Freudiana is the brain child of songwriter and musician Eric Woolfson who hit upon the idea of researching the life and works of Sigmund Freud with a view to their musical potential. Fully aware that doing justice to the genius of such magnitude would involve the highest degree of commitment and application, Woolfson set out to retrace Freud's footsteps and explore his realms in what turned out to be also a voyage of self-discovery. What resulted was not only the story of Freud and his work but perhaps more an image of the composer seen through a Freudian mirror.
Literary sources included Freud's classic cases whose real identities he concealed by using names such as Dora and Little Hans (songs on the album). In addition, Freud's writings on his discovery of the 'unconscious', his well known theories and his masterpiece, 'The Interpretation of Dreams', all served as springboard for musical ideas. Eric Woolfson has worked, together with his 'project' partner Alan parsons and conductor Andrew Powell, for three years on recording Freudiana. Eric Woolfson has written 17 songs and Alan Parsons the instrumental 'Beyond The Pleasure Principle'. (Note: nowadays Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson follow separate ways).
Lead vocalists on the album are: Eric Woolfson (on the fantastic title song Freudiana, Dora and Let Yourself Go), Leo Sayer, Graham Dye, The Flying Pickets (on 'Far Away From Home': amazing), Marti Webb (on the beautiful 'Don't Let The Moment Pass'), Eric Stewart (on 'Upper Me'), John Miles (on 'There But For The Grace Of God'), the golden voice of Chris Rainbow (on the mini song 'Destiny') and several others.
If you listen to Freudiana, you understand that this album is about psychoanalysis. Consequently not all songs are easy accessible. But that is what makes Freudiana brilliant. Woolfson has developed the concept of Freudiana further into a musical (in the German language), that was staged in the early 1990's in Vienna ('Theater an der Wien'). There was also an album and cd of this musical cast recording (by EMI), but this is unfortunately not available anymore. Hopefully the Vienna Musical Cast Recording of Freudiana will be reissued again!
In short, Freudiana is a beautiful and interesting masterpiece of in particular Eric Woolfson. Listen and be amazed!