Pyramid was the third studio album by The Alan Parsons Project (APP), the progressive rock ensemble comprising the engineer/producer Alan Parsons and the songwriter, musician and manager Eric Woolfson. Originally released in May 1978, it followed the successful and eclectic debut album, Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1976) and then I Robot (1977), where their musical identity and style was cemented.
Pyramid maintained that soft rock, pop and prog template, with the emphasis on accessible songs and instrumental interludes, wrapped around a conceptual theme, with a distinctive sound shaped by guest musicians and vocalists such as David Paton, Stuart Elliott, John Miles, Ian Bairnson, Duncan Mackay, Colin Blunstone and Andrew Powell – all of whom appeared on Pyramid – amongst many others.
As with other many APP albums in recent years, it is the turn of Pyramid to get the deluxe remaster/reissue treatment. Although previously remastered in 2008 with several bonus tracks, the 7-disc Super Deluxe Box Set takes things up several notches.
4 CDs have a stereo CD remaster of the original album by Miles Showell as well as 67 bonus tracks (54 of which are previously unreleased) taken from studio session outtakes and Eric Woolfson’s songwriting diaries. For the audiophiles, the Blu-ray disc features the first ever Dolby Atmos mix of any APP album, along with a 5.1 Surround Sound mix from the original multi-track master tapes by Alan Parsons and a new stereo HD remaster of the original album by Miles Showell.
In addition, there is a 45 rpm, 180-gram heavyweight double vinyl release, remastered at half speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios. You also get a 12” x 12” fully illustrated hardback casebound book featuring interviews with Alan Parsons, the Woolfson family and the musicians/vocalists, as well as full lyrics and commentary on the bonus tracks. Add a replica of the original press folder containing an A1 poster and postcard of the album artwork, a reproduction of the original biography and other content, and a 12” sized art print signed by Alan Parsons himself, and it is quite a box set!
It is definitely not cheap (this version of the box set currently retails at £135), but it is certainly as comprehensive a release as any fan of the album and the Project itself would ever want, with other editions even including limited Gold Nugget and Clear Vinyl as well. More affordable is the 2024 remaster, expanded edition CD, with 4 bonus tracks (at around £12).
But I suppose the question that needs answering is how does the original album stand up after 46 years? In my humble opinion, rather well!
Looking back, the late 70s was a rather strange time for progressive rock. Punk/New Wave was changing the commercial landscape of the music industry and the media and many of the giants of the progressive rock world were suddenly struggling to stay afloat, with some succeeding better than others. The arrival of The Alan Parsons Project in 1976 with the Edgar Allan Poe-themed Tales of Mystery and Imagination, was in many ways an anomaly, but its mix of both accessible rock/pop compositions mixing with a touch of prog ad gothic orchestration full of melody and lyricism, was a surprising success. However, it was next year’s follow-up, the science fiction-themed I Robot that hit upon the style that would define the band for the rest of their 10-album duration up to 1990. Over time the progressive elements increasingly faded as the soft rock and pop accessibility of the songs, alongside snippets of instrumentation, took over and commercial success followed, especially with the mid-period trilogy of The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980), Eye in the Sky (1982) and Ammonia Avenue (1984). Memorable songs, wonderfully composed, produced and performed, but even I would struggle convincing others (not least myself) that the prog rock quotient was high by then.
I have a real soft spot for Pyramid. It was a natural successor to I Robot. While it sold well, it has always remained a largely under-appreciated album in the band’s discography, and tracks from it have been rarely played live by Alan Parsons in recent years. I don’t really know why. Most of the songs are as strong as the previous album and the Egyptian and Pyramids theme is an intriguing one. At the time the album was conceived, interest in pyramids and so-called pyramid power was all the rage – from the ongoing fascination with Tutankhamun and pharaohs, the pyramids of Giza and even the magical symbolism on the back of a dollar bill and the cover of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon (with the link to Alan Parsons, of course).
Voyager is a short, but atmospheric, instrumental that opens the album, with simple, strummed guitar chords over wind-swept synthesisers and a slowly developing rhythm. We are about to embark on a journey in time and space, and the artwork always suggested to me that it was the desolate landscape of ancient Egypt that I was heading to.
The beating bass notes, and foot-tapping rhythm take us into the beautifully, plaintive, What Goes Up… with David Paton’s clear vocals, interspersed with those of Dean Ford, contemplating the possible futility of earthly endeavours against the hope that some things can last the test of time, such as the pyramids. The paced tempo takes us into a nicely understated guitar solo which then takes flight with some uplifting orchestration from Andrew Powell, although the moodier atmosphere returns and the Egyptian-sounding feel of the music is retained.
