THE VERY BEST OF LIVE

As title indicated, a collection of easy listening classic Parsons-Woolfson songs played live, on European 1994 tour, under Alan Parsons' name as solo artist. The title "greatest hits live" would be more adequate, for choice of songs is like for some compilation, and for these are not the best, but the most popular ones.

The most represented album here is the most successful 1982 "Eye in the Sky", with five (and a half) tracks, starting with "Sirius" flawlessly leading into "Eye in the sky", with fine guitar solo at the end, and more serious "Psychobabble", interrupted with atmospheric and dynamic "The raven" from 1976 "Tales" and calm and dreamy "Time" from 1980 "Card", and concluded with combination of "the one whose name is not allowed to be written nor spoken" from 1979 "Eve" and "Mammagamma", then "Old and wise" and too weak rocker "You're gonna get Your fingers burned", starting the decline of quality of album. So much songs from "Eye" is logical choice, for this record is best seller, but many good and more serious songs from first three albums unfortunately stayed desired. One more song that belongs to better part of the show is "Prime time" from 1984 "Ammonia Avenue". The last three live songs, from 1985 "Stereotomy", "Ammonia" and 1987 "Gaudi" are not up to the level of first seven, sounded too much pop or rock. Of three new studio tracks, the best (and longest) is "Take the money and run" featuring famous drummer Stuart Elliott on vocal, while "You're the voice" is composed back in 1986 (first appeared on former Little River Band singer John Farnham's pop album "Whispering Jack").

If You stare long enough into the red liquid at the front cover, helped with a little imagination, initials "AP" can be read. Professionally played, very good sounding, pleasant but simple, avoiding progressive tracks, but only official live Parsons' record up to now, so three stars.