SUCH A FULL SOUND! First Time Hearing The Alan Parsons Project - The Eye In The Sky Reaction!

[@warpig4942]

"The Sun in your eyes made some of the lies worth believing". Love that line, genius.

[@hgianos65]

Greatest line!!

[@memyselfandi8544]

It’s about the Devil. Literally.

[@washitokusei6801]

The "intro" is actually a separate song called "Sirius", but it also serves as an intro to "Eye in the Sky".

[@legmann_editor]

And Alan Parsons has himself called the 2 songs inextricably linked.

[@kleberkannedo7618]

Yeah Sirius and Mammagama!

[@RobertUttenweiler]

Alan Parsons was an engineer for the Beatles at Abbey Road studio and worked extensively with Pink Floyd. He came up with lots of major innovations including forms of multi-tracking with older equipment. He is a technical genius (as well as so many other plaudits.

[@badplay156]

He was the only engineer on Dark Side of the Moon. Ge was also the engineer on Al Stewart's 2 hits, Year of the Cat and Time Passages

[@pauldavis2535]

Yep

[@B.R.0101]

He was too young to be the engineer for the Beatles

[@thomasberry4678]

@@B.R.0101 He started working as an assistant at Abbey Road in 1967, age 18

[@gershman23]

@@badplay156 He was in fact, the producer of the trio of Al Stewart's most successful albums (Modern Times, YOTC, and Time Passages, all masterpieces of varying degrees, BTW).

[@jefff3886]

I went to see Yes in 1998. I was lucky enough to get front row seats. I thought it was just them, I didn't know there was an opening act. So we're sitting there before the show listening to the recorded music playing, gradually growing louder as showtime got closer, and watching the people as they filed in and settled in their seats. It was finally showtime and the lights went down, and this song started. We looked at each other, "Here we go! It's about to begin!" At the first crescendo, all the stage lights suddenly blazed on and it was the real Alan Parsons (and his band) standing right in front of us playing this song! We had no idea Alan Parsons was going to be there; we thought it was just Yes. What a wonderful evening, and a great concert, by A.P. and by Yes.

[@LordEagle]

💥💥💥💥💥🤘🤪

[@kevinmcconnell3641]

@@jefff3886 I didn’t have the money for concerts, so I only saw a few. I saw the Relayer tour. Donavan opened for them, what a great show. I saw the dead in the late 70’s, no opening act, they played from 8pm till after midnight!! There truly was nothing like a Greatful Dead concert!!

[@tomharrison6607]

@@kevinmcconnell3641 i saw donovan at the edmonton folk fest sometime in the early to mid 1980s i even got his autograph

[@WinemasterSkye]

That wouldn't have been at the Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion In Houston . by any chance. cuz if it was. I was there

[@jefff3886]

@@WinemasterSkye Almost. I was in Dallas, at the Starplex, an outdoor venue. You were there in 1998? You probably saw the show the night before or the night after I did. You remember the young keyboardist they had at the time, Igor Khoroshev I think his name was. I thought he did a great job, filling the giant shoes of Rick Wakeman.

[@robertgarcia3031]

"Games People Play" is another great track from this group.

[@markhodge7]

I bought the "I Robot" album on the day it hit the record stores...because it had a cool album cover. By evening all my friends were hooked too. Alan Parsons is a genius.

[@brucelamberton8819]

As was Eric Woolfson, the Project's co-creator and main songwriter.

[@douglasg.9271]

“Wouldn’t want to be like you” is another great song from APP.

[@Terry-is7nk]

@douglasg.9271 Absolutely! Wouldn't Want To Be Like You is one of my favs.

[@kirkhall2099]

absolutely

[@jgsrhythm100]

I wouldn't Want to Be Like You is the flip Side to Atlanta Rhythm Section's " So into You".

[@kimshaky]

and not forgetting Mamma Gamme.... that bass

[@tomate6235]

Don‘t forget Eric Woolfson. He was the composer and arranger of the music from APP. A real genius. RIP Eric

[@Stormyday-zg7iz]

"I wouldn't want to be like you" and "Games people play" are great songs too but different again to this.

