Join Alan Parsons on his Neverending Show

If you grew up during the 1980s, then you probable have heard of a song called “Eye in the Sky,” or maybe one called “Games People Play”? Those songs are two of the biggest hits from the group known as The Alan Parsons Project, a staple of the early eighties. How much do you know about Alan Parsons, the man? I will be the first to admit, I did not know much at all. I did know that my sisters and I especially loved the music videos, when they came on this new thing we had started watching, called MTV. The progressive rock styles of the band fit very well with the new outlet of music videos. Parsons himself made his mark in the music industry way before that and still does today.

Alan Parsons started his music career at the infamous Abbey Road Studios at the age of eighteen, on The Beatles album Abbey Road. Working as an audio engineer and producer, he continued making a name for himself in the industry, by working with greats such as Pink Floyd, The Wings and Ambrosia. At the same time, he was honing his creative side as well. His accomplishments as a composer, and musician are evident in his body of work, which is evident on his newest album.

The NeverEnding Show: Live from the Netherlands was recorded in 2019, and not only does it include some of the best work from Parsons during his magical career; it highlights his proficiency in sound as well. His audio skills are noticeable, as this is one of the best live recordings I have ever heard. With soundscapes created over the life span of The Alan Parsons Project, it is impressive just how beautiful this sounds. “Psychobabble” in particular, has such a vast array of sounds, reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. (Which he worked on, along with Atom Heart Mother) The creation and blending of musical sound is Parsons’s paint, and the audience is the canvas. Parsons has taken immersive, progressive rock into the next century, yet manages to keep a bit of his iconic style.

At the end of the second disc, a gift to the listener is included. A studio song that gives us a peek at what he is working on. “The NeverEnding Show” is a song full of upbeat tones that roll along, mixed with lyrics that carry such positivity, you cannot help but smile! As you watch the video, with its childlike magical scenery, the feeling of nostalgia flows in, as well. I get the sense that this song is a bit of a celebration to Alan Parsons body of work. I hear so much in this song, reminding me of just how much he has influenced music over the years. So many new, yet familiar sounds, creating their own tribute; it is amazing. He has managed to “Blur reality, to a very different dream…” with his magic. To him, music is truly a neverending show.

I’m Music Magazine Contributing Writer & Photographer Michele Hancock