin whistle. The album was mixed and produced by James Cassidy, who Fish had met while recording guest vocals for Jeff Wayne’s musical Spartacus. Cassidy would also produce and co-write Fish's next album Suits (1994).” WK “Songs from the Mirror is the only regular Fish album not to be designed by Mark Wilkinson. Fish had deliberately decided to not use Wilkinson, as he didn’t want to give the impression it was an album with original material. Instead, he chose the ‘The Guddler’ by Scottish painter Keith McIntyre as the cover. ‘The Guddler’ had also been the working title of the project.” WK “The 12-page booklet does not feature any lyrics (probably because of copyright reasons) but is full of pictures and liner notes about this period in Fish’s career, the role music played in his childhood and the selection of tracks on the album.” ES Notes: A remastered edition bumped “Jeepster” in favor of a pair of covers of Yes song – “Time and a Word” and “The Seeker.”

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Fish DMDB encyclopedia entry for Marillion ES Ed Sander, DPRP.net WK Wikipedia Last updated 6/12/2021.

Alan Parsons Project Stereotomy released

Stereotomy Alan Parsons Project

Charted: February 1, 1986 Peak: 43 US, -- UK, 32 CN, 50 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: progressive rock lite

Tracks: Song Title [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts. Stereotomy [7:15] Beaujolais [4:27] Urbania [4:34] Limelight [4:39] In the Real World [4:17] Where’s the Walrus? [7:34] Light of the World [ 6:22] Chinese Whispers [1:02] Stereotomy Two [1:18] Total Running Time: 41:58 Also from This Era: Rumour Goin’ Round [4:39] The Players: Alan Parsons (production, engineering, assorted instruments) Eric Woolfson (vocals, keyboards, piano) Ian Bairson (guitar) Stuart Elliott (drums, percussion) David Paton (bass) Richard Cottle (keyboards, synthesizer, saxophone) Gary Brooker, Graham Dye, Steven Dye, John Miles, Chris Rainbow (vocals) The Philharmonia Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Andrew Powell

Rating: 3.190 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “’Stereotomy’ is the scientific term for enclosing scientific samples in wax and then cutting them into fine shavings. The word was used by Edgar Allan Poe in his work The Murders in the Rue Morgue which was the first detective novel.” APP The album, the ninth by the Alan Parsons Project, uses “stereotomy” as “a metaphor for the way that famous people…are often ‘shaped’ by the demands of fame.” WK This allows for the exploration of themes about how ‘the modern world molds the personality, the character, and the livelihood of the human being. People are but a slave to their lifestyle and their environment and they are destined to be thrown into this situation at birth.” AM "The Alan Parsons Project’s conceptual grandeur began to lose its potency right around the mid-‘80's.” AM On Stereotomy, "one must really pay attention to the profound lyrics and loose structuring of the music to attain the concept that Parsons metaphorically dances around.” AM “The lack of unity and cohesion means that [this] is merely a collection of good songs and not a work in its own right.” DV Commercially, the Project were on the downside as well. They had top 20 hits like “Games People Play” and “Don’t Answer Me” as well as the top-10 “Eye in the Sky,” but now they were lucky to grace the Billboard Hot 100 at all. The title cut peaked at a lowly #82. “The elegant, Appolonian keyboard-based sound of albums like Eye in the Sky and Vulture Culture was gone, replaced with a drum and bass-heavy throb on the opening track. The production was still crisp and clean, the engineering exquisite,” DV but “in many ways this was the end of any pretensions that Alan Parsons’ was progressive rock…this was a stripped down and…almost…funky?…Project.” DV While the Project’s instrumentals may be a selling point to many fans, the presence of three of them, not to mention a very unnecessary reprise of the title cut, make the album feel lazy. Coupling that with Parsons’ growing weakness in presenting readily apparent concepts well supported by the songs makes for a mediocre effort. “Parsons’ genius can be better investigated on numerous past releases, as this album proves to come up short.” AM Notes: A 2008 reissue included alternate versions of “Stereotomy” and “Light of the World” along with a demo of the unreleased “Rumour Goin’ Round.” The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Stereotomy Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson (see lyrics here) Vocals: John Miles Released: 1/18/1986 (single), Stereotomy (1986), The Best of, Volume 2 (compilation, 1988), The Definitive Collection (compilation, 1997), The Essential (compilation, 2007) Peak: 82 BB, 5 AR, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.83 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: The Project used a myriad of singers over the years and in this case, they turned to John Miles for most of the vocal, although Eric Woolfson, the only mainstay in the group other than Parsons, does come in toward the end. Miles wasn’t well known in the United States, but his song “Music” hit #3 on the UK charts in 1976. The “angriness” of his “forceful voice” makes “Stereotomy “a passable rock tune.” AMG “Stereotomy” notched a fitting place on the album rock tracks (#5), but once again was shunned by pop radio, peaking at a mere #82 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Beaujolais Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Chris Rainbow Released: Stereotomy (1986) Peak: 31 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.65 streaming About the Song: The “new wave-tinged dance of Beajolais” DV is a decent, but not overly memorable song.

