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. 

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.