Alan Parsons Project

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User] Posts: 1,225
edited December 2011 in Music & Movies
Looking to buy an Alan Parsons Project Greatest Hits Collection. I was almost ready to buy the "Definitive" collection but I noticed several of the tracks were remastered. Anyone have any suggestions ? Thanks in advance for the input.
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  • Tbone289
    Tbone289 Posts: 661
    edited December 2011
    I was going to suggest The Alan Parsons Project: "The Ultimate Collection" 2-disc set that I have, but it appears to be no longer available.

    The Definitive Collection has a good track selection, but is a bit more of a "greatest hits" than The Ultimate Collection. I have not heard the 1997 remasters, but the 2007 remasters and the 1987 Tales of Mystery and Imagination remaster are well done.
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,132
    edited December 2011
    Just get all there stuff a little at a time get Tales of mystery first, then I Robot, and slowly work your way through thier catalouge there is so much good music that is not covered by either of the Greatest Hits collection.
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  • Tbone289
    Tbone289 Posts: 661
    edited December 2011
    gudnoyez wrote: »
    Just get all there stuff a little at a time get Tales of mystery first, then I Robot, and slowly work your way through thier catalouge there is so much good music that is not covered by eithier of the Greatest Hits collection.

    Though I didn't say it, I was thinking the same thing.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2011
    Yup... plus APP is just one of those "concept LP" groups whose music works best in the original order...
    More later,
    Tour...
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited December 2011
    I can't recommend any of the collections" as I have most every APP album. Tour is right...APP is often best listening to the album from start to finish.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,225
    edited December 2011
    gudnoyez wrote: »
    Just get all there stuff a little at a time get Tales of mystery first, then I Robot, and slowly work your way through thier catalouge there is so much good music that is not covered by either of the Greatest Hits collection.

    That's what I am going to do, one at a time (no reviews). The more I looked at the catalog the more songs I realized I liked. I couldn't find an all inclusive collection. It is good to know that the re-masters were well done. Looks like I will start with I Robot. Cheers. :cool:
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2011
    Good choice...

    While all Parsons' work was well recorded/ mixed, the sonics of the original vinyl release of I Robot was jaw-dropping. I literally sat stunned when I spun it for the first time.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
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    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,957
    edited December 2011
    Yeah, well... Alan Parsons' credentials going into the "project" phase were pretty unassailable.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited December 2011
    Good thread. I already have Tales (MFSL Gold) and I Robot (MFSL Silver). Both, obviously, are fantastic. Can someone suggest what should be next on my list?
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited December 2011
    nap wrote: »
    That's what I am going to do, one at a time (no reviews). The more I looked at the catalog the more songs I realized I liked. I couldn't find an all inclusive collection. It is good to know that the re-masters were well done. Looks like I will start with I Robot. Cheers. :cool:

    Wouldn't you want to start with the first release - Tales of Mystery and Imagination?
    My favorite personally.
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  • Tbone289
    Tbone289 Posts: 661
    edited December 2011
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Yeah, well... Alan Parsons' credentials going into the "project" phase were pretty unassailable.

    No doubt about that.

    nspindel wrote: »
    Good thread. I already have Tales (MFSL Gold) and I Robot (MFSL Silver). Both, obviously, are fantastic. Can someone suggest what should be next on my list?

    I would just take them in order and buy Pyramid next. IMO, they're all good up through Vulture Culture, but you already have the best two. My preferences follow their albums nearly chronologically in descending order, from Tales... through Vultutre Culture. Of the ones you don't have, the standouts, for me, are Turn of a Friendly Card and Pyramid.

    As always, YMMV ;)
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited December 2011
    Ok, thank you for the advice. Any particular remasters that I should be aiming for?
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited December 2011
    i heard a a.p.p. song on pandora recently..i couldn't recover the info tho...it had some SCARY guitar work by david gilmour..incredible phrasing, just got more bone-chilling as the song progressed..
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  • apc
    apc Posts: 779
    edited December 2011
    shack wrote: »
    I can't recommend any of the collections" as I have most every APP album. Tour is right...APP is often best listening to the album from start to finish.

    Agreed. I learned so many of my albums by heart that when a song came on the radio and it wasn't followed by the right (next track on the LP) song - it seemed weird.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited December 2011
    sda2mike wrote: »
    i heard a a.p.p. song on pandora recently..i couldn't recover the info tho...it had some SCARY guitar work by david gilmour..incredible phrasing, just got more bone-chilling as the song progressed..

