NEW SONG!
(July 10/10): A brand new single called "All Our Yesterdays" is out now. Also available is the new song "Alpha Centauri". Right now it's not available on physical media but can be bought as a download at iTunes. You can also see the brand new video on YouTube. The song and video are a spin-off of a documentary project that Alan has been working on.
NEW PROJECT
(July 11/10): The Art And Science Of Sound Recording. It's a multi-part documentary all about making music. While this is probably more geared to people in the industry, it's worth checking out the their websitewebsite. Register at their website and see the intro for free!
Who better to do a documentary on that topic, right? After seeing the Q&A at Canadian Music Week, it's definitely something people in the industry would love to have in their reference library. .
EYE TO EYE - LIVE CD/DVD
(April 4/10): Recently released is a live CD called "Eye To Eye - Live In Madrid". It was released first in Europe then US. The track listed is:
This was recorded at the May 14, 2004 show in Madrid. The band line-up was Alan and Godfrey Townsend (Guitar); Steve Murphy (Drums); Manny Focarazzo (Keyboards); John Montagna (Bass); P.J. Olsson (Vocals).
This concert was previously available on DVD but only direct from Alan's site or at shows. It's nice that availablility is wider and that there is also an audio set now too.
You can order it from Amazon.com: CD Format/DVD Format
LESLEY DUNCAN HEADS TO THE GREAT GIG IN THE SKY
(April 3/10): Lesley Cox (Duncan) (born August 12, 1943) passed away at the age of 66 on March 12, 2010 after suffering from cerebrovascular disease.
For APP fans, she will be best remembered for her vocals on "If I Could Change Your Mind". Of course Alan had met her earlier when she performed backing vocals on Pink Floyd’s "Dark Side of the Moon" album.
In the 1960s she began her career as a backing singer for Dusty Springfield and The Walker Brothers. Her solo debut single came in 1963 single - "I Want a Steady" was credited to Lesley Duncan & the Jokers. In 1970, Elton John’s "Tumbleweed Connection" album included her song "Love Song"; she also appeared on the album on acoustic guitar and vocals.
In 1971, Lesley appeared on the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack and also on Long John Baldry’s "It Ain’t Easy".
Lesley was also a successful songwriter. "Love Song" was covered by many artists including Dionne Warwick and Peggy Lee. Olivia Newton-John covered that song and "Lullaby." Rick Astley performed her song "Some Kinda Love".
In the 1970s she had a number of solo albums: Sing Children Sing (1971); Earth Mother (1972); Everything Changes (1974); Moonbathing (1975) and Maybe It’s Lost (1977). She is also on the live album "Reading Festival ‘73" performing the song Earth Mother. She also performed "Hold On To Love" from the album Exiled by The Bob Mitchell/Steve Coe Mysteries. Note: Her first two albums were released on CD, but are currently out of print.
She continued to work with producer Tony Cox (whom she later married) as a singles artist until 1986. During her latter years Duncan continued to perform with Jimmy Horowitz on keyboards and Chris Spedding on guitar. She had two children (Sam and Joe) with her first husband Jimmy Horowitz.
Lesley Duncan may not have been a household name, but she had a long and fruitful career.
ABBEY ROAD FOR SALE?
(April 2/10): There have been rumours that Abbey Road is going to be sold off.
For those just hearing about this, here is the background story: In August 2007 EMI was bought by Terra Firma Captial Partners for 3.2 Billion PDS. Terra Firma has had a number of issues since taking over, including having a number of artists leave. Paul McCartney had left just before the take over, Radiohead just after, The Rolling Stones did a one-album deal with Universal, Joss Stone is attempting to leave. The recent fight Pink Floyd had over royalties was against Terra Firma.
Terra Firm borrowed heavily from Citigroup to finance the purchase and is now trying to find ways to pay them back - from cutting costs, laying off to even selling divisions of the company, which is where rumours of selling Abbey Road came from.
For now Terra Firm denies any plans to sell Abbey Road. Meanwhile the British Government has declared Abbey Road a historic site which protects it from major alterations - that helps ward off our worst fear of it being knocked down to build a row of flats.
Hopefully they can keep the company together and turn a profit. If there are any updates on Abbey Road, we'll let you know.
THE PASSING OF A PROGRESSIVE ROCK LEGEND
(December 2/09): It is with great sadness that I pass on the news that Eric Woolfson died on 3AM, December 2, 2009 in London. Despite his battle with cancer, he never quit moving ahead. In fact he’d just been working with Haydn Bendall on a new arrangement for ‘Nothing Can Change My Mind’ (part of a new version of the Gaudi musical).
