Customer Reviews

Definitive Collection

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This compilation album of the Alan Parsons Project does indeed contain many of the best songs they put out. For that I give this CD 5 stars. APP music is sometimes rock driven, at other times it is peaceful and contemplative, and it almost always has a message. There are also great vocals and superb instrumentals.

If, however, you really want to have the APP experience don't stop with this CD -- it is vital that you listen to the original APP CDs this mucis is pulled from. Listen to them in their entirety, from start to finish. The reason I say that is that the APP is, in my opinion, the undisputed master of the concept album.

A concept album is a work that contains songs that all connect to a central theme, and sometimes even work together to tell a story. For example...

APP album #1 "Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Allan Poe" takes its inspiration from the literary works of Edgar Allan Poe, an album that is a must for an APP fan.

APP #2, "I Robot" is based on the Isaac Asimov work of the same name -- artificial intelligence...

APP #3, "Pyramid" is based on pyramidism and mysticism related to that theme.

I could go on and on, but the message is this...if you buy this CD you WILL get many of the best songs APP put together. This CD is, in that regard, probably the best greatest hits album out there for APP.

At the same time, if this is the only APP CD you listen to, you will be missing the entire point of APP works.

If you are short on cash, go ahead and start a basic appreciation for APP music with this CD, but, if you have the means, I HIGHLY recommend that you start buying each of the APP CDs. Start with "Tales of Mystery and Imagination..." and go on from there.

The music of the Alan Parsons Project has been among my favorites for nearly the past 25 years. I hope you will enjoy it too.

5 stars for great music, but don't sell yourself (or the APP) short by stopping with this compilation CD.

Alan Holyoak

I'm a big fan of The Alan Parsons Project and would never even consider a compilation recording because the albums really should be listened to in their entirety and not as a collection of "hits". This set, however, is a MUST for all Alan Parsons fans because of the 20-bit digital remastering done by Alan Parsons himself. The results are amazing and immediately noticable on even moderate audio equipment (let alone an audiophile system). You haven't heard the early music until you have heard these versions. The crispness of the bass and transparency of the vocals and synths is astounding! I only wish they would come out with digitally remastered versions of the complete albums!

Alan Parsons Project - The Definitive Collection should be a model for how all artist collections & anthologies should be treated. Far too many prolific artists that have spanned more than a decade are poorly (if not insultingly) represented by just one CD. 2-CD collections allow even the casual fan to appreciate more than just the big hits. Besides, the Alan Parsons Project was very much an AOR staple during its heyday, and so the complete album versions deserve to be heard as they are on this collection (boy, do I hate single edit versions!). With only a few minor exceptions, all the great songs are here and in their uncut form. "Eye in the Sky" is coupled with its essential prelude "Sirius", and "Damned If I Do" retains its synth intro. This is one of few "Definitive" collections that I've seen that earns its name.

As an aside recommendation, the Jefferson Airplane / Jefferson Starship / Starship "Hits" collection is another example of a brilliantly-executed 2-CD anthology.

Rather naughtily, Alan Parsons switched record label -- from Mercury to Arista -- after releasing his first album, TALES OF MYSTERY & IMAGINATION. Usually such a switch means death for all hopes of a definitive Greatest Hits album, as very few labels cooperate with each other. There have been many Parsons compilations before this one, and all, to my knowledge, have ignored the first album.

This is the first Parsons compilation that selects tracks from ALL his albums and can truly claim to be, as it says on the box, definitive.

Personally, I was never that bothered about the 'concept' that Parsons used to tie each album together. For me, Parsons was always about writing great tunes, cutting-edge instrumental effects and the highest recording standards -- much like the album that originally established his credentials: engineering Pink Floyd's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. Every Parsons album had two or three bum tracks on it, and this compilation filters out all the dross.

I somewhat lost track of Parsons' output after leaving university in 1980, and the biggest enigma for me about his subsequent records is this: Why did he start letting Eric Woolfson sing? I mean, Woolfson's voice is pleasant enough, but its pitch is not always 100% accurate. Woolfson was always the writer, the concept deviser, but goodness, he looked old even on the inset photos on the first album. I cannot listen to him singing, actually quite reasonably on 'Eye in the Sky' for instance, without imagining that it's my Dad! Parsons had his pick of many of the great vocalists, such as Colin Blunstone, Arthur Brown and John Miles, and yet he picked Woolfson. Woolfson could have argued his case for any number of the wrong reasons: a. cheapness, b. he wanted a go and c. he wanted to make more money.

