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8 Tracks: Alan Parsons – Tales From Abbey Road

 
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As recording engineers go, they don't get much more influential than Alan Parsons. Best known for his work with Pink Floyd and The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios, Alan has produced countless hit singles throughout his long career.

Now, Alan presents 'Sleeve Notes: From Mono to Infinity' – a series of public lecture events taking place in Abbey Road's famous Studio Two. Alan will share his technical and personal experiences of his time at Abbey Road, so expect to hear stories about recording such classic albums as 'Let It Be' and Dark Side Of The Moon'. The events will also include an audience Q&A.

For Alan's 8 Tracks, he shares some of his favourite studio memories – and lets us know the one band he wishes he'd managed to bring to Abbey Road.

'Sleeve Notes: From Mono to Infinity' takes place at Abbey Road Studios on November 13/14/15/21/22. Tickets are available here.

LISTEN
The Alan Parsons Project - The Raven

This was the first track to be recorded from our first album ‘Tales Of Mystery And Imagination’, which was based on the writing of Edgar Allan Poe. I was the first artist to use EMI’s vocoder in 1976, which was a very new instrument back then. This was the first time my voice was recorded.

  • The Alan Parsons Project - The Raven

    This was the first track to be recorded from our first album ‘Tales Of Mystery And Imagination’, which was based on the writing of Edgar Allan Poe. I was the first artist to use EMI’s vocoder in 1976, which was a very new instrument back then. This was the first time my voice was recorded.

  • The Beatles - You Never Give Me Your Money

    A particularly strong track from their ‘Abbey Road’ album, this was the first track from the famous ‘medley’, which was carefully edited together. During recording I was stuck in the little machine room at the back of Studio 2, which was separated by a piece of glass. I was responsible for the Fabs’ headphone mix, which was done straight from the 8 track tape machine, which was a very new format at the time – this album was the first to be completely recorded on that format.

  • The Beatles - Get Back

    This is from the ‘Let It Be’ album, which contrary to popular belief was recorded before Abbey Road – they were released in reverse order. Parts of this we recorded on the Apple building rooftop. I was sent there by Abbey Road – who supplied the mobile recording units – to work as tape op. It was an amazing day, despite battling the cold weather.

  • Genesis - Turn It On Again

    I wish Genesis had recorded at Abbey Road. I met Phil Collins 10 years ago for the first time. We recorded a track for the EMI band Scarlet Party.

  • Pink Floyd - Time

    Working on ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ was a big influence on me. It inspired my prog quest to make my own album as successful. I didn’t achieve that – no one has! This spurred my venture into the world of concept albums, and as engineer by main profession, I had some sonic tricks I was holding in reserve for my own records.

  • Roy Wood - Miss Clarke And The Computer

    From the ‘Boulders’ album, this featured lots of innovative effects and ideas, like the multi-tracked vocal, which was sang and whispered simultaneously. We also emulated the winding down of HAL from the Kubrick film 2001. The voice got slower and slower using tape.

  • Wizzard - Ball Park Incident

    Also featuring Roy Wood. This was a hit single but also an engineer’s nightmare, as they asked me to “make the vocal distort’ and we sound men usually strive for as much clarity of voice as possible.

  • Roy Harper- Me And My Woman

    This was from the ‘Stormcock’ LP and is definitely prog! I remember meeting Roy as he was friendly with Pink Floyd. Roy had another engineer at Abbey Road – John Leckie. Just about every engineer there goes on to do something extraordinary.