I am sad that we won’t get to see and hear what Eric would have done in the future. Somehow I think if he’d lived to be 195 that Eric would still be dreaming and creating. Much like Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia, the songbook of Eric Woolfson will never be completed.
While the world will probably remember Eric for his partnership in The Alan Parsons Project, he spent an even longer time in the world of musical theatre - it’s a pity he never got the recognition he deserved.
I was trying hard to think of something poignant to say, but I think Eric said it best himself in so many songs - he was indeed was one of the best lyric writers ever. -Steve Martin
NEW ERIC WOOLFSON ALBUM
(February 7/09): Titled The Alan Parsons Project That Never Was, this is a collection of songs that will satisfy the cravings of APP fans who've been looking for more Eric vocals and more of that classic sound. The songs are a combination of tracks originally meant for old APP albums, as well as tracks from Eric's musicals, including two new tracks from POE.
Tracks are:
It will be first available as a digital download (February 2009) and then as a physical CD (March 2009), and will be available at theAPP website shop. To hear samples of all ten songs, go to: EricWoolfsonMusic.com and then click on the link for The APP That Never Was.
POE MUSICAL: WORLD PREMIERE
(February 7/09): The world premiere of Eric Woolfson's 'Edgar Allan POE' musical will take place in Berlin, Germany in March 2009, followed by a major European tour. A new album 'Edgar Allan Poe' containing all 17 songs from the musical will be released March 2009. Details of the musical, ticket information, CD ordering and much more are available at the POE Musical website.
SHEET MUSIC AVAILABLE
(February 7/09): For years, APP sheet music has been out of print and has been long sought after by fans. Therefore it is good news that Hal Leonard has just released a new Essential APP sheet music folio (Piano/ Vocal/ Guitar). Hal Leonard is not only a US music publishing company, but is the largest sheet music publisher in the world. This should make for good availability, and if sales are successful, hopefully they will be encouraged to do more.
The APP songs included in the folio are:
It is available now in print, and can be ordered through theAPP website shop. For those that only need a few songs, you can also purchase digital downloads of individual songs by going to if you go to: SheetMusicDirect.com. Songbook is also available at Amazon.com
NEW AP LIVE DVD?
(January 25/09): The recent show at The Grove was recorded and will soon be released in surround on DVD. We'll keep you posted as the release gets closer.
NEW COLIN BLUNSTONE ALBUM
(January 25/09): It's been eight years since the last time Colin Blunstone released a solo album, but I am sure the wait will have been worth it! His new CD "The Ghost of You and Me" will be released in March 2009. Pre-orders are available at Amazon.co.ukand will be available at his upcoming shows.
NEW NEIL LOCKWOOD ALBUM
(January 25/09): Neil Lockwood has followed up his "You Can't Get There From Here" album with his brand new disc called "An Ordinary Man". Ordinary? Hardly! Neil not only wrote all the songs, but plays almost every instrument as well. Old friend's Ian Bairnson plays his guitar on a track and Stuart Elliott helped master the album. Song samples and ordering information are available at www.NeilLockwood.com. Autographed copies are also available.
ERIC STEWART ALBUM
(January 25/09): Eric Stewart, best known for 10cc, but to also AP fans for his work on Freudiana has a new solo album called "Viva La Difference". Song samples and ordering information are available at www.ericstewart.uk.com.
RELEASE UPDATES
(February 14/08): The wait is almost over! The next wave of remasters is just days away and the discs are available for pre-order at Amazon ... just follow the links below.
| MARCH 10, 2008 | |
| Pyramid | Expanded Edition |
| The Turn Of A Friendly Card | Expanded Edition |
| Stereotomy | Expanded Edition |
PYRAMID (Catalogue #82876815252)
Bonus Tracks:
Pyramid: Amazon Pre-Order
THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (Catalogue #82876815262)
Bonus Tracks:
The Turn of a Friendly Card: Amazon Pre-Order
STEREOTOMY (Catalogue #82876838602)
Bonus Tracks:
Stereotomy: Amazon Pre-Order
2007/2008 >>> Updates from 2007 & 2008
2006 >>> Updates from 2006
2005 >>> Updates from 2005
2004 >>> Updates from 2004
2003 >>> Updates from 2003
2002 >>> Updates from 2002
2001 >>> Updates from 2001
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