The Alan Parsons Project
Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Allan Poe
1990



2 tracks, TRT: 40:33, FLAC (48k/24b)



https://mega.co.nz/#!Ald3mZAJ!T7U4jWqvpLZ5n1i92E-JoXG508NW9ftgBvFPbt5oQIw

Note: purchased this at a local record store for a mere 25 cents (which was on sale for 30% off so it was less than that actually) and wasn't sure what to expect as this was my first APP album but I was quite impressed. Being a semi-fan of author Edgar Allan Poe, I was curious to hear what this group was going to do. Later finding out that one of the APP members was involved in Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, I was curious as to why I hadn't heard this group sooner. It's an interesting blend of orchestral/rock with lyrics inspired by Poe's writings.

As for track listing, I ran out of time to properly split these up into their proper tracks so I present each side as its own separate FLAC file which personally works better for me anyway for this particular album. I did however place markers inside the FLAC file indicating track splitting should you want to do that manually but be advised that my markers may be off in some places.

The Fall of the House of Usher is definitely the highlight piece but that's not to downplay the rest.

Lastly, I did this in a hurry so I wasn't able to properly tag everything. My deepest apologies. Here's the track listing:

SIDE A:
1. A Dream Within a Dream
2. The Raven
3. The Tell-Tale Heart
4. The Cask of Amontillado
5. (The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether

SIDE B:
6. The Fall of the House of Usher: Prelude
7. The Fall of the House of Usher: Arrival
8. The Fall of the House of Usher: Intermezzo
9. The Fall of the House of Usher: Pavane
10. The Fall of the House of Usher: Fall
11. To One in Paradise


Enjoy!

Will try this. Thanks codyap!
ps: I always like reading your notes in your threads.

I prefer pretty much classical music to rock music but I know this work and is a fantastic medley of styles.

A terrific album, this. For the benefit of any who don't realise, when released on CD (1987) it was extensively remixed and, in my view, ruined.
This vinyl edition is the superior mix.
Saying that, I believe there was a deluxe edition released on CD a year or two back that contained both....

Thanks!! :)

what a find! thanks much....

thanks cody

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 PM ----------

Cody, did you check another alan parsons?

Thread 135940

This album came out in the middle of the Disco-era and was quite a breath of fresh air. The LP as a whole is Fantastic and holds up to repeated listenings.

A perfect album for the month of October. Many Thanks !!!

Thank you share!

The Alan Parsons Project - Tales Of Mystery And Imagination (2 CD Deluxe Edition 2007) [FLAC]



TRACKLIST

Disc 1: 1976 Album

01. "A Dream Within A Dream" [instrumental]
02. "The Raven" (ft. Leonard Whiting on lead vocals, Alan Parsons lead vocal through an EMI vocoder, backing vocals by Eric Woolfson)
03. "The Tell-Tale Heart" (ft. Arthur Brown)
04. "The Cask of Amontillado" (ft. John Miles)
05. "(The System Of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether" (ft. John Miles and Jack Harris)
"The Fall of the House of Usher [instrumental]
06. 1. "Prelude"
07. 2. "Arrival"
08. 3. "Intermezzo"
09. 4. "Pavane"
10. 5. "Fall"
11. "To One in Paradise" (ft. Terry Sylvester)
12. "The Raven" (original demo) **
13. "Edgar" (demo of an unreleased track) **
14. "Orson Welles Radio Spot" **
15. "Interview with Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson" (1976) **

Disc 2: 1987 Remix

01. "A Dream Within A Dream" [instrumental]
02. "The Raven" (ft. Leonard Whiting on lead vocals, Alan Parsons lead vocal through an EMI vocoder, backing vocals by Eric Woolfson)
03. "The Tell-Tale Heart" (ft. Arthur Brown)
04. "The Cask of Amontillado" (ft. John Miles)
05. "(The System Of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether" (ft. John Miles and Jack Harris)
"The Fall of the House of Usher [instrumental]
06. 1. "Prelude"
07. 2. "Arrival"
08. 3. "Intermezzo"
09. 4. "Pavane"
10. 5. "Fall"
11. "To One in Paradise" (ft. Terry Sylvester)
12. "Eric's Guide Vocal Medley" **
13. "Orson Welles Dialogue" **
14. "Sea Lions in the Departure Lounge" (sound effects and experiments) **
15. "GBH Mix" (unreleased experiments) **

** = Bonus tracks

Complete artwork and extended notes.

LINKS

Disc 1: 1976 Album (369 MB):

https://mega.co.nz/#!pl4EWZwb!ZZ3MizQMd2Z3r12q-PeAzGPgl-BIjM-gIOIEKbp4gHI

Disc 2: 1987 Remix (385 MB):

https://mega.co.nz/#!J5Q23LKB!NiNknRoIJ-FBJnTHMk1aIiHoG9gUo8CpHt7ZHD0qKeU

This is like a soundtrack for a series of stories collected in a book.
One of my favourites album.

Thanks to Cody and Petros.

