The Turn of a Friendly Card

by Alan Parsons, The Alan Parsons Project

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	01/27/2009
Label:	Arista
UPC:	0828768152621
Rank:	24111

Tracks

1. May Be a Price to Pay
2. Games People Play
3. Time
4. I Don't Wanna Go Home
5. The Gold Bug
6. The Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 1
7. Snake Eyes
8. The Ace of Swords
9. Nothing Left to Lose
10. The Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 2
11. May Be a Price to Pay
12. Nothing Left to Lose
13. Nothing Left to Lose
14. Nothing Left to Lose
15. Time
16. Games People Play
17. The Gold Bug

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alan Parsons   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals,Keyboards
The Alan Parsons Project   Primary Artist
Eric Woolfson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Keyboards
Elmer Gantry   Vocals
Chris Rainbow   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Lenny Zakatek   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Stuart Elliott   Drums,Percussion
Andrew Powell   Conductor
Ian Bairnson   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Muenchener Kammerorchester   Orchestra
David Paton   Bass,Guitar,Vocals

Technical Credits

Kevin Godley   Design
Eric Woolfson   Composer,Executive Producer
Lol Creme   Design
Andrew Powell   Arranger
Chris Blair   Mastering
The Alan Parsons Project   Performer
Sandor Farcas   Leader
Muenchener Kammerorchester   Group
Parsons   Composer
Alan Parsons   Composer,Engineer,Producer