Tuesday 12/20/22 10am ET: Classic Greatest Hits LP: Alan Parsons Project – Best Of (1983)

The Best of the Alan Parsons Project is a greatest hits compilation by the Alan Parsons Project, released October 1983. In addition, it contained a new song “You Don’t Believe”, which would be included on the next Project album, Ammonia Avenue. In 1986, it had become the first album of the group to be released in the Soviet Union, although the song “Psychobabble” was removed from it. No songs from Tales of Mystery and Imagination were included.

1. “I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You” 3:08
2. “Eye in the Sky” 4:29
3. “Games People Play” 4:14
4. “Time” 4:57
5. “Pyramania” 2:40
6. “You Don’t Believe” 4:23
7. “Lucifer” 4:05
8. “Psychobabble” 4:48
9. “Damned If I Do” 3:30
10. “Don’t Let It Show” 3:28
11. “Can’t Take It with You” 4:40
12. “Old and Wise” 4:04

Wednesday 11/16/22 6pm ET: Feature LP: Alan Parsons Project – The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)

The Turn of a Friendly Card is the fifth studio album by the British progressive rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released November 7, 1980 by Arista Records. The title piece, which appears on side 2 of the LP, is a 16-minute suite broken up into five tracks. The Turn of a Friendly Card spawned the hits “Games People Play” and “Time”, the latter of which was Eric Woolfson’s first lead vocal appearance.

Up to this album, all Alan Parsons Project albums had been packaged in gatefold sleeves. Increasing budgetary constraints of record companies made The Turn of a Friendly Card the beginning of all subsequently released Alan Parsons Project albums to be single sleeve packaged.

The album was recorded in a record short time of two weeks in Paris. Usually the Alan Parsons Project would take many months to record an album.

1. “May Be a Price to Pay” 4:58
2. “Games People Play” 4:22
3. “Time” 5:04
4. “I Don’t Wanna Go Home” 5:03
5. “The Gold Bug” 4:34
6. “The Turn of a Friendly Card 16:24
   i. The Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 1 (2:44)
   ii. Snake Eyes (3:14)
   iii. The Ace of Swords (2:57)
   iv. Nothing Left to Lose (4:07)
   v. The Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 2 (3:22)

Stuart Elliott – drums, percussion
David Paton – bass guitar
Ian Bairnson – electric, acoustic and classical guitars; pedal steel guitar on “Time”
Eric Woolfson – piano, harpsichord, lead vocals
Alan Parsons – Projectron on “Games People Play”, whistling and finger snaps on “The Gold Bug”, Clavinet on “The Gold Bug” and “The Ace of Swords”, harpsichord on “The Ace of Swords”, additional vocals on “Time”
Chris Rainbow – lead and backing vocals
Elmer Gantry (Dave Terry) – lead vocal
Lenny Zakatek – lead and backing vocals
The Philharmonic Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Andrew Powell

Sunday 4/24/22 11pm ET: Feature LP: Alan Parsons Project – Ammonia Avenue (1984)

Ammonia Avenue is the seventh studio album by the British progressive rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released on December 7, 1983 by Arista Records. The Phil Spector-influenced “Don’t Answer Me” was the album’s lead single, and reached the Top 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, as well as the fourth position on the Adult Contemporary chart. The single also reached the Top 20 in several countries and represents the last big hit for the Alan Parsons Project. “Prime Time” was a follow-up release that fared well in the top 40, reaching No. 34. “You Don’t Believe” was the first single in November 1983, reaching #54 on Billboard Hot 100 and “Since The Last Goodbye” was a minor hit.

Ammonia Avenue is one of the band’s biggest-selling albums, carrying an RIAA certification of gold and reaching the Top 10 in a number of countries.

