Alan Parsons Project boxed set featuring all 10 albums

You know, if The Alan Parsons Project would have been on "any" other label than, Clive Davis' "ARISTA", I would believe that this unreleased album would be a bust, but, Clive was a prick when it came to his "getting exactly what he wanted" from artists and if he didn't, he would either not release an album or try to kill your career, like he tried to do with Gino Vannelli. The fact that Alan Parsons himself has admitted to this album not being very worthy is what speaks the real volume, as far as I'm concerned and I'm not about to spend more than $15 bucks, just to prove both Clive and Alan, wrong!

 

I Robot: the W. German cd has a glitch in the first track. The early US doesn't, and sounds better to me overall. Less thin.

 

I actually love the "Freudiana" album and it had many great guest appearances and a lot of decent Woolfson songs, like "Dora", which is one of my all-time favorite "APP" related tracks! Somebody loaded the entire album on U-Tube, so listen for yourselves, if you've never heard it. Imagine a classic "APP" album meeting "Sgt. Pepper" and the cast of "Looney Tunes" cartoons, in a back alley and you'll be on your way to a unique listening experience. In my opinion, Parsons without Eric Woolfson, has never come remotely close to any of the old great "APP" albums.

 

Where about, I'll check? Thin isn't how I would describe the one I have. Relaxed and spacious with multi-layered imaging and precision presence would be better suited.

 

Of course not. Woolfson was at least half of the equation, and IMHO a lot more than that. Andrew Powell was very important, too.

 

That's exactly how I understand it, and the reason I'll likely be passing on these.

 

Seriously your ears don't notice the glitches, heavy distortion [on track 1] and imbalanced channels which are on and off throughout the mastering. For many years now, everyone on this forum who has posted about their listening experiences for that CD has mentioned the many defects in that mastering. You are the only one that has not. So either yours is the only Arista 610 142-222 WG I Robot copy in existence that is not riddled with defects, or you are confusing it with another album, or you have failed to notice them. The latter would be rather surprising and those who spend money based on your recommendations need to recognize that failure. Are you 100% sure you are not confusing it with another Arista WG Parson's album on CD?

 

I have a few of USA for USA, Eye In The Sky "barcode" Vulture Culture and Ammonia, the EAC's match a few of the imports, these are very nice sounding cd's and can be had for relatively cheap, I have "Turn" Japan for US and a US I-Robot on the way, if these are comparable to my others I'll be a happy camper, I do enjoy the US lp's but they are pretty beat up

 

Pre-order on Importcds.com: $51.41

http://www.importcds.com/music/2754827/parsons-alan-project-complete-albums-collection

 

And you are right, it's really not very good and immediately obvious, why the record company did not release it. It's just a mix of instrumental "demos", some on synthesizers with drum computers, some just played on a piano. There are no vocals and no other instruments, it's very basic. Some synthies sound typical for them, but it's unfinished business lasting for 39 minutes. It's maybe interesting for extreme fans who want to have everything, but it has no artistic value. Quote from Parson's in the booklet: "I would not have believed that the album would ever be released. It's repetitiveness was the subject of some hilarity at the time. "

The original albums seem to have the same mastering of the 2008 editions - but without the bonus tracks. The thin booklet just gives the line-up on each track of each album plus few liner notes about "the Sicilian Defence". The album Sleeves have no inner bag and are just miniatures of the Vinyl covers (no inner booklet for Tales...) and they are barely readable with out a magnifier. Could have been a nice set but, they chose the cheap way instead. Probably for the option to do it again in some years time with all the bonus tracks and a real exciting booklet.....

 

Wow...Thanks for the update. I can't believe they ditched the bonus tracks from the previous go-round.

I mean, those bonus tracks ARE included on the five albums in the Original Album series box (which is very cheap). BMG/Sony has been pretty good about including the bonus tracks on most of their "complete discography" reissues. Hard to believe they took them off here.

So you get the same mostly disliked 2008 masterings, but without the bonus tracks. I guess the idea is to ensure no one wins here.

Sounds like there really is NO reason to buy this box, unless you absolutely have to have the Sicilian Defense.

 

Here's the story of my feelings on this question from three other threads:

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/posts/10126636/
"Tricky one this but [my favourite album of 1976 is] The Alan Parsons Project, Tales Of Mystery & Imagination by Edgar Allen Poe.

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/posts/9099758/
"As for Alan Parsons Project, I'm checking Amazon daily for news of the new boxed set (already announced) and a part of me is hoping that it has been delayed because Steven Wilson has agreed to do something for it. I really hope they go crazy on that boxed set and go "superdeluxe", at least to the extent of having a proper hardback book for it: APP has always been shamefully under-documented."

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/posts/9802197/
"I'm sort of looking forward to the Alan Parsons Project boxed set, although I fear that will have been messed up (on the basis of the I Robot special edition.)"

And, from this thread, I'm out.

 

What an amazingly poor release - especially at still $100+ on Amazon UK/Germany ...

 

Mine arrived today. According to the liner notes these were remastered for the box by Dave Donnelly and Alan Parsons 2013

 

Strange. That's not what I heard.

From Parsons himself.....With one exception, the 10 albums are the same as the 2007 Remasters, ie., they were not remastered again.

The one exception is TOAFC which was redone to resolve some speed/pitch issues.


If this is indeed true I'll pass.

 

Thanks for the heads-up, as these are the same two guys who botched the 2008 remasters, which sound horrible!

 

Just got this yesterday, and I am curious to hear if there are any "differences" between these and the first remasters done by AP and Donnelly.

 

I seriously would only need the previously unreleased album from this set to have their complete catalog as it stands, but I'm not investing in a box just for that one album, especially if the mastering blows. For your sake, I hope that it doesn't, so please let us all know, when you've had some time listening.

 

Mine arrived yesterday, Tales Of Mystery & Imagination is the '87 butchery version unfortunately...

 

That's a great pity, and indicative of their fidelity to the catalogue in putting this set together. I actually think there's an argument to having the Orson Welles spoken parts, but they should be a bonus, and things like the guitar solo in 'The Raven' are very weak indeed.

 

In regards to this box set..., go figure, the ONE time that I want to download an album off of the iTunes Store and they don't have it? I just want the "unreleased" album, nothing more!

 

Give it some time. They want to sell the box first, then when sales wane they will offer it up for download.

 

Have a little patience, it will turn up somehow and somewhere. And then you will find out, that it was a good idea not to buy it..;-)
I'm fully behind the concept, that artists have to be paid for their work. But I don't think they deserve being paid, when they consciously produced acoustic garbage just to annoy the record company. It's okay to give it to the fans as a "free gift". But nothing else.

 

Tales was the first gold disc I ever picked up so I've never actually heard the '87 remix, it's like getting a new album for me. I love the album so much, I'm scared to listen to it!

 

Personally I think there's room for both. The narration adds a little eeriness that I find fitting to the subject matter.