The Alan Parsons Project - Stereotomy (1985) [Full Album] + bonus track

Stereotomy is the ninth studio album by the Alan Parsons Project, released in 1985.
Not as commercially successful as its predecessor Vulture Culture, the album is structured differently from earlier Project albums: containing three lengthy tracks ("Stereotomy" at over seven minutes, "Light of the World" at over six minutes, and the instrumental "Where's the Walrus?" running over seven and a half minutes) and two minute-long songs at the end. It is a full digital production and both the LP and CD releases were encoded using the two-channel Ambisonic UHJ format.

The original vinyl packaging was different from all the reissues: it featured more elaborate artwork of the paper sleeve supplied with a special color-filter oversleeve. When inserted, the over-sleeve filtered some of the colors of the artwork, allowing four different variations (two per side). That was supposed to symbolize visual stereotomy. In the reissues, only one variant remained. The artwork was nominated for Best Album Package at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards.

The word "stereotomy" is taken from "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe. It refers to the cutting of solid shapes into different forms, and is used as a metaphor for the way that famous people (singers, actors, etc.) are 'shaped' by the demands of fame. The short track "Chinese Whispers" also references "Rue Morgue" in that although an instrumental, it features Eric Woolfson’s daughters Sally and Lorna reciting a sequence of words from the story.

At the time of release, Parsons said, "Stereotomy is really our best album in years." However, he and Woolfson noted that the record suffered a lack of record label support.
Stereotomy earned a Grammy nomination in 1987 – for Best Rock Instrumental Performance: Orchestra, Group, or Soloist – for the track "Where's the Walrus?

Tracklist:
0:00 Stereotomy
7:15 Beaujolais
11:55 Urbania
16:42 Limelight
21:22 In The Real World
25:42 Where's The Walrus?
33:17 Light of the World
39:32 Chinese Whispers
40:33 Stereotomy Two
Bonus Track
41:56 Rumour Goin’ Round (demo)

Personnel
Eric Woolfson – pianos, keyboards, vocals
Alan Parsons – additional keyboards, producer
Ian Bairnson – guitars, guitar synth
David Paton – bass
Stuart Elliott – drums and percussion
Richard Cottle – synths and saxes
The Philharmonia Orchestra, leader – Christoffer Warren-Green
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Andrew Powell
Sally Woolfson – voices on "Chinese Whispers"
Lorna Woolfson – voices on "Chinese Whispers"
Vocals: John Miles, Chris Rainbow, Gary Brooker, Graham Dye, Steven Dye, Eric Woolfson

+++ Description, Tracklist and Timecodes by Alex4Rock +++