Urbania Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: Stereotomy (1986), Instrumental Works (1988) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.66 streaming About the Song: “Two of the album’s instrumentals, Where’s the Walrus? and Urbania, conjure up mood and keep the listener slightly poised, causing some musical buoyancy among the blandness of the other tracks.” AM

Limelight Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Gary Brooker Released: April 1986 (single),Stereotomy (1986), The Best of, Volume 2 (compilation, 1988), The Very Best Live (live, 1995), The Essential (compilation, 2007), The Never Ending Show (live, 2021) Peak: 14 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.65 streaming About the Song: “Limelight is almost Broadway in its sheer power.” DV It is a beautiful song and one of the rare highlights on the album.

In the Real World Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: John Miles Released: Stereotomy (1986), The Definitive Collection (compilation, 1997) Peak: 6 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.64 streaming About the Song: “With the help of [vocalist John] Miles’ assertiveness,” AM In the Real World is a “vocal standout” AM and "one of the greatest rock songs you've never heard.” DV This song should have followed “Stereotomy” on to the album rock charts.

Where’s the Walrus? Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: Stereotomy (1986), Instrumental Works (1988) Peak: 28 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.89 streaming About the Song: “Two of the album’s instrumentals, Where’s the Walrus? and Urbania, conjure up mood and keep the listener slightly poised, causing some musical buoyancy among the blandness of the other tracks.” AM

Light of the World Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Graham Dye Released: Stereotomy (1986) Peak: 11 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.58 streaming About the Song: “Light of the World is a passionate, powerful ballad about spiritual seeking and longing.” DV

Chinese Whispers Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: Stereotomy (1986) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.36 streaming About the Song: “The synth-laden wistfulness of Chinese Whispers” DV makes for the third (!) instrumental on the Stereotomy album.

Stereotomy Two Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: John Miles Released: Stereotomy (1986) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.61 streaming About the Song: This is a very unnecessary reprise of the title cut which, especially in light of the album’s three instrumentals, feels like filler.

Resources/References: APP The-Alan-Parsons-Project.com AM AllMusic.com review by Mike DeGagne DV DailyVault.com review by Duke Egbert WK Wikipedia Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 4/26/2026.

Alan Parsons Project Vulture Culture released

Vulture Culture Alan Parsons Project

Released: February 23, 1985 Peak: 46 US, 40 UK, 25 CN, 32 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.3 world Genre: progressive rock lite

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. Let’s Talk About Me [4:22] Separate Lives [4:42] Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) [4:02] Sooner Or Later [ 4:26] Vulture Culture [5:21] Hawkeye [3:48] Somebody Out There [4:56] The Same Old Sun [5:24] Also from This Era: No Answers Only Questions [2:12] Total Running Time: 37:01 The Players: Alan Parsons (production, engineering, assorted instruments) Eric Woolfson (vocals, keyboards, piano) Ian Bairson (guitar) Colin Blunstone, Chris Rainbow, Lenny Zakatek (vocals) Stuart Elliott (drums, percussion) David Paton (bass) Richard Cottle (keyboards, synthesizer, saxophone)

