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Friday, November 21, 2014

"Eye in the Sky" by Alan Parsons Project

Top 10 Alert!
Rated 10 Alert!
Song#:  1086
Date:  07/03/1982
Debut:  85
Peak:  3
Weeks:  25
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  APP's "Turn of a Friendly Card" was a major success that spawned two Top 20 hits - "Games People Play" (#16) and "Time" (#15). Their follow-up would fare even better and become their best-selling studio LP. Both the album  "Eye in the Sky" and its title track single would become APP's first and only Top 10's with the album reaching #7 and the single #3. The album would receive a Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Recording.

ReduxReview:  I liked the Project before this came out, but one listen to this song and the album made me a devoted fan of the group. (I say group, but really it was just Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson with their guests.) Everything on this song approaches perfection from chugging rhythm to Woolfson's droning voice. While they may have done better work on their albums, this was their one shining pop moment. It's one of my favorites of the decade.

ReduxRating10/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) APP's Eric Woolfson, who co-wrote and sang the song, has said that the tune's lyrical theme was based on him noticing all the hidden security cameras posted in casinos and shopping areas that monitor all the people.  2) On the album, this song has a prelude titled "Sirius." It has become just as recognizable as "Eye in the Sky" thanks to its use at many sporting events. Most famously, it was used in the 90s by the dominant Chicago Bulls basketball team. The tune was used during the introduction of the team members. At the time of its release, most pop radio stations just played the single version of "Eye in the Sky" while AOR stations would typically play the the full "Sirius/Eye in the Sky" album version.

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