June 01, 2018

1977 June - Alan Parsons Project - I Robot

41 minutes

FEATURE: The Alan Parsons Project - I Robot from JUNE 1977

Isaac Asimov's science fiction was the inspiration for The Alan Parsons Project's second album, and I Robot draws on concepts of artificial intelligence in its songs. The Alan Parsons Project is a progressive rock group led by Parsons and Eric Woolfson at the core and surrounding themselves with session musicians. Alan Parsons had extensive credibility in the industry as Assistant Engineer for The Beatles "Abby Road" and "Let It Be," and had served as Engineer for Pink Floyd's monster album "The Dark Side of the Moon." Parsons and Woodson would go on to put out many albums and hits as The Alan Parsons Project.

Genesis Ch. 1 V.32

This is the last track on the album. Alan Parsons has a symphonic quality, and often features instrumental music such as this track. The book of Genesis in the Bible only contains 31 verses in chapter 1, and this title is an allusion to the fall of man and the rise of the machine. This is spelled out on the album where it says, "I Robot, the story of the rise of the machine and the decline of man, which paradoxically coincided with his discovery of the wheel, and a warning that his brief dominance of this planet will probably end because man tried to create robot in his own image."

Total Eclipse

Another essentially instrumental song with an ethereal, almost movie soundtrack quality.

I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You

This track was one of the popular singles from this album, and has made it onto Grand Theft Auto V, and the TV series Mind Hunter. The back beat is a distinctive sign that this album was released during the height of the disco era. Check out the abrupt ending.

Breakdown

The lead singer reminds our group of Lindsey Buckingham. Alan Parsons used a number of session musicians, and this provides a lot of variety in the sound.

MOVIE OR SHOW TUNE:

Star Wars Main Theme

Here's one we all know well. Folks were lining up for the movie Star Wars, and John Williams hit a home run with this instrumental masterpiece.

STAFF PICKS:

Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

This was the first hit off Gabriel's first solo album. While this song is about his leaving Genesis, but Gabriel succeeds in keeping the song positive rather than feeling like he had an axe to grind. Written in 7/4 time.

Rocky's Hot Club - Peter Frampton

This song was inspired by Frampton's dog. Stevie Wonder plays harmonica on this entertaining track. Peter Frampton had done well with "Frampton Comes Alive," and considered himself to have rushed his next album.

Smoke From a Distant Fire - Sanford-Townsend Band

This one-hit wonder reached number 9 on the Billboard chart. These songwriters for Loggins and Messina had written this song a decade before it was released.

Telephone Line - Electric Light Orchestra

Jeff Lynne's ELO was a technological and symphonic delight. ELO's concerts entertained both in their orchestration and in the lighting and special effects they brought to bear.

LAUGH TRACK

Ain't Gonna Bump No More — Joe Tex

This novelty song gives sage (but politically incorrect) advice on who to avoid on the disco floor!

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks and Brian Dickhute

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