Freudiana

Freudiana /ˌfrɔɪdiˈænə/ is a rock opera by Eric Woolfson. It was to be the 11th album by the Alan Parsons Project, but during its development, Woolfson had creative differences with Alan Parsons, causing the Project's split. With the two still working together on the album, the 1990 production utilizes the Project's personnel as well as guest vocalists, making it the "unofficial" Project album. The Project's official 11th and final album would end up being The Sicilian Defence, later released in 2014 after being shelved for 36 years since its recording in 1979, as part of The Complete Albums box set.

Woolfson hit upon the idea of researching the life and works of Sigmund Freud with a view to their musical potential after he finished Gaudi. He retraced Freud's footsteps and explored his realms through his homes in London and Vienna (both now museums), as well as literary sources including Freud's classic cases, whose real identities he concealed by use of names such as Wolfman, Ratman, Dora, Little Hans, and Schreber, the Judge. In addition, Freud's writings on his discovery of the unconscious, his well-known theories such as the Oedipus Complex, the ego and the id and perhaps his best known work, The Interpretation of Dreams all served as springboards for musical ideas. About halfway through the recording process, Woolfson was approached by Brian Brolly to develop the concept still further into a musical. With Brolly's help, Woolfson turned Freudiana into a stage musical. The musical had a successful run, and it was hoped that the show would open in other cities. Further plans were put on hold when a lawsuit broke out between Brolly and Woolfson, each fighting for control of the project. In the end, Brolly won, but the album remained attributed to Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons. Freudiana gave Woolfson a taste of musical theatre and he chose to continue in that end of the business.