The orchestration is joined by the beautiful, serene clavichord/harpsichord-like pattern of notes for The Eagle Will Rise Again. This, for me, is the highlight of the album, with these first three songs combining to produce one of the most coherent and moving sections of music the Project ever produced. Colin Blunstone’s melancholic and yearning vocals are wonderful, while the lyrics reflect hope and resilience after loss, with a sense of trying to rise above the challenges and adversity encountered. On one level it looks at emotional loss and a determination to overcome it with support and guidance. At the time, I thought it could be about a pharaoh seeking the return of his queen to his side, but in hindsight the lyrics are ambiguous enough for many interpretations. However, the spiritual symbolisation of the eagle of strength and rising above earthly limitations (with its links to the god Horus amongst others) is strong throughout. The lush, sweeping strings and vocal harmonies alternate with the more introspective sections to stop it ever becoming too melodramatic.
One More River, by contrast is more up-tempo number with a swagger to Lenny Zakatek’s vocals, and some nice jazzy saxophone. It is a pleasant enough straight-forward soft rock song, with some interesting changes of pace amongst the keyboards, guitar and horns, but maybe lacks the gravitas of the previous songs, perhaps. The lyrics suggest someone coming to the end of a long journey with just one more obstacle to overcome. The next song certainly shows us where our protagonist’s journey has led to.
Can’t Take It With You, sees him standing on the bank of the Underworld river about to be transported by the celestial ferryman. You can imagine the rich, newly deceased, pharaoh pleading to Hraf-Haf (the Egyptian equivalent to the Greek god Charon on the River Styx) to allow him to take his worldly possessions with him before he passes on. The song is another album highlight. It starts with ethereal, Eastern-sounding, flute-like synths before hitting a breezy guitar-led rhythm that canters along nicely. The lyrics alternate between subtle humour and slightly sinister urgency with Dean Ford’s soft vocals working very well. By no means prog, but very accessible, intelligent pop to end the original vinyl side 1 effectively.
A bell heralds more atmospheric and mystical middle-eastern flute music on In The Lap Of The Gods, before a sudden, ominous keyboard crescendo welcomes in a marching drum beat – followed by strummed acoustic guitar and some striking zither-like cimbalom playing. The rich string orchestration and soaring choir combine for a deliciously engaging slice of symphonic prog. There is a mid-point increase in tempo with piano, horns and then more classical flourishes for a stereotypical APP instrumental that has hints of Carl Orff’s O Fortuna – Carmina Burana towards the end.
If ever there was a ‘marmite’ track that may ultimately be the reason that the album is not consistently held in higher esteem by many, it is Pyramania. The change from the dark, grandeur of the previous instrumental to the quirkiness of this Buggles meets Gilbert & Sullivan piece of confection is a striking one indeed. The repetitive chop-sticks piano notes (reminiscent of Supertramp’s Dreamer at times) and Jack Harris’s upper register vocals give it a definite musical catchiness, as do the humorous lyrics looking at the controversial claims of pyramid power (the famous G. Patrick Flanagan book – Pyramid Power: The Millennium Science, appears on the album front cover). Personally, the track has never been a problem to me, but I can understand those who do dive for the skip button. As I used to say… it’s just a bit of fun!
Another instrumental, Hyper-Gamma-Spaces, is an engaging enough burst of Jean-Michel Jarre-like electronica driven by piano and synthesisers over a disco beat, although it comes over as more of a musical interlude or library music piece than a fully conceived composition. To some extent it highlights the more fragmented nature of Side 2, compared to Side 1.
The album ends with the melodramatic, orchestrated power ballad, Shadow Of A Lonely Man. The piano introduces more sweeping strings and woodwind before John Miles’s expressive vocals enter and recount the tale of a once powerful and rich man looking back at his life and realising all his materialistic experiences and possessions are ultimately worthless. Again, the lyrics work on many levels, but I always used to think it conjured up the image of a long-dead pharaoh now seeing crowds of tourists visiting his tomb, as he gazes on helplessly on them (well that imagery worked for me at the time). It has a feel of The Moody Blues and a West End theatre show vibe (reflecting the late Eric Woolfson’s background), which now seems a touch more cloying than it once did, perhaps. Certainly, the likes of Old and Wise from Eye In The Sky just edges it as an end of album climax.
