Alan Parsons - 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
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: Alan ParsonsEdition: Music CD
Format: Import, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2008-03-18
Music Label: Arista Europe
Soundtracks:
- May Be a Price to Pay
- Games People Play
- Time
- I Don't Wanna Go Home
- Gold Bug
- Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 1
- Snake Eyes
- Ace of Swords
- Nothing Left to Lose
- Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 2
- May