The Alan PARSONS PROJECT


Tales Of Mystery And Imagination:
Edgar Allan POE

(1976)



This ground-breaking album was originally released by 20th Century Records in 1976. The theme of this album is inspired by he works of Edgar Allen Poe.
From the time of its initial release, "Tales" had been re-released many times with different cover artwork on different formats from vinyl and cassette to the dreaded 8-track. But even up to the mid-eighties this record had not been put on CD. When the time came, Alan took the high-road and instead of just slapping it into a jewel case, he went back into the studio and remastered this classic album.

1. Dream Within A Dream 4'14
(Alan Parsons / Eric Woolfson)
2. The Raven 3'58
(Alan Parsons / Eric Woolfson)
(new Guitar solo: Ian Bairnson)
3. The Tell-Tale Heart 4'38
(Alan Parsons / Eric Woolfson)
4. The Cask Of Amontillado 4'34
(Alan Parsons / Eric Woolfson)
(new Synths: Alan Parsons)
5. ( The System Of ) Doctor Tarr And Professor Feather 4'24
(Alan Parsons / Eric Woolfson)
(new "Cathedral Organ": Alan Parsons)
6. Fall Of The House Of Usher 16'10
(Andrew Powell)
(i) Prelude 7'02
(ii) Arrival 2'40
(iii) Intermezzo 1'00
(iv) Pavane 4'37 (new Synth: Eric Woolfson)
(v) Fall 0'51
7. To One In Paradise 4'46
(Alan Parsons / Eric Woolfson)

Total Time: 42:41


  • Alan Parsons - Projectron / Synths, Vocoder (2), Backing Vocals
  • Eric Woolfson - Keyboards, Organ, Backing Vocals
  • David Paton - Guitars, Bass, Backing Vocals
  • Ian Bairnson - Guitars
  • David Pack - Guitars
  • Laurence Juber - Acoustic Guitars
  • Kevin Peek - Acoustic Guitars
  • Christopher North - Keyboards
  • Billy Lyall - Keyboards
  • Francis Monkman - Organ
  • Andrew Powell - Organ
  • Francis Monkman - Harpsichord
  • John Leach - Cimbalom & Kantele
  • Hugo D'Alton - Mandolin
  • Les Hurdle - Bass
  • Joe Puerta - Bass
  • Darryl Runswick - String Bass
  • Stuart Tosh - Percussion
  • Burleigh Drummond - Percussion
  • Arthur Brown - Vocals (3)
  • John Miles - Vocals (4, 5)
  • Leonard Whiting - Vocals (2)
  • Terry Sylvester - Vocals (7)
  • Jack Harris - Backing Vocals
  • Jane Powell - Backing Vocals
  • The ENGLISH CHORALE - Backing Choir
  • WESTMINSTER CITY SCHOOL BOYS CHOIR - Backing Choir
  • Orchestra: Arranged and Conducted by Andrew Powell

    With acknowledgement also to the two hundred musicians who
    played on the album

    Produced & Engineered by Alan Parsons
    Eric Woolfson - Executive Producer
    Chris Blair, Patrick Stapley, Tom Trefethen - Assistant Engineers (1976)
    Billy Lyall, Alan Parsons - Recorders
    Tony Richards - Assistant Engineers (1987)
    Technicial Consultants: Keith O. Johnson & Gordon Parry
    Cover Design & Illustration: Clyde Terry

    All Songs Composed by Woolfson / Parsons
    Except as otherwise - specifited, Copyright 1975
    Music and Lyrics by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson
    Except "Fall Of ...": Andrew Powell

    Recorded and Mixed at ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS, London
    Mastered by Doug Sax at
    MASTERING LAB, Hollywood

    Original Recorded between: April 1975 - November 1975
    Narration: Orson Welles, Leonard Whiting
    Remixed / Remastered between: May 1987 - June 1987
    Recorded (1987) at:
    ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS, The GRANGE

    Special Thanks To Russ Regan, Bob Britton, Bob Howes, Ken Townsend
    and all of
    ABBEY ROAD





    1. Dream Within A Dream

      (instrumental)