    Sounds like it was a track from this:

    http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/albums/alan-parsons-a-valid-path-with-david-gilmour.html

    Based on the review, guessing it was "Return To Tunguska"
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited December 2011
    nspindel wrote: »
    Sounds like it was a track from this:

    http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/albums/alan-parsons-a-valid-path-with-david-gilmour.html

    Based on the review, guessing it was "Return To Tunguska"

    the cover art looks familiar...thanks
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2011
    I avoid "greatest hits" collections in general. They never (or rarely) sound as good as the original albums.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,225
    edited December 2011
    brgman wrote: »
    Wouldn't you want to start with the first release - Tales of Mystery and Imagination?
    My favorite personally.

    Oddly enough, I have that on vinyl still. But I own none of the others. I had I Robot many moons ago on cassette which was kept in my car. You can imagine how good the sound was. :cool:
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited December 2011
    nap wrote: »
    Oddly enough, I have that on vinyl still. But I own none of the others. I had I Robot many moons ago on cassette which was kept in my car. You can imagine how good the sound was. :cool:

    Gotta love the warm sound of cassette hiss...
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  • Rivrrat
    Rivrrat Posts: 2,101
    edited December 2011
    Tbone289 wrote: »
    No doubt about that.




    I would just take them in order and buy Pyramid next. IMO, they're all good up through Vulture Culture, but you already have the best two. My preferences follow their albums nearly chronologically in descending order, from Tales... through Vultutre Culture. Of the ones you don't have, the standouts, for me, are Turn of a Friendly Card and Pyramid.

    As always, YMMV ;)

    At one time I had them all on vinyl. I like your choices for what to buy next, but I'd throw in "Eye in the Sky" in there too.
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  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,414
    edited December 2011
    It's nice how many peps have such good taste in good music.
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  • Tbone289
    Tbone289 Posts: 661
    edited December 2011
    Rivrrat wrote: »
    At one time I had them all on vinyl. I like your choices for what to buy next, but I'd throw in "Eye in the Sky" in there too.

    Yeah, I probably would list Eye in the Sky and Ammonia Avenue next on the list.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,180
    edited December 2011
    After hearing the samples of songs from this CD on Amazon, I went and ordered one.

    That song about Tunguska sounded right up my ally. Can't wait!.....Thanks for posting this thread!..:-)
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,225
    edited December 2011
    brgman wrote: »
    Gotta love the warm sound of cassette hiss...

    In one of my Beatle DVD's George Harrison said "Personally I find a little tape hiss to be a good thing". Thought that was kinda funny. :cool:
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,225
    edited December 2011
    tony millard wrote: »
    After hearing the samples of songs from this CD on Amazon, I went and ordered one.

    That song about Tunguska sounded right up my ally. Can't wait!.....Thanks for posting this thread!..:-)

    Not one (song) I am familiar with. Anxious to give it a test drive as well, of course I would have absolutely no idea why David Gilmour would want to appear on one of their albums. :cheesygrin:
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited December 2011
    For some reason the LP and CD of eye in the sky is to me lacking some dynamics and bass big time. I love the music on that lp though but, the recording on that lp and cd both were not that good.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2011
    ^^^ George was probably waxing nostalgic as we Old Folk tend to do...
    brgman wrote: »
    Gotta love the warm sound of cassette hiss...
    Like the sound of a gentle Summer's rain... :cheesygrin: You know someone is reading this going, "Cassette? Tape hiss?"
    apc wrote: »
    Agreed. I learned so many of my albums by heart that when a song came on the radio and it wasn't followed by the right (next track on the LP) song - it seemed weird.
    Ditto... It's disorienting... like the odd occasion when you've accidentally hit "shuffle" on the CDP and go to play an old fav...

    Then there's listening to The Beatles' Love for the first time...

    ===> nap, if the following is a derail too far, just say the word...
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I avoid "greatest hits" collections in general. They never (or rarely) sound as good as the original albums.
    If you're talking vinyl "collections", Steve, I definitely agree. Analog days meant all Hits releases were from (at least) 2nd generation Master Tapes.

    In the digital age, I've found numerous Collections that rival even my original, beloved vinyl, and blow away many prior CD's releases. Supertramp's 2005 Retrospectacle: The Supertamp Anthology and Rhino's 2002 The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac both spring immediately to mind.
    More later,
    Tour...
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    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

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    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
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