Stereotomy

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove to Stereotomy by The Alan Parsons Project, a track that’s as mind-bending as a psychedelic safari! This song, the title track from their 1985 album, draws its name from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Murders in the Rue Morgue, where “stereotomy” refers to cutting solid shapes, used here as a metaphor for the pressures of fame. The lyrics, like “Turn me to stone, do anything you want with me,” reflect how public expectations can carve and reshape celebrities. Fun fact: the track features a five-syllable chant that gives it a hypnotic edge, with John Miles delivering vocals that some fans compare to Paul Stanley of KISS fronting the band! The album’s concept, exploring the toll of modern life, was inspired by Poe’s detective tale, and the song’s industrial, synth-heavy sound marks it as a bold departure from the band’s earlier prog-rock roots.

Here’s a wild story from the studio: Eric Woolfson, the band’s co-founder, shared that during the making of Stereotomy, he played the album’s backing tracks—without vocals—for CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff. Walter, in a flamboyant mood, summoned his execs to listen, leaving them baffled since the album was set to release on another label! Another gem: the instrumental Where’s the Walrus? from the same album got its quirky title from radio programmer Lee Abrams, who challenged the band to write something as bold as John Lennon’s I Am the Walrus. He’d jokingly ask, “Where’s the walrus?” during critiques, and the name stuck, earning a 1987 Grammy nod for Best Rock Instrumental. The track Chinese Whispers also nods to Poe, with Woolfson’s daughters, Sally and Lorna, reciting words from the story, adding a haunting layer to the album’s vibe.

The recording process for Stereotomy was a tech leap, being the band’s first fully digital production, which gave it a crisp, polished sound. Fans on Reddit’s progrockmusic community still debate its merits, with some calling it a synth-pop masterpiece and others feeling it’s too ‘80s for the band’s classic style. The original vinyl came with a trippy gimmick: a red/blue translucent slipcover that filtered the album art’s colors, creating four visual variations. A vinyl collector on Discogs noted their copy’s green cover and purple labels, praising the pressing’s sound quality despite mixed feelings about the songs. Posts on X also highlight the band’s enduring cult status, with fans reminiscing about the album’s unique place in their discography.

Now, let’s rewind to how The Alan Parsons Project came to be. Alan Parsons, born in 1948 in London, started as an audio engineer, landing a gig at EMI’s tape duplication department at 18. Hearing the master tape of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band inspired him to hustle his way into Abbey Road Studios, where he worked as an assistant engineer on Abbey Road and Let It Be. His big break came engineering Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, though he later expressed frustration over not getting full credit due to mixing supervisor Chris Thomas. Parsons also shaped Al Stewart’s Year of the Cat, adding a sax part that turned it into a jazz-inflected hit, and produced albums for Pilot and Ambrosia. In 1975, he declined to work on Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here to focus on his own vision.

That vision became The Alan Parsons Project, formed with Eric Woolfson, a songwriter and keyboardist he met at Abbey Road. A post on X notes their fateful meeting 50 years ago in the studio canteen, sparking a partnership that blended prog-rock, pop, and orchestral elements. Unlike typical bands, the Project was a studio collective, featuring a rotating cast of musicians like guitarist Ian Bairnson, bassist David Paton, and vocalists like Lenny Zakatek. They never toured during their peak, save for a 1990 Night at the Proms concert, focusing instead on concept albums like I Robot and Eye in the Sky. The duo split in 1990 after 10 albums, with Parsons continuing solo and Woolfson, who passed in 2009, pursuing musical theater.

Zoo Freaks, you can dive deeper into the band’s world at their official website or follow updates on their Facebook page, which often shares news and throwback photos. Check out Instagram for visuals from Alan Parsons’ solo career and Project reissues, or join the conversation on X, where fans and Parsons himself post about music and memories. For fan communities, the Alan Parsons Project Facebook Group is a lively spot for discussions, and sites like Progarchives offer detailed discographies and reviews. Spin that vinyl, Freaks, and let Stereotomy take you on a cosmic ride!