European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse A amps photos by Dave Casey Alan Parsons played guitar among other instruments in a Mannheim Germany concert vocalist Gary Howard gives Quot Eye in the sky Quot a Light touch. Parsons j. J a teams music Ana sound wizardry on first tour by Deedee Arrington Doke staff writer Ian Parsons was right technology has evolved to the Point where the Alan Parsons project s 18 years Worth of studio hits can be re created live without sacrificing a nuance. Parsons this Spring left the cocoon of his studio for a real live tour the first in the project s history citing technological. Advances As one reason for his decision to take his show on the Road. A recent concert in Mannheim Germany demonstrated that it was a Good move with help from Many of his musical cohorts project s earliest Days Parsons put on the pop equivalent of a classics concert that incorporated old. Favourites time Eye in the sky the Raven i would t want to be like you and More As Well As songs from his new album try. Anything once. A bestowing Especial Luster on the Parsons repertoire were singers Cary Howard of the flying pickets and Chris Thompson former vocalist with Manfred Mann s Earth band and the voice of its 1977 hit blinded by the Light. The elfin Howard took on the songs that required an a airy Wistful interpretation while Thompson attacked the brusque harder edged rockers. Near the end they shared Lead and harmonies on Don t answer me achieving a Sublime balance of vocal tones and style. Also in the band were guitarist Ian Bairnson keyboardist Arranger Andrew Powell keyboardist saxophonist Richard Cottle drummer Stuart Elliott and Bass player Jeremy Meek Parsons played guitar the occasional keyboard a flute and added backup vocals every now and then. He unobtrusively led his Small orchestra As the de Facto conductor from his elevated Perch at Center stage. Fine lighting accompaniment a sometimes darting sometimes roving always interesting a against a set of impressionist Brown columns spattered with paint contributed to the show s effectiveness. I after two hours of relentlessly favourable noise from the crowd a of whom some paid As much As 80 German Marks about $50 for their tickets a Parsons appeared touched by the wild applause at the finale. Quot As you know Quot Parsons said Quot this is our first tour. A. Reception like that is making it very special for if he likes the tour experience Parsons recently said hell tour More extensively. Pop music could use a techno Genera Tio n Arth u r i e a e r to Lea d a b a n d of m u Sci a is charged with playing sweeping hummable musics that pleases the masses a As Well As making sure it looks and sounds Damn Good. Guitarist Ian Bairnson has played with Alan Parsons since the project s first album. On disc Yvo Garland Capitol delivers a geography lesson by would anyone want an album with a version of Georgia on my mind by the four knights rather than the hit recording by Ray Charles or i left my heart in san Francisco by Nancy Wilson rather than Tony Bennett. Or old Cape cod by Susan Barrett rather than Patti Page similarly Why would someone want to buy a collection featuring Dean Martins Canadian Sunset instead of Andy Williams hit version. Or on a slow boat to China by Kay Starr rather than any of three top 10 renditions of the song by Kay Kyser Freddy Martin and Eddy Howard ? the answer is that they Are simply looking for an engaging concept or theme. At least that s what Capitol a records is counting on with the latest releases in its Capitol sings retrospective a a a series. A a a the Georgia san Francisco and Cape add selections Are part of Capitol sings coast to coast route 66, a 20-track cd featuring songs that Salute . Cities states or regions. Among the other offerings Dean Martin s when it s sleepy time Down South Judy Garland a a Carolina in the morning and Johnny Mercer s san Fernando Valley. Canadian Sunset and slow boat Are featured in Capitol sings around the world far away places whose 20 tracks offer a More International flavor. The other selections Range from Lena Homes / love Paris and Bobby daring a sunday in new York to june Christy s a night in Tunisia and Pic Damones the Moon of Manak Oora. Given the continuing consumer interest