WORKS

'Works' is the second most comprehensive collection of the Alan Parsons Project's body of work that is currently available. That's because it is virtually identical to the 1998 release of 'The Definitive Collection'. The only difference is a disappointment, as both "Dr Tarr and Professor Fether" and "The Raven" from 'Tales of Mystery and Imagination.' have been dropped on 'Works'.

That being said, if you come across this set before you do 'The Definitive Collection', you could certainly do worse in acquiring a good Alan Parsons Project retrospective. There's nothing here from 'Freudiana', which is arguably not an Alan Parsons Project album anyway, but there are two uncharacteristic tracks ("Turn it Up" and "Re-Jigue") from the post-APP 'Try Anything Once' album. And as I said, there's nothing here from the Edgar Allen Poe album that started it all.

What's here are pretty much every other song of any significance from the other nine studio albums the Project recorded between 1977 and 1987, pretty much in chronological order and, with a couple of minor exceptions, even in the same order they appeared on their original vinyl. I have to wonder if Parsons had much input into the production of this set. For a guy who made a name for himself off a career's worth of outside-the-box engineering and production and frankly, hype, the layout and packaging of this boxed-set is pretty straightforward and unimaginative. The linear notes provide a brief but non-illuminating look into the history of the Project, and very little explanation of the various themes of the respective albums represented. As I hold the set in my hands, it seems a bit staid and unimpressive.

Once the music starts though, the extent of Parson's presence in the late 70's and 80's music scene is rather impressive. Pop fans of course all recognize "Games People Play", "Eye in the Sky", and perhaps "Lets' Talk About Me". Progressive aficionados should give a nod to "I Robot" and "Stereotomy", and even today "Snake Eyes" and "Time" show up regularly on nostalgic radio stations.

But it's the rest of the songs here that really make an impression. "Prime Time", "I Wouldn't Want to be Like You", "Breakdown", "Don't Let it Show", "What Goes Up.", "Old and Wise", "Psychobabble", "You Don't Believe", "Lucifer", "Days Are Numbers", and "Don't Answer Me" all recall memories of listening to them on FM radio. True, many of the Project's songs are quite similar in instrumentation and engineering, but I was surprised to see the large number of them that made their way into the musical backdrop of what was largely a forgettable time in music.

The instrumental tracks are particularly interesting and memorable, particularly "I Robot", "Mammagamma", and "Sirius", the latter which became rather overexposed as the theme song for the Chicago Bulls professional basketball team for many years. Among the missing instrumental tracks though, are "Where's the Walrus?", "Genesis 1:32", and "Paseo de Gracia", all of which would have made welcome additions to this collection. Perhaps a couple of tracks from "Pyramid" could have been left off instead if space were an issue, although considering the two CD's have a total run-time of nearly two and one-half hours, I don't believe that was a real concern here.

Overall, this is worthwhile collection of Alan Parsons Project works. It would have been greatly improved by the addition of any of a number of tracks from "Tales of Mystery and Imagination.", and the latter solo works don't really add anything, but as I said at the beginning, if you don't have "The Definitive Collection", this one will do as a substitute quite nicely. Three stars seems appropriate.

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