TALES OF MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION

Simply -- This is a must have! Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and APP's "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" are perhaps the two top "put the head phones on and listen to more than just songs" musical masterpieces from the 70s. And of course what do they have in common? The creative genius of Alan Parsons. Both works take the listener on a musical roller coaster. "Tales" uses influences ranging from classical orchestration to ahead-of-its-time electronics. While I enjoy all APP and AP works, "Tales" is the best. Of APP works, it stays with the theme (works of Poe) more tightly than other works, with an integration of sound and mood that is second to none. I like the original, but the new version does include an interesting Orson Wells narrative that does not detract, perhaps even enhances, depending on the listener (how can you not enjoy his voice). Truly one of those "different", but not necessarily better or worse situations. While such a work of art could not have been accomplished without Alan Parsons, the impact of Eric Wolfson should never be dismissed or overlooked. I do not know for sure why they went their separate ways, but it is a shame. If is was jealousy over it being the "Alan Parsons" Project I do not know, but at least AP has had the class to not use "Project" on works without Wolfson. It's been since the 70s that works like "Tales" and "I Robot" moved music forward. They should seriously consider reuniting to take integrative-progressive music to its next level, what ever that may be.