Rating: 3.241 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: Vulture Culture confronts the notion that we live “in a parasitic society, where it's every man for himself. Those who can't fend for themselves simply won't survive in a world where the kindness of the human spirit is rapidly deteriorating.” AM This isn’t the most original theme ever attempted, and is rendered even more unoriginal by the fact that every Alan Parsons Project album seems to address the nature of man in the face of conflict, be it technology (I Robot), gambling (Turn of a Friendly Card, or the watchful eye of the government (Eye in the Sky). With the exception of the Edgar Allan Poe-themed debut album Tales of Mystery and Imagination, every Project album fudged a little on the overall concept, sometimes barely suggesting the theme. “On this album, though, the songs are weaker and are less effective in bringing out the album's complex idea…Vulture Culture lacks in cohesiveness and strength both lyrically and, to a lesser extent, musically.” AM “Vulture Culture is, fundamentally, a flawed work with only a few good bits.” DV “Production and engineering is, as always, crisp, clear, and flawless. Sad fact is, though, that that flawless production reveals the flaws in the compositions themselves.” DV The “chart successes of Eye in the Sky and Ammonia Avenue resulted in a more pop-oriented sound -- a sound that just doesn't work. Andrew Powell’s orchestral sound is completely absent on Vulture Culture, and the traditional Project sound goes right out the window with it.” DV When all is said and done, “without the usual balance of absorbing lyrics and well-maintained music, Vulture Culture remains one of this band’s less prolific albums.” AM “Vulture Culture can only be recommended to the completist.” DV Reissue A 2007 reissue added an alternate mix of “Separate Lives,” a demo of “Hawkeye,” two versions of “No Answers Only Questions,” and “The Naked Vulture.” The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Let’s Talk About Me Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson (see lyrics here) Vocals: David Paton Released: single (1/11/1985), Vulture Culture (1985) B-Side: “Hawkeye” Peak: 56 BB, 10 AR, 89 CN, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.84 video, 3.78 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: The Alan Parsons Project’s 1984 Ammonia Avenue album was a slight drop-off from the platinum, top-10 success of 1982’s Eye in the Sky (which produced the title cut, the group’s only top-10 hit). It wasn’t surprising that Vulture Culture would slip a bit more, but it was still a surprise to see it be the group’s first album since their 1976 debut to fall short of attaining at least gold status. It also was surprising that the lead single, “Let’s Talk About Me,” didn’t even each the top 40. Then again, the Project has a long history of song’s that feel tailor-made for pop radio that fall short. Among the song’s highlights are the layered snippets of dialogue and “the pounding percussion of Stuart Elliot.” DV As with every album by the project, there is a loose theme tying the songs together. For Vulture Cuture, the “fallacy of humankind is front and center.” AM The message is that “everyone lives in a parasitic society, where it’s every man for himself.” AM Just the title of “Let’s Talk About Me” suggests egocentrism. David Paton takes the lead on vocals here. He was a mainstay with the Project since their beginning, serving as bassist and a backing vocalist. He also assumed lead vocal duties on previous Project songs, most notably the Billboard Hot 100 hit “What Goes Up…” from 1978’s Pyramid album. He gained his greatest success with the group Pilot in the 1970s, especially the top-5 hit “Magic.”

Separate Lives Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 32 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.29 streaming About the Song: “’Separate Lives’ and ‘Sooner Or Later’ end up sounding like the unholy mating of Parsons’ immaculate synths with bubblegum pop.” DV

Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Chris Rainbow Released: single (4/27/1985), Vulture Culture (1985) B-Side: “Somebody Out There” Peak: 71 BB, 11 AC, 30 AR, 9 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 6.54 streaming About the Song: Still, there are a few good moments. “The most appealing song, Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) with vocalist Chris Rainbow at the helm, combines simplicity with a timeless chorus.” AM It is “a brilliant, textured, and complex ballad in the middle of a field of mostly banal lyrics and uninspired arrangements.” DV Rainbow had appeared on Project albums since 1979’s Eve, offering lead vocals on such memorable songs as “Snake Eyes,” “The Turn of a Friendly Card,” and “Since the Last Goodbye.”

Sooner or Later Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 25 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.44 streaming About the Song: “’Separate Lives’ and ‘Sooner Or Later’ end up sounding like the unholy mating of Parsons’ immaculate synths with bubblegum pop.” DV

Vulture Culture Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Lenny Zakatek Released: Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 8 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.79 streaming About the Song: The title cut is right in the middle of the pack. It is neither a complete throwaway, nor is it a standout like the two aforementioned songs. What hurts the song most is the fact that it is the title cut, thus weighing down the song with expectations that it will bring a clarity to the overall album theme. Instead, it would be more appropriate as one of those songs that after an album is over, you say, “I kinda liked that one song.” The song is the most rock-oriented on the album, thanks to Lenny Zakatek on vocals. He sang lead on three of the Project’s best-known songs: “I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You,” “Damned if I Do,” and “Games People Play.”

