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Quiz about The Alan Parsons Project
Quiz about The Alan Parsons Project

The Alan Parsons Project Trivia Quiz


The Alan Parson Project had a string of popular and influential albums and a handful of hit singles in the 1970s and 80s. Their unique sound makes it hard to fit them into a category. How much do you remember about the Alan Parsons Project?

A multiple-choice quiz by Elder1954. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
Elder1954
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
308,014
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
438
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What was the primary musical background Alan Parsons before he formed The Alan Parsons Project? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The first album release of the Alan Parsons Project, in 1976, was a concept album based on the works of a major literary figure. The title would give it away, so who was the author whose works were featured? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The second Alan Parson Project release, in 1977, was another concept album based on another author's work, in this case, Isaac Asimov, the great science fiction writer. Which one of his works was the basis for this second album? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Alan Parsons Project albums came to be known for having at least one or two excellent instrumental tracks, which in my humble opinion, were often better than the vocal tracks in originality. The fourth album, "Eve" (1979) contains the first instrumental (and one of their best) to be released as a single. Its opening bars still pop up from time to time, particularly associated with news casts. What is the name of this instrumental? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. "The Turn of A Friendly Card" (1980) was the group's 5th album release and contained a song that reached #15 on the Billboard charts. It is beautiful, mournful ballad.
" ________ keeps flowing like a river, to the sea". What missing word is also the name of the song?
Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The Alan Parsons Project entered into its most popular period in 1982 with the release of "Eye in the Sky". The title track was a major hit for the group with Eric Woolfson's great vocal and a good solid beat. The mystical overtones of the album were reflected in the album cover art. What was pictured on the cover? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. "As far as my eyes can see
There are shadows surrounding me
And to those I leave behind
I want you all to know
You've always shared my darkest hours
I'll miss you when I go"
This great ballad closes "The Eye in the Sky" album. What song is it?
Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The Alan Parsons Project entered the Age of MTV with the release of "Ammonia Avenue" in 1984. Which great song from this album, resulted in a very popular music video?
(featuring semi-animated comic book hard-boiled detective, Nick, and his beautiful blond girlfriend, Sugar, whom he rescues from a hulking bad guy)
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The release of 1985's "Vulture Culture" was the start of the demise of the Alan Parsons Project. In their quest for another hit like "Eye in the Sky", the tone was decidedly more commercial and pop and less meaningful or mystical. Ironically, the first cut on the album deals with the point of view of a very self-centered person trying to get attention. What is the name of this song? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Only two more "official" Alan Parsons Projects studio albums followed "Vulture Culture": "Stereotomy" (1985) and "Gaudi" (1987). To what or whom does the title "Gaudi" refer? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Feb 16 2024 : Guest 70: 10/10
Jan 30 2024 : Guest 150: 6/10

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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What was the primary musical background Alan Parsons before he formed The Alan Parsons Project?

Answer: studio sound and recording engineer

Alan Parsons was assistant sound engineer for The Beatles "Let It Be" album and sound engineer for Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon". He was/is a talented musician, but at the time he was best known in professional circles as an excellent recording engineer.

He and Eric Woolfson formed the Alan Parsons Project to have production control over the songs they wrote, rather than letting singers have studio control over the music.
2. The first album release of the Alan Parsons Project, in 1976, was a concept album based on the works of a major literary figure. The title would give it away, so who was the author whose works were featured?

Answer: Edgar Allen Poe

The title was "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" and had two single releases, "The Raven" and "Doctor Tar and Professor Fether". Neither release was particularly successful ("Doctor Tar" hit #37 on the Billboard charts) but the album established The Alan Parsons Project with a growing fan base.
3. The second Alan Parson Project release, in 1977, was another concept album based on another author's work, in this case, Isaac Asimov, the great science fiction writer. Which one of his works was the basis for this second album?

Answer: I Robot

Asimov's title "I, Robot" was not available for a specific project because the rights had already been sold for a TV series or movie option. To get around this, the comma was removed from the title and the songs did not refer specifically to anything or anyone in Asimov's book. There were no hit singles off of "I Robot", though the song "Don't Let It Show" is a beautiful ballad.
"The Martian Chronicles" is by Ray Bradbury.
4. Alan Parsons Project albums came to be known for having at least one or two excellent instrumental tracks, which in my humble opinion, were often better than the vocal tracks in originality. The fourth album, "Eve" (1979) contains the first instrumental (and one of their best) to be released as a single. Its opening bars still pop up from time to time, particularly associated with news casts. What is the name of this instrumental?

