Genesis Ch.1 V.32

Zoo Freaks, you're tuned into THE ZOO with your favorite hippie DJs, the Zoo Crew, spinning the cosmic vibes of "Genesis Ch.1 V.32" by The Alan Parsons Project from their 1977 album I Robot. This instrumental track, closing out the album, is a mind-bender with a title that’s a nod to the Bible’s Book of Genesis, which only has 31 verses in Chapter 1. The band cheekily suggests a "verse 32" where humanity’s creation of robots might just be the next step in the story of creation, tying into the album’s theme of man versus machine. It’s a lush, electronic-symphonic piece that builds layer upon layer, with Andrew Powell’s orchestra and chorus hitting you like a wave of pure prog-rock energy. Fans on Reddit have called it a “10/10” for its hypnotic chord progression, though some argue it doesn’t quite match the punch of the album’s opening tracks.

Dig this: the song’s concept was born from the album’s loose inspiration by Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot stories. Eric Woolfson, the band’s co-founder, had a chat with Asimov himself, who was totally stoked about the idea, but the rights were already tied up with a TV/movie company, so they tweaked the title and made it a broader sci-fi vibe. Another cool tidbit from the band’s official site reveals Woolfson got the album’s cover art idea from the robotic, futuristic escalators at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. That iconic Hipgnosis-designed cover, with its atom-brained robot, was shot without the airport’s permission—talk about rock ‘n’ roll rebellion! The track’s also been covered by artists like Alex Bollard Assembly and m.a.s.s., showing its lasting influence in prog and electronic circles.

Let’s rewind to how The Alan Parsons Project got rolling. Alan Parsons, a London-born sound engineering wizard, was already a big deal before the band, working as an engineer on Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon and The Beatles’ Abbey Road. His knack for crystal-clear production caught the ear of Eric Woolfson, a songwriter and musician with a love for concept-driven music. They teamed up in 1975, blending Parsons’ studio magic with Woolfson’s storytelling. Unlike traditional bands, they used a revolving cast of ace session musicians and vocalists like Lenny Zakatek and Colin Blunstone, creating lush, thematic albums. Their debut, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, was a prog-rock take on Edgar Allan Poe, setting the stage for I Robot’s sci-fi exploration. The duo’s chemistry, with Parsons as the sonic architect and Woolfson as the lyrical visionary, made them a standout in the progressive rock scene until their split in 1990.

For all you Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, check out The Alan Parsons Project’s official website for news and history. They’re active on Facebook, sharing throwbacks and updates, and you can catch their posts on Instagram for cool behind-the-scenes shots. Follow them on X for the latest buzz. Fans are keeping the love alive at sites like ProgArchives, where you can read reviews and join discussions. There’s also a vibrant Facebook group for fans to swap stories and rare finds, and the Reddit community is a great spot to geek out over tracks like “Genesis Ch.1 V.32.” Keep it locked to THE ZOO, Zoo Freaks, for more righteous tunes!