To be fair, the outtakes and demoes that make up most of the 4 CDs of the box set are largely non-essential and for completists only. I enjoyed listening to them and seeing the creative process of the musicians and composers, especially Eric’s songwriting diaries once, as well the old radio adverts and commentaries – but I would be unlikely to go to many a second time. The work in progress for the next album, Eve, is intriguing, although it was an album I never warmed to at the time. The previously instrumental version of Voyager/What Goes Up…/The Eagle Will Rise Again does work well in its own right on CD1. The sonic quality of the original tracks is top notch, and the remastering certainly adds a sparkle on many of these. In addition. the accompanying illustrated book is a real time capsule which does add much value to the box set for those able to afford it.
Overall, I think Pyramid does stand the test of time well and, with just the odd exception, it is a coherent melodic and lyrical album of soft rock and pop with the odd prog flourishes that deserves a reappraisal in the project’s discography. Indeed, several tracks are true classics that deserve a live outing, if Alan Parson continues to tour in the near future. We shall see. A return to the UK would certainly be welcome after all these years. I live in hope.
PYRAMID – SUPER DELUXE BOX SET
CD1 – Original Album 2024 Remaster Plus Expanded Bonus Tracks
01. Voyager (2:15)
02. What Goes Up… (3:40)
03. The Eagle Will Rise Again (4:23)
04. One More River (4:17)
05. Can’t Take It With You (5:09)
06. In The Lap Of The Gods (5:29)
07. Pyramania (2:45)
08. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces (4:18)
09. Shadow Of A Lonely Man (5:36)
~ Bonus tracks
10. Voyager/ What Goes Up…/ The Eagle Will Rise Again (Instrumental Version) (8:56)
11. What Goes Up…/ Little Voice (Early Version Demo) (4:09)
12. Can’t Take It With You (Early Version Demo) (1:44)
13. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces (Demo) (2:23)
14. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Alternative Version Backing Track) (3:22)
15. In The Lap Of The Gods Part 1 (Demo) (3:16)
16. In The Lap Of The Gods Part 2 (Backing Track Rough Mix) (1:58)
CD2 – Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diaries
01. Pyramid Structure Talking (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (0:45)
02. Little Voice/ What Goes Up… (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (5:45)
03. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (5:13)
04. One More River (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (3:13)
05. In The Lap of the Gods (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary (5:29)
06. Pyramania (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (2:55)
07. Broken/Pyramania (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (5:28)
08. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (6:14)
09. Start of writing Gemini for Eye in the Sky (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (2:11)
10. Start of writing Nothing Left to Lose for TOFC (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (2:17)
11. Start of writing Snake Eyes for TOFC (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (1:01)
~ Previously unreleased tracks
12. Pyramid Instrumental (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (0:54)
13. Pyramid Clavichord (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (1:14)
14. Little Voice (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (4:37)
15. Broken (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (3:04)
16. On It Goes (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (0:34)
17. Open Your Eyes (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (1:16)
18. If I Could Do It All Again (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (1:21)
19. We Can Do It (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (3:16)
20. Taking It All Away (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (1:36)
21. Elsie’s Theme (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (2:33)
22. Hazel’s Theme (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (2:29)
23. My Name Is Lorna (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary) (3:12)
CD3 – Bonus Studio Recordings Vol.1
01. Voyager (Backing Track Out Take) (0:47)
02. Voyager (Early Stage) (1:11)
03. Voyager (Vocal Experiment) (1:59)
04. Voyager (Light Relief Jam) (0:15)
05. Voyager (Early Mix) (4:30)
06. Voyager (John Leach Kantele Take) (5:09)
07. What Goes Up…/ Little Voice (Demo) (3:49)
