"Freudiana" is the 11th and final album by The Alan Parsons Project, and the only album of the Project that would be a rock opera. Eric Woolfson hit upon the idea of researching the life and works of Sigmund Freud with a view to their musical potential after he finished the tenth Alan Parsons Project album ‘Gaudi’. He retraced Freud’s footsteps and explored his realms through his homes in London and Vienna (both now museums) as well as literary sources including Freud’s classic cases whose real identities he concealed by use of names such as Wolfman, Ratman, Dora, Little Hans and Schreber, the Judge. In addition, Freud’s writings on his discovery of the ‘unconscious’, his well known theories such as the ‘Oedipus Complex’, the ‘Ego’ and the ‘Id’ and perhaps his best known masterpiece, ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’ all served as springboards for musical ideas. While recording the album, Brian Brolly entered the picture and he helped steer the album in a new direction. About halfway through the recording process, Eric was approached to develop the concept still further into a musical. With Brolly's help, Eric Woolfson was able to turn Freudiana into a stage musical. The musical had a successful run, and it was hoped that the show would open in other cities. Further plans were put on hold when a lawsuit broke out between Brolly and Woolfson, each fighting for control of the project. In the end, Brolly won, but the album remained under the Project's name. This album was released in two versions: The "White Album" and the "Black Album". The white album was released in 1990 through EMI records and is questionably still available. This album includes 18 tracks with lead vocal performances from Leo Sayer, The Flying Pickets, Kiki Dee, Marti Webb, Eric Stewart, Frankie Howard, and Gary Howard, as well as Project regulars Chris Rainbow, John Miles, Graham Dye, and Woolfson. Alan Parsons only wrote one track, but he made musical contributions to the album as well as producing it, like he had with the rest of the Project albums. The "Black Album" features a double-length cast disc and is currently out of print. It contains material from the rock opera. The Black album was the first album credited to Eric Woolfson as a solo artist. Freudiana gave Eric a taste of musical theatre and he chose to continue in that end of the business. Parsons on the other hand moved on to a solo music career.
01. "The Nirvana Principle" (Eric Woolfson) – 3:44
02. "Freudiana" (Eric Woolfson) – 6:20
03. "I Am a Mirror" (Eric Woolfson) – 4:06
04. "Little Hans" (Eric Woolfson) – 3:15
05. "Dora" (Eric Woolfson) – 3:51
06. "Funny You Should Say That" (Eric Woolfson) – 4:36
07. "You're On Your Own" (Eric Woolfson) – 3:54
08. "Far Away From Home" (Eric Woolfson) – 3:11
09. "Let Yourself Go" (Eric Woolfson) – 5:26
10. "Beyond the Pleasure Principle" (Alan Parsons) – 3:13
11. "The Ring" (Eric Woolfson) – 4:22
12. "Sects Therapy" (Eric Woolfson) – 3:40
13. "No One Can Love You Better Than Me" (Eric Woolfson) – 5:40
14. "Don't Let the Moment Pass
15. "Upper Me" (Eric Woolfson) – 5:16
16. "Freudiana" (Eric Woolfson) – 3:43
17. "Destiny" (Eric Woolfson) – 0:51
18. "There But For the Grace of God" (Eric Woolfson) – 5:56
Released: October 11, 1990
Genre: Symphonic Rock
Length: 75:32
Label: EMI
Producer: Alan Parsons
Personnel
Eric Woolfson – keyboards, lead vocal
Alan Parsons – producer, additional keyboards
Laurie Cottle – bass
Stuart Elliott – drums, percussion
Ian Bairnson – guitar
Richard Cottle – synthesizer, saxophone
Leo Sayer – lead vocal
Graham Dye – lead vocal
The Flying Pickets – lead vocals
Kiki Dee – lead vocal
Eric Stewart – lead vocal
Frankie Howerd – lead vocal
Marti Webb – lead vocal
Gary Howard – lead vocal
Chris Rainbow – lead vocal
John Miles – lead vocal
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