It was the last week of March in 1984 that I became an Alan Parsons Project fan. “Don’t Answer Me” was climbing the charts, eventually becoming a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. I knew of the Project before that – “Damned if I Do” and “Games People Play” were album rock staples and “Eye in the Sky” had been a huge pop hit (the biggest of the Project’s career) a couple years before. However, I hadn’t plunked down change for an APP album – until that week when I took the leap and grabbed up not just Ammonia Avenue, which featured “Don’t Answer Me,” but also The Best Of collection which had been released just a few months earlier.
A year later I would joyously plump for 1985’s Vulture Culture and a year after that for Stereotomy. As I was prone to do when discovering music in the ‘80s, I started dipping into the back catalog. Beyond the hits, I stumbled across gems like “Old and Wise” and “Turn of a Friendly Card.” Most amusingly though was, in May 1986 when I was anticipating a new album by Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung. I fell in love with this song on the radio that I thought was surely by him. I was wrong – it turned out to be “Breakdown,” from the nearly-decade old APP album I, Robot.
I learned the requisite back story necessary to claim a band as a new favorite. It turns out the Project’s namesake did engineering work on classic albums such as The Beatles’ Abbey Road and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. However, Alan Parsons wasn’t alone in the creation of those prog-lite concept albums forged from 1976 to 1987 that sold over 40 million albums worldwide. The group owed as much to Eric Woolfson – a songwriter, keyboardist, singer, and manager who lent his chops to some of the group’s best-known songs such as the aforementioned “Eye in the Sky” and “Don’t Answer Me.”
Following 1987’s Gaudi, the Project disappeared for three years, returning in 1990 with Freudiana. The thing confusingly was not credited to anyone, suggesting that it was a new group called Freudiana. However, this Eric Woolfson-helmed project was clearly the Project with Parsons producing and credits including longtime APP players Ian Bairnson on guitar, Stuart Elliott on drums, and orchestral arrangements from Andrew Powell. John Miles and Chris Rainbow, who’d warbled on past-Project tunes, also put in appearances.
There was something different, though. Peppered with far more guests and stretched to twice the length of the average APP album, this felt more like a musical cast album. Sure enough, there in the liner notes was the statement that “the first stage production of Freudiana has its world premiere in December 1990 in Vienna.” Hmm. This was definitely a new direction for the band.
It proved to be a new direction, but for Woolfson, not Parsons. While Woolfson was eager to explore musical theater, it was the jumping off point for Parsons. The Project was no more. Woolfson went on to craft the musicals Gaudi (1995), Gambler (1996), and Poe (recorded 2003, premiered 2009). He also wrote the music and lyrics for 2007’s Dancing Shadows, which won for Best Musical at the Korean Tony Awards.
This year, I was overjoyed to stumble across The Alan Parsons Project That Never Was, an album from Woolfson that combined some unreleased material from the Project days alongside songs crafted for his musicals. Sadly, it would be Woolfson’s finale. As I scanned the various comments on Facebook this morning about who was headed off to work and who needed coffee and who wasn’t enjoying the weather, I stopped sharply upon a fan notice: Eric Woolfson had died of cancer at the age of 64 on December 2, 2009 – a date that will now, sadly, overshadow that wonderful week in March 1984 when I became a fan. Farewell, Eric. You will be missed.
“Somewhere in the midst of time/ When they ask you if you knew me
Remember that you were a friend of mine
As the final curtain lifts before my eyes/ When I’m old and wise.”
- “Old and Wise” – Alan Parsons Project
Click here to hear an early version of the song that featured Eric Woolfson’s guide vocal.
Also check out my page on the detailed history of the Alan Parsons Project as well as the solo work of Parsons and Woolfson at DavesMusicDatabase.com.
DavesMusicDatabase.com is devoted to ranking, rating, and reviewing music of all genres and eras. The DMDB blog serves up album and song reviews, best-of lists, music history snapshots, and music-related essays.
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Showing posts with label Vulture Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vulture Culture. Show all posts
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Saturday, February 23, 1985
Alan Parsons Project Vulture Culture released
Vulture Culture |
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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.
Also from This Era:
Total Running Time: 37:01 The Players:
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Rating: 3.241 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings)
Awards:(Click on award to learn more).
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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 ReissueA 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 SongsHere’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs. |
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Let’s Talk About MeAlan 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).
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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 LivesAlan 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 |
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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.” DVRainbow 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.”
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Sooner or LaterAlan 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 CultureAlan 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.” |
HawkeyeAlan 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 ThereAlan 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 SunAlan 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 QuestionsAlan 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.
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Resources/References:
Related DMDB Pages:
First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 9/29/2025. |
Saturday, February 9, 1985
Alan Parsons Project “Let’s Talk About Me” charted
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| Let’s Talk About MeThe Alan Parsons Project |
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