Answer: Lucifer

"Lucifer" opens with a sort of "dit-ditta-dit-dit" underlaying beat that is somewhat reminiscent of a telegraph or teletype and I suppose this is why many newscasts of the 1980s and 90s picked up on it. Since "Eve" is a concept album about women, having "Lucifer" as the opening track, establishes the connection between Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden.
5. "The Turn of A Friendly Card" (1980) was the group's 5th album release and contained a song that reached #15 on the Billboard charts. It is beautiful, mournful ballad. " ________ keeps flowing like a river, to the sea". What missing word is also the name of the song?

Answer: Time

This song was also the first time that Eric Woolfson, Alan Parson's collaborator for the Project, sang a lead vocal. The song is beautiful and powerful. It never fails to give me goosebumps with Woolfson's beautifully controlled falsetto voice.
6. The Alan Parsons Project entered into its most popular period in 1982 with the release of "Eye in the Sky". The title track was a major hit for the group with Eric Woolfson's great vocal and a good solid beat. The mystical overtones of the album were reflected in the album cover art. What was pictured on the cover?

Answer: The eye of Horus

This entire album is a good solid collection of songs and remains one of the group's most popular. The instrumental track "Sirius" is still used at many sporting events (not to be confused with Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll, Part 2").
7. "As far as my eyes can see There are shadows surrounding me And to those I leave behind I want you all to know You've always shared my darkest hours I'll miss you when I go" This great ballad closes "The Eye in the Sky" album. What song is it?

Answer: Old and Wise

Like "Time" from "Turn of a Friendly Card", "Old and Wise" is a powerfully mournful ballad, this time sung by Colin Blunstone, an original member of The Zombies (of "She's Not There" fame) and a frequent contributor to The Alan Parsons Project. The song seems to be from the point of view of a man laying on his deathbed, telling his friends and family good-bye; or, at least, that is what I get out of it.
"And when they ask you if you knew me, you'll smile and say you were a friend of mine". We should all be so loved.
8. The Alan Parsons Project entered the Age of MTV with the release of "Ammonia Avenue" in 1984. Which great song from this album, resulted in a very popular music video? (featuring semi-animated comic book hard-boiled detective, Nick, and his beautiful blond girlfriend, Sugar, whom he rescues from a hulking bad guy)

Answer: Don't Answer Me

Like the vast majority of music videos, the visuals have absolutely nothing to do with the spirit or lyrics of the song. The semi-animated comic book panels are in a 1940s or 50s style, reminiscent of Dick Tracy and Tess Truheart and do nothing to enhance an already great song.

"Don't Answer Me", in my opinion, is the best song on the album and one of the best the group ever did. Listen to the lyrics carefully and then discuss, among yourselves, what question has been asked to which the singer does not want to hear the answer. Personally, I think he has just asked "Do you love me?" Go ahead, discuss ... I will wait.
9. The release of 1985's "Vulture Culture" was the start of the demise of the Alan Parsons Project. In their quest for another hit like "Eye in the Sky", the tone was decidedly more commercial and pop and less meaningful or mystical. Ironically, the first cut on the album deals with the point of view of a very self-centered person trying to get attention. What is the name of this song?

Answer: Let's Talk About Me

All of these songs are from "Vulture Culture", but "Let's Talk About Me" is the first cut and is definitely intended to reflect a very self-centered culture where people care only about themselves.

"Talk about me, for a minute
I'm the one who's losing
Talk about me, for a minute
I'm the one who's always losing out

And how do you think
I feel about what's been going on
Let's talk about me for a minute
Well how do you think
I feel about what's gone wrong"
10. Only two more "official" Alan Parsons Projects studio albums followed "Vulture Culture": "Stereotomy" (1985) and "Gaudi" (1987). To what or whom does the title "Gaudi" refer?

Answer: Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish architect

Antoni Gaudi was a Spanish architect who designed the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. The cathedral has been under construction since 1882 and is not yet completed. The opening track on the album is titled "La Sagrada Familia" but never mentions Gaudi by name. Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson went their separate ways, though both continue to be active in music professionally.
Source: Author Elder1954

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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