ALAN PARSONS – The Secret (2019)

Available on CD, CD + DVD Audio Deluxe Edition (DVD includes Stereo Hi Definition Mix and 5.1 Surround Audio Mix), LP (Standard & Color), limited edition Box Set, and Digital. Box Set includes CD+DVD Deluxe Edition, 180g Gatefold Vinyl, the rare «LiveSpan» 2CD set, exclusive T-shirt (size: XL for US retailers, L for all European retailers), Poster, Numbered Lithograph (album cover).

Grammy Award Winning legendary music icon and master of progressive rock, Alan Parsons will return with a new album, “The Secret” via Frontiers Music Srl. This is the first song made available from the album, entitled «Miracle», featuring Jason Mraz on vocals.

Of the collaboration with Mraz, Alan says, “I met Jason two years ago through a neighbor who grows coffee on his ranch. Jason wanted to grow coffee himself and our neighbor, Jay was kind enough to introduce us since we had mutual musical interests. For ‘Miracle’, Jason recorded his vocals in Dallas while I listened in Santa Barbara and we sent files back and forth, resulting in this song. Thus proving that you don’t necessarily have to be in the same studio with someone to create music. This was also the case with Lou Gramm on the track «Sometimes», which he sang in New York.

Mraz adds, «‘Eye In The Sky’ is a song I have a very early memory of, strapped in the backseat of my mom’s green Fiat, 1982. Alan Parsons is on the radio and I’m singing along, harmonizing. That sound of rich harmony over magical words would stick with me for my whole life and ultimately become what my own career is about, trying to solve universal quandaries through song craft.» When Mraz heard «Miracle», he said, «I loved it. It sounded like a song right off of ‘Eye In The Sky’. As if no time had passed, proving time might just be a construct after all». Woking with Alan was «[m]agic. Alan is very kind, very creative, and very authentic,» concludes Mraz.

Alan’s longtime hobby has been performing magic and this brand new album showcases his own passion for the craft, hence the title “The Secret.” The album sees a return to the pop rock sound with symphonic and progressive rock interludes which the Alan Parsons Project was known for.

«Magic has always been a passion of mine, I am a member of The Magic Castle in Los Angeles. I’ve also worked with the Japanese magic company Tenyo, writing instruction books and catalogs for their tricks. I dabble with magic myself in my free time, so an album with magical influences was a natural progression”.

Tracklist:
1. THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE (instrumental)*
2. MIRACLE (lead vocal: Jason Mraz)
3. AS LIGHTS FALL (lead vocal: Alan Parsons)
4. ONE NOTE SYMPHONY (lead vocal: Todd Cooper)
5. SOMETIMES (lead vocal: Lou Gramm)
6. SOIRÉE FANTASTIQUE (lead vocal: Todd Cooper, Alan Parsons)
7. FLY TO ME (lead vocal: Mark Mikel)
8. REQUIEM (lead vocal: Todd Cooper)
9. BEYOND THE YEARS OF GLORY (lead vocal: PJ Olsson)§
10. THE LIMELIGHT FADES AWAY (lead vocal: Jordan Huffman)
11. I CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE (lead vocal: Jared Mahone)§ featured in Motion Picture “5-25-77”

Guitars: Steve Hackett (on *), Jeff Kollmann, Dan Tracey, Tony Rosacci, Ian Bairnson (solo on §), Alan Parsons Synth, Keyboards: Andy Ellis, Tom Brooks, Dan Tracey, Alan Parsons
Piano: Pat Caddick, Angelo Pizzaro
Bass: Nathan East (on *), Guy Erez, Jeff Peterson
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta (on *), Danny Thompson, Carl Sorensen
Sax: Todd Cooper
Cello: Michael Fitzpatrick

ORCHESTRAL ARRANGEMENTS Tom Brooks / STRINGS CONDUCTED BY Alan Parsons except on * Tom Brooks
ORCHESTRA The CMG Music Recording Orchestra of Hollywood

PERCUSSION Alan Parsons
UKULELE Jake Shimabukuro
TROMBONES Oscar Utterström
TRUMPETS Vinnie Ciesielski