Hawkeye Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: B-side of “Let’s Talk About Me” (1/11/1985), Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.66 streaming About the Song: “The instrumental Hawkeye adds life and contrast to the album at just the right time.” AM It is still “somewhat average [but] has a great saxophone part.” DV

Somebody Out There Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Colin Blunstone Released: B-side of “Days Are Numbers (The Traveller)” (4/27/1985), Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 36 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.68 streaming About the Song: This song features Colin Blunstone (lead singer of the Zombies in the 1960s) on vocals. He was a regular on Project albums, including lead vocals on “Can’t Take It with You” and “Old and Wise.”

The Same Old Sun Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 18 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.99 streaming About the Song: The Same Old Sun is a beautiful “Broadway-style ballad, similar in feel and in quality to ‘Shadow of a Lonely Man’ from Pyramid.” DV It makes for an excellent album closer and is one of the Project’s more overlooked songs.

No Answers Only Questions Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Vulture Culture (2007 reissue) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.19 streaming About the Song: This track was added to the 2007 reissue of Vulture Culture. It is credited solely to Eric Woolfson. He included the song in his 2007 musical Dancing Shadows.

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Mike DeGagne DV DailyVault.com review by Duke Egbert WK Wikipedia page for Vulture Culture WK Wikipedia page for “Let’s Talk About Me” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 9/29/2025.

Alan Parsons Project “Let’s Talk About Me” charted

Let’s Talk About Me The Alan Parsons Project

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Keats: An Alan Parsons Project Offshoot

Keats Keats

Released: August 1984 ? Recorded: December 1983 to March 1984 Charted: -- Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: progressive rock lite

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Heaven Knows (Bardens) [3:56] Tragedy (Blunstone, Elliott) [5:01] Fight to Win (Bardens) [4:10] Walking on Ice (Paton) [3:31] How Can You Walk Away (Paton) [3:41] Turn Your Heart Around (Bardens) [3:44] (1984, --) Avalanche (Bardens) [4:06] Give It Up (Bairnson) [4:45] Ask No Questions (Bairnson) [3:25] Night Full of Questions (Blunstone, Elliott) [3:57] Hollywood Heart (Bairnson) [3:43] Total Running Time: 44:00 The Players: Colin Blunstone (vocals) Ian Bairnson (guitar) Pete Bardens (keyboards) David Paton (bass, backing vocals) Stuart Elliott (drums, percussion) Stuart Cottle (saxophone, synthesizers, additional keyboard parts)

Rating: 3.107 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

About the Album: “If Toto was considered a super-star band consisting of the finest session musicians available in the US studio scene, this description applied for Keats in England as well. Consequently, the self-titled album is a milestone of contemporary rock.” RYM Members Colin Blunstone, Ian Bairnson, David Paton, and Stuart Elliott all worked together in the Alan Parsons Project, but had respectable resumes even before that. Blunstone had worked with the Zombies and as a solo artist. Bairnson and Paton had both worked with the group Pilot, best known for the song “Magic.” Elliott had been with Cockney Rebel. Pete Bardens, who’d worked with Them and Camel, rounded out the group. Although neither Alan Parsons nor Eric Woolfson had a hand in any of the writing as they did with all the Alan Parsons Project albums, they were still both involved. Parsons lent his hand as producer and, according to RateYourMusic.com, it was Woolfson who conceived the Keats project. It was his intent “to create a career for the core of the band and give them the opportunity to control their own musical output.” RYM He reportedly named the group after his favorite restaurant. GR Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out that way. Keats didn’t go anywhere despite how closely the sound matched that of Alan Parsons Project albums. Of course, from a timing standpoint, the Alan Parsons Project’s fortunes were waning. While previous album Ammonia Avenue had gone gold and produced a top-20 hit (“Don’t Answer Me”), it would mark the last time the group would achieve gold status or a top-40 hit. Still, this is “top-notch AOR throughout” GR even if “listeners often considered the Keats music as being too technical – lacking emotion.” RYM “The songs are slicker than the more musically and lyrically adventurous Alan Parsons Project albums. That’s saying something considering the highly polished sonic glaze Parsons gave his own work.” AMG All Music Guide called the opening song Heaven Knows one of the album’s highlights. AMG That song and Avalance are reminiscent of Toto with the former marked by saxophone playing from Richard Cottle. “Elsewhere there are even hints of late-1980s Magnum (Fight to Win),” GR another song noted by All Music Guide as a highlight. AMG It’s Blunstone who handles most of the vocals here. His most notable vocal with the Alan Parsons Project was on the song “Old and Wise” from their 1982 album Eye in the Sky. However, Paton takes the lead on Walking on Ice, a song he composed, and Ask No Questions, a song written by Bairnson. GR The latter “has a definite Doobies-feel in the chorus.” GR The album’s sole single, Turn Your Heart Around, is “amongst the standouts.” GR It was written by Bardens and also turned up on Blunstone’s solo album On the Air Tonight.

