I Robot (Expanded) (Rm) [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

Wow the memory banks forgot totally recharged with this gem. The first time I heard this was in my friends parents basement after having some herbal tea, the sound was great then and even better now. It makes me want to revisit some of the other Alan Parsons Project material.

I love this album and recently purchased a stereo system capable of extracting a great deal more information off the CD, so I found the remastering made a noticeable improvement. If this is you, I can recpmmend this remastered version.

Before Styx's "Kilroy Was Here", there was "I Robot", the second album from The Alan Parsons Project. It was originally released in June of 1977, after the Project had received a bit of notice with their debut album, "Tales of Mystery and Imagination". While the album is often linked with Asimov's book "I, Robot", due to rights issues the link is limited to the general theme and the similar name.

The album opens with the instrumental title piece "I Robot", and is the longest track on the album. The piece builds well and is a good and strong lead into the album. "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You" is another strong number which worked as a single. "Some Other Time" is another very strong piece, though sandwiched between two pieces which receive much more play on the radio I think it is often forgotten. "Breakdown" is an outstanding number which for me is the highlight of the album. "Don't Let It Show" slows things down and is another single release from the album. It was also covered by Pat Benatar on "In the Heat of the Night".

The second half of the album opens with "The Voice", an interesting piece which is perhaps just a cut below those in the first half of the album, but still interesting and it fits well, and has a wonderful instrumental bridge section. "Nucleus" is the first of three instrumentals on the second half of the album, and while it is an enjoyable diverting piece, it is not a highlight for me. "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)" is the last of the singles from the album. Another nice piece, but not strong enough to hold up the second half of the album when compared with the first. "Total Eclipse" is the one piece on the album not written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson. It is an instrumental piece with voices being used as an instrument, written by Andrew Powell it is one of the more interesting and attention grabbing moments on the album. "Total Eclipse" leads well into "Genesis CH.1, V.32", the beautiful instrumental piece which closes the album.

"I Robot" remains one of my favorite albums from The Alan Parsons Project". The group is led by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, though there are several others who appear on numerous albums from the group, such as David Paton (bass), Ian Bairnson (guitars). They are also known for using numerous vocalists, and this album is no exception. Lenny Zakatek handles the vocals on "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You", Peter Straker and Jaki Whitren are the vocalists on "Some Other Time", Allan Clarke is the vocalist on "Breakdown", Dave Townsend is the lead on "Don't Let It Show", Steve Harley is the lead vocal on "The Voice", and Jack Harris is the vocalists on "Day After Day". There is also a remastered version of the album which includes five bonus tracks. I have not heard that version so I cannot comment on it.