[@punisher455]

Love the song "Games People Play", good video too!

[@Linda-zm6lk]

Had never heard of them until I met my sweet husband in 1987. His favorite group. He passed away in 2010 but I listen to these guys and remember driving around in his Brat truck listening to them when we were dating. Love the line "the sun in your eyes made some of the lies worth believing". Great lyrics. Another great song is Don't Answer Me and the video is fun. Also Time is another good song. Very talented man.

[@Cliff-k6q]

Old and Wise has a special place in my heart

[@stefanpetursson6067]

Same here

[@hey3jude]

@@stefanpetursson6067 agreed me too I have lined this up for my end of days Party its perfect..

[@OLLE3770]

Might be played at my funeral.

[@SpookyFox1000]

And me ! Sometimes makes me cry though !

[@Stonehombre1]

Alan Parsons Project is INCREDIBLE !!!!! This particular song influenced my purchases of stereo equipment on base while serving in the Air Force in Europe !!!!!!

[@kevinmcconnell3641]

I were borned in 1956, right in the middle of the baby boomer generation. We boomers were so blessed to grow up with the greatest 25 years of music ever written, performed, and recorded, truly the golden age of rock n roll, 1955-1980!! Most everything post 1990 pales in comparison to the golden age of rock n roll!! Post 2020 you can’t be sure you’re getting true talent, or machine adjusted!!

[@vicprovost2561]

For me, 1964 (Beatles) to1994 (End of Grunge) was the best stretch of music ever. Post 1994 is wasteland until the Lady Rockers like Lzzy Hale showed up, at least they play old school rock.

[@CholletMichel]

@@vicprovost2561 Rock and roll isn't dead! There are kids to keep it alive... kzbin.info/www/bejne/aF64ZHZom850gposi=MBec5vx1r4uXZg5v

[@2olvets443]

As a boomer myself I agree 100%.

[@CaptainDangeax]

I agree, although a broader range, from the beginning of the 60's to 2000

[@mightbeanybody]

When this came out in 1982 I played it continuously on my drive to work and back. One of my most favourite ever tracks by anybody.

[@paularnold6616]

All his music has had that crispness you talked about. There is so much to choose from. "Old and Wise" is my standout piece. Emotional.

[@niallstranix5412]

Yes, I totally agree. "Old and Wise" gets me every time. Beautifully sung by Colin Blunstone.

[@brianorzel1873]

One of my favorite Alan Parsons Project songs is "Old and Wise"...

[@muratkoseoglu7460]

At last somebody mentioned this wonderful song, thank you!

[@phantomrockerr]

I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You is another Great song from them.

[@bishdizzle67]

Alan Parsons has the most top tier fidelity in all of his productions. Alan Parsons said the idea of the song came from how cameras, satellites, etc and privacy were all disappearing in the modern age.

[@badbob6689]

Alan Parson project was done by studio musicians and what a fantastic job they did.

[@stevemurrell6167]

Most were from the band Pilot but yes, had become session muso's for Parsons and Woolfson.

[@mightyV444]

LOL! This song was playing only about 15 minutes ago at the local supermarket (in Wellington, NZ)! 😄

[@antoneperry5352]

Thank you for reacting to this song, please consider listening to Al Stewart’s song “ Year of the Cat”. Just not the live version please. Alan Parsons engineered this amazing song and I really believe you’ll enjoy it. Thanks for sharing your time with us.

[@jameswilson7790]

He also produced and engineered Time Passages. That may be even better than Year of the Cat. And that's saying something.

[@jeffwallace916]

Both were masterpieces

[@stevebengel1346]

The album version 👍

[@headlibrarian1996]

The Old Grey Whistle Test live version of Year of the Cat is awesome.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

@@jameswilson7790 Also Modern Times in 1975.

[@robertbunker817]

Such a hypnotizing song

[@rescuelover7891]

I'm a 72 female and this is one of my favorite songs. Production is fantastic and what great lyrics and comeback to this girl who screwed over him. He now knows, and she can't fool him anymore because he knows her so well. He's over it and looking at it all, he is now the eye in the sky, finally taking the reins and feeling great about it❤

[@ronkrupovich7152]

The whole LP is amazing, believe me!

