The gestation period between original inspiration and final product can be lengthy and since Eric was first introduced to Gaudi's buildings in Barcelona, it took several years for that inspiration to work its way musically into the album GAUDI inspired by the life and works of the great Catalan innovator, Antonio Gaudi.

This was the last contractual Alan Parsons Project album for Arista Records and rumor has it that when the album was submitted to them, somebody said 'this is about a Spanish architect and we are in the rock and roll business. Are these guys kidding?'

At the time of this recording, Eric, Alan and the musicians would frequently dine at a favorite haunt in Hampstead, London near the Abbey Road Studios where many of the recordings took place. The wine waiter, Salvador, from the restaurant 'Keat's was himself from Barcelona and recorded an ad-lib section, some of which was incorporated in the introduction to 'La Sagrada Familia' on the album.

Eric had noted that many architects would build accommodation for themselves in the top most parts of their constructions. In the case of Mr. Eiffel in Paris, at the top of his tower was an apartment to which he used to invite young ladies, after all who could resist an invitation to see such a view. Gaudi on the other hand, was more religiously inspired, but either way, the concept of the song 'Closer to Heaven' was born in Eric's mind.

When Eric was writing the album, he paid a visit to Cintra, a fortress near Lisbon (on the same Peninsula as Barcelona) where a princess had been imprisoned. Inspired by the tale, he recalls walking round the inside of the building and writing the entire music and lyric of the song 'Inside Looking Out'.