The Best Psychedelic Rock Bands: Pink Floyd and Alan Parsons Project
Looking for some good psychedelic rock to listen to? Check out our list of the best psychedelic rock bands, including Pink Floyd and Alan Parsons Project!
Pink Floyd
The English rock band Pink Floyd is one of the most commercially successful and musically influential groups of the 20th century. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their 1967 album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, led by Syd Barrett, was among the first albums in the genre.
History
Pink Floyd was founded in 1965 by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright. The band achieved worldwide success with their concept albums and experimental sound. They are one of the most commercially successful and influential rock bands of all time.
The Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band active from 1975 to 1990. The band achieved commercial success with their albums Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1976) and I Robot (1977).
Music
Often cited as one of the most influential bands of all time, Pink Floyd rose to worldwide fame with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Formed in London in 1965, the band initially consisted of university students Syd Barrett (guitar and lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums and percussion), Roger Waters (bass guitar and vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards and vocals). Barrett was replaced by keyboardist/vocalist David Gilmour in 1968.
With hits like “Another Brick in the Wall,” “Wish You Were Here,” and “Comfortably Numb,” Pink Floyd became known for their concept albums, experimental sound, live shows, and use of elaborate stage effects. The band’s 1994 album, The Division Bell, reached number one in both the UK and the US, selling more than 12 million copies worldwide.
In 1985, Waters declared Pink Floyd “a spent force,” but Gilmour and Mason continued to record and tour under the band’s name. In 2005, Pink Floyd reunited for a Live 8 performance, with Wright appearing on stage for the first time since 1981. In 2014, Gilmour announced that Pink Floyd would no longer continue as a recording or touring entity following the death of Wright earlier that year.
Influence
Pink Floyd was one of the most influential psychedelic rock bands of all time. Their music was marked by extended instrumentals, sonic experimentation, and elaborate live shows. They are best known for theirconcept albums, including The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), Atom Heart Mother (1970), Meddle (1971), Dark Side of the Moon (1973), and Wish You Were Here (1975). Pink Floyd were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Rolling Stone ranked them number 51 on their list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.
Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, founded by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson. The group recorded seven studio albums between 1976 and 1987, and they were known for their use of conceptual packaging and grandiose sound. Parson’s trademark was the use of a rotating cast of session musicians and guest vocalists, and the Project maintained a consistent core lineup of 10 or fewer musicians throughout its history.
History
Pink Floyd and Alan Parsons Project are two of the most successful psychedelic rock bands of all time. Both bands have had a lasting impact on popular music, and their influence can still be felt today.
Pink Floyd was founded in 1965 in London, England. The band is best known for their groundbreaking album, “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” (1967), which is considered one of the most important psychedelic rock albums of all time. Pink Floyd went on to release a number of other esteemed albums, including “The Dark Side of the Moon” (1973), “Wish You Were Here” (1975), and “The Wall” (1979).
Alan Parsons Project was founded in 1975 by English musician Alan Parsons. The band is best known for their album “Tales of Mystery and Imagination” (1976), which is based on the work of Edgar Allan Poe. Alan Parsons Project went on to release a number of other successful albums, including “I Robot” (1977), “Eye in the Sky” (1982), and “Ammonia Avenue” (1984).
Music
Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson.
The group’s albums were conceptually based around ideas such as science fiction and paranoia, and their musical approach was heavily influenced by Pink Floyd. The project’s best-known album is The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980), which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
The Alan Parsons Project had its roots in the demise of Abbey Road Studios’ resident band, The Hollies. Woolfson had been approached by Hollies singer Allan Clarke to write some songs for the band, but when Clarke left the Hollies in late 1974, Woolfson persuaded him to continue working together.
The pair began writing songs for a new album during the summer of 1974 with Guthrie Thomas playing bass and Iain Sutherland on guitar. They decided to record demos of their material at Parsons’ home studio in Twickenham where they built a small 8-track recording system.
Influence
The Alan Parsons Project was a British rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, whose core membership consisted of Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson. They were known for their successful concept albums and innovative sound.
The Alan Parsons Project was influenced by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and the Beach Boys. They used a variety of studio techniques, including sound effects and reverse tapes, to create a unique sound. They were one of the first rock bands to use computers to create their music.
The Alan Parsons Project had several hit singles, including “Eye in the Sky” and “Games People Play.” They won a Grammy Award for “Best Engineered Album” for I Robot in 1977.
