What ever happened to the Alan Parsons Project? And who exactly was Alan Parsons? And how is it that Mr. Parsons saw the future and the future was a world encompassed by GPS tracking systems. Madness you say? Great Scott, man, look at the signs, read the clues and be in awe of the genius of bonny old Alan.
First and foremost, Alan Parsons is English. We can come to our own conclusions as far as what forces shaped his upbringing, but the fact is he did make his way as a producer, having worked in some minor capacities on The Beatles's "Abbey Road" and to a great extent on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." He had become a sought-after producer, having shaped material for the likes of Al Stewart and The Hollies. Popular rumor has it he was very close to being brought into the Pink Floyd fold, but backed out to make his own music.
Finding a fruitful partnership with the wordsmith, Eric Woolfson (a Scotsman), they formed the Alan Parsons Project. This seminal pillar of progressive rock kicked out such classics as "The Raven," "Time," and, of course "Eye In the Sky." The last song is where Parsons's power of augury comes to bear.
Released in 1982, the song was meant as a kind of ode to George Orwell's NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, with the eye representing the ever-presence of Big Brother. Parsons commented later that "...I hated the song when we first started recording it -- I was quite ready to drop it altogether. Then we hit upon the hypnotic guitar chugs and it all came together." And so a legend was born and many a heart and head filled with righteous tunes.
The song is and will forever be an evocative one, conjuring a myriad of images. What is striking, is how the titular "eye" dovetails nicely with how global satellites are capable of tracking us. Indeed, they have to, especially if we are ever to enjoy our cell phones and GPS tracking systems. They are the eyes in the sky, looking at us, though they cannot read our minds -- yet. The brilliance of the Project is available for all to revel in and the eyes are still in orbit.
First and foremost, Alan Parsons is English. We can come to our own conclusions as far as what forces shaped his upbringing, but the fact is he did make his way as a producer, having worked in some minor capacities on The Beatles's "Abbey Road" and to a great extent on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." He had become a sought-after producer, having shaped material for the likes of Al Stewart and The Hollies. Popular rumor has it he was very close to being brought into the Pink Floyd fold, but backed out to make his own music.
Finding a fruitful partnership with the wordsmith, Eric Woolfson (a Scotsman), they formed the Alan Parsons Project. This seminal pillar of progressive rock kicked out such classics as "The Raven," "Time," and, of course "Eye In the Sky." The last song is where Parsons's power of augury comes to bear.
Released in 1982, the song was meant as a kind of ode to George Orwell's NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, with the eye representing the ever-presence of Big Brother. Parsons commented later that "...I hated the song when we first started recording it -- I was quite ready to drop it altogether. Then we hit upon the hypnotic guitar chugs and it all came together." And so a legend was born and many a heart and head filled with righteous tunes.
The song is and will forever be an evocative one, conjuring a myriad of images. What is striking, is how the titular "eye" dovetails nicely with how global satellites are capable of tracking us. Indeed, they have to, especially if we are ever to enjoy our cell phones and GPS tracking systems. They are the eyes in the sky, looking at us, though they cannot read our minds -- yet. The brilliance of the Project is available for all to revel in and the eyes are still in orbit.
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Though there is no escaping the usefulness of a GPS tracking system, pause to think of those brilliant satellites orbiting us now. GPS tracking systems are rather ubiquitous now, enabling us to find our way and traverse this beautiful planet. Sorry, it's the Parsons talking.
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