13.01.2008.
Alan Parsons Project - Freudiana (1990) (@256)
(Review from allmusic.com, amazon.com)
Back in the '70s, engineer/producer Alan Parsons wanted to dedicate an entire album to fantasy writer Edgar Allan Poe. He hired numerous musicians and singers to help him in what would become the first album of the Alan Parsons Project. Initially meant to be a one-time experience, the "project" turned into a full-time band, and quite a successful one, with that. Some two decades later, Eric Woolfson, Parsons' long-time companion, puts up his own project. This time, it is not about Poe but about Freud. The subsequent band and album are both named Freudiana, as is one of the tracks. And of course, the whole is produced by -- who else -- Alan Parsons himself. The result is a concept album which offers -- to quote the liner notes: "an image of the composer seen through a Freudian mirror."
1990's "Freudiana" was the last album that singer/composer Eric Woolfson collaborated on with Alan Parsons. It 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.
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 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 Alan Parsons Project fans actually name "Freudiana" as their favorite "Project" album.
The lyrics go through various interpretations of Freud's works, studying all his most famous cases (Wolfman, Ratman, Dora, Little Hans, Schreber and the Judge). Some songs (like "Little Hans") are reminiscent of the Beatles -- which shouldn't be too surprising, considering Woolfson used to be a member of Herman's Hermits. Others are obvious reminders of the Alan Parsons Project (most noticeably "Dora"). The rest can be progressive at times ("Funny You Should Say That," "No One Can Love You Better Than Me") and the whole is very creative and intelligent. Lead vocals, as on all of the Alan Parsons Project releases, are shared by a number of singers -- from Woolfson himself to Kiki Dee, Eric Stewart and John Miles. The strongest performances are by Leo Sayer ("I Am a Mirror") and the Flying Pickets (on the strange, yet incredibly powerful, "Funny You Should Say That").
Line-up :
- Laurie Cottle / bass
- Stuart Elliott / drums and percussion
- Ian Bairnson / guitars
- Eric Woolfson / keyboards, vocals
- Richard Cottle / synthetizers and saxophones
- Alan Parsons / additional keyboards
- Andrew Powell / orchestra arrangement and conduction
- Leo Sayer, Graham Dye, The Flying Pickets, Kiki Dee, Eric Stewart, Frankie Howerd, Marti Webb, Gary Howard, Chris Rainbow, John Miles / vocals
Track List :
01. The Nirvana Principle
02. Freudiana
03. I Am A Mirror
04. Little Hans
05. Dora
06. Funny You Should Say That
07. You're On Your Own
08. Far Away From Home
09. Let Yourself Go
10. Beyond The Pleasure Principle
11. The Ring
12. Sects Therapy
13. No One Can Love You Better Than Me
14. Don't Let The Moment Pass
15. Upper Me
16. Freudiana
17. Destiny
18. There But For The Grace Of God
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Original Post Date : 16 Feb 2007 | 6:55 AM
