Eve (Alan Parsons Project album)

Last updated

Eve
The Alan Parsons Project - Eve.jpg
Studio album by
the Alan Parsons Project
ReleasedSeptember 1979
RecordedDecember 1978–June 1979
StudioSuper Bear Studios
Genre
Length39:23
Label Arista
Producer Alan Parsons
The Alan Parsons Project chronology
Pyramid
(1978)		Eve
(1979)		 The Turn of a Friendly Card
(1980)
Singles from Eve
  1. "Lucifer"
    Released: August 1979 [1]
  2. "Damned If I Do"
    Released: September 1979
  3. "You Won't Be There"
    Released: January 1980 (US)
  4. "You Lie Down with Dogs"
    Released: March 1980 (US)

Eve is the fourth studio album by British rock band the Alan Parsons Project, released in September 1979 by Arista Records. The album's focus is on the strength and characteristics of women, and the problems they face in the world of men. [2] It had originally been intended to focus on "great women in history", but evolved into a wider concept. [2] The album name was the same as Eric Woolfson's mother-in-law. [3]

Contents

Eve is the Alan Parsons Project's first album with singer Chris Rainbow. The album's opening instrumental "Lucifer" was a major hit in Europe, and "Damned If I Do" reached the US Top 40, peaking at No. 27, and reaching No. 16 in Canada. [4] "Lucifer" also is used as title track for the German political TV show Monitor.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Christgau's Record Guide D [6]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Smash Hits 8/10 [9]

The Globe and Mail wrote that, "like its trio of predecessors, Eve has occasional moments of melodic splendor punctuated by lengthy periods of accompaniment for riding elevators." [10]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson.

Side one
No.TitleLead VocalsLength
1."Lucifer"None5:09
2."You Lie Down with Dogs" Lenny Zakatek 3:47
3."I'd Rather Be a Man" David Paton 3:53
4."You Won't Be There" Dave Townsend 3:34
5."Winding Me Up" Chris Rainbow 4:04
Total length:20:27
Side two
No.TitleLead VocalsLength
1."Damned If I Do"Zakatek4:50
2."Don't Hold Back" Clare Torry 3:37
3."Secret Garden"Rainbow4:41
4."If I Could Change Your Mind" Lesley Duncan 5:49
Total length:18:57

Eve was remastered and reissued in 2008 with the following bonus tracks:

  1. "Elsie's Theme from 'The Sicilian Defence' (the Project that never was)"
  2. "Lucifer" (demo)
  3. "Secret Garden" (early rough mix)
  4. "Damned If I Do" (rough mix)
  5. "Don't Hold Back" (vocal rehearsal rough mix)
  6. "Lucifer" (early rough mix)
  7. "If I Could Change Your Mind" (rough mix)

Personnel

Two of the lead singers on the album, Clare Torry and Lesley Duncan, previously performed on Alan Parsons' signature engineering work, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon .

Cover art

The gatefold cover art for Eve by Hipgnosis features three women wearing veils (two on the front, one on the reverse), with their faces partially in shadow. The shadows and veils partially conceal disfiguring scars and sores (the lesions were not real, however [11] ). Controversy over the disfiguring of the models' faces brought comment from Eric Woolfson, "The cover seemed a mis-match to me. It was a brilliant cover from Hipgnosis, but it didn't reflect my thinking at all, or relate to what is made clear on the Record." [12]

Morse code

The album features two different kind of morse codes. At the beginning is a piece of morse code randomly taken from short wave when the album was produced. It can be - as far as the transmission is audible - translated as "...West European cities and marches by millions in eng Egyptian president Anwar Sadat...". Anwar Sadat was in the news all over the world at the time when the album was made. In several press releases, the following text can be found: "On March 27, the Arab world protested the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty with bombs in Israel and Paris, Palestinian demonstrations in West European cities and marches by millions in Baghdad and Damascus denouncing Egyptian President Anwar Sadat as a traitor". It looks like the morse code is a part of this release and perhaps edited in the studio due to a missing part, since there is no pause. On another channel you can hear something like a call sign from a coast radio station in Senegal "VVV de 6WW".

Further on in the song, the name "Eve" is repeated on keyboard in morse code.

