"Psychobabble" by The Alan Parsons Project

Song#:  1259
Date:  11/27/1982
Debut:  82
Peak:  57
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The Project grabbed their first (and only) Top 10 hit with the title track to their LP "Eye in the Sky" (#3). This second single couldn't scale the same heights and fell before reaching the top half of the chart. But by this point the album had already become their best charting at #7 and would eventually go platinum. Vocals on this track were handled by Dave Terry.

ReduxReview:  With Eric Woolfson's unique vocals leading their two biggest singles, "Eye in the Sky" and "Time," its almost like his voice became the recognizable sound of the group. So when they have someone else handle vocals, as on this single, it's a little harder to tell that this is an APP song. Therefore, it may not get as much attention. I think that is further supported by the fact that their next two Top 40 entries were sung by Woolfson. All others peaked lower. It doesn't mean that Woolfson should have sung everything - he shouldn't. Using different vocalists is part of their concept and it works, but Woolfson became key to their singles success. So a song like this got a bit ignored. I can't say it was the best choice for a single, but besides the title track, there truly wasn't another cut that was a slam-dunk single. I might have tried the rockier "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned" instead.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  A third single, "Old and Wise," was lifted from the album for release. It did not hit the pop chart but did reach #21 at AC. What makes this song significant is that it became the first Alan Parsons Project song to hit the UK chart (their homeland) reaching #74. It would be one of only two singles that would chart in their home country ("Don't Answer Me" hit #52 in 1984). In addition to never having a significant charting single in the UK, their albums never made it into the Top 20. Something about their music just didn't connect with their home audience. However, it did in the US where they amassed four gold and three platinum albums. They were also hugely popular in Germany where they had eight Top 10 albums including four #1's.

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