Alan Parsons Project - "Prime Time"

(Debuted May 19, 1984, Peaked #34, 11 Weeks on the Chart)

Today, I'm going to feature a song that is often overlooked in favor of bigger hits by the same band. While The Alan Parsons Project was often an acquired taste for listeners, there was a period when they were quite accessible to a wide pop audience. For many, songs like "Time," "Eye in the Sky" and "Don't Answer Me" represented their nadir, but there were a couple of other lesser hits that should have been just as big.

With "Prime Time," the group composed of Parsons and singer Eric Woolfson and whoever they happened to have playing in the studio enjoyed what eventually proved to be their last Top 40 hit. The song is every bit as sharp as "Don't Answer Me" (but without the retro feel of Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound"), but may have sounded too close to "Eye in the Sky" to sound like its own composition. That said, "Prime Time" exemplifies the studio perfection and craftsmanship Parsons tried to get into his songs. It really is a better single than its final chart position would indicate, and it's a shame that it has largely been forgotten by many.