[@robertljazz2796]

"You cant take it with You"is a must listen too by this Band

[@karinanderson9722]

Favorite memory-I was a teenager babysitting a little 4 year old for the summer. She would sing Eye in the Sky and she was so cute!!

[@docj72]

If you were on an NBA team in the 90s and you were playing at Chicago, and you heard this song, it meant that you were about to lose

[@UncleSpellbinder]

It was the Bulls anthem for years! I miss those days.

[@traviscummings9178]

The death toll for many an NBA team's season

[@my2centsonit]

At the Chicago Stadium or the United Center, this song signaled the beginning of a work day for my father. RIP "Johnny Red Kerr"

[@hgianos65]

Truth

[@estried86]

And now the starting lineup for your world champion Chicago Bulls!

[@stephenheusz3236]

Discovered Alan Parsons in the ‘70’s. Picked up the I Robot album having just finished reading the collection of short stories by Issac Asimov in a book of the same name. I still follow Alan to this day. My family is under instructions to play “Old and Wise” at my funeral.

[@ORION2180]

At guard, from North Carolina, 6'6''.... Michael Jordan!!!

[@LilRocker2005]

ANNNNND NOOOOW.....THE STARTING LINEUP FOR YOUR.....CHICAGO BULLS!!!!!!

[@markjustice7894]

And that ladies and gentlemen, is why the 80s rule. Supposedly the inspiration was from noticing the cameras in the ceiling of a casino watching for card counters. Also about relationships. The sun in your eyes made some of the lies worth believing gets me every time. And it sounded just like this in 1982.

[@erickvermeulen9734]

Ah, I thought always it was about satellite surveillance, maybe because of the word sky and heaving read many scifi novels (remember The Anarchistic Colossus by A.E. Van Vogt?)

[@stevenparker4684]

Alan Parsons is one of the best sound engineers in the business. Love all he is involved in

[@gswithen]

So many great songs. Breakdown, I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You, The Raven, Damned If I Do, Games People Play, Psychobabble, Prime Time, Don't Answer Me, You Don't Believe, Let's Talk About Me, Stereotomy, Freudiana, You're On Your Own, Upper Me.

[@mitchgriffin2150]

This was our song for a girl and I that was dating at the time. Have been married to each other for 41yrs on July 16th.

[@joecardenas2562]

Hauntingly mellow vibe.

[@figueiredra]

Talent and perfection at all levels . "Time" is a great song also. Emphasizes the relentless and inevitable flow of time.

[@keithcessna1]

My favorite by them

[@aaronb.2177]

@@keithcessna1 I bought my first APP album, Turn of a Friendly Card, because I heard Time on the radio. They became my favorite band.

[@danieljette7409]

@@aaronb.2177Times lyrics always get me…

[@ken-in-KY]

The old saying was "Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me." This song reminds me of this.

[@Jo-Jo8vs]

I bought this album on vinyl when it came out, it's great to see that you guys like this, too. He is one of the most underrated artists because so many know his songs and many are influenced, but only a few know what's behind this.

[@OldTrucker958]

I saw APP in 1997 with Kansas which is one of my favorite bands. They (APP) put on the most perfect concert I’ve ever heard. No mistakes at all it was flawless. I was blown away. Chris Thompson of Manfred Mann was singing. At 56 years old he was incredible

[@gregorymacdonald8732]

Oh...and Time. Such a moving song that hits hard!

[@bishdizzle67]

It starts out with Sirius and then melds to Eye In The Sky.

[@gerrysneeringer9457]

I bought the album in 1982 and to my memory it has always been crisp.

[@andrespi2009]

Is the Most perfect pop rock song ever. Just flawless

[@TheFairyintheFishBowl]

Aaah! I love this song - it’s been on my playlist forever! I’m sure you’ll both love it! ❤

[@chadmcnabb281]

One of my favorite songs when i was a kid. One of those songs that instantly transports you back to 80's. The bass player and guitarist on this song were in the band Pilot that a hit with the song It's Magic. Ian Bairnson the guitarist played the guitar solo on Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights too.

