Post by queenofthehours on Dec 18, 2016 21:52:54 GMT
Alan Parsons Project
Now, I can't pretend to know much about this band. At the moment I just know I love their music and I am enjoying that rare and happy stage when you've discovered an artist but you don't yet know any "secrets" which might put you off them like scandal or torrid court cases. So here I present to you some of my favourite Alan Parsons tracks in the form of a live Christmas biscuit box tied with a ribbon from the album I, Robot . Enjoy! -
Breakdown (with Allan Clarke)
This might not be in the top of my list of APP favourites but it's a great one of theirs nonetheless, especially because the Hollies' Allan Clarke is on vocals!
Here is the APP's first concert in Belgium from 1990. The sound might not be the best but I like it, it sounds really big and would have been amazing live. The orchestra is a massive bonus:
Sirius/Eye in the Sky (with Lenny Zakatek)
I don't think I'd heard of Lenny before but he is otherwise best known for being the vocalist for Gonzalez and sang on the track 'I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet'. However, I do think Lenny is the star of the show here. He is a really great live performer and could probably carry the whole of the APP show here but he doesn't have to. The orchestra look like they are having the time of their lives (a nice break from Haydn!) and the main band are really putting their all into the gig. The drums are fantastic, really loud. If you are looking for Al himself he's at the mixing desk being all Jeff Lynne and hiding out where he's at his most comfortable/commanding. The conductor deserves a mention too, he's a star.
Luciferama (a medley of 'Lucifer' from Eve and 'Mammagamma' from Eye in the Sky')
I'm really not one for instrumentals but I love this. Maybe it's because it's live and not flat in the studio. Maybe it's a case of "as long as it's loud I'll like it" but I really do think this is special. I used to think instrumentals were boring and only there for the sake of wasting space but some people really go to town on making them good and APP does so here. It's as if by lacking vocals the tune is allowed to go wild. I'm still loving that conductor! All bands should have one regardless of whether they have an orchestra.
Old and Wise (with David Paton)
Originally on the album this song was sung by the gorgeously-voiced Mr Colin Blunstone but here it's performed by the equally capable David Paton. I didn't know until recently that David was in Pilot and he gets a thumbs up from me for having sung the ELO-alike 'Magic'. I have to say I prefer the album/Blunstone version but the live version is epic.
Limelight (with Gary Brooker)
I said I thought Lenny was the star of the show, but so is Gary! Lenny might be the best at entertaining the audience but Gary I think is the best vocally and in song presentation (even though this was filmed during his shot lived funny-little-pigtail period). It's a big emotional song, a real lighter in the air number - just look at the orchestra members joining in! Gary does really well to command the audience despite being tethered to the spot by his keyboard.
Games People Play (with Lenny Zakatek)
More from Lenny. I love this track, it works especially good live. Again because of the volume and because it shows how well the band works as a team. Everyone is having such fun! I wish I was there.
Don't Answer Me (with Lenny Zakatek and Gary Brooker)
Another of my great favourites. Whenever I hear this I have to sing it. Lenny is here being a great crowd pleaser, and so is Gary, helping Lenny on a verse of two of the song. There's always something a bit sad about this track. I don't know what it is but even when played this loud it's as if the volume and the effort put into it here make the track even more emotional. Lenny and Gary's voices go together so well, I wish they could sing more together and the orchestra are still enjoying this gig as much as if they were in the audience!
I hope you have had fun listening to this concert, happy Christmas!