Alan Parsons Project releases "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" 1976

The Alan Parsons Project released its debut album Tales of Mystery and Imagination June 25, 1976. The songs and music are based upon the writings of Edgar Allan Poe.

It generated two singles (The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether, which reached #37 on the Billboard Hot 100, and The Raven, which reached #80. 

Despite its humble beginnings, the album has gained a cult following and has been listed on Classic Rock magazine's 50 Albums That Build Prog Rock.

"The Raven" released 1963

The Raven, a horror-comedy movie produced and directed by Roger Corman, was released January 25, 1963.  It was loosely based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe and starred horror icons Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff.  It also starred a young Jack Nicholson.

This production of The Raven had more comedy than horror and, in my opinion, made it much more enjoyable. 

Roger Corman's "The Pit and the Pendulum" released 1961.

Horror-meister director/producer Roger Corman released his version of the Poe classic tale Pit and the Pendulum August 12, 1961.  Corman has brought us movies such as Sharktopus vs Whalewolf, Pirhanaconda and Dinocroc. His version of Pit and the Pendulum starred the wonderfully sinister Vincent Price and John Kerr (South Pacific).

The tag line says that no one had dared to film this until now.  Did they forget about the 1913 version?

"Murders in the Rue Morgue" first detective story published 1841

What is considered to be the first detective story, "Murders in the Rue Morgue" was published by the master of horror, Edgar Allan Poe, April 20, 1841.  The detective Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, who solves a series of bizarre murders in Paris, is credited with inspiring great fictional detectives such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Dame Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot.  Because Poe wrote the story, he is recognized by the Edgar Awards given annually by the Mystery Writers of America.

Poe's story has been brought to the screen numerous times.  Here is the trailer for the 1932 version starring Bela Lugosi.

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" published in 1845

One of Edgar Allan Poe's best known poems, "The Raven" was published January 29, 1845 in the New York Evening Mirror.  It tells a story of a young man, mourning the loss of his love Lenore, receiving a visit from a raven on a lonely December night.  The raven watches the young man's descent into madness.  When published, it made Poe a house-hold name but did not bring him much monetary success.

Edgar Allan Poe born in 1809

One of the most famous horror/mystery writers, Edgar Allan Poe, was born January 19, 1809.  Known for such classics as "The Raven", "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Pit and the Pendulum", he struggled with money issues and alcohol for much of his life.  Although he has received praise, he has also been criticized for some of his works: "too political" and "falls into vulgarity". 

However his works have made him known as the Father of the modern detective story.  The Edgar Award is an award presented by the Mystery Writers of America for work in the mystery genre.

Edgar Allan Poe died in Baltimore, October 7, 1849 in Baltimore.

Sounds of the Season! The Raven by The Alan Parsons Project

A little music for the Halloween holiday!

The second track from their debut album, Tales of Mystery and Imagination in 1976, the song is based on Edgar Allan Poe's poem of the same name.

This video used the remixed version from 1987.