[@k17reactions]

Absolutely fantastic song & band. That intro always had a spooky feel to that intro. Great song!!!

[@jamesanderson5268]

They have a fairly recent concert album Alan Parsons Project live in Columbia. It was really good and it's on KZbin. "Don't Answer Me" is actually sung by Alan himself. Two other song I really love are "Time" and "Old and Wise".

[@MrYoup11]

I remember in high school when this came out, the book "1984" was quite popular and many people thought that the eye in the sky was referring to Big Brother from the book.

[@billofalltrades2633]

One of my favorite songs! Great reaction!

[@ericmorgan204]

I bought the Album when it first came out and later the CD, and it was always this clear.

[@raymondking1793]

Love This Song Seen Alan Parsons project live at the California State Fair They were Awesome 😊

[@douglasstrother6584]

I still have this on vinyl & a turntable. Still great.

[@bigsteve6200]

Alan Parsons did work with the Beatles. You can see him in the concert the Beatles had on a rooftop. He was running power cords in an Orange suit. If you react to Don't Awnser Me. See the viedo. That is pretty interesting.

[@RichardinNC1]

Alan Parsons Project was one of my favorite ‘bands’ for years. Turn of a Friendly Card is great all the way through. We used it to test stereo systems in the 80s. Try Anything Once is another great album with Three of Me, Turn It Up, Jigue, and Mr Time. They are not well known but still great tunes. Don’t forget Silence & I and Psychobabble from this album.

[@TheCornishCockney]

ANYTHING from masterpiece APP album The Turn of a Friendly Card is brilliant. Also a deep cut called “Prime Time” where the guitar is perfect. Deep rabbit hole this.

[@kyleanspach3457]

👍 Agreed! The title track(s) and Games People Play are my favorite APP songs.

[@bookhouseboy280]

Side 2 in particular with the title suite is peak Parsons.

[@robertboston7872]

Love that album played the crap out of it .

[@SG-js2qn]

Glad Phil recognized the music right off the bat. 👍🏀

[@csphoenix9]

Parsons used different musicians and singers through different albums, so many great songs

[@pjg58x]

Even so, many of the same musicians and singers performed on many of the albums. For example vocalist Lenny Zakatek and guitarist Ian Bairnson appeared on most if not all albums.

[@lindamaclellan4899]

@@pjg58x Thanks for that good information!

[@Tel864]

Stuart Elliott on drums was there for much of time. Elliott played drums on The Alan Parsons Project third album, Pyramid,which would be the first of ten albums where he became part of the rhythm section, and he continued playing and contributed in the songwriting for the next three solo albums of Parsons.

[@robertcampopiano6001]

According to Alan Parsons, it’s about the ubiquity of surveillance cameras (even more relevant now), along referring to the surveillance cameras in casinos, commonly referred to as the “Eye in the Sky”. The lyrics “I am the Eye in the Sky”/Looking at you/I can read your mind/The maker of rules/Dealing with fools/I can cheat you blind…” is the best description of a casino I’ve ever heard.

[@ferdnerkel]

It's also the goal of any surveillance state, the like of which can bee seen in the CCP, in China and it's the hopes of the UN's 15 minute city program.

[@utha2665]

@@ferdnerkel He was actually inspired by George Orwell's book, 1984, which is all about a surveillance state.

[@joeparr2688]

The intro became famous as the intro for the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan era.

[@philowens7680]

I play this in the classroom before the start of the first class of term in college chemistry!

[@JohnCooperCre8]

When CDs first appeared, I think this was the go-to track in HiFi stores when they wanted to demonstrate the clarity of sound. That contributed to the success of the CD album

[@TimKCSportsFan]

Breakdown and Don't Answer Me are two must reactions from The Alan Parsons Project

[@MrFingers008]

Both are great. Also "Time" from Turn of a Friendly Card is a great song.

