The Alan Parsons Project debut studio album was originally released in June 1976. The lyrical and musical themes of the album are retellings of horror stories and poetry by Edgar Allan Poe. Musicians featured on the album include vocalists Arthur Brown of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown on "The Tell Tale Heart", John Miles on "The Cask of Amontillado" and "(The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether", and Terry Sylvester of The Hollies on "To One in Paradise". The complete line-up of bands Ambrosia and Pilot play on the record, along with keyboardist Francis Monkman of Curved Air and Sky. The album was a worldwide hit selling almost a million copies and achieving platinum status in a number of countries including Germany and Canada.[info sheet from distr.]