Pyramid (stylised as Pyr△mid) is the third studio album by the English progressive‑rock band The Alan Parsons Project. It was released on 26 May 1978 by Arista Records. The album is a concept work centred on the pyramids of Giza and the contemporary fascination with “pyramid power” and ancient Egyptian themes.
Recording and production
The album was recorded between September 1977 and February 1978 at Abbey Road Studios in London. It was produced and engineered by Alan Parsons, with executive production by Eric Woolfson. The cover design, created by the art group Hipgnosis, features a book titled Pyramid Power: The Millennium Science by G. Patrick Flanagan.
Concept and promotion
The lyrical content explores mystical and scientific ideas associated with the Egyptian pyramids. To promote the release in the United Kingdom, the band organised a cinema tour in which the original master tapes were played in 30 cinemas as “simulated concerts”.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews highlighted the album’s production quality and lush arrangements. Cashbox praised its “identifiable sound”, while Billboard described it as “aurally interesting” with an emphasis on choirs and keyboards. Record World called it “another immaculately produced album”, and Music Week noted its instrumental variety despite occasional “banal” lyrics.
Accolades
Pyramid was nominated for the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non‑Classical.
Track listing
All songs were written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson.
Side One
- “Voyager” – instrumental
- “What Goes Up” – vocals (David Paton, additional Dean Ford)
- “The Eagle Will Rise Again” – vocals (Colin Blunstone)
- “One More River” – vocals (Lenny Zakatek)
- “Can’t Take It with You” – vocals (Dean Ford)
Side Two
- “In the Lap of the Gods” – instrumental
- “Pyramania” – vocals (Jack Harris)
- “Hyper‑Gamma Spaces” – instrumental
- “Shadow of a Lonely Man” – vocals (John Miles, additional Colin Blunstone)
A 2008 remastered reissue added several bonus tracks, including instrumental medleys, early demos, and alternate backing tracks.
Personnel
- The Alan Parsons Project – Alan Parsons (keyboards, Projectron, backing vocals), Eric Woolfson (keyboards, vocals, Projectron)
- Core musicians – David Paton (bass, vocals), Stuart Elliott (drums, percussion), Ian Bairnson (guitars), Duncan Mackay (synthesizers)
- Guest vocalists – Dean Ford, Colin Blunstone, Lenny Zakatek, John Miles, Jack Harris
- Choir – The English Chorale, choirmaster Bob Howes
- Additional contributors – John Leach (kantele, cimbalom), Andrew Powell (autoharp, arrangements), Phil Kenzie (saxophone), various engineers and mastering staff.
Commercial performance
The album charted in multiple territories, reaching No. 22 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 49 on the US Billboard 200. It attained higher positions in New Zealand (No. 3) and Norway (No. 4). Certifications include Gold in the United States (RIAA), Platinum in Germany (BVMI), and Gold in Australia, Spain, and New Zealand, indicating worldwide shipments exceeding two million units.
Legacy
Pyramid remains a notable entry in The Alan Parsons Project’s discography for its thematic ambition, high‑profile production, and the blend of progressive‑rock instrumentation with orchestral and choral textures. It exemplifies the late‑1970s trend of concept albums that fused popular music with historical and speculative subjects.