Alan Parsons - Turn of a Friendly Card - Music & Performance - CD

2008 digitally remastered and expanded edition of the Alan Parsons classic album that was originally released in 1980. Parsons himself digitally remastered all his catalog albums in 2007 using the original master tapes. The difference in sound quality is amazing-each sounds absolutely fantastic. The packaging includes revamped booklets with fresh, elaborated liner notes based on interviews with Parsons and Eric Woolfson as well as rare photos and memorabilia. This edition of Turn of a Friendly Card features eight bonus tracks including early demos, rough mixes and instrumentals. 17 tracks total. Sony/BMG.

With two of the Alan Parsons Project's best songs, the lovely ballad "Time" and the wavy-sounding "Games People Play," The Turn of a Friendly Card remains one of this group's most enjoyable albums. Parsons' idea, the subject of the album's six tracks, centers around the age-old temptation of gambling and its stranglehold on the human psyche. On "Games People Play," vocalist Lenny Zakatek sounds compelling and focused, giving the song a seriousness that aids in realization of the album's concept. With "Time," it is Eric Woolfson who carries this luxurious-sounding ode to life's passing to a place above and beyond any of this band's other slower material. The breakdown of human willpower and our greedy tendencies are highlighted in the last track, entitled "The Turn of a Friendly Card," which is broken into five separate parts. "Snake Eyes," sung by Chris Rainbow, is the most compelling of the five pieces, and ties together the whole of the recording. As in every Parsons album, an instrumental is included, in this case an interesting number aptly titled "The Gold Bug." Like most of the band's instrumentals, its flow and rhythm simulate the overall tempo and concept of the album, acting as a welcome interlude. Although short, The Turn of a Friendly Card is to the point and doesn't let down when it comes to carrying out its idea. [Sony BMG's 2007 edition included bonus tracks.] ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide

Performer	Alan Parsons
Music genre	Pop, Pop Rock
Music subgenre	Progressive
Music release type	album
Media format	CD
Original release date	1980
Edition	Imported Ed.
Language	English
Is collectible	Y
Number of tracks	17
Has parental advisory label	N
Number of discs	1
Track listing	May Be a Price to Pay, Games People Pay, Time, I Don't Wanna Go Home, The Gold Bug, The Turn of a Friendly Card, Snake Eyes, The Ace of Swords, Nothing Left to Lose, The Turn of a Friendly Card Part 2, May Be a Price to Pay (Intro \X{2013} Demo) (Bonus), Nothing Left to Lose (Basic Backing Track)(Bonus), Nothing Left to Lose (Chris Rainbow Overdub Vocal Compilation)(Bonus), Nothing Left to Lose (Early Studio Version with Eric\X{2019}S Guide Vocal)(Bonus), Time (Early Studio Attempt)(Bonus), Games People Play (Rough Mix)(Bonus), The Gold Bug (Demo)(Bonus)
Record label	Arista
Composer	Alan Parsons
Songwriter	Alan Parsons
Track name	May Be a Price to Pay, Games People Play, Time, I Don't Wanna Go Home, The Gold Bug, The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part 1), Snake Eyes, The Ace of Swords, Nothing Left to Lose, The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part 2), plus eight bonus tracks including early demos, rough mixes and instrumentals
Music media format	CD
Is edited	N
Is enhanced	Y