The Alan Parsons Project - Tales Of Mystery And Imagination (2 CD Deluxe Edition 2007) [FLAC]



TRACKLIST

Disc 1: 1976 Album

01. "A Dream Within A Dream" [instrumental]
02. "The Raven" (ft. Leonard Whiting on lead vocals, Alan Parsons lead vocal through an EMI vocoder, backing vocals by Eric Woolfson)
03. "The Tell-Tale Heart" (ft. Arthur Brown)
04. "The Cask of Amontillado" (ft. John Miles)
05. "(The System Of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether" (ft. John Miles and Jack Harris)
"The Fall of the House of Usher [instrumental]
06. 1. "Prelude"
07. 2. "Arrival"
08. 3. "Intermezzo"
09. 4. "Pavane"
10. 5. "Fall"
11. "To One in Paradise" (ft. Terry Sylvester)
12. "The Raven" (original demo) **
13. "Edgar" (demo of an unreleased track) **
14. "Orson Welles Radio Spot" **
15. "Interview with Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson" (1976) **

Disc 2: 1987 Remix

01. "A Dream Within A Dream" [instrumental]
02. "The Raven" (ft. Leonard Whiting on lead vocals, Alan Parsons lead vocal through an EMI vocoder, backing vocals by Eric Woolfson)
03. "The Tell-Tale Heart" (ft. Arthur Brown)
04. "The Cask of Amontillado" (ft. John Miles)
05. "(The System Of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether" (ft. John Miles and Jack Harris)
"The Fall of the House of Usher [instrumental]
06. 1. "Prelude"
07. 2. "Arrival"
08. 3. "Intermezzo"
09. 4. "Pavane"
10. 5. "Fall"
11. "To One in Paradise" (ft. Terry Sylvester)
12. "Eric's Guide Vocal Medley" **
13. "Orson Welles Dialogue" **
14. "Sea Lions in the Departure Lounge" (sound effects and experiments) **
15. "GBH Mix" (unreleased experiments) **

** = Bonus tracks

Complete artwork and extended notes.

LINKS

Disc 1: 1976 Album (369 MB):

https://mega.co.nz/#!pl4EWZwb!ZZ3MizQMd2Z3r12q-PeAzGPgl-BIjM-gIOIEKbp4gHI

Disc 2: 1987 Remix (385 MB):

https://mega.co.nz/#!J5Q23LKB!NiNknRoIJ-FBJnTHMk1aIiHoG9gUo8CpHt7ZHD0qKeU

Neat idea but still don't get why modern album re-issues of old classics have to be mixed super loud. I found the original 1976 album on CD (the ridiculous to find MSFL gold master edition) minus the narration and other alterations in the 1987 remix. It's the only other CD edition of the original 1976 album. It's far better sound quality in my opinion than this deluxe edition.

The release history of this album is confusing. There's so many editions and finding a CD sourced version of the 1976 album versus vinyl is trickier.

Really unique album, just ahead of Halloween. Thank you. :)

Neat idea but still don't get why modern album re-issues of old classics have to be mixed super loud. I found the original 1976 album on CD (the ridiculous to find MSFL gold master edition) minus the narration and other alterations in the 1987 remix. It's the only other CD edition of the original 1976 album. It's far better sound quality in my opinion than this deluxe edition.

The release history of this album is confusing. There's so many editions and finding a CD sourced version of the 1976 album versus vinyl is trickier.

You're right. All Alan Parsons Project 'Deluxe Editions' releases are crappy remastered, this one is no exception. Only first edition CDs (specific for each album) have correct sound. That's why it's very had to find correct masters for APP CD releases and most of LP releases have better sound.

Their first album Tales Of Mystery And Imagination is a special case. As you said, the first 1987 CD release is a completely remixed album including new recorded parts. This release is nothing than a crappy insult to the original recording. But the 'very hard to find' and 'very expensive' MFSL gold CD release is actually the best edition of this album. Because the master is from the original recording (not the crappy 1987 remix) and the sound of this release is far better than all other editions including the LP (I know it because I've this CD and other ones).

I think I've owned every LP/CD release of this album, 1976 + 1987, including MFSL CD/LP remasters of 1976.
The 1987 slightly-re-mixed version is better for the reasons Parsons states in the liners of '87 (more ambient, OW added narration, etc). The 2007 remaster is BAD because of loudness/compression. (The 2007 2-CD is good for other reasons, like added liners/art and bonus tracks).
The BEST-SOUNDING "Tales..." I've heard is the '87 remix on vinyl.
Best-sounding '76 is MFSL from early 1990s.

PM me (it's Mercury/UMG) and I can pass along 1987 non-remastered Japanese CD 1st press.

Can someone re upload this?

You're right. All Alan Parsons Project 'Deluxe Editions' releases are crappy remastered, this one is no exception. This release is nothing than a crappy insult to the original recording.

Blah blah blah!
Disc 1 is the original 1976 version.
The original analogue stereo master tape was used for the CD mastering of this version.

Blah blah blah!
Disc 1 is the original 1976 version.
The original analogue stereo master tape was used for the CD mastering of this version.

Yes, but this 2007 remaster was a crap because they used loudness and dynamic compression that change the sound of this master in bad way. Unfortunately, most of remasters since around 2002-2004 are crap like this because majors oblige their mastering engineers to use these crappy distortion functions (loudness ans dynamic compression, called 'loudness war') to boost the sound and make it so-called 'attractive' for common digital distribution (that mostly use mp3 destructive audio format) and for crappy computer shelf speakers and other low-cost ear pads audience.
But when you listen these remasters in a correct Hi-Fi (or audiophile) stereo system (with true amp, loudspeakers or headphones), it's a complete disaster.

The best release this album that respects the 1976 original master tapes sound are the early '90s MFSL CD and LP.
For those who like 1987 remix, the original '87 LP or first-press Japanese CD are the best releases.