1. “Prime Time” 5:03
2. “Let Me Go Home” 3:20
3. “One Good Reason” 3:36
4. “Since the Last Goodbye” 4:34
5. “Don’t Answer Me” 4:11
6. “Dancing on a Highwire” 4:22
7. “You Don’t Believe” 4:26
8. “Pipeline” 3:56
9. “Ammonia Avenue” 6:30

Ian Bairnson – electric and acoustic guitars
Colin Blunstone – vocals
Mel Collins – saxophone
Stuart Elliott – percussion, drums
Alan Parsons – Fairlight programming
David Paton – bass
Andrew Powell – orchestral arrangements and conducting
Chris Rainbow – vocals
Eric Woolfson – all keyboards, vocals
Lenny Zakatek – vocals
Christopher Warren-Green – The Philharmonia Orchestra leader

Monday 4/11/22 8am ET: Feature LP: Alan Parsons Project – Eye In The Sky (1982)

Eye in the Sky is the sixth studio album by English rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released in June 1982 by Arista Records. At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards in 1983, Eye in the Sky was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album. In 2019, the album won the Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

1. “Sirius” 1:54
2. “Eye in the Sky” 4:36
3. “Children of the Moon” 4:51
4. “Gemini” 2:11
5. “Silence and I” 7:19
6. “You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned” 4:22
7. “Psychobabble” 4:51
8. “Mammagamma” 3:34
9. “Step by Step” 3:54
10. “Old and Wise” 4:55

Chris Rainbow: main vocal
Lenny Zakatek: main vocal
Elmer Gantry: main vocal
Eric Woolfson: keyboards, main vocal
Colin Blunstone: main vocal
The English Chorale: choir vocals
Alan Parsons: keyboards, Fairlight programming, vocals
David Paton: acoustic, electric & bass guitars, main vocal
Ian Bairnson: acoustic & electric guitars
Mel Collins: saxophone
Stuart Elliott: drums, percussion

Tuesday 1/11/22 8pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1981 A to Z – Part 6

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1981 A2Z.

We complete letter F and start G. We feature music from: Cliff Richard, Odyssey, Whispers, Blackfoot, Imagination, Rita Coolidge, Saga, Alan Parsons Project, Rick James. Siouxsie & The Banshees, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Billy Joel, Humble Pie, Duran Duran and many more. . .

4pm to 7pm ET

Friday 12/24/21 8pm ET: Feature LP: Alan Parsons Project – Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Edgar Allan Poe) (1976)

Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Edgar Allan Poe) is the debut studio album by British rock band The Alan Parsons Project. It was released on May 1, 1976 in the United States by 20th Century Fox Records and on June 1, 1976 in the United Kingdom by Charisma Records. The lyrical and musical themes of the album, which are retellings of horror stories and poetry by Edgar Allan Poe, attracted a cult audience. The title of the album is taken from the title of a collection of Poe’s macabre stories of the same name.

Musicians featured on the album include vocalists Arthur Brown of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown on “The Tell Tale Heart”, John Miles on “The Cask of Amontillado” and “(The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether”, and Terry Sylvester of The Hollies on “To One in Paradise”. The complete line-up of bands Ambrosia and Pilot play on the record, along with keyboardist Francis Monkman of Curved Air and Sky.

Tales of Mystery and Imagination peaked at #38 on Billboard’s Pop Albums chart. The song “(The System Of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether” peaked at No. 37 on the Pop Singles chart, and No. 62 in Canada.

1. “A Dream Within a Dream” 4:14
2. “The Raven” 3:57
3. “The Tell-Tale Heart” 4:38
4. “The Cask of Amontillado” 4:33
5. “(The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether” 4:20
6. “The Fall of the House of Usher” 16:10
7. “To One in Paradise” 4:46