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Keats AMG All Music Guide review by Bret Adams GR Get Ready to Rock! (5/1/2020). “Feature: Albums That Time Forgot – Keats by David Randall RYM Rate Your Music WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 9/24/2021.

 

Alan Parsons Project Eye in the Sky charted in the U.S.

Eye in the Sky Alan Parsons Project

Charted: June 19, 1982 Peak: 7 US, 28 UK, 3 CN, 4 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.06 UK, 2.38 world (includes US and UK) Genre: progressive rock lite

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. Sirius [1:48] Eye in the Sky [4:33] Children of the Moon [4:49] Gemini [2:09] Silence and I [7:17] You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned [4:19] Psychobabble [4:50] Mammagamma [3:34] Step by Step [3:52] Old and Wise [4:52] Total Running Time: 42:03 The Players: Alan Parsons (production, engineering, assorted instruments) Eric Woolfson (vocals, keyboards, piano) Ian Bairson (guitar) David Paton (bass) Stuart Elliott (drums, percussion) Colin Blunstone, Chris Rainbow, Elmer Gantry, Lenny Zakatek (vocals) Mel Collins (saxophone) The Philharmonia Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Andrew Powell

Rating: 4.078 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings) Quotable: “On no other album by this group is there such a tight amalgamation of music, lyrics, and ideas, all combining to create songs that are accessible to a vast audience” – Mike DeGagne, AllMusic.com Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: ”The fusion of Parsons’ thematic intentions and exquisitely textured music comes to fruition on 1982's Eye in the Sky,” AM an album which ”returned in some ways to [Parsons’] more progressive, art-rock past,” AZ but also serves as “the transition between the seventies’ Project art rock sound and the more clinical, Fairlight-laden eighties sound.” DV “Parsons’ approach was a synthesis of studio wizardry with a symphonic, spacey interplay between keyboards, synthesizers and basic rock instrumentation.” AZ ”With a powdery feel and pristine sound, Eye in the Sky is worthy of both amiable songs and conceptual substance, something not found on all of the Alan Parsons Project’s albums.” AM “On no other album by this group is there such a tight amalgamation of music, lyrics, and ideas, all combining to create songs that are accessible to a vast audience.” AM ”The album deals with the futuristic outlook of how our lives will be constantly monitored by ‘Big Brother’ and the manner in which man's right for freedom and choice may someday be thwarted by the government, or the powers that be. Aside from Parsons' intriguing concept, the individual songs serve a dual purpose by carrying out the album's message while at the same being perfect examples of well-crafted rock.” AM ”What you have here is a seriously tasty piece of symphonic pop/rock, music for grownups.” DV ”Eye in the Sky is, quite simply, the Project’s finest hour.” DV Reissue The 2007 reissue added alternate versions of “Sirius,” “Old and Wise,” and “Silence and I.” There was also an additional song (“Any Other Day”), the instrumental medley “The Naked Eye” and “Eye Pieces.” The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Sirius Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 3 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 13.0 video, 116.15 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: ”The up-and-down flow of the instrumental Sirius is astonishing and is used wisely as the opening track.” AM It gained distinction as the soundtrack for the Chicago Bulls in their Michael Jordan championship era. “P.Diddy (Puff Daddy) also chose [it] as the backbone for the title track of his most platinum-selling CD, The Saga Continues. In 2000, ‘Sirius’ was featured in an IMAX documentary movie about Michael Jordan.” AP