Anyway let's get back to the album. For me, the stand-out tracks are 'I wouldn't want to be like you' (which provided the soundtrack for my first holiday in the States, back in 1977), 'Turn of a Friendly Card', 'Games People Play', 'The Raven', 'Eye in the Sky' and 'Old and Wise'. [The last track will always remind me of our first au-pair, who eventually admitted that in her spare time she had been babysitting for Colin Blunstone (vocalist on this track), who I hadn't realised lived a few blocks away.]

The rock encyclopedias try to deny the existence of Alan Parsons. It's hard to find a reference, even in books of British origin. I guess Parsons was never cool, and his creative peak coincided almost exactly with Punk. Alan Parsons never stood for any particular cause, except for wonderfully produced, beautifully composed and perfectly performed music. Every home should own this CD.

This wonderful two-CD collection (34 songs!) has some of the finest songs of the Alan Parsons Project on it. All of their greatest works are here, including (my favorites) I Robot, I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You, Time, Eye in the Sky and Don't Answer Me. If you have ever been a fan of the Alan Parsons Project (like me), then you will love this collection.

Now, it must be admitted that part of APP's strength was the cohesion of their albums - I, Robot was one that I listened to until the tape wore out! That cohesion is lost with this collection, as the songs are thrown together with songs that have no relation, and that is a pity. But, that said, all of these songs are great, and while this collection isn't a replacement for all of the APP albums, it is a great collection to listen too.

I, for one, love listening to this CD collection, and highly recommend it to you.

This is definitely the definitive APP collection. If you want just one album by them, this is it. Here is a group of musicians that you have not seen in concert or on the telly, but you will recognize the songs. In fact, it is too bad they never toured because they would have been more popular, but much of the music needs studio production, and, hence, would be pretty hard to duplicate live.

My all time favorite album of APP is "Eye in the Sky" and there are selections from that album in this collection.

I like a lot of music, but I would have to say that no one in the last twenty years has made any better music than what you will find in this collection. It is totally different than anything by anyone else. Even classical music lovers will like this.

This is a double CD and it provides two and a half hours of incredible music. I do not think that APP will be making any more albums.

I have to agree with all the reviews before mine. This two disc set has all the hits and all the key album tracks in their entirety with no breaks. The sound is excellent with the digital remastering and the liner notes and track info is good too. I've been a fan since 1982's Eye in the Sky and it's a shame more people aren't familiar with APP. They made some great art rock/progressive rock albums. This compilation covers all the albums up to 1993's Try Anything Once. It's the place to start for those familiar and unfamiliar with APP. It's well worth the money.

I really used to love APP. I discovered them with I, Robot and every time they brought out a new album (vinyl) it was a hit with me. Well, the years passed and I moved to CD's and seemed to forget to update my APP collection. Now here with one purchase (a 2-cd set, no less) I get all the best tunes from all my old favorites. They're all here: The Raven, Don't want to be like you, Pyramania, Sirius/Eye in the Sky, Prime Time (my personal favorite) right up through the Album Try Anything Once (Turn it up is awesome). I don't know if you can tell I liked this CD ;) I certainly recommend it for anyone who has ever liked Alan Parsons' music.

At the time of its release in 1997, "The Definitive Collection" was just that: The benchmark mix of the best audio mastering and the broadest track selection.

However, time & technology have marched on, and this compilation is now, sadly, out of date in both departments.

The new hands-down winner, which you should consider purchasing, is the 2006 import "The Alan Parsons Project: The Dutch Collection", a 3CD, 48-track set (with two previously unreleased songs).

The Dutch Collection package is one-third more expensive, but the audio quality transcends this older set, and at 3 discs/48 tracks (of a total 92 original APP studio album tracks), is by far the best representation of the magical Parsons/Woofson collaboration on CD.

Do yourself a favor, and read my extensive review of The Dutch Collection before you buy this one. While in 1997, there were ten other "best of" discs when "The Definitive Collection" was released, there are now over 25 different domestic and import APP compilation titles!

The Dutch Collection stands head-and-shoulders above them all.

Why not have the best?

Link to The Dutch Collection

Every single track is enjoyable. This collection is one of the best "best of" I ever found. Even the inside brochure is well done and interesting. These CD's will soon become one of your favorites.