“Don’t Answer Me” is a song by The Alan Parsons Project, released in February 1984 as the lead single from their seventh studio album, “Ammonia Avenue.” The song stands out for its distinctive 1950s-inspired pop sound, lush production, and its animated music video, which helped it gain significant popularity.
The Alan Parsons Project was known for its fusion of progressive rock, pop, and orchestral music, led by producer and musician Alan Parsons and songwriter Eric Woolfson. “Don’t Answer Me” was written by Eric Woolfson, who also provided the lead vocals for the track. The song represents a stylistic shift for the band, embracing a retro pop sound reminiscent of the Phil Spector-produced Wall of Sound era.
“Don’t Answer Me” achieved commercial success. It was successful on Adult Contemporary charts, reaching number one in Canada, and number 4 in the United States. It also performed well in European countries, reaching the top ten in Germany, France, and other countries. The song’s success helped to boost the sales of the “Ammonia Avenue” album, which became one of the band’s most successful releases.
The music video for “Don’t Answer Me” is notable for its unique animation style, directed by Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger. The video is presented as a comic book come to life, with hand-drawn animations that tell the story of a private detective and his romantic entanglements. The video’s distinctive visual style and narrative complement the song’s themes and contributed to its popularity on MTV and other music video channels.