THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT – Pyramid (Super Deluxe Edition) – 2LP / 4CD / Blu-ray / Book – Box Set [AUG 23]

Limited Super Deluxe Edition Box Set containing 4CDs, blu-ray including surround sound mixes by Alan Parsons, Abbey Road half-speed remastered 2LP, 12 x 12 60 page hardback book & a replica press folder.

The Alan Parsons Project ‘Pyramid‘ is re-issued in a variety of different formats including a limited edition Super Deluxe Box Set containing 4CDs, blu-ray including surround sound mixes by Alan Parsons, Abbey Road half-speed remastered 2LP, 12 x 12 60 page hardback book & a replica press folder.

Their third studio album Pyramid was originally released in May 1978. It was a concept album centred on the pyramids of Giza. At the time this album was conceived, interest in pyramids and so-called pyramid power was all the rage. A pyramid could be found on the back of a dollar bill, there were stories in the newspapers about the supposed magical properties of pyramids and of course, the cover of Pink Floyds Dark Side of the Moon.

As with other APP albums, the focus was on very high-quality studio sound production, and they recorded the album at Abbey Road Studios in London. There were a variety of different lead vocalists employed including John Miles, Colin Blunstone, Lenny Zakatek, David Paton, Jack Harris and Dean Ford. Plus, a selection of session musicians such as guitarist Ian Bairnson and drummer Stuart Elliott with arrangements by Andrew Powell.

The album was a worldwide hit selling well in excess of two million copies, achieving platinum and gold status in numerous territories including the USA, Germany and Canada.

Contents breakdown:

The 4CDs contain a stereo CD remaster of the original album by Miles Showell plus 67 bonus tracks (54 of them previously unreleased) taken from studio session out-takes and Eric Woolfson Songwriting Diaries.

The blu-ray disc (ABC Region Free) features a breathtaking first ever Dolby Atmos mix of an Alan Parsons Project album along with a striking 5.1 Surround Sound mix from the original multi-track master tapes by Alan Parsons plus a new stereo HD remaster of the original album by Miles Showell

The 45rpm 180gm heavyweight vinyl 2LP in a gatefold sleeve contains a half speed remaster by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios

A beautifully and fully illustrated 12 x 12 hardback casebound book featuring interviews with Alan Parsons, the Woolfson family and the musicians/lead vocalists as well as full lyrics and commentary on the bonus tracks.

Replica original press folder containing an A1 sized poster and postcard of the album artwork plus a reproduction of the original biography, press photo and a hand typed Prologue and Preamble about the Pyramid album by Eric Woolfson.

Tracklist:

2 x 45RPM LPs (Half-Speed Master)
Side 1
1. Voyager
2. What Goes Up
3. The Eagle Will Rise Again

Side 2
1. One More River
2. Cant Take It With You

Side 3
1. In The Lap Of The Gods
2. Pyramania

Side 4
1. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces
2. Shadow Of A Lonely Man

CD1-Original Album 2024 Remaster Plus Expanded Bonus Tracks
1. Voyager
2. What Goes Up
3. The Eagle Will Rise Again
4. One More River
5. Cant Take It With You
6. In The Lap Of The Gods
7. Pyramania
8. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces
9. Shadow Of A Lonely Man

Bonus Tracks
10. Voyager/ What Goes Up/ The Eagle Will Rise Again (Instrumental Version)
11. What Goes Up/ Little Voice (Early Version Demo)
12. Can’t Take It With You (Early Version Demo)
13. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces (Demo)
14. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Alternative Version Backing Track)
15. In The Lap Of The Gods Part 1 (Demo)
16. In The Lap Of The Gods Part 2 (Backing Track Rough Mix)

CD2-Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diaries
1. Pyramid Structure Talking (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
2. Little Voice/ What Goes Up (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
3. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
4. One More River (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
5. In The Lap of the Gods (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
6. Pyramania (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
7. Broken/Pyramania (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
8. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
9. Start of writing Gemini for Eye in the Sky (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
10. Start of writing Nothing Left to Lose for TOFC (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
11. Start of writing Snake Eyes for TOFC (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED SONGS
12. Pyramid Instrumental (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
13. Pyramid Clavichord (Eric Woolfson’s Songwriting Diary)
14. Little Voice (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
15. Broken (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
16. On It Goes (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
17. Open Your Eyes (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
18. If I Could Do It All Again (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
19. We Can Do It (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
20. Taking It All Away (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
21. Elsies Theme (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
22. Hazels Theme (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)
23. My Name Is Lorna (Eric Woolfsons Songwriting Diary)

CD3-Bonus Studio Recordings Vol.1
1. Voyager (Backing Track Out Take)
2. Voyager (Early Stage)
3. Voyager (Vocal Experiment)
4. Voyager (Light Relief Jam)
5. Voyager (Early Mix)
6. Voyager (John Leach Kantele Take)
7. What Goes Up/ Little Voice (Demo)
8. What Goes Up (Dean Ford Vocal Take)
9. What Goes Up (Isolated Choir Take)
10. What Goes Up (Early Rough Mix)
11. What Goes Up (Choir)
12. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Colin Blunstone Vocal Take Excerpts)
13. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Rough Mix Featuring Backing Vocals)
14. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Orchestral Strings)
15. The Eagle Will Rise Again (Rough Mix Backing Track)

CD4-Bonus Studio Recordings Vol. 2
1. One More River (Intro Takes)
2. One More River (Lenny Zakatek Lead Vocal Takes)
3. One More River (Lenny Zakatek Vocal Gymnastic Takes)
4. One More River (Experimental Break)
5. Cant Take It With You (Rough Mix)
6. In The Lap of the Gods (John Leach Cimbalom Takes)
7. In The Lap of the Gods (Choir Takes)
8. In the Lap of the Gods (Backing Track Takes)
9. In The Lap of the Gods (Orchestral Strings)
10. In The Lap Of The Gods (Hail To The King Choir)
11. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces (Projectron)
12. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Eric Woolfsons Piano Take)
13. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Alan Parsons Experimental Demo Vocal)
14. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Eric Woolfsons Demo Vocal)
15. Shadow of a Lonely Man (Orchestral Woodwind)
16. Shadow Of A Lonely Man (Olive Simpson Backing Vocals)

Miscellaneous
17. Pyramid US Radio Advert 1
18. Pyramid US Radio Advert 2
19. Pyramid Bob Harris Cinema Playback Introduction
20. Pyramid Audio Guide Alan Parsons Commentary
21. Pyramid Audio Guide Eric Woolfson Commentary 1
22. Pyramid Audio Guide Eric Woolfson Commentary 2

Blu-ray Dolby Atmos/5.1 Surround Sound remixed by Alan Parsons 2024
Original album remastered in Stereo 2024
1. Voyager
2. What Goes Up
3. The Eagle Will Rise Again
4. One More River
5. Cant Take It With You
6. In The Lap Of The Gods
7. Pyramania
8. Hyper-Gamma-Spaces
9. Shadow Of A Lonely Man