Turn of a Friendly Card

Alan Parsons - Turn of a Friendly Card

Turn of a Friendly Card
Our Price: $17.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $9.98 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Listen soundtracks from this album



(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

Music CD Cover

Artist: Alan Parsons
Edition: Music CD
Format: Import, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2008-03-18
Music Label: Arista Europe
Soundtracks:
  1. May Be a Price to Pay
  2. Games People Play
  3. Time
  4. I Don't Wanna Go Home
  5. Gold Bug
  6. Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 1
  7. Snake Eyes
  8. Ace of Swords
  9. Nothing Left to Lose
  10. Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 2
  11. May Be a Price to Pay [Intro - Demo]
  12. Nothing Left to Lose [Basic Backing Track]
  13. Nothing Left to Lose [Chris Rainbow Vocal Overdub Compilation]
  14. Nothing Left to Lose [Early Studio Version with Eric's Guide Vocal]
  15. Time [Early Studio Attempt]
  16. Games People Play [Rough Mix][*]
  17. Gold Bug [*][Demo Version]

Free Music Notes for Turn of a Friendly Card

Free Music Review: The Turn of a Friendly Card
Hit: 4 Stars

The Turn of a Friendly Card was Parsons fifth studio album, it peaked at #13 on the charts. The single "Snake Eyes" peaked at #47 & "Games People Play" was a Top 20 hit. The third single was "Time', it peaked at #15. The Turn of a Friendly Card has gambling as its central theme & it does this rather well.

The album opens with "May Be a Price to Pay", unlike most Parsons albums up to this point, it's not an instrumental. It's probably the weakest song a Parsons had ever opened with. The song begins with a horn fanfare then gets into the proper part of it but it never rises above the ordinary. Next is "Games People Play", it borders on pop but nothing unique though it does have a catchy chorus. "Time" slows down the tempo, it's one of their prettier songs. "I Don't Wanna Go Home" has a syncopated feel but once again isn't anything special. Bairnson does give a pretty decent lead solo. "The Gold Bug" is an instrumental & is the easily the best song on the album. On previous albums Parsons would have opened the album with this song. Its beginning reminds me of music from a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western. The sax solo is a highlight of the song. Then we get what was on the original release a five part song that was called "The Turn of a Friendly Card", each section identified by a part, i.e., pt. 1, pt. 2, etc. The first part was entitled "The Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 1" , is a slow tempo song with a beautiful melody. It becomes a recurring theme through the remaining songs. Then comes the single "Snake Eyes" which has a prominent rhythm guitar. It solidifies the theme of the album. Then comes "The Ace of Swords" (a tarot reference), a harpsichord is one of the main instruments opening the song. It's an instrumental that has a jazz-like section. "Nothing Left to Lose" is another slow tempo song that features a memorable melody. It ends with a reggae sample then goes int a heavier rendition of previous theme. Ian Bairnson gives us one of his best solo efforts. "Nothing Left to Lose" repeats the melody of "The Turn of a Friendly Card". This ends the original album. Overall there isn't a bad song on this album & the five part song "The Turn of a Friendly Card" is the definite highlight of the album. "The Gold Bug" stands right above it.

The remastering is excellent & features seven(!) bonus tracks. We get the demo version of "May Be a Price to Pay" Then there's three versions of "Nothing Left to Lose", the first one is only the instrument tracks, the second one is has a Chris Rainbow voval but incomplete, then the third version has Eric Woolfson doing a guide vocal (a common practice in those days). We get an early attempt at "Time", this song came a long way from this version. There's a rough mix of "Games People Play", which means it was a mix they knew they weren't going to use. Finally there's the demo version of "The Gold Bug" which is interesting because we see some of the genesis of the song. It's not near as good as the finished product, which is what makes it a demo, right?

The Turn of a Friendly Card is another Parsons album I'm never quite sure about, my feelings go back & forth on it at times. It's a solid effort just not a spectacular one. I guess you could say I've been spoiled by some of their better efforts.

Pop Music CDs

Music Genres
Top music charts in My Favorite Albums
August and Everything After ImageCounting Crows - August and Everything After
Release date: 1993-09-14; Music CD
Best price: $6.78
Price in other shops: $13.98
Whatever and Ever Amen ImageBen Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen
Release date: 2005-03-22; Music CD
Best price: $6.71
Price in other shops: $11.98
Songbird ImageEva Cassidy - Songbird
Release date: 1998-05-19; Music CD
Best price: $9.81
Price in other shops: $16.98
In the Court of the Crimson King ImageKing Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
Release date: 2004-11-22; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $15.98
Turn of a Friendly Card ImageAlan Parsons - Turn of a Friendly Card
Release date: 2008-03-18; Music CD
Best price: $9.96
Price in other shops: $17.99
...Waltzing Alone ImageThe Guggenheim Grotto - ...Waltzing Alone
Release date: 2006-09-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops: $14.98
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway ImageGenesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Release date: 1994-09-20; Music CD
Best price: $14.21
Price in other shops: $24.98
Pink Moon ImageNick Drake - Pink Moon
Release date: 2003-05-06; Music CD
Best price: $5.60
Price in other shops: $18.98
Sweet Baby James ImageJames Taylor - Sweet Baby James
Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.87
Price in other shops: $11.98
Tea for the Tillerman ImageCat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman
Release date: 2000-05-23; Music CD
Best price: $8.81
Price in other shops: $18.98
Top Rated Albums
Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary [3 CD] ImageBlade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary [3 CD]
Release date: 2007-12-18; Music CD
Best price: $22.48
Price in other shops: $29.98
Snakes & Arrows Live 2 CD Set ImageRush - Snakes & Arrows Live 2 CD Set
Release date: 2008-04-15; Music CD
Best price: $14.59
Price in other shops: $21.98
Eve ImageAlan Parsons Project - Eve
Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $8.40
Price in other shops: $9.98
Phoenix ImageAsia - Phoenix
Release date: 2008-04-15; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $18.98
I Robot ImageAlan Parsons Project - I Robot
Release date: 2007-03-20; Music CD
Best price: $7.56
Price in other shops: $11.98
Eye in the Sky ImageAlan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky
Release date: 2007-03-20; Music CD
Best price: $7.30
Price in other shops: $11.98
Tales of Mystery and Imagination ImageAlan Parsons - Tales of Mystery and Imagination
Release date: 2007-09-11; Music CD
Best price: $19.75
Price in other shops: $29.98
Vulture Culture ImageAlan Parsons Project - Vulture Culture
Release date: 2007-03-12; Music CD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops: $11.98
Stereotomy ImageAlan Parsons - Stereotomy
Release date: 2008-03-18; Music CD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops: $11.98
Pyramid ImageAlan Parsons - Pyramid
Release date: 2008-03-18; Music CD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops: $11.98
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles