Revisiting a Classic: The Alan Parsons Project’s ‘Pyramid’ Reissued in Deluxe Formats
Cooking Vinyl continues to celebrate the remarkable creative legacy of Alan Parsons and the late Eric Woolfson with the re-release of The Alan Parsons Project’s third studio album, ‘Pyramid’. Originally released in 1978, this Grammy-nominated album has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. The new edition, set for release on August 23rd, will be available in a variety of formats, offering fans a fresh opportunity to experience this iconic album.
Upon its original release, ‘Pyramid’ made significant waves in both the UK and the USA. The album peaked at #26 on the UK Albums Chart and reached #53 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. This success was driven by the album’s innovative sound and the era’s fascination with ancient Egypt, making it a standout work in The Alan Parsons Project’s discography.
The reissue of ‘Pyramid’ comes in several exciting formats, each designed to cater to different preferences.
Super Deluxe Box Set: This ultimate edition includes 4 CDs, 1 audio Blu-ray disc, and a 45rpm 180g heavyweight 2LP vinyl edition. The vinyl has been half-speed remastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios and is presented in a gatefold sleeve. The box set features an astounding 67 bonus tracks, with 54 previously unreleased, taken from Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diaries and studio session out-takes. It also includes the first-ever Dolby Atmos mix of an Alan Parsons Project album, a striking 5.1 Surround Sound mix from the original multi-track master tapes by Parsons, and a new stereo HD and CD remaster by Showell. The set is accompanied by a fully illustrated 12” x 12” casebound book featuring interviews with Parsons, the Woolfson family, and the musicians involved, full lyrics, commentary on the bonus tracks, an A1 size poster, and a reproduction press kit folder.
Expanded CD Release: This edition features Showell’s 2024 remaster of the original album along with 4 additional bonus tracks. It also comes with a fully illustrated 12-page booklet containing sleevenotes with quotes from Parsons and full lyrics.
Vinyl Editions: The album is available as a 180g clear vinyl LP and a D2C exclusive, limited edition 180g gold nugget vinyl LP. Both editions feature Showell’s half-speed remasters of the original album at Abbey Road Studios and include sleevenotes with quotes from Parsons, the Woolfson family, and musicians.
‘Pyramid’ is renowned not only for its high-quality production but also for its thematic depth. The album focuses on the pyramids of Giza, tapping into the widespread interest in pyramid power and the mystique of ancient Egypt prevalent in the late 1970s. The cover art, music, and thematic elements all reflect this fascination, making the album a cultural artifact of its time.
Tracks like the instrumental ‘Voyager’ set a supernatural mood, while ‘What Goes Up’ shines with a glowing intensity. The symphonic and bombastic ‘In the Lap of the Gods’ and the anxiety-ridden ‘Pyramania’ showcase the album’s musical diversity and the high-quality studio sound production that became a trademark of The Alan Parsons Project.
‘Pyramid’ was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, a common venue for The Alan Parsons Project’s recordings. The album features a variety of lead vocalists, including John Miles, Colin Blunstone, Lenny Zakatek, David Paton, Jack Harris, and Dean Ford. A talented group of session musicians, including guitarist Ian Bairnson and drummer Stuart Elliott, also contributed to the album’s rich sound.
‘Pyramid’ was a worldwide hit, achieving platinum and gold status in numerous territories, including the USA, Germany, and Canada. Its nomination for the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, further cemented its place in music history. The reissue offers a fantastic opportunity to revisit this classic album.
Super Deluxe Box Set Tracklisting
2 x 45RPM LPs:
Side 1
1. ‘Voyager’
2. ‘What Goes Up…’
3. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’
Side 2
1. ‘One More River’
2. ‘Can’t Take It With You’
Side 3
1. ‘In The Lap Of The Gods’
2. ‘Pyramania’
Side 4
1. ‘Hyper-Gamma-Spaces’
2. ‘Shadow Of A Lonely Man’
CD1 – Original Album 2024 Remaster Plus Expanded Bonus Tracks
1. ‘Voyager’
2. ‘What Goes Up…’
3. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’
4. ‘One More River’
5. ‘Can’t Take It With You’
6. ‘In The Lap Of The Gods’
7. ‘Pyramania’
8. ‘Hyper-Gamma-Spaces’
9. ‘Shadow Of A Lonely Man’
Bonus Tracks
10. ‘Voyager/ What Goes Up…/ The Eagle Will Rise Again’ (Instrumental Version)
11. ‘What Goes Up…/ Little Voice’ (Early Version Demo)
12. ‘Can’t Take It With You’ (Early Version Demo)
13. ‘Hyper-Gamma-Spaces’ (Demo)
14. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’ (Alternative Version Backing Track)
15. ‘In The Lap Of The Gods Part 1’ (Demo)
16. ‘In The Lap Of The Gods Part 2’ (Backing Track Rough Mix)
CD2 – Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diaries
1. ‘Pyramid Structure Talking’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
2. ‘Little Voice/ What Goes Up…’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
3. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
4. ‘One More River’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
5. ‘In The Lap of the Gods’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
6. ‘Pyramania’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
7. ‘Broken/Pyramania’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
8. ‘Shadow of a Lonely Man’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
9. ‘Start of writing Gemini for Eye in the Sky’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
10. ‘Start of writing Nothing Left to Lose for TOFC’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
11. ‘Start of writing Snake Eyes for TOFC’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
Previously Unreleased Songs
12. ‘Pyramid Instrumental’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
13. ‘Pyramid Clavichord’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
14. ‘Little Voice’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
15. ‘Broken’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
16. ‘On It Goes’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
17. ‘Open Your Eyes’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
18. ‘If I Could Do It All Again’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
19. ‘We Can Do It’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
20. ‘Taking It All Away’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
21. ‘Elsie’s Theme’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
22. ‘Hazel’s Theme’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
23. ‘My Name Is Lorna’ (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
CD3 – Bonus Studio Recordings Vol.1
1. ‘Voyager’ (Backing Track Out Take)
2. ‘Voyager’ (Early Stage)
3. ‘Voyager’ (Vocal Experiment)
4. ‘Voyager’ (Light Relief Jam)
5. ‘Voyager’ (Early Mix)
6. ‘Voyager’ (John Leach Kantele Take)
7. ‘What Goes Up…/ Little Voice’ (Demo)
8. ‘What Goes Up…’ (Dean Ford Vocal Take)
9. ‘What Goes Up…’ (Isolated Choir Take)
10. ‘What Goes Up…’ (Early Rough Mix)
11. ‘What Goes Up…’ (Choir)
12. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’ (Colin Blunstone Vocal Take Excerpts)
13. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’ (Rough Mix Featuring Backing Vocals)
14. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’ (Orchestral Strings)
15. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’ (Rough Mix Backing Track)
CD4 – Bonus Studio Recordings Vol. 2
1. ‘One More River’ (Intro Takes)
2. ‘One More River’ (Lenny Zakatek Lead Vocal Takes)
3. ‘One More River’ (Lenny Zakatek Vocal Gymnastic Takes)
4. ‘One More River’ (Experimental Break)
5. ‘Can’t Take It With You’ (Rough Mix)
6. ‘In The Lap of the Gods’ (John Leach Cimbalom Takes)
7. ‘In The Lap of the Gods’ (Choir Takes)
8. ‘In the Lap of the Gods’ (Backing Track Takes)
9. ‘In The Lap of the Gods’ (Orchestral Strings)
10. ‘In The Lap Of The Gods’ (Hail To The King Choir)
11. ‘Hyper-Gamma-Spaces’ (Projectron)
12. ‘Shadow of a Lonely Man’ (Eric Woolfson’s Piano Take)
13. ‘Shadow of a Lonely Man’ (Alan Parsons’ Experimental Demo Vocal)
14. ‘Shadow of a Lonely Man’ (Eric Woolfson’s Demo Vocal)
15. ‘Shadow of a Lonely Man’ (Orchestral Woodwind)
16. ‘Shadow Of A Lonely Man’ (Olive Simpson Backing Vocals)
Miscellaneous
17. ‘Pyramid’ US Radio Advert 1
18. ‘Pyramid’ US Radio Advert 2
19. ‘Pyramid’ Bob Harris Cinema Playback Introduction
20. ‘Pyramid Audio Guide’ Alan Parsons Commentary
21. ‘Pyramid Audio Guide’ Eric Woolfson Commentary 1
22. ‘Pyramid Audio Guide’ Eric Woolfson Commentary 2
Blu-ray Dolby Atmos/5.1 Surround Sound remixed by Alan Parsons 2024 – Original album remastered in Stereo 2024
1. ‘Voyager’
2. ‘What Goes Up…’
3. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’
4. ‘One More River’
5. ‘Can’t Take It With You’
6. ‘In The Lap Of The Gods’
7. ‘Pyramania’
8. ‘Hyper-Gamma-Spaces’
9. ‘Shadow Of A Lonely Man’
Expanded CD Tracklisting
1. ‘Voyager’
2. ‘What Goes Up…’
3. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’
4. ‘One More River’
5. ‘Can’t Take It With You’
6. ‘In The Lap Of The Gods’
7. ‘Pyramania’
8. ‘Hyper-Gamma-Spaces’
9. ‘Shadow Of A Lonely Man’
Bonus Tracks
10. ‘Voyager’ (Early Mix)
11. ‘What Goes Up…’ (Early Rough Mix)
12. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’ (Rough Mix Featuring Backing Vocals)
13. ‘Shadow Of A Lonely Man’ (Eric Woolfson Demo Vocal)
Vinyl LP Tracklisting
Side 1
1. ‘Voyager’
2. ‘What Goes Up…’
3. ‘The Eagle Will Rise Again’
4. ‘One More River’
5. ‘Can’t Take It With You’
Side 2
1. ‘In The Lap Of The Gods’
2. ‘Pyramania’
3. ‘Hyper-Gamma-Spaces’
4. ‘Shadow Of A Lonely Man’
PRE-ORDER HERE
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
