I Robot

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

I Robot · In 1977 the Alan Parsons Project made its second album, loosely based on Isaac Asimov's robot stories. Eric Woolfson spoke with Asimov himself, who was enthusiastic. However, the rights already belonged to a film and television company, so the comma disappeared from the title and the theme and lyrics became more general: the rise of the machine and the fall of man. The album was released in July. It came, by coincidence, just after Star Wars, at a time when robots were popular.

The sound is layered and smooth, with a vocoder that Billboard said recalled Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Some Other Time got its title because Paul McCartney had turned down a request with those words. Jaki Whitren and Peter Straker sing together on it. Singles were I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You, Don't Let It Show and Day After Day. The sleeve is by Hipgnosis. The reviews were mixed, but mostly favourable.

Listening

Track list

1. 1I Robot6:02Apple Music ↗
2. 2I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You3:23Apple Music ↗
3. 3Some Other Time4:06Apple Music ↗
4. 4Breakdown3:53Apple Music ↗
5. 5Don't Let It Show4:26Apple Music ↗
6. 6The Voice5:23Apple Music ↗
7. 7Nucleus3:22Apple Music ↗
8. 8Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)3:57Apple Music ↗
9. 9Total Eclipse3:12Apple Music ↗
10. 10Genesis Ch.1. V.323:18Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

See also

• The Alan Parsons Project