    2. The Raven

      The clock struck midnight
      And through my sleeping
      I heard a tapping at my door
      I looked but nothing lay in the darkness
      And so I turned inside once more

      To my amazement
      There stood a raven
      Whose shadow hung above my door
      Then through the darkness
      It spoke that one word
      that I shall hear forever more

      Nevermore
      Thus quoth the raven, nevermore

      And still the raven remains in my room
      No matter how much I implore
      No words can soothe him
      No prayer remove him
      And I must hear for evermore

      Quoth the raven, nevermore
      Thus quoth the raven
      Nevermore

    3. The Tell-Tale Heart

      You should have seen him
      Lying alone in helpless silence in the night
      You should have seen him
      You would have seen his eye reflecting in the light

      So for the old man
      Ashes to ashes, earth to earth and dust to dust
      No one will see me
      No one with guilt to share, no secret soul to trust

      And he won't be found at all
      Not a trace to mark his fall
      Nor a stain upon the wall

      Louder and louder
      Till I could tell the sound was not within my ears
      You should have seen me
      You would have seen my eyes grow white and cold with fear

      Heard all the things in Heaven and Earth
      I've seen many things in Hell
      But his vulture's eye of a cold pale blue
      Is the eye if the Devil himself

      Take me away now
      But let the silence drown the beating of his heart
      I can't go on
      Let me be free from wretched sea that I can not see
      Please let me be free

    4. The Cask Of Amontillado

      By the last breath of the four winds that blow
      I'll have revenge upon Fortunato
      Smile in his face I'll say "come let us go
      I've a cask of Amontillado"

      Sheltered inside from the cold of the snow
      Follow me now to the vault down below
      Drinking the wine as we laugh at the time
      Which is passing incredibly slow

      ( What are these chains binding my arms )
      Part of you dies each passing day
      ( Say it's a game and I'll come to no harm )
      You'll feel your life slipping away

      You who are rich and whose troubles are few
      May come around to see my point of view
      What price the crown of a King on his throne
      When you're chained in the dark all alone

      ( Spare me my life only name your reward )
      Part of you dies each brick I lay
      ( Bring back some light in the name of the Lord )
      You'll feel your mind slipping away

    5. ( The System Of ) Doctor Tarr And Professor Feather

      Just what you need to make you feel better
      Just what you need to make you feel
      Just what you need to make you feel better
      Just what you need to make you feel

      At the far end of your tether
      And your thoughts won't fit together
      So you sleep light or whatever
      And the night goes on forever
      The your mind change like the weather
      Your in need of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether

      Even clouds seem bright and breezy
      'Cause the livin' is free and easy
      See the rat race in a new way
      Like you're walkin' up to a new day
      It's a wise thing if you're clever
      Take a lead from Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether

      Find the end of the rainbow
      Fly wherever the winds blow
      Laugh at life like a sideshow
      Just what you need to make you feel better

      Satisfaction altogether
      Guaranteed by Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether

      Find the end of the rainbow
      Fly wherever the winds blow
      Laugh at life like a sideshow
      Just what you need to make you feel better

      Don't stop bringin' the girls round
      Don't start havin' a showdown
      Keep on handin' the jug round
      All that you need is wine and good company

    6. Fall Of The House Of Usher

      i. Prelude

      ii. Arrival

      iii. Intermezzo

      iv. Pavane

      v. Fall

      (instrumental)

    7. To One In Paradise

      If I could see the sky above
      And my mind could be set free
      As wild white horses reached the shore
      I'd stand alone and oversee

      And if the bush before me burns
      Should I turn my eyes away
      And still the voices I can hear
      As clear to me as the light of day

      I believed in my dreams
      Nothing could change my mind
      Now I know what they mean
      How could I be so blind

      Cold sands of time
      ( Winds that blow as cold as ice
      Sounds that come in the night )
      Shall hide what is left of me
      ( Come from Paradise )

      I've been through times when no one cared
      ( Words that were mine )
      I've clouds in empty skies
      When one kind word meant more to me
      ( Shall last as a memory )
      Than all the love in Paradise

      I believed in my dreams
      Nothing could change my mind
      Till I found what they mean
      Nothing can save me now