Eye in the Sky Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson (see lyrics here) Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: single (7/3/1982), Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 3 BB, 3 CB, 3 GR, 3 AC, 11 AR, 11 CN, 22 AU, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.50 US, -- UK, 0.55 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 143.90 video, 357.01 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: The Alan Parsons Project built a loyal platinum base with their first five semi-conceptual albums. Their progressive-rock-lite sound was embraced by album rock stations with future radio staples such as “Damned if I Do” and “Games People Play,” songs which also found audiences at top-40 radio. However, it wasn’t until their sixth album, Eye in the Sky and its title cut, that the group found its biggest audience. The album was the group’s second top-10 album after 1977’s I, Robot. Meanwhile the title cut reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the Alan Parsons Project their only top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The term “eye in the sky” might suggest the “Big Brother is always watching you” idea from George Orwell’s dystopian classic 1984 but there are no lyrical references to the book in the song and the official website doesn’t mention any connection. Parsons has said, however, that the album did play with the idea that “there’s always a camera watching you, there’s always a helicopter in the sky overseeing you, and you can read a line of small newspaper print from space.” SF It can also be viewed as a reference to the ceiling cameras in casinos. SF “Eye in the Sky” ”is a prime example of a fabulous rock song, highlighted by the harmonic beauty of Eric Woolfson.” AM When the song gained a foothold at radio, it was often paired on album-rock-oriented formats with “Sirius,” the instrumental lead-in on the album.

Children of the Moon Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: David Paton Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 29 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 8.74 streaming About the Song: Children of the Moon and Gemini “have Parsons’s love of the esoteric.” AZ

Gemini Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Chris Rainbow Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 39 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 4.78 streaming About the Song: Children of the Moon and Gemini “have Parsons’s love of the esoteric.” AZ The latter “is an astonishing piece of vocal harmony.” DV

Silence and I Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 3 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 8.81 streaming About the Song: Next up is Silence and I, “a rich, multi-layered vocal and orchestral piece.” DV

You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Lenny Zakatek Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Charted: 6/26/1982 Peak: 22 AR, 12 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.48 streaming About the Song: You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned “ is a surprisingly straight-ahead rock number.” DV

Psychobabble Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Elmer Gantry Released: single, Eye in the Sky (1982) First Charted: 7/10/1982 Peak: 57 BB, 38 GR, 54 AR, 3 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 5.89 streaming About the Song: ”Psychobabble is a cerebral rock song that best represents the album’s concept” AM and, “though never a hit…remains a favorite of fans.” AZ

Mammagamma Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 24.29 streaming About the Song: ”Mammagamma is another instrumental that brandishes the group’s trademarked mysteriousness, wrapped in an ominous science fiction-type glow.” AM It “allowed Parsons to fully indulge his fondness for orchestration with its instrumental structure.” AZ

Step by Step Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Lenny Zakatek Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 37 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.74 streaming

Old and Wise Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Wooflson (see lyrics here) Vocals: Colin Blunstone Released: single (1/15/1983), Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 21 AC, 74 UK, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 9.80 video, 50.22 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: The title cut from Eye in the Sky gave the Alan Parsons Project their greatest hit. The album also featured “Old and Wise.” It was released as a single, but didn’t fare nearly as well. It did reach the lower rungs of the UK chart and was a minor hit on Billboard’s adult contemporary chart. On a personal note, however, it is my favorite Alan Parsons Project song and one of my top 100 songs of all time. Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson co-wrote the song “about a man approaching death, addressing those he knew with fond remembrance.” SF The song begs to be played at funerals with its simultaneously heart-wrenching and uplifting statement “To those I leave behind / I want you all to know/ You’ve always shared my darkest hours / I’ll miss you when I go.” They recorded a version with Woolfson singing lead – as he often did on songs by the Project – without the orchestration or saxophone solo which was featured on the final album version. His vocal is featured on the 2007 album reissue of Eye in the Sky, but the 1982 released featured Colin Blunstone. Parsons knew him from his days in the Zombies when Parsons was an engineer on the group’s 1968 Odessey and Oracle album. SF Blunstone had worked with the Project before, having sung “The Eagle Will Rise Again” on the group’s 1978 Pyramid album. Woolfson and Blunstone were both at Abbey Road studios and Woolfson told him, “I’d like to play you this song.” SF Eric sat down at a piano in the same studio where the Zombies had recorded “Time of the Season” and played “Old and Wise.” Blunstone thought it was wonderful and Woolfson asked if he’d take a stab at the vocals. SF Blunstone would record other songs with the Project, but this was the only single released by them which featured Blunstone on vocals. WK

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Mike DeGagne AZ Amazon.com review by Steve Gdula DV DailyVault.com review by Duke Egbert AP AlanParsonsMusic.com SF Songfacts page for “Eye in the Sky” SF Songfacts page for “Old and Wise” WK Wikipedia page for Eye in the Sky album WK Wikipedia page for “Eye in the Sky” song WK Wikipedia page for “Old and Wise” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 9/25/2025.