Freudiana Alan Parsons - Freudiana 1989 Studio Cast (18 tracks) +Album Reviews

The "Secret" Alan Parsons Project Album

Alan Caylow | USA | 04/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1990's "Freudiana" was the last album that singer/composer Eric Woolfson collaborated on with Alan Parsons, his former partner in the Alan Parsons Project. Quite simply, "Freudiana," a concept album about the life & works of Sigmund Freud, is an Alan Parsons Project album in all but name. It features virtually the exact same revolving door of musicians & singers that have featured on previous Project albums, such as co-leaders Parsons & Woolfson, guitarist Ian Bairnson, drummer Stuart Elliot, and "Gaudi" bassist Laurie Cottle, as well as singers Graham Dye, Chris Rainbow, John Miles & Eric Woolfson himself, along with "newcomers" Leo Sayer, Kiki Dee, and 10cc's Eric Stewart. "Freudiana" is structured like a Project album, and it's incredible music & production SOUNDS like a Project album. So why is no credit given to the group? Simple---past Project albums were always co-written by Parsons & Woolfson, but on "Freudiana," Woolfson is the sole composer (apart from the instrumental, "Beyond The Pleasure Principle," which Parsons contributed). So, on the songwriting curve alone, it was decided that "Freudiana" would NOT be credited to the Alan Parsons Project on the sleeve, and that it simply be released under it's own title. But it certainly goes without saying that if you are, indeed, a huge Project fan, then "Freudiana" is an absolute must-have. On previous Project albums, Parsons & Woolfson and their "cast of thousands" have always delivered nothing less than first-rate singing, songwriting, playing, and production (and Project albums are *perfect* records to test-drive your new stereo equipment with). "Freudiana" is no exception. Just one listen to superb songs like the title track, Dora, Let Yourself Go, The Ring, Upper Me, and the album-closer There But For The Grace Of God, to name but a few, and you're in total Project heaven! I'm totally amazed that "Freudiana" has never been given a proper North American release, as there are many diehard Project fans over here that don't even know that this album even exists. Ah, they don't know what they're missing....but thank goodness for online shopping, eh? After "Freudiana," Woolfson parted ways with Alan Parsons to concentrate on musical theater (and "Freudiana," in fact, WAS later staged as a musical in Vienna in December of 1990). While Parsons continues to make top-notch albums under his own name (minus the "Project" moniker), it can't be denied that Woolfson's unique singing & songwriting contributions are missed. But he couldn't have chosen a better album to exit with---many AP Project fans actually name "Freudiana" as their favorite "Project" album, and why not? It's a brilliant work, and one that definitely deserves a place among your other Project CD's. Just make sure you file "Freudiana" in the appropriate place, between "Gaudi" & "Try Anything Once." :-)"

I suspect this is what broke them up.

David P. Eastman | Texas | 01/07/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Well, since I've known of this album, I've always wondered why it was never released as an APP disc.I finally got it for Christmas. Question answered.Like so many others who've voiced opinions here, I have missed Eric Woolfson. He was, clearly, the melody man behind APP's songs--esp. when considered in light of Mr. Parson's post-Project output (much of which is fine, just lacking the hooks Eric provided).However, after listening to Freudiana, I've gotta say that if this is what Eric can do on his own, I miss Mr. Parson's direction. (Yes, Alan produced Freudiania, but remember: it is NOT a Project album. There's a reason for that.)Somewhere along the line, this collection stopped being a concept album and started becoming a musical: Gilbert, Sullivan, Woolfson & Weber. Not to attack the production or the songwriting; it's just obviously not where Alan wanted to take (or had previously taken) the Project. The work on Freudiana is a tad cutesy--not all of it, but enough of it. If you want progressive pop/rock in the vein of Ammonia Avenue, you WILL find it here--but only in about 3 tracks. Gaudi-era work makes an appearance in maybe two tracks. Everything else sounds like Eric's take on CATS, bouncy rhythms and stage vocals and dialogue-style lyrics. The overall effect is not bad. After all, Woolfson wrote the lion's share of APP songs. But to compare this work to the Project's best is ... well, I suspect it's just an overreaction to the somewhat disappointing work on Alan's latest "solo" releases. It's good to hear Eric and Chris Rainbow and John Miles and Graham Dye sing again ... one just wishes for less South Pacific and more rock leanings. For what it's worth, I'd leave you with this thought: If you have all the Project's work, this album is worth the price. But expect some disappointments.If you're a casual fan, don't bother until you've bought all the other titles.If you've only heard the Project's singles and are looking for something to start your collection ... this ain't it.And if you know Alan or Eric personally ... please thank them for all of their efforts apart. And convince them to get back together."

Come back Eric...

