Freudiana

Freudiana
Studio album by Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons
Released	11 October 1990 (1990-10-11)
Recorded	1989
Genre	Rock
Length	75:32
Label	EMI
Producer	Alan Parsons
Alan Parsons albums chronology
Gaudi (1987) Freudiana (1990) Try Anything Once (1993)
Eric Woolfson albums chronology
Freudiana (1990) Gambler (1997)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Freudiana /ˌfrɔɪdiˈænə/ was to be the 11th album by The Alan Parsons Project, but during its development, Eric Woolfson decided to turn the album into a rock opera. It was released as simply "Freudiana," and is known as the "unofficial" Alan Parsons Project album. Alan Parsons would continue in 1993 as a solo artist with the album Try Anything Once, which was musically in a direction more or less continued from that of 1987's Gaudi.

Eric Woolfson hit upon the idea of researching the life and works of Sigmund Freud with a view to their musical potential after he finished the tenth Alan Parsons Project album Gaudi. He retraced Freud's footsteps and explored his realms through his homes in London and Vienna (both now museums) as well as literary sources including Freud's classic cases whose real identities he concealed by use of names such as Wolfman, Ratman, Dora, Little Hans, and Schreber, the Judge. In addition, Freud's writings on his discovery of the 'unconscious', his well known theories such as the 'Oedipus Complex', the 'Ego' and the 'Id' and perhaps his best known masterpiece, 'The Interpretation of Dreams' all served as springboards for musical ideas. While recording the album, Brian Brolly entered the picture and he helped steer the album in a new direction. About halfway through the recording process, Eric was approached to develop the concept still further into a musical. With Brolly's help, Eric Woolfson was able to turn Freudiana into a stage musical. The musical had a successful run, and it was hoped that the show would open in other cities. Further plans were put on hold when a lawsuit broke out between Brolly and Woolfson, each fighting for control of the project. In the end, Brolly won, but the album remained attributed to Eric Woolfson.

This album was released in two versions: The "White Album" and the "Black Album". The white album was released in 1990 through EMI Records and is questionably still available. This album includes 18 tracks with lead vocal performances from Leo Sayer, The Flying Pickets, Kiki Dee, Marti Webb, Eric Stewart, Frankie Howerd, and Gary Howard, as well as Project regulars Chris Rainbow, John Miles, Graham Dye, and Woolfson. Alan Parsons only wrote one track, but he made musical contributions throughout the album as well as producing it, like he had with the Project albums. The "Black Album" features a double-length cast disc and is currently out of print. It contains material from the rock opera. The Black album was the first album credited to Eric Woolfson as a solo artist. Freudiana gave Eric a taste of musical theatre and he chose to continue in that end of the business.

Track listing

All songs written by Eric Woolfson, except where noted.

1. "The Nirvana Principle" (Instrumental) – 3:44
2. "Freudiana" (lead vocal: Eric Woolfson) - 6:20
3. "I Am a Mirror" (lead vocal: Leo Sayer) – 4:06
4. "Little Hans" (lead vocal: Graham Dye) – 3:15
5. "Dora" (lead vocal: Eric Woolfson) – 3:51
6. "Funny You Should Say That" (lead vocals: The Flying Pickets) – 4:36
7. "You're on Your Own" (lead vocals: Kiki Dee) – 3:54
8. "Far Away From Home" (lead vocals: The Flying Pickets) – 3:11
9. "Let Yourself Go" (lead vocal: Eric Woolfson) – 5:26
10. "Beyond the Pleasure Principle" (Instrumental - Alan Parsons) – 3:13
11. "The Ring" (lead vocal: Eric Stewart)– 4:22
12. "Sects Therapy" (lead vocal: Frankie Howerd) – 3:40
13. "No One Can Love You Better Than Me" (lead vocal: Eric Woolfson, Gary Howard, Kiki Dee, Marti Webb) – 5:40
14. "Don't Let the Moment Pass" (lead vocal: Marti Webb) – 3:40
15. "Upper Me" (lead vocal: Eric Stewart) – 5:16
16. "Freudiana" (Instrumental) – 3:43
17. "Destiny" (lead vocal: Chris Rainbow) – 0:51
18. "There But For the Grace of God" (lead vocal: John Miles) – 5:56

Personnel

• Eric Woolfson – keyboards, lead vocal on tracks 2, 5, 9, and 13, executive producer
• Alan Parsons – producer, additional keyboards, engineer
• Laurie Cottle – bass
• Stuart Elliott – drums, percussion
• Ian Bairnson – guitar
• Richard Cottle – synthesizer, saxophone
• Leo Sayer – lead vocal on track 3
• Graham Dye – lead vocal on track 4
• The Flying Pickets – lead vocals on tracks 6, and 8
• Kiki Dee – lead vocal on tracks 7, and 13
• Eric Stewart – lead vocal on tracks 11, and 15
• Frankie Howerd – lead vocal on track 12
• Marti Webb – lead vocal on tracks 13, and 14
• Gary Howard – lead vocal on track 13
• Chris Rainbow – lead vocal on track 17
• John Miles – lead vocal on track 18
• Andrew Powell – arrangements, conductor
• Tony Richards – engineer

Stage Musical Version

Freudiana premiered at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria on 19 December 1990. It was produced by Vereinigte Bühnen Wien. Until 18 April 1992 it played for 380 performances before 320,000 people.

Stage director was Peter Weck. The German song texts were by Lida Winiewicz. Erik was played by Ulrich Tukur.

References