Old and Wise

Alan Parsons wrote this song with his partner in the group, Eric Woolfson. The song is about a man approaching death, addressing those he knew with fond remembrance, as he now has no time for bitter memories.

The Alan Parsons Project used a variety of vocalists, and on this one, Zombies lead singer Colin Blunstone sings lead. Parsons and Blunstone had known each other for quite a while, as Parsons was an engineer on the 1968 Zombies album Odessey and Oracle, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, the same place the Eye in the Sky sessions were held. Blunstone got to know Eric Woolfson through Parsons. In our interview with Blunstone, he talked about how this song came together. Said Blunstone: "I was talking to Eric one night in Abbey Road and he said, 'I'd like to play you this song' and we walked into a deserted Studio Three - Alan Parsons usually used Studio Two, which is the same studio The Beatles used most of the time – but we walked into Studio Three, which is where The Zombies recorded 'Time Of The Season.' Eric sat down and played me that song on the piano, and I thought, 'That's a wonderful song.' He said, 'Well, we'd like you to have a go at putting a vocal on it.' And that's what happened. So the first time I heard it was Eric playing the song live in its entirety in Studio Three in Abbey Road. I just thought it was a wonderful song. Still do."