Kerem Ozbas | Turkey | 02/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a fan of "The Alan Parsons Project" since my primary school days; it had been a very great honour and enthusiasm for me to meet them, 2 years ago, when they came for a concert to Istanbul... When I meat Alan, Ian, Stuart and others, at their hotel, one day after their wonderful concert, I asked all them where was Eric... After "Gaudi" it was a big silence until "Try Anything Once" and then came "On Air"... As a faithful listener of Alan, I had liked these albums too; but there was something missing... After listening to Freudiana, I have found what or who was missing: just Eric Woolfson... Freudiana is a superb album... Especially, hearing the voice of Eric in most of the songs like "Freudiana", "Let Yourself Go", "No One Can Love You Better Than Me", "Dora" remains as if you were listening to "Time", "Eye In The Sky", "Ammonia Avenue", "Prime Time" "La Sagrada Familia" or "Silence and I"... And even for 53 seconds, an old friend's, Chris Rainbow's voice let you fly at "Destiny"... All Project fans must absolutely get this album... And a few words to Eric Woolfson: Come back... We missed you..."

Prime Time

David DeWeese | Laurinburg, NC United States | 05/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For me, finding Freudiana was like discovering sex for the first time. Hmm. I wonder what Sigmund would say about that one?For those who enjoyed the defunct Alan Parsons Project or the Alan Parsons Band, you might consider Freudiana the final curtain for the Project. I personally considered Eric Woolfson to have been the heart and soul behind the Project. With his Gaudi work, Eric turned toward a manic creative drive to research something or someone that he found fascinating and then produce a musical about what was discovered. Actually, the Project was born with this approach toward Edgar Allan Poe, and the Project dies unnamed with a Freud project.Freudiana represents the final effort between Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson...and what a super effort it is! The wide range of musical styles Freudiana embraces is one of its strong points. Music combines with humor, drama, emotion, and some oft-times not so subtle sarcasm.With its opening instrumental, The Nirvana Principle, a listener is drawn into a musical maelstrom that is very much like the sound equivalent of a Picasso painting. An attitude exists that pretty much anything goes, and there definitely is talent and panache necessary to perpetrate audacity personified.Perhaps the most riveting performance belongs to Kiki Dee with You're On Your Own. Nowhere to be found is the woman who performed Don't Go Breaking My Heart with Elton John. Instead, she reveals that sultry angst necessary to embrace the Freudian concept behind the mother and son relationship. Ian Bairnson's guitar work punctuates what is one of the CD's strongest songs.There are a few forays into dark humor, especially with Sects Therapy, which is listed as "a health warning on some possible pitfalls of psychology." Sung from a first person point of view, Sects Therapy tells about one person's encounters with psychology. "And I told her over tea of my worries and my woes, and a morbid fear of eating beans in tightly fitting clothes."Overall, Freudiana reminds me of a Stephen King short story called "It Grows On You." My first reaction to it was "Say what?" And, then, well...the CD buried itself in my psyche...developed...evolved...and became an object of obsession. Perhaps I should call Dr. Ruth..."

Psycho-analysis by Eric Woolfson

Dynamo | The Hague, The Netherlands | 03/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Freudiana is the brain child of songwriter and musician Eric Woolfson who hit upon the idea of researching the life and works of Sigmund Freud with a view to their musical potential. Fully aware that doing justice to the genius of such magnitude would involve the highest degree of commitment and application, Woolfson set out to retrace Freud's footsteps and explore his realms in what turned out to be also a voyage of self-discovery. What resulted was not only the story of Freud and his work but perhaps more an image of the composer seen through a Freudian mirror.
Literary sources included Freud's classic cases whose real identities he concealed by using names such as Dora and Little Hans (songs on the album). In addition, Freud's writings on his discovery of the 'unconscious', his well known theories and his masterpiece, 'The Interpretation of Dreams', all served as springboard for musical ideas. Eric Woolfson has worked, together with his 'project' partner Alan parsons and conductor Andrew Powell, for three years on recording Freudiana. Eric Woolfson has written 17 songs and Alan Parsons the instrumental 'Beyond The Pleasure Principle'. (Note: nowadays Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson follow separate ways).
Lead vocalists on the album are: Eric Woolfson (on the fantastic title song Freudiana, Dora and Let Yourself Go), Leo Sayer, Graham Dye, The Flying Pickets (on 'Far Away From Home': amazing), Marti Webb (on the beautiful 'Don't Let The Moment Pass'), Eric Stewart (on 'Upper Me'), John Miles (on 'There But For The Grace Of God'), the golden voice of Chris Rainbow (on the mini song 'Destiny') and several others.
If you listen to Freudiana, you understand that this album is about psychoanalysis. Consequently not all songs are easy accessible. But that is what makes Freudiana brilliant. Woolfson has developed the concept of Freudiana further into a musical (in the German language), that was staged in the early 1990's in Vienna ('Theater an der Wien'). There was also an album and cd of this musical cast recording (by EMI), but this is unfortunately not available anymore. Hopefully the Vienna Musical Cast Recording (deutsche Originalaufnahme) of Freudiana will be reissued on cd again!
In short, Freudiana is a beautiful and interesting masterpiece of in particular Eric Woolfson. Listen and be amazed!"

Search - Freudiana, Alan Parsons :: Freudiana (1989 Studio Cast)

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