[@BhutJolokias]

I spent 18+ years in AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) in the US Air Force as a software engineer. This was the theme song for our squadron. One of the most appropriate theme songs in military history in my opinion. A friend of mine currently uses this as my ring tone on his phone.

[@rklrkl64]

You played "Sirius" first - a famous instrumental track - "Eye In The Sky" is the second track on the album of the same name. I really like "Silence And I" from the same APP "Eye In The Sky" album - the orchestration in the middle of that track is arguably the best APP ever did, hardly surprising considering Andrew Powell had a 100-strong orchestra to deal with!

[@badplay156]

You asked what part of Pink Floyd he engineered. He did ALL of Darkside of the Moon. He knew it was going to be special so took the shifts of the other engineers just so he could work on it

[@sawicki2]

That is not entirely true. Alan had already worked on Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother. studio management decides (most likely together with the artists) which engineer is to work on a given project. And he was chosen to work on DSOTM.

[@willfromyadkinville]

"Wouldn't Wamt To Be Like You" is another great one as well as "Games People Play".

[@jimfrederick3907]

"Games People Play" is greatness!

[@sueingram5157]

Games Ppl Play is another great song by Alan Parsons Project.

[@Andor2022]

Chicago Bulls Sirius ❤ Starting Line up Intro Song Jordan,Pippen,Rodman,Harper,Longley

[@PML78]

🔥Cartwright, Paxson, Grant 🔥Armstrong, Kukoc, Kerr

[@trixlee5102]

The great guitarist Ian Bairnson died last year. Such a tasteful guitarist who knew just what to play. The ending solo on this track is just perfect.

[@garyarnett1220]

Sorry to hear that. RIP Ian.

[@billpo]

That whole album was great

[@tifacola]

How can you have gone through life without ever hearing this?

[@stephenstrudwick8095]

Check out "(The System of) Dr. Tarr And Professor Fether" from The Alan Parsons Project's 1976 debut album "Tales of Mystery And Imagination: Edgar Allan Poe", which has a more progressive vibe than heard in their later work. The lyrical and musical themes of this album are retellings of horror stories and poetry by Edgar Allan Poe. An impressive listen!

[@pjjayhawk]

Always loved The Raven from the same album, too

[@erickvermeulen9734]

I concur

[@n5iln]

@@pjjayhawk Even better if preceded by "A Dream Within A Dream", with Orson Welles narrating.

[@bsquared3809]

"Do what you need to make you feel better. Do what you need to make you feel!" 🙂

[@stephenstrudwick8095]

​@@bsquared3809 "Satisfaction altogether Guaranteed by Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether" 😊

[@freddymo3339]

MIXING MASTER in the studio

[@chuckwhite3176]

Sounds just as good now as when I first heard it on the radio in high school. Parsons is a master at sound crafting with his audio mixes.

[@jimwilt4944]

“Some Other Time”, “Turn of a Friendly Card”, “To One in Paradise” and “Time” are also great.

[@ArianaH3ART]

Omg hadn't heard this song in forever, nice! Great classic good job guys yall are the best reactors on youtube no cap.

[@sirkat344]

The intro- "Sirius" (as in the star), is a piece unto itself. But it sets up Eye in the Sky, so it is natural to play them together.

[@Ariel-x1x]

You should hear "Tales of Mystery and Imagination", The Alan Parson's Project's first album. That is absolutely crisp, Orchestral, Poetry and EPIC Rock-Opera plus chorus all in one. It was produced in 1973. You'd swear that audio quality was impossible to record at that time. It is well worth listening to an original album of it. IMO it contained Alan Parson's greatest musical and production achievements. It also formed the basis for the sound track to a B-grade British horror movie called, "The Fall of the House of Usher", which was apparently seen by almost no one. But the soundtrack was awesome.

[@sharonpeterson5415]

All of the songs on that album are based on Edgar Alan Poe works. I love that album.