08. What Goes Up… (Dean Ford Vocal Take) (2:51)
09. What Goes Up… (Isolated Choir Take) (2:25)
10. What Goes Up… (Early Rough Mix) (3:38)
11. What Goes Up… (Choir) (1:12)
12. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Colin Blunstone Vocal Take Excerpts) (14:06)
13. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Rough Mix Featuring Backing Vocals) (2:18)
14. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Orchestral Strings) (1:19)
15. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Rough Mix Backing Track) (4:07)
CD4 – Bonus Studio Recordings Vol. 2
01. One More River (Intro Takes) (0:54)
02. One More River (Lenny Zakatek Lead Vocal Takes) (5:54)
03. One More River (Lenny Zakatek Vocal Gymnastic Takes) (2:57)
04. One More River (Experimental Break) (0:34)
05. Can’t Take It With You (Rough Mix) (4:51)
06. In The Lap of the Gods (John Leach Cimbalom Takes) (4:31)
07. In The Lap of the Gods (Choir Takes) (6:17)
08. In the Lap of the Gods (Backing Track Takes) (4:04)
09. In The Lap of the Gods (Orchestral Strings) (3:10)
10. In The Lap Of The Gods (Hail To The King Choir) (1;16)
11. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces (Projectron) (1:06)
12. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Eric Woolfson’s Piano Take) (1:28)
13. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Alan Parsons’ Experimental Demo Vocal) (1:4:37)
14. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Eric Woolfson’s Demo Vocal) (4:32)
15. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Orchestral Woodwind) (2:47)
16. Shadow Of A Lonely Man (Olive Simpson Backing Vocals) (0:46)
~ Miscellaneous
17. Pyramid US Radio Advert 1 (1:04)
18. Pyramid US Radio Advert 2 (1:55)
19. Pyramid Bob Harris Cinema Playback Introduction (1:55)
20. Pyramid Audio Guide Alan Parsons Commentary (1:55)
21. Pyramid Audio Guide Eric Woolfson Commentary 1 (3:19)
22. Pyramid Audio Guide Eric Woolfson Commentary 2 (4:43)
2 x 45 RPM LPs
Side 1
01. Voyager (2:15)
02. What Goes Up… (3:40)
03. The Eagle Will Rise Again (4:23)
Side 2
01. One More River (4:17)
02. Can’t Take It With You (5:09)
Side 3
01. In The Lap Of The Gods (5:29)
02. Pyramania (2:45)
Side 4
01. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces (4:18)
02. Shadow Of A Lonely Man (5:36)
BLU-RAY DOLBY ATMOS/5.1 SURROUND SOUND remixed by Alan Parsons 2024
Original album remastered in Stereo 2024
01. Voyager (2:15)
02. What Goes Up… (3:40)
03. The Eagle Will Rise Again (4:23)
04. One More River (4:17)
05. Can’t Take It With You (5:09)
06. In The Lap Of The Gods (5:29)
07. Pyramania (2:45)
08. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces (4:18)
09. Shadow Of A Lonely Man (5:36)
PYRAMID – 2024 Remaster, Expanded Edition CD
01. Voyager (2:15)
02. What Goes Up… (3:40)
03. The Eagle Will Rise Again (4:23)
04. One More River (4:17)
05. Can’t Take It With You (5:09)
06. In The Lap Of The Gods (5:29)
07. Pyramania (2:45)
08. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces (4:18)
09. Shadow Of A Lonely Man (5:36)
~ Bonus tracks
10. Voyager (Early Mix) (4:30)
11. What Goes Up… (Early Rough Mix) (3:38)
12. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Rough Mix Featuring Backing Vocals) (2:18)
13. Shadow Of A Lonely Man (Eric Woolfson Demo Vocal) (4:32)
MUSICIANS
(Pyramid – original album)
Alan Parsons – Fender Rhodes (1), Acoustic Guitar (5), Wurlitzer (8), Projectron (8 & 9), Backing Vocals (3), Producer
Eric Woolfson – Projectron (1), Fender Rhodes (2), Clavichord & Harpsichord (3), Piano (5-7,9), Organ (6), Backing Vocals (3 & 5)
~ With:
Ian Bairnson – Acoustic (2,4-6 & 9) & Electric Guitars, Fx (4)
Duncan Mackay – Synth (1,4,5,7 & 8), Hammond Organ (4)
Phil Kenzie – Saxophone (4)
Unknown Artist – Middle Eastern Wooden Flute (6)
David Paton – Bass, Acoustic Guitar (2,4-6 & 9), Lead Vocal (2) & Backing Vocals (3 & 5)
Stuart Elliott – Drums, Percussion
John Leach – Kantele (1), Cimbalom (6)
Colin Blunstone – Lead Vocals (3), Backing Vocals (9)
Lenny Zakatek – Vocals & Vocal Fx (4)
Dean Ford – Lead & Backing Vocals (2 & 5)
Jack Harris – Lead & Backing Vocals (7)
John Miles – Lead Vocals (9)
Olive Simpson – Backing Vocals (9)
The English Chorale – Chorus Vocals (2,6)
Bob Howes – Choirmaster (2,6)
Andrew Powell – Choral & Orchestral Arranger & Conductor (2-4,6 & 9), Autoharp (3)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl (CD, Digital, Vinyl)
Country of Origin: U.K.
Date of Release: 23rd August 2024
LINKS
The Alan Parsons Project (APP) – Website | Facebook | YouTube | X