Post by Rob Durkee on Dec 6, 2009 22:56:50 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Eric Woolfson, a songwriter and producer who's main claim to fame was as a co-founder of the Alan Parsons Project, died Wednesday, December 2, 2009, of cancer. He was 64.
After experiencing only modest success as a writer and producer, Woolfson's career picked up considerably when he managed Karl Douglas of "Kung Fu Fighting" fame, then met Alan Parsons around 1975. Parsons had been assisting as an engineer for the Beatles' "Abbey Road" and "Let it Be" albums as well as the Pink Floyd blockbuster LP, "Dark Side Of the Moon." Woolfson and Parsons were the only permanent members of the group and co-wrote all seven of the group's top 40 hits.
Woolfson would also manage Parsons, who in turn had success with acts like the Hollies, Pilot, Ambrosia, Al Stewart and John Miles.
Woolfson sang lead vocals on the Alan Parsons Project's biggest hit, the #3 peaking "Eye In The Sky" in 1982. He also sang lead vocals on the #14 hit "Time" from 1981 and 1984's "Don't Answer Me," which reached #17 on the Cash Box pop chart. The group's other top 40 hits were "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You" (#27, 1977), ""d**ned If I Do" (#30, 1980), ""Games People Play" (#18, 1980) and "Prime Time" (#33, 1984). After the success of the group's second album, "I Robot," the Alan Parsons Project still did not tour. They didn't think it was necessary!
The irony of the Alan Parsons Project is that Alan Parsons never sang lead vocals on any of the group's Top 40 hits. In fact, Parsons was believed to have sung lead on only one group LP cut entitled "The Raven." Even more ironic, though, was how the only other top 40 act with the last name of Parsons also didn't sing on his main hit, either. However, there's a catch that that fact. Bill Parsons was erroneously credited on the record label for pretty much rapping his way through his 1959 #10 hit, "The All-American Boy." The actual performer on "The All American Boy" was Bobby Bare. Bill Parsons and Alan Parsons are not related.
The actual number of different lead singers and contributing vocalists for the Alan Parsons Project isn't known. However, here are some of the more notable guest vocalists for the group...Colin Blunstone (the Zombies), Arthur Brown, John Miles and Gary Brooker (the Procol Harum).
After the Alan Parsons Project broke up around 1987, Woolfson wrote five stage musicals..."Dancing Shadows," "POE," "Gambler," "Gaudi" and "Freudiana." For more on Eric Woolfson, you're invited to check out his web site at www.ericwoolfsonmusic.com
Eric Woolfson, a songwriter and producer who's main claim to fame was as a co-founder of the Alan Parsons Project, died Wednesday, December 2, 2009, of cancer. He was 64.
After experiencing only modest success as a writer and producer, Woolfson's career picked up considerably when he managed Karl Douglas of "Kung Fu Fighting" fame, then met Alan Parsons around 1975. Parsons had been assisting as an engineer for the Beatles' "Abbey Road" and "Let it Be" albums as well as the Pink Floyd blockbuster LP, "Dark Side Of the Moon." Woolfson and Parsons were the only permanent members of the group and co-wrote all seven of the group's top 40 hits.
Woolfson would also manage Parsons, who in turn had success with acts like the Hollies, Pilot, Ambrosia, Al Stewart and John Miles.
Woolfson sang lead vocals on the Alan Parsons Project's biggest hit, the #3 peaking "Eye In The Sky" in 1982. He also sang lead vocals on the #14 hit "Time" from 1981 and 1984's "Don't Answer Me," which reached #17 on the Cash Box pop chart. The group's other top 40 hits were "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You" (#27, 1977), ""d**ned If I Do" (#30, 1980), ""Games People Play" (#18, 1980) and "Prime Time" (#33, 1984). After the success of the group's second album, "I Robot," the Alan Parsons Project still did not tour. They didn't think it was necessary!
The irony of the Alan Parsons Project is that Alan Parsons never sang lead vocals on any of the group's Top 40 hits. In fact, Parsons was believed to have sung lead on only one group LP cut entitled "The Raven." Even more ironic, though, was how the only other top 40 act with the last name of Parsons also didn't sing on his main hit, either. However, there's a catch that that fact. Bill Parsons was erroneously credited on the record label for pretty much rapping his way through his 1959 #10 hit, "The All-American Boy." The actual performer on "The All American Boy" was Bobby Bare. Bill Parsons and Alan Parsons are not related.
The actual number of different lead singers and contributing vocalists for the Alan Parsons Project isn't known. However, here are some of the more notable guest vocalists for the group...Colin Blunstone (the Zombies), Arthur Brown, John Miles and Gary Brooker (the Procol Harum).
After the Alan Parsons Project broke up around 1987, Woolfson wrote five stage musicals..."Dancing Shadows," "POE," "Gambler," "Gaudi" and "Freudiana." For more on Eric Woolfson, you're invited to check out his web site at www.ericwoolfsonmusic.com