in cd retrospectives the Capitol series tries to tempt pop fans with attractive themes drawing from the Label s own vaults for material rather than using the More costly practice of leasing the definitive versions of certain songs from other labels. While the absence of some of the hit versions is Likely to be distracting to serious pop fans these packages Are clearly aimed at casual fans and they Are appealing on that relaxed level. Another sign the packages Are designed for the casual pop fan there Are no liner notes detailing the history of the tracks a Only the names of the artists the writers and the dates the songs were recorded. A Robert Hilburn los Angeles times Martin pop singles 1.1 swear ail-4-ons 2. The sign Ace of base 3. Ill remember Madonna 4. The most Beautiful girl in the world Prince 5. Bump no grind r. Kelly 6. Baby i love your Way big Mountain 7. Return to innocence Enigma 8. Mem Mem Mem Mem crash test dummies. A. 9. I m ready Tevlin Campbell 10. You mean the world to me Toni Braxton a. Top albums 1. Not a moment too soon Tim Mcgraw 2. Read my mind Reba Mcentire 3. The sign Ace of base. 4. The division Bell Pink Floyd 5. Chant Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de silos. 6. August amp everything after counting crowed. 7. Above the it a soundtrack 8.12 play r. Kelly. 9. Longing in their hearts Bonnie Raitt. 10, Toni Braxton Toni Braxton country singles 1. Your love amazes me John Barry 2. Before you kill us All Randy a a Travis a a a a a a a a a 3. Wish i did t know now Toby Keith a a a 4. Rope the Moon John Michael Montgomery. 5. Done to take the girl Tim Mcgraw 6. If Bubba can dance i can to Shenandoah 7. How can t help you say goodbye. Patty Loveless a a a a 8. A Good run of bad Luck Cutini Black 9. Love Bug George Strait 10. Addicted to a Dollar Doug Stone country albums 1. Not a m o ment too soon Tim Mcgraw a a 2, read my mind Reba Mcentire 3. Kicking it up. John Michael a Montgomery. 4. Rhythm country amp blues various artists. 5, in pieces Garth Brooks 8, a lot about Livin and a Little bout love Alan Jackson 7. Greatest hits volume two Reba Mcentire 8. Sweat heart s dance Pam till is 9. Hard work no Man Brooks amp Dunn 10. This is me Randy Travis latin tracks 1. Vida la mafia 2. Con Ito no do in la Garganta Pirn pin Eta 3. Amor pro Leldo Selena _ _ 4. Pesando Lompre in Tiea 111 Nazario _ 5. Hailame de Furente Ana Gabriel 6. La gota fria carbs Vives 7. Ayer Gloria Este fan a Mas y Mas los fantasias Aei Caribe a 9, Tuyo Luis Miguel ���., 10. La Pequena Venezia r Ca. To Montaner a or amp a singles of Back amp Forth Aaliya 2. Bump a grind r. Kelly 3. You mean the world to me Toni. Braxton. 4, anything from above the Rissov 5, i m ready Tevin Campbell 6 the most Beautiful Sirl in the world Prince. 7. Got me waiting heavy Damp the Boyz. A 8. Your body a calling a Kelly 9. Feel no Jodeci b part time Lover to a still in love with you b. Sure modern Rock tracks classical albums 1, Selling the drama live 2. Night in my veins pretenders. 3. The More you ignore me the closer i get Morrissey 4. Longview Green Day 5. Possession Sarah Mclachlan 6. Shine collective soul 7. Black Hole Sun sound Garden 8. Roun Here counting crows 9. Always erasure 10. Return to innocence Enigma 1. Chant Benedictine monks of Santo. Domingo de silos .2. The Plano Munich philharmonic. Orchestra 3. Schindler a list Williams Perlman 4. Gershwin plays Gershwin Gershwin a. 5. In concert Carreras Domingo Pavarotti a. 6. My hearts Delight Pavarotti 7. Romantic classics various artists 8. Vivaldi the four seasons various artists. A. 9. Chopin romantic Plano various artists. A 10. Pachelbel Canon Wurttenberge chamber orchestra a a complied by billboard focus a entertainment editor. Edilo Riaia Sis ant. Deedee Arrington Doke Cinco Morrison a a listing contributors staff writers Marian Hamilton Suo Palumbo Nancy l. Torner a so Ferenc Hajlasz a. Joe Olano. A a a Send news tips Story ideas and. Listings to the stars and stripes entertainment. Unit a 29480, apr a 09211 or civilian p.ostfach.11 1.4 37, 04278 Darmstadt Germany. Telephone Dan 34q-s350, Civ 06155 601350 Tel fax 06155-601416. Outside Germany the country code is 49. Drop the 0 from the prefix. A a a. 20 the stars and stripes Frida Way 20,1994 the stars and 5tripes 21