[@tomstanziola1982]

There is a great live version of this that you two might want to check out. Great reaction to a great song!!! 👏👏👏👏✌️

[@BrakRulesAll]

I bought this album when it came out in '82 and the engineering and overall sound quality is absolutely top shelf for its time, and STILL is outstanding 40+ years later. Some speculate that the "eye in the sky" is the security apparatus of the same name in casinos, watching over gamblers. APP has an entire concept album called Turn of a Friendly Card that' definiteliy hits that subject, so maybe there's something to it. That's an OUTSTANDING album btw, highly suggested for a headphone session from start to finish in one sitting.

[@TH-tl6sy]

Alan Parsons sound was so unique when I first saw the movie Ladyhawke as soon as the opening song to the film came on I was like cool alan parsons produced the score for this movie! Sure enough.

[@Snakebite351]

For a real treat check out the live versions from his concert in Columbia. The entire band is masterful!

[@drewmosko7194]

I loved this song in high school and was then hyped when the Chicago Bulls with MJ and Co. started using it.

[@waynedavenport6053]

He is just the best, and he is still putting out albums, and touring. He has a DVD of his concert in Colombia a few years back that is worth watching!

[@gregsteele806]

"Turn of a Friendly Card" is an amazing album. So many good tracks on side one. Side 2 is basically one long song, broken into several movements with the track "Turn of a Friendly Card" as the introduction and resolution.

[@jjcastleberry3662]

A military friend stationed in the U.K. Sent me the "Eyes in the Sky" Album, which I still have in my collection. I recall receiving it in early June 1982. I played the Album in the military barracks loud enough that everyone (Marines) could listen. The US did not get it until July of that year.

[@jjcastleberry3662]

Holy Smokes, the vinyl LP "Eye in the Sky" is being sold on eBay for as high as $77.00.

[@stevenbergom3415]

I remember hearing this on the radio when I was younger, realizing it was really cool but not totally understanding it until I hadn't heard it for 20 years.

[@jwine4145]

“Damned if I Do” is an under appreciated song by The Alan Parsons Project IMHO

[@davidleeder1447]

The Intro, Sirius, is for the great Chicago Bulls!!!!

[@delscoville]

Every time I hear this one, I get the urge to sit down at my synth rack and create something.

[@markolatvanen5791]

"The Eagle Will Rise Again", from APP's 1977 "Pyramid" is awesomely beautiful. Definitely worth checking out!

[@enriquembomio3686]

“I am the maker of rules dealing with fools”. Simply brilliant!

[@tancar2004]

The story I've heard about this song was the singer Eric Wolfson was spending a lot of time in casino's during this era and a lot of their songs have theme's around gambling. Especially the album: Turn of a Friendly Card.

[@TheNotedHero]

I was only five or six when this came out, so it's baked into my mind as one of those maximum nostalgia songs for me. The quality of it is one of the highest from a sound mixing and arrangement perspective, I doubt I'll ever get sick of hearing it.

[@sueingram5157]

Eric Woolfson sings vocals on this song. He had a fascination with all the hidden video cameras in the Vegas Casinos ,he would sit and try and figure out where the cameras were at. The cameras in all of the casinos are called Eye In The Sky!❤

[@sueingram5157]

I'm the maker of rules , dealing with fools, I can cheat you blind, I am the eye in the sky is about all the cameras in the casinos, the eye in the sky is basically the person behind the cameras watching the casino games & the card tables in casino.

[@richardmtl]

My favorite song from them

[@mulle27]

i was 17, she was 21. she called me through a mutual friend. i didnt even know her. i took a chance, i went to her place. she played this song, and i was hooked. she was too beautiful and moreso too mature. i could not keep her, but we stayed together for a couple of years, and i kept listening to Alan P. occasionally i still do. this happened 35 years ago.

[@MrRandyv]

The insights and perception, with you two is amazing🙀👍🏻

[@greggb5226]

This song makes most sense to me if you look at it as the eye in the sky being your inner moral self and comparing it to the thoughts and actions (maybe your non-moral self) you actually take. Sort of a conversation between the good part of you and the fool part of you.

[@claudest-gelais8456]

Still have it on vinyl, purchased back in 1985 or 86!!!😉. And it sounds just as good as this digital version you just heard.