Alan Parsons – EMI vocoder (2), Projectron synthesizer (3, 7, 10), recorder (5), additional vocals (11), synthesizer (3-4 on 1987 remix), cathedral organ (5 on 1987 remix) producer, engineer
Eric Woolfson – keyboards (1-3, 5, 7), backing vocals (2, 4), harpsichord (4), organ (7), additional vocals (11), synthesizer (9 on 1987 remix) executive producer
Andrew Powell – orchestral arrangement (2-4, 6, 8, 10), orchestral conductor (2-4, 6, 8, 10), keyboards (7), organ (9)
Francis Monkman – organ (7), harpsichord (9)
Billy Lyall – keyboards (1, 3), recorder (1), piano (4-5), Fender Rhodes electric piano (11), glockenspiel (11)
Christopher North – keyboards (2)
Orson Welles – narration (1 and 6 on 1987 remix)
Leonard Whiting – lead vocals (2), narration (11, 1 on 2006 remaster)
Arthur Brown – lead vocals (3)
John Miles – lead vocals (4-5), electric guitar (5)
Jack Harris – additional vocals (3, 5)
Terry Sylvester – additional vocals (4), lead vocals (11)
Jane Powell – backing vocals (11)
Smokey Parsons – vocals
Bob Howes & the English Chorale – choir (2-4)
Westminster City School Boys Choir – choir (11)
David Paton – acoustic guitar (1, 11), backing vocals (1), bass guitar (3-5, 7, 11)
Kevin Peek – acoustic guitar (9)
Laurence Juber – acoustic guitar (9)
Ian Bairnson – electric guitar (1, 3-5, 7, 11, 2 on 1987 remix), acoustic guitar (1, 11)
David Pack – electric guitar (2)
Joe Puerta – bass guitar (1-2)
Les Hurdle – bass guitar (6)
Daryl Runswick – double bass (9)
David Katz – violin, orchestra leader (6, 8, 10), orchestra contractor
Jack Rothstein – orchestra leader (6, 8, 10)
David Snell – harp (9)
Hugo D’Alton – mandolin (9)
Stuart Tosh – drums (1-5, 7, 9, 11), timpani (3), backwards cymbals (3)
Burleigh Drummond – drums (2)
John Leach – cimbalom (9), kantele (9)
Dennis Clarke – saxophone, clarinet

Sunday 1/17/2021 1am ET: Feature LP: Alan Parsons Project – Eve (1979)

Eve is the fourth studio album by British rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released on August 27, 1979 by Arista Records. The album’s focus is on the strengths and characteristics of women, and the problems they face in the world of men. It had originally been intended to focus on “great women in history”, but evolved into a wider concept.

Eve is The Alan Parsons Project’s first album with singer Chris Rainbow. The album’s opening instrumental “Lucifer” was a major hit in Europe, and “Damned If I Do” reached the US Top 40, peaking at No. 27. “Lucifer” also is used as title track for the German political TV show Monitor.

The album’s artwork features two apparently beautiful women wearing veils. On closer examination, it can be seen that each has large sores, moles and other disfigurements hidden beneath the veils.

1. “Lucifer” 5:09
2. “You Lie Down with Dogs” 3:47
3. “I’d Rather Be a Man” 3:53
4. “You Won’t Be There” 3:34
5. “Winding Me Up” 4:04

1. “Damned If I Do” 4:50
2. “Don’t Hold Back” 3:37
3. “Secret Garden” 4:41
4. “If I Could Change Your Mind” 5:49

“Elsie’s Theme from ‘The Sicilian Defence’ (the Project that never was)”
“Lucifer” (demo)
“Secret Garden” (early rough mix)
“Damned If I Do” (rough mix)
“Don’t Hold Back” (vocal rehearsal rough mix)
“Lucifer” (early rough mix)
“If I Could Change Your Mind” (rough mix)

Friday 12pm ET: Feature Artist – Alan Parsons

Alan Parsons (born December 20, 1948) is an English audio engineer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of several significant albums, including the Beatles’ Abbey Road and Let It Be, and the eponymous debut album by Ambrosia, as well as Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. Parsons’ own group, The Alan Parsons Project, as well as his subsequent solo recordings, have also been commercially successful. He has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, with his first win occurring in 2019 for Best Immersive Audio Album, Eye in the Sky (35th Anniversary Edition).

Monday 2pm: The Chain with Ron Kovacs

Today we chain song titles with artists, James Taylor, Gladys Knight, Little Big Town, Belly, Alan Parsons Project, Ohio Players, Script, Esquires and many many more.  2pm on RadioMaxMusic 1.