The Alan Parsons Project

The Alan Parsons Project was a progressive rock venture spearheaded in the mid-1970s by English engineer and songwriter Alan Parsons and Scottish singer-songwriter and keyboard player Eric Woolfson who brought in several other vocalists and musicians to make a series of albums that were particularly popular in America. Parsons had made his name as an engineer on recordings such as The Beatles' 'Abbey Road' and Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon' while Woolfson was an established session player, producer and manager who worked with acts including Ambrosia, Pilot, Al Stewart and The Hollies. In 1976, they paired up to create the first Alan Parsons Project album, 'Tales of Mystery and Imagination', which featured members of Ambrosia and Pilot and went to number 38 on the Billboard 200. 'I, Robot' (1977), with vocals on separate tracks by Lenny Zakatek, Peter Straker & Jaki Whitren, Allan Clarke, Dave Townsend, Steve Harley and Jack Harris, went to number nine on the Billboard 200 and number 26 on the UK Official Charts. Zakatek and Harris showed up on other tracks as more albums were released and Woolfson sang with Chris Rainbown on the lengthy title track on 'The Turn of a Friendly Card' (1980), which went to number 13 on the Billboard 200. Their sixth studio album 'Eye in the Sky' (1982) peaked at number seven on the 200. With Woolfson as vocalist, the title track reached number three on Billboard's Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary Charts and number eleven on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart. 'Ammonia' (1984) peaked at number 15 on the 200 and number 24 in the UK, 'Vulture Culture' (1984), 'Stereotomy' (1985) and 'Gaudi' (1987) saw a decline in sales although they still had hit singles with 'Prime Time' (1984) and 'Standing On Higher Ground' (1987), both at number three on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart. The project dissolved in 1990 and Parsons and Woolfson pursued solo projects. Woolfson died in 2009. 'The Complete Albums Collection Box Set' of The Alan Parsons Project was released in 2014.

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