Damned If I Do

Alright, Zoo Freaks, you’re tuned into THE ZOO, where your hippie DJs, the Zoo Crew, are spinning the vibes! Right now, we’ve got “Damned If I Do” by The Alan Parsons Project from their 1979 album Eve blasting through the airwaves. This track, sung by Lenny Zakatek, hit No. 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 16 in Canada, with its catchy, disco-tinged rock energy, complete with a full string section, horns, and a wicked guitar solo. Did you know the song’s lyrics, penned by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, capture that heart-wrenching dilemma of love—being “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”? It’s like choosing between a cosmic dance or a lonely night under the stars!

Here’s some juicy trivia for you Zoo Freaks: Eve was originally meant to celebrate great women in history, but it evolved into a broader concept about women’s strengths and struggles in a man’s world. The album’s title even comes from Eric Woolfson’s mother-in-law, named Eve! “Damned If I Do” kicks off the B-side with a bang, and according to A Year of Vinyl, it’s one of the standout tracks, blending urgent rhythms and lush instrumentation. Fun fact: the album features morse code, especially in the opening instrumental “Lucifer,” which was pulled from shortwave radio. Alan Parsons once said the decoded message wasn’t anything exciting, but during “Lucifer,” the word “Eve” is tapped out in morse code on the keyboard—how trippy is that? Oh, and the iconic gatefold cover by Hipgnosis? It shows three veiled women, but look closely—one seems to have a black eye, sparking debates about the album’s take on women, with some fans on Progressive Ears feeling it critiques men who mistreat women rather than women themselves.

Let’s dive into how The Alan Parsons Project got started. Alan Parsons, born in 1948 in London, was a sound engineering wizard, working on legendary albums like The Beatles’ Abbey Road and Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. By age 18, he was at Abbey Road Studios, soaking up the magic of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Eric Woolfson, a songwriter and pianist, met Parsons in 1974 at Abbey Road’s canteen. Woolfson, who’d been crafting a concept album based on Edgar Allan Poe, saw Parsons’ production genius and pitched the idea of a producer-driven band. Together, they formed The Alan Parsons Project in 1975, blending progressive rock, pop, and lush orchestrations. Unlike typical bands, they used a rotating cast of session musicians—like Ian Bairnson on guitar and Stuart Elliott on drums—and rarely performed live, focusing on studio-crafted concept albums. Their debut, Tales of Mystery and Imagination in 1976, set the tone for their thematic, story-driven sound.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with The Alan Parsons Project’s legacy online! Check out their official website at the-alan-parsons-project.com for album details, merch, and more. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and catch fan discussions on X. Fans are buzzing on sites like Prog Archives, where you’ll find detailed reviews and discographies, or join the Alan Parsons Project Fan Group on Facebook to connect with fellow freaks. Spin this vinyl, vibe with the Zoo Crew, and let “Damned If I Do” take you to the stars!