Eye in the Sky

Alan Parsons Project | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 1982
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony Legacy
• ASIN: B000IOM1Y6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  DVD Audio  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,296 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Alan Parsons Project's Eye in the Sky was almost guaranteed at least moderate success due to the hits that preceded it ("Games People Play" and "Time" from Turn of a Friendly Card.) With Eye, Parsons returned in some ways to his more progressive, art-rock past and the album only had one major hit, the lush title track. Parsons's approach was a synthesis of studio wizardry with a symphonic, spacey interplay between keyboards, synthesizerss and basic rock instrumentation. Though never a hit, "Psychobabble" remains a favorite of fans. "Children of the Moon," "Sirius," and "Gemini" all have Parsons's love of the esoteric. "Mammagamma" also allowed Parsons to fully indulge his fondness for orchestration with its instrumental structure. --Steve Gdula

Product Description

Transferred from the original 2 track analog master tapes provided by Alan Parsons this title, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, offers a sonic treat which is characteristic of Parson's work both as an engineer and as a musician. Songs such as the title track, "Children of the Moon", "Psychobable" and "Step by Step" among others ring out with a never before heard clarity showing Parsons as the master of sound he has always been. This is a work of art and will push a modern stereo system to its limits trying to reproduce all that was originally laid down on each track. A sonic and musical tour de force! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cinematic Genius, May 11, 2007

By 

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Eye in the Sky (Audio CD)

The Alan Parsons Project hit their greatest commercial pinnacle with "Eye In The Sky," the only album other than "I Robot" to reach the top ten. It was also the moment that the revolving members of APP centralized the two main strengths of their albums: concept and songcraft. "Eye In The Sky" is so creamily melodic that it's almost easy to miss the underlying concept of intrusive surveillance. Probably more than any other APP CD, this is where the Adult Contemporary sound that eventually dominated Parson's following efforts took hold.

That is not to say the songs are lacking. As usual, they are tunefully hooky and usually memory grabbers, like the title track. The opening instrumental "Sirius" became the introductory theme for thousands of athletic events, and "Psychobabble" is the obligatory prog-rock song aimed directly at 80's AOR Radio. (Actually, the other song in the vein, "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned," is the weakest song on the CD.) As on previous CD's, the highlights include ballads. On "Eye In The Sky," it's "Old and Wise" with ex-Zombie Colin Blunstone on the lead vocal. One of the discs' more interesting extras is Eric Woolfson's vocal demo on that particular number.

The bonus tracks are indicative of just how much work Parsons and Woolfsons put into their music. While "Eye In The Sky" plays almost like a soundtrack to a movie never produced, the demos show the tinkering that goes on before the final, lush and cinematic sound is crystallized. (Frankly, I like the album enough to have not needed to hear works in progress.) But now that "Eye In The Sky" and "I Robot" have been given their sonically upgraded due, it's a joy to hear the kind of mastery Parsons and company put into this soft-rock marvel.

I am now hoping for the eventual remastered versions of "Pyramid," "Eve" and "Turn Of A Friendly Card."

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lush and Multi-Textured - A Compulsory Toe-Tapper, July 17, 2000

By 

dev1 (Baltimore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eye in the Sky (Audio CD)

Producer/songwriter/musician Alan Parsons had a smart idea; that is, write and produce albums without a band. There is no Alan Parsons' Band proper, just a rotating group of musicians. Several are steady performers throughout Parsons' ten album Project. Eye In The Sky makes heavy use of an orchestra, choir and the "sounds like everything and anything" fairlight - hence the album is often tagged "art' and "progressive." Overall, Eye In The Sky is rhythm-driven light rock. Whether provided by the bass guitar (Eye In The Sky), rhythm guitar (You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned) or drums; most compositions are compulsory toe-tappers. "Psychobabble" is a bass guitar lover's dream - David Paton's work is brilliant and arousing.

Parsons' approach is highly structured, prim and proper; and his compositions often come-off as "calculated" rather than "loose." "Loose" is not in Alan Parsons' dictionary. With its fairlight programmed rhythm, the instrumental `Mammagamma' touches on disco. The fiery rocker `You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned' is a welcome change of pace to the band's normally reserved playing. The most tantalizing composition is the sentimental ballad `Old And Wise.' Zombie Colin Blunstone provides lead vocals. His smoky and hushed voice is one of the most provocative in popular music. Like all of The Eye In The Sky, `Old And Wise' is lush and multi-textured.

Technical Note: Eye In The Sky is one of the fist digital recordings (using the Sony PCM 1610 System). I suspect that the mix is analog; therefore, the result is also analog. Arista could have sought the first-generation recordings and produced a true DDD disc. Keep your fingers crossed for a digital remaster.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The eye in the sky:a true masterpiece!, August 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Eye in the Sky (Audio CD)

One of the best (and most commercial)CD's of the Alan Parsons Project. On this album one finds slow and up tempo songs. The one 's that stand out the most in my opinion are "Silence and I" and "Old and Wise". Silence and I has a very good orchestral arrangement and I think Colin Blunstone sings wonderfully on "Old and Wise". The only complaint I have is that the saxophone solo on Old and Wise should have been a lot longer than it now is (so, Alan if you read this: please change it!). Another favorite song is the titlesong: "Eye in the Sky". It really is a CD you will play on and on. It will never bore you! So, if you are an Alan Parsons addict and you don't have this CD: buy it as soon as possible; you are missing some of the best stuff the master has made. If you haven't heard of Alan Parsons before: try it and i think you will be buying more Alan Parsons CD's shortly.