Track Listing

1. Sirius [Instrumental]
2. Eye in the Sky
3. Children of the Moon
4. Gemini
5. Silence and I
6. You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned
7. Psychobabble
8. Mammagamma [Instrumental]
9. Step by Step
10. Old and Wise

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51538 in Music
• Released on: 1988-01-04
• Number of discs: 1

From 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

Album Description
Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Includes the same bonus tracks that appear on the EU/US expanded editions. Sony/BMG 2009.

Customer Reviews

The Project Continues
In June of 1982, The Alan Parsons Project released their sixth, and what by some measures is their most successful album "Eye in the Sky". The album is very diverse in sound and has several pieces which are noteworthy from the groups catalogue of songs. Also notable is the album cover which features the Wedjat (Wadjet) symbol, also known as the Eye Horus or the Eye of Ra. Alan Parsons has claimed that the symbol has become synonymous with his identity after it appeared on the cover. The cover was created by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis.

"Sirius" is the piece which opens the album, and it is an easy recognizable instrumental, which has often been used by sports franchises for their introductions, most notably with the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordon era. The short piece leads right into the group's biggest hit of all time, the title piece "Eye in the Sky" with Eric Woolfson singing. "Children of the Moon" is another very good piece with David Paton handling the vocals. "Gemini" has haunting vocals by Chris Rainbow and a beautiful chorus section. "Silence and I" closes out the first half of the album with another vocal from Eric Woolfson. It is the longest piece on the album, and has tremendous diversity with an orchestrated section between the two vocal sections.

The second half of the album doesn't work as well for me. It opens with "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned", a decent but unexceptional song with Lenny Zakatek handling the vocals. "Psychobabble" is one of those songs which some people really like, but I am not one of them. Once again I would say it is decent, and it is memorable, with good vocals from Elmer Gantry, but for me it doesn't hold up to repeated listening. "Mammagamma" is a nice instrumental, but not as distinctive as "Sirius" which opens the album. Alan Parson's indicates on his website that "Step By Step" with vocals by Lenny Zakatek, is his least favorite of the Project's songs. In contrast, "Old and Wise" with vocals by Colin Blunstone is one of the best songs on the album, and helps improve the overall rating of the album with a strong finish.

For the most part, The Alan Parsons Project is Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson who wanted to create their own music rather than have to deal with the artists who they manage and produce. The group tended to use several different vocalists, and this album is no exception. The other performers on this album have, for the most part, also been involved from time to time with the group. The vocalists on this album include David Paton, Chris Rainbow, Lenny Zakatek and Colin Blunstone in addition to Eric Woolfson, all of which could be considered regulars of a sort with the group. In addition, Elmer Gantry has a vocal on this album after also having one on the "Turn of a Friendly Card" album.

In addition to the keyboards played by Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons, there is David Paton playing bass, Stuart Elliot on drums and percussion, Ian Bairnson on acoustic and electric guitar. All of which have been frequent contributors to the group, and Mel Collins playing saxophone who also played on the "Ammonia Avenue" album. The Alan Parsons Project always delivers something interesting to listen to, and "Eye in the Sky" is one of their better albums.

When Parsons "Hits it big"
Parsons was already successful in his own right before Eye in the Sky. But this album would be the climax to his mainstream career. While he has released wonderful and excelling music since Eye in the Sky, nothing has compared to how well he charted with this album.

The album itself, is really good. Its got a great sound and the first songs are tremendous from Sirus (a classic arena rocker) molding right into Eye in the Sky (a radio classic), followed by a trio of somber but at times upbeat songs: Children of the Moon, Gemini, and Silence and I (perhaps one of the best songs by Parsons). These songs are the highlights and make the album worth buying outright. Sadly, I feel the album does go down hill with a couple mainstream songs: Step by Step and You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned. However, Psychobabble and Mammagamma make up for them. The album finishes off with a reflectful Old and Wise.

If you're a Parsons' fan, then you already have this album. However, if you are looking for a more mainstream progressive pop rock, then you might do yourself some good by trying out this album.

The most representative Project's album
Although Eye in the Sky is not the best album from the Project, it was the most succesful one and at the same time the most recommended for anybody who hasn't listened to a world record by this huge band.

This is the first album not having a common conceptual link including every song. But there's still a sense of unity between all of them. 'Sirius' opens it. A low synthesiser chord appears from nowhere, a delayed guitar plays a constant riff and the drums, bass and guitar burst together in a very grandious way until a rythm starts and fades away, leading to 'Eye in the Sky'. This famous song owes it success to its sensitive singing by Eric Woolfson and the catchy chorus in which the soothing voices of Chris Rainbow add beauty with these "looking at yooouu" phrases.

An abrupt drum and electric guitar rythm announce 'Children of the Moon', a song that shows how complex and interesting a song from the Project can be. This is a song that comes from nowhere to an exciting chorus full of voices, orchestra and a very medieval trumpet. The words speak about the disappointing politics and how vulnerable we feel in the hands of powerful dehumanised gents. The song disappears into 'Gemini', a beautiful demonstration of scottish Chris Rainbow's soft voice sung almost a-capella.

'Silence and I' is a rather serious song, a very sad one and a classic ballad from the Project sung by Eric Woolfson again. The words allude to some sad childhood memory and the gloomy feel they leave you with is abruptly interrupted by a gorgeous medieval-like orchestra section. Suddenly you get into an upbeat rythm that makes you feel you're in the middle of an adventurous medieval movie (Ladyhawke?). The arrangements from Andrew Powell are great, and this is like the sad boy takes refuge into a dream in which he is a powerful warrior... but we're back to reality and the song returns to its beginning and ends with a very melancholic cascade of orchestral notes.

The second side is much more shallow in its thematic and musically heavier as well. That's proved by the fine rocker 'You're Gonna Get You Fingers Burned'. Usually the most loosely and aggresive songs from the project are sung by the Pakistani-rooted Lenny Zakatek. 'Psychobabble' is a strange song full of eccentric lyrics, and has the feel of a scary movie.
'Mammagamma' is said by Alan Parsons to be a track almost only played by a computer. It's as famous as 'Lucifer' or 'I Robot'.
'Step by Step' is a remarkable song although hidden in the structure of the album. It's got an original 12-string guitar solo from which the strange sound comes from the idea from Ian Bairnson to plug the guitar directly on the mixing desk not on the amp. The last song, Old and Wise, is apparently sad but Eric Woolfson said its lyrics have a very positive mean. The song is poetic and soft, almost a soft lament, and the oboe in the beginning leads you to a melodramatic romantic film soundtrack feeling. The ending of the song is very strongly emotional, with a great saxophone solo.

This is a remarkable album. If you never listened to any Alan Parsons Project album, start with this one.