Freudiana (1989 Studio Cast) [EXTRA TRACKS] [IMPORT] [CAST RECORDING]

Kiki Dee, Chris Rainbow, Freudiana, John Miles, Alan Parsons Project, Marti Webb, Franke Howerd, Eric Woolfson

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Cast Recording
• Label: EMI
• ASIN: B000009EQE
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #52,030 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
1990 soundtrack to this film about the father of psychiatry,Sigmund Freud. An essential addition to the collection ofAlan Parsons Project fans, it contains 18 tracks -- allwritten & composed by APP's Eric Woolfson (except one thatParsons himself wrote the music to). Parsons produced thesoundtrack and Woolfson also served as the executiveproducer of the soundtrack, which was engineered by Parsonswith Tony Richards. A Parlophone release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Secret" Alan Parsons Project Album, April 17, 2001

By	Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

1990's "Freudiana" was the last album that singer/composer Eric Woolfson collaborated on with Alan Parsons, his former partner in the Alan Parsons Project. Quite simply, "Freudiana," a concept album about the life & works of Sigmund Freud, is an Alan Parsons Project album in all but name. It features virtually the exact same revolving door of musicians & singers that have featured on previous Project albums, such as co-leaders Parsons & Woolfson, guitarist Ian Bairnson, drummer Stuart Elliot, and "Gaudi" bassist Laurie Cottle, as well as singers Graham Dye, Chris Rainbow, John Miles & Eric Woolfson himself, along with "newcomers" Leo Sayer, Kiki Dee, and 10cc's Eric Stewart. "Freudiana" is structured like a Project album, and it's incredible music & production SOUNDS like a Project album. So why is no credit given to the group? Simple---past Project albums were always co-written by Parsons & Woolfson, but on "Freudiana," Woolfson is the sole composer (apart from the instrumental, "Beyond The Pleasure Principle," which Parsons contributed). So, on the songwriting curve alone, it was decided that "Freudiana" would NOT be credited to the Alan Parsons Project on the sleeve, and that it simply be released under it's own title. But it certainly goes without saying that if you are, indeed, a huge Project fan, then "Freudiana" is an absolute must-have. On previous Project albums, Parsons & Woolfson and their "cast of thousands" have always delivered nothing less than first-rate singing, songwriting, playing, and production (and Project albums are *perfect* records to test-drive your new stereo equipment with). "Freudiana" is no exception. Just one listen to superb songs like the title track, Dora, Let Yourself Go, The Ring, Upper Me, and the album-closer There But For The Grace Of God, to name but a few, and you're in total Project heaven! I'm totally amazed that "Freudiana" has never been given a proper North American release, as there are many diehard Project fans over here that don't even know that this album even exists. Ah, they don't know what they're missing....but thank goodness for online shopping, eh? After "Freudiana," Woolfson parted ways with Alan Parsons to concentrate on musical theater (and "Freudiana," in fact, WAS later staged as a musical in Vienna in December of 1990). While Parsons continues to make top-notch albums under his own name (minus the "Project" moniker), it can't be denied that Woolfson's unique singing & songwriting contributions are missed. But he couldn't have chosen a better album to exit with---many AP Project fans actually name "Freudiana" as their favorite "Project" album, and why not? It's a brilliant work, and one that definitely deserves a place among your other Project CD's. Just make sure you file "Freudiana" in the appropriate place, between "Gaudi" & "Try Anything Once." :-)

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come back Eric..., February 25, 2000

By	Kerem Ozbas (Turkey) - See all my reviews

As a fan of "The Alan Parsons Project" since my primary school days; it had been a very great honour and enthusiasm for me to meet them, 2 years ago, when they came for a concert to Istanbul... When I meat Alan, Ian, Stuart and others, at their hotel, one day after their wonderful concert, I asked all them where was Eric... After "Gaudi" it was a big silence until "Try Anything Once" and then came "On Air"... As a faithful listener of Alan, I had liked these albums too; but there was something missing... After listening to Freudiana, I have found what or who was missing: just Eric Woolfson... Freudiana is a superb album... Especially, hearing the voice of Eric in most of the songs like "Freudiana", "Let Yourself Go", "No One Can Love You Better Than Me", "Dora" remains as if you were listening to "Time", "Eye In The Sky", "Ammonia Avenue", "Prime Time" "La Sagrada Familia" or "Silence and I"... And even for 53 seconds, an old friend's, Chris Rainbow's voice let you fly at "Destiny"... All Project fans must absolutely get this album... And a few words to Eric Woolfson: Come back... We missed you...

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prime Time, May 30, 2002

By	David DeWeese (Laurinburg, NC United States) - See all my reviews

For me, finding Freudiana was like discovering sex for the first time. Hmm. I wonder what Sigmund would say about that one?

For those who enjoyed the defunct Alan Parsons Project or the Alan Parsons Band, you might consider Freudiana the final curtain for the Project. I personally considered Eric Woolfson to have been the heart and soul behind the Project. With his Gaudi work, Eric turned toward a manic creative drive to research something or someone that he found fascinating and then produce a musical about what was discovered. Actually, the Project was born with this approach toward Edgar Allan Poe, and the Project dies unnamed with a Freud project.

Freudiana represents the final effort between Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson...and what a super effort it is! The wide range of musical styles Freudiana embraces is one of its strong points. Music combines with humor, drama, emotion, and some oft-times not so subtle sarcasm.

With its opening instrumental, The Nirvana Principle, a listener is drawn into a musical maelstrom that is very much like the sound equivalent of a Picasso painting. An attitude exists that pretty much anything goes, and there definitely is talent and panache necessary to perpetrate audacity personified.

Perhaps the most riveting performance belongs to Kiki Dee with You're On Your Own. Nowhere to be found is the woman who performed Don't Go Breaking My Heart with Elton John. Instead, she reveals that sultry angst necessary to embrace the Freudian concept behind the mother and son relationship. Ian Bairnson's guitar work punctuates what is one of the CD's strongest songs.

There are a few forays into dark humor, especially with Sects Therapy, which is listed as "a health warning on some possible pitfalls of psychology." Sung from a first person point of view, Sects Therapy tells about one person's encounters with psychology. "And I told her over tea of my worries and my woes, and a morbid fear of eating beans in tightly fitting clothes."

Overall, Freudiana reminds me of a Stephen King short story called "It Grows On You." My first reaction to it was "Say what?" And, then, well...the CD buried itself in my psyche...developed...evolved...and became an object of obsession. Perhaps I should call Dr. Ruth...