Vulture Culture

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: February 1985<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Ammonia Avenue1984Stereotomy1985AlbumVulture CultureTAPP-VultureCulture.jpgThe Alan Parsons ProjectFebruary 1985<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>May–July 1984Abbey Road Studios, LondonTemplate:Hlist37:59AristaAlan Parsons and Eric Woolfsonx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Template:Album ratings

Vulture Culture is the eighth studio album by the Alan Parsons Project, released in February 1985<ref>https://www.discogs.com/The-Alan-Parsons-Project-Vulture-Culture/master/25305</ref> via the Arista label.<ref name=AllMusic/>

Overview

The first side of the LP (CD tracks 1–4) consists entirely of four-minute pop songs, and the second side varies widely, from the subdued funk of the title track to the bouncing instrumental "Hawkeye".

At the beginning of 1985, the lead single "Let's Talk About Me" reached the top 40 in Germany (where the album was No. 1<ref>charts.de. charts.de.</ref>), in Switzerland (where Vulture Culture was No. 2) and in the Netherlands.<ref>The Alan Parsons Project – Let's Talk About Me. hitparade.ch.</ref> The song features voice-over commentary from Lee Abrams, credited on the album as "Mr. Laser Beam" (an anagram of his name).

On the charts, Vulture Culture was a success in continental Europe, reaching the top 10 in many countries,<ref>The Alan Parsons Project – Vulture Culture. dutchcharts.nl.</ref> and in Australia; whereas it was less successful in the US. It was the last album by the band to be certified Gold.

The song "Hawkeye" is an instrumental but does contain a line from Monica, a woman working at the canteen in Abbey Road Studios (it occurs at 2:18). The line she says is: "Only what's on the menu".

This is the only Project album that does not feature the orchestration of Andrew Powell.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was the first Alan Parsons Project album to feature Richard Cottle, who played various synthesisers on the record, including the Fairlight CMI and the Yamaha DX7.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Vulture Culture was the last Project album recorded on analogue equipment, and as with the previous two, mixed directly to the digital master tape.

Critical reception

Music Week thought that the band achieved a "lightweight, poppy sound on Vulture Culture that signalled "a change in direction".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Billboard magazine wrote that "Parson's clean yet driving studio creations remain the ultimate in AOR radio fare, while affording softer mainstream options as well." They identified "Let's Talk About Me", "Days Are Numbers", and "Separate Lives" as the album's best tracks.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Cashbox characterised the album as "high-tech pop from the masterful Parsons."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson.

Vulture Culture was remastered and reissued in 2007 with the following bonus tracks:

9. "No Answers Only Questions (final version)" – 2:12
10. "Separate Lives (alternative mix)" – 4:18
11. "Hawkeye (demo)" – 3:18
12. "The Naked Vulture" – 10:43
13. "No Answers Only Questions (the first attempt)" – 2:56
    • "No Answers Only Questions" is credited solely to Eric Woolfson on the expanded edition CD notes and is one of the only songs released by the band where this occurs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
    |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personnel

• Ian Bairnson – guitar
• Colin Blunstone – vocals
• Richard Cottle – synthesizer, keyboards, saxophone
• Stuart Elliott – percussion, drums
• Mr. Laser Beam – vocals, speech/speaker/speaking part
• Alan Parsons – keyboards, programming, vocals
• David Paton – bass, vocals
• Chris Rainbow – vocals
• Eric Woolfson – piano, keyboards, vocals
• Lenny Zakatek – vocals
• Tony Richards – assistant engineer

Charts

Weekly charts

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Chart (1984–1985)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)<ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref>	32
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Alan Parsons Project".</ref>	5
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	2

Year-end charts

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Chart (1985)	Peak position