Bonus tracks detail

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [29] Platinum100,000^
Germany (BVMI) [30] Gold400,000 [31]
New Zealand (RMNZ) [32] Gold7,500^
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [33] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [34] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Alan Parsons Project</span> British rock band

The Alan Parsons Project were a British rock band active between 1975 and 1990, whose core membership consisted of producer, audio engineer, musician and composer Alan Parsons and singer, songwriter and pianist Eric Woolfson. They were accompanied by varying session musicians and some relatively consistent session players such as guitarist Ian Bairnson, arranger Andrew Powell, bassist and vocalist David Paton, drummer Stuart Elliott, and vocalists Lenny Zakatek and Chris Rainbow. Parsons and Woolfson shared writing credits on almost all of the Project's songs, with Parsons producing or co-producing all of the band's recordings.

<i>The Dark Side of the Moon</i> 1973 studio album by Pink Floyd

The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 1 March 1973 by Harvest Records in the UK and Capitol Records in the US. Developed during live performances before recording began, it was conceived as a concept album that would focus on the pressures faced by the band during their arduous lifestyle, and also deal with the mental health problems of former band member Syd Barrett, who departed the group in 1968. New material was recorded in two sessions in 1972 and 1973 at EMI Studios in London.

<i>Tales of Mystery and Imagination</i> (Alan Parsons Project album) 1976 studio album by The Alan Parsons Project

Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Edgar Allan Poe) is the debut studio album by British rock band The Alan Parsons Project. It was released on 25 June 1976 in the United Kingdom by Charisma Records. The lyrical and musical themes of the album, which are retellings of horror stories and poetry by Edgar Allan Poe, attracted a cult audience. The title of the album is taken from the title of a collection of Poe's macabre stories of the same name.

<i>On Every Street</i> 1991 studio album by Dire Straits

On Every Street is the sixth and final studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 9 September 1991 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The follow-up to the band's massively successful album Brothers in Arms, On Every Street reached the top of the UK Albums Chart and was also certified platinum by the RIAA.

<i>Crises</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Mike Oldfield

Crises is the eighth studio album by English musician and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released on 27 May 1983 on Virgin Records. Oldfield started recording the album towards the end of his 1982 tour supporting his previous record, Five Miles Out. It marked a continuation of Oldfield's experimentation with more accessible music which began in the late 1970s; side one contains the 20-minute "Crises" and side two contains a collection of shorter songs which feature vocalists Maggie Reilly, Jon Anderson, and Roger Chapman. Oldfield produced Crises with drummer Simon Phillips, who also plays on the album.

<i>Ammonia Avenue</i> 1984 album by The Alan Parsons Project

Ammonia Avenue is the seventh studio album by the British progressive rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released in February 1984 by Arista Records. The Phil Spector-influenced "Don't Answer Me" was the album's lead single, and reached the Top 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, as well as the fourth position on the Adult Contemporary chart. The single also reached the Top 20 in several countries and represents the last big hit for the Alan Parsons Project. "Prime Time" was a follow-up release that fared well in the Top 40, reaching No. 34. "You Don't Believe" was the first single in November 1983, reaching #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Since the Last Goodbye" was a minor hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Woolfson</span> Scottish musician and songwriter (1945–2009)

Eric Norman Woolfson was a Scottish songwriter, lyricist, vocalist, executive producer, pianist, and co-creator of the band The Alan Parsons Project, who sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Woolfson also pursued a career in musical theatre.

<i>I Robot</i> (album) 1977 studio album by The Alan Parsons Project

I Robot is the second studio album by British rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released on 8 July 1977 by Arista Records. The album draws conceptually on author Isaac Asimov's science fiction Robot stories, exploring philosophical themes regarding artificial intelligence. It was re-released on vinyl and cassette tape in 1984 and on CD in 2017.

<i>Eye in the Sky</i> (album) 1982 studio album by the Alan Parsons Project

Eye in the Sky is the sixth studio album by British rock band the Alan Parsons Project, released in May 1982 by Arista Records. At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards in 1983, Eye in the Sky was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album. In 2019, the album won the Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>Pyramid</i> (The Alan Parsons Project album) 1978 studio album by The Alan Parsons Project

Pyramid is the third album by progressive rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released in May 1978. It is a concept album centred on the pyramids of Giza. At the time the album was conceived, interest in pyramid power and Tutankhamun was widespread in the US and the UK. Pyramid was nominated for the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

<i>The Turn of a Friendly Card</i> 1980 studio album by the Alan Parsons Project

The Turn of a Friendly Card is the fifth studio album by the British progressive rock band the Alan Parsons Project, released in 1980 by Arista Records. The title piece, which appears on side 2 of the LP, is a 16-minute suite broken up into five tracks. The Turn of a Friendly Card spawned the hits "Games People Play" and "Time", the latter of which was Eric Woolfson's first lead vocal appearance. An edited version of the title piece combining the opening and ending parts of the suite was also released as a single along with an official video.

<i>Stereotomy</i> 1985 studio album by The Alan Parsons Project

Stereotomy is the ninth studio album by the Alan Parsons Project, released in 1985.

<i>Vulture Culture</i> 1985 studio album by The Alan Parsons Project

Vulture Culture is the eighth studio album by the Alan Parsons Project, released in 1985 via the Arista label.

<i>Gaudi</i> (The Alan Parsons Project album) 1987 studio album by The Alan Parsons Project

Gaudi is the tenth album by The Alan Parsons Project, released in 1987. Gaudi refers to Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan Spanish architect, and the opening track references what is probably Gaudí's best known building, the Sagrada Família.

<i>The Time Machine</i> (Alan Parsons album) 1999 studio album by Alan Parsons

The Time Machine is the third solo album by English rock musician Alan Parsons.

<i>A Valid Path</i> 2004 studio album by Alan Parsons

A Valid Path is the fourth solo album by English rock musician Alan Parsons. The record was released on 24 August 2004 via Artemis label.

<i>Octave</i> (album) 1978 studio album by The Moody Blues

Octave is the ninth album by The Moody Blues, released in 1978, and their first release after a substantial hiatus following the success of the best-selling Seventh Sojourn in 1972. The album proved to be the last for the group with keyboardist Mike Pinder, who left during the album's sessions and declined an offer to tour with the group. He had just started a new family in California, and found that he was not getting along with his bandmates as he previously had. Pinder would be replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz in time for their 1978-1979 tour, beginning a new era in the band's history. Octave would also be the final studio album from the band produced by Tony Clarke.

<i>More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits</i> 1993 greatest hits album by ABBA

More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits is a compilation album by Swedish pop group ABBA. Released in 1993, it was the follow-up to the highly successful Gold: Greatest Hits, released the previous year, and went on to sell 3 million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Parsons</span> English audio engineer, musician, and record producer (born 1948)

Alan Parsons is an English audio engineer, songwriter, musician and record producer.

<i>The Sicilian Defence</i> (album) 2014 studio album by The Alan Parsons Project

The Sicilian Defence is the twelfth studio album by The Alan Parsons Project, released in 2014. It was named after the Sicilian Defence, a famous chess opening. This was the final Alan Parsons Project studio album to be released, 24 years after the split of the band, and it has so far only been available as part of the eleven-CD box set The Complete Albums Collection.

References

  1. ↑ "Great Rock Discography". p. 617.
  2. 1 2 Official Alan Parsons Project web site, page title "Eve | The Alan Parsons Project"
  3. ↑ The Alan Parsons Project - Eve, Album remaster liner notes (2008).
  4. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 23, 1980" (PDF).
  5. ↑ AllMusic review
  6. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 10 March 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  7. ↑ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 512.
  8. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  9. ↑ Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (20 September – 3 October 1979): 25.
  10. ↑ Niester, Alan (22 September 1979). "Eve The Alan Parsons Project". The Globe and Mail. p. F6.
  11. ↑ "Interview: Alan Parsons: The Artist and Scientist of Sound Recording". BlogSpot . 24 April 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  12. ↑ The Alan Parsons Project - Eve, Album remaster liner notes (2008)
  13. ↑ The Alan Parsons Project - Eve, Album remaster liner notes (2008)
  14. ↑ The Alan Parsons Project - Eve, Album remaster liner notes (2008)
  15. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 229. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  16. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – The Alan Parsons Project – Eve" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9462a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Alan Parsons Project – Eve" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Charts.nz – The Alan Parsons Project – Eve". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Alan Parsons Project – Eve". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  22. ↑ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  23. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – The Alan Parsons Project – Eve". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  25. ↑ "The Alan Parsons Project Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  26. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1979. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  27. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  28. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1980. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  29. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Alan Parsons Project – Eve". Music Canada.
  30. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Alan Parsons Project; 'Eve')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  31. ↑ "The German Hit: Alan's Eve". Billboard. 22 September 1979. p. 75.
  32. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Alan Parsons Project – Eve". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  33. ↑ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN   8480486392.
  34. ↑ "American album certifications – Alan Parsons Project – Eve". Recording Industry Association of America.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.