Try Anything Once

Alan Parsons Project | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 1993)
• Original Release Date: October 26, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000002VNU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,709 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alan Parsons' "Solo" Project, June 24, 2004

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Try Anything Once (Audio CD)

The Alan Parsons Project's last official album was 1987's "Gaudi." After this, Alan Parsons worked with his Project partner Eric Woolfson one last time on Woolfson's 1990 album, "Freudiana," before the duo finally went their separate ways. Three years later, Parsons returned to recording with his first "solo" album, "Try Anything Once." No longer using the "Project" name, Parsons' 1993 disc still sounds very much like a Project album, with Parsons' magical touch in producing outstanding progressive pop-rock firmly intact, along with the aid of ace studio musicians, including longtime Project members Ian Bairnson on guitar & Stuart Elliot on drums, and a strong cast of revolving lead singers, this time augmented by David Pack of Ambrosia, Chris Thompson of Manfred Mann, and Eric Stewart of 10CC. Parsons also accepts songwriting contributions from some of his collaborators on the album. A solid full hour of classic Alan Parsons music, "Try Anything Once" will not disappoint Parsons' longtime fans.Things get rolling to a great start with "The Three Of Me," sung and co-written by David Pack. "Turn It Up," sung by Chris Thompson, is an instant Parsons classic, a great anthem that's guaranteed to get your heart pumping. Eric Stewart sings lead on the brilliantly super-smooth "Wine From The Water." The instrumental "Breakaway" follows, written by Parsons, and it's a terrific cross between "I Robot" and "Where's The Walrus?". "Mr. Time" gets the powerful female voice of Jacque Copland, and it's a blazing 8-minute piece of exciting prog pop-rock. "Jigue" is a giddy little instrumental, followed by the catchy number "I'm Talkin' To You," sung by Pack. Eric Stewart returns for the gorgeous "Siren Song," which easily recalls the classic Parsons nugget "To One In Paradise." The brief, peaceful instrumental "Dreamscape" then gives way to the tough, swaggering number, "Back Against The Wall," another great album highlight and sung by Thompson. "Re-Jigue" is obviously a reprise of "Jigue," only this time with a thunderous full orchestra, courtesy of longtime Parsons conductor & orchestrator Andrew Powell. Finally, David Pack returns to sing the triumphant concluding song, "Oh Life (There Must Be More)." The music is sensational, as is the album's production & sound. And although Eric Woolfson's presence is missed, "Try Anything Once" shows that Alan Parsons is getting on with his musical career just fine. In fact, "Try Anything Once" was the very first album that Parsons actually *toured* behind, finally stepping out of the recording studio at long last to bring his fans fantastic live performances of his music with a cracking live band. And, very happily, he's been touring ever since. The music goes on for Alan Parsons with "Try Anything Once," a dazzling addition to your Alan Parsons CD collection, with or without the Project name.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rich and varied "Dreamscape", October 18, 2000

By 

Gina Noelle Williams (Corinth, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Try Anything Once (Audio CD)

This is not an Alan Parsons Project work, but it retains the lush and varied sound of APP, while at the same time branching out in new directions. There are new vocalists here, as well. Compelling from the first notes of "The Three of Me," an account of madness and schizophrenia, this album fulfills its name as it takes the listener on a journey through many different musical moods. "Turn It Up" is an exhiliarating call to action and believing in one's self. "Wine From the Water" is a groovy, smooth-talking con man's pitch.

There's a lot of instrumentals on this album, and Parsons is very good at them. "Breakaway" has a very 1980s feel to it, reminiscent of APP circa "Stereotomy" or "Ammonia Avenue." "Jigue" and "Re-Jigue" are two versions of the same tune. The latter is a nod to APP's gorgeously orchestrated past. "Dreamscape" has a very hallucinatory quality, wondering and full of mystery.

"Mr. Time" came as a surprise, because until I heard this song, I had never heard an Alan Parsons song sung by a female vocalist. Jacqui Copland is mellow and enigmatic, and the menacing bass line combine with her vocals to make this a very interesting song.

My favorite is "I'm Talkin' to You," because of its themes of personal responsibility, choice, and regret at having to part from a friend who is trying to drag you down. It's followed by "Siren Song," a lazy and beautiful track. If you've ever read "The Odyssey" by Homer, you will have a special appreciation for the themes in this song of losing one's sense of time, seduced by the siren song. "Back Against the Wall" reminds me of film noir and dark alleyways.

"Oh Life (There Must Be More)" is one of the most emotional songs I've ever heard from this talented artist. The liner notes feature a series of photographs of people suspended by their heels. Tellingly, the picture that accompanies this song is of a woman, and the song is about a woman on the verge of suicide.

This is an album that takes you up, down and all around, through a number of emotions. It's one that I can listen to over and over again, and it never fails to affect me.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite of all time, June 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Try Anything Once (Audio CD)

If I had to pick only one album I could listen to for the rest of my life, this one would probably be it. It is amazing to me that Parsons does not receive more fan (or general) interest in this one.

The album is a full 60 minutes of music with 4 instrumentals - which are always my favorite parts of Parsons' music. A lot of the songs are very long (5 over 5:30 in length) allowing them to fully explore their musical concepts.

From the unique, harder edge 'The Three of Me', to the long epic 'Mr. Time', to the lush, mood setting 'Siren Song', to the beautiful, emotional closer 'Oh Life', one of my favorite songs of all time, this album has it all. A wide variety of music, singers, and emotions are presented, enhancing the overall listening experience. On most other albums where you get 10-12 cuts, all with vocals by the same person, things tend to blend together. With Alan Parsons and especially on 'Try Anything Once', listening to the album is an experience, a journey. This is especially heard when listening through a good stereo system at decent volume levels, and not just as background music. This is an album to be listened to, and not just casually played.