I Robot – The Alan Parsons Project – Deluxe Edition

Phil Aston7th August 20250 Comment

I Robot – The Alan Parsons Project
Super Deluxe Edition Coming October 17th via Cooking Vinyl

The Alan Parsons Project’s I Robot is getting the Super Deluxe treatment – and if ever there was a concept album that deserved to be explored in deeper sonic detail, it’s this one. Released originally in 1977, I Robot has long been regarded as one of the defining statements of 70s progressive rock and intelligent studio experimentation. And this new reissue, due out October 17th via Cooking Vinyl, looks to be an absolute feast for fans of the band, audiophiles, and collectors alike.

Let’s put this in context. Imagine the scene – it’s late 1976, punk is just starting to rattle the establishment with the Sex Pistols releasing Anarchy in the UK, and at the very same time, Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson begin sessions for I Robot at Abbey Road Studios. It’s almost poetic – a band blending progressive rock with themes of artificial intelligence, technology, and existential thought, while the music world braces for rebellion and revolution. In some ways, I Robot was its own kind of rebellion: a cerebral, ambitious album that challenged the listener to think while being absolutely immersed in sound.

Of course, this is The Alan Parsons Project we’re talking about – where every record is a collaboration of voices, ideas, and polished production. You’ll find Steve Harley, Allan Clarke (The Hollies), Lenny Zakatek, Peter Straker, Jack Harris and Jaki Whitren all stepping up to the microphone across the album. Behind the scenes, you’ve got Ian Bairnson on guitar, David Paton on bass, Stuart Tosh on drums, and Woolfson himself on keyboards – with orchestral arrangements by Andrew Powell. And then there’s the studio wizardry of Alan Parsons tying everything together – the same man who had already worked with Pink Floyd on Dark Side of the Moon and The Beatles on Abbey Road.

It’s no wonder Clive Davis saw the potential and signed the band to Arista. The album took off – I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You became the breakout single, and the album charted high in the US, eventually going platinum. Interestingly, I Robot also benefitted from another sci-fi phenomenon: Star Wars. Released just before the film landed in the UK, the robotic figure on the album cover tapped perfectly into the cultural zeitgeist.

So what’s in the box?
A lot. The Super Deluxe Edition is packed with music and more!

4 CDs: Including the original album, outtakes, and 70 bonus tracks – 47 of which are previously unreleased.

1 Blu-ray Disc: Featuring a Dolby Atmos mix, 5.1 Surround Sound, the promo video for I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You, and interview footage with Eric Woolfson.

1 x 180g Half-Speed Remastered LP at 45rpm in a gatefold sleeve – remastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.

A 12” x 12” Casebound Book with interviews, lyrics, and in-depth commentary on the album and bonus tracks.

A1 Poster and reproduction press kit folder from the original release era.

Everything you could want as a fan of the band or someone discovering this masterpiece for the first time. It’s a beautiful thing when reissues are handled with this level of respect and detail.
If you’re after something a little more compact, there’s also an expanded CD edition featuring a new 2025 remaster, 4 bonus tracks, and a 12-page booklet with sleevenotes and quotes from Parsons and Woolfson. And for the vinyl fans (like many of us here), the album will also be available on classic black or limited edition clear vinyl, all half-speed mastered by Miles Showell.

I’ll be reviewing the Super Deluxe Edition in full for Now Spinning Magazine as soon as it arrives, with an in-depth video and blog post. But for now, this looks like one of the most significant and lovingly curated reissues of the year. If you’re a fan of The Alan Parsons Project, or progressive rock in general, this is definitely one for the shelf.

Super Deluxe Box Set Tracklisting
2 x 45RPM LPs

Side 1

1. I Robot
2. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You

Side 2

1. Some Other Time
2. Breakdown
3. Don’t Let It Show

Side 3

1. The Voice
2. Nucleus
3. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)

Side 4

1. Total Eclipse
2. Genesis Ch.1. V.32

CD1 – Original Album 2025 Remaster Plus Expanded Bonus Tracks

1. I Robot
2. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You
3. Some Other Time
4. Breakdown
5. Don’t Let It Show
6. The Voice
7. Nucleus
8. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)
9. Total Eclipse
10. Genesis Ch.1. V.32

Bonus Tracks

11. U.S Radio Commercial For I Robot
12. I Robot (Boules Experiment)
13. I Robot (Hilary Western Soprano Vocal Rehearsal)
14. Extract 1 From The Alan Parsons Project Audio Guide
15. Extract 2 From The Alan Parsons Project Audio Guide
16. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You (Backing Track Rough Mix)
17. Some Other Time (Complete Vocal By Jaki Whitren)
18. Breakdown (Early Demo Of Backing Riff)
19. Extract 3 From The Alan Parsons Project Audio Guide
20. Breakdown (The Choir)
21. Don’t Let It Show (Eric Woolfson Demo)
22. Day After Day (Early Stage Rough Mix)
23. Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32 (Choir Session)
24. The Naked Robot

CD2 – Bonus Studio Recordings Vol. 1

1. I Robot (Out Take & Rough Mix)
2. I Robot (Experimental Lead Guitar Part With Guide Count)
3. I Robot (John Leach Kantele Takes)
4. I Robot (Ian Bairnson Rhythm Electric Guitar)
5. I Robot (Choir Takes)
6. I Robot (Early Mix Before Choir)
7. I Robot (Single Edit)
8. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You (Slower Backing Out Take)
9. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You (Eric Woolfson Keyboard Take)
10. I Wouldn’t Want To Be like You (Ian Bairnson Electric Rhythm Guitar)
11. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You (Early Mix Of Backing Track)
12. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You (Lenny Zakatek Alt. Vocal)
13. Some Other Time (Eric Woolfson Piano Take)
14. Some Other Time (Ian Bairnson Acoustic Guitars Takes)
15. Some Other Time (Ian Bairnson Lead Electric Guitar Takes)
16. Some Other Time (Rough Mix – Jaki Alt. Lyric & Ad Libs)

CD3 – Bonus Studio Recordings Vol. 2

1. Breakdown (Eric Woolfson Keyboard Part)
2. Breakdown (Projectron and Bass)
3. Breakdown (Ian Bairnson Acoustic Guitar Takes)
4. Breakdown (Ian Bairnson Electric Guitar Harmony Solo)
5. Breakdown (Strings, Brass, & Horns Take)
6. Breakdown (Rough Mix + Alt. Backing Track Out Take)
7. Breakdown (Rough Mix Of Backing Track)
8. Don’t Let It Show (Eric Woolfson Piano Takes)
9. Don’t Let It Show (Eric Woolfson Organ Take)
10. Don’t Let It Show (Recorder & Horns Out Take In Key Of D)
11. Don’t Let It Show (String Section Take)
12. Don’t Let It Show (Woodwind Take In Key Of D)
13. Don’t Let It Show (Backing Track Early Rough Mix)
14. Don’t Let It Show (Rough Mix With Alt. Orchestra Score)
15. Don’t Let It Show (Extended End Section)
16. The Voice (Rough Mix With Extra Strings & Alan Vocoder)
17. The Voice (Backing Track Rough Mix)
18. Nucleus (Experimenting with Sound Effects)
19. Nucleus (Talking Sound Effects)
20. Nucleus (Stuart Tosh Drum Take with Delay)
21. Nucleus (Projectron Only)

CD4 – Bonus Studio Recordings Vol. 3

1. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (BJ Cole Steel Out Take)
2. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (Synth Experiments)
3. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (Eric Woolfson Celeste Take)
4. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (Ian Bairnson Acoustic Guitar Take)
5. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (BJ Cole Pedal Steel Take)
6. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (Backing Vocals)
7. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (Backing Track)
8. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) (Single Edit)
9. Total Eclipse & Nucleus (Choral Experiments)
10. Total Eclipse (Choir Only)
11. Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32 (Alan Parsons Demo)
12. Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32 (Everything But The Choir)
13. Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32 (Ian Bairnson Acoustic Guitars)
14. Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32 (Strings Only)
15. Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32 (Backing Singers & Choir Takes)
16. Alan Parsons Spacey Vibraphone
17. Eric’s Jupiter (Start of Gemini Idea)
18. Taking It All Away (Eric Woolfson Songwriting Diary 1st Version)
19. I Robot Radio Adverts

Blu-ray Dolby Atmos/5.1 Surround Sound remixed by Alan Parsons 2025 Original album remastered in Stereo 2025

I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You (Promotional Video)
I Robot Eric Woolfson Interview Footage

Abbey Road Remaster, Expanded Edition CD

Tracklisting

Bonus Tracks

11. I Robot (Experimental Lead Guitar Part With Guide Count)
12. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You (Slower Backing Out Take)
13. Some Other Time (Eric Woolfson Piano Take)
14. Don’t Let It Show (String Section Take)

LP, Ltd Edition Clear Vinyl Half-Speed Remaster and Classic Black Vinyl Half-Speed Remaster

Tracklisting

Side One
1. I Robot
2. I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You
3. Some Other Time
4. Breakdown
5. Don’t Let It Show

Side Two
1. The Voice
2. Nucleus
3. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)
4. Total Eclipse
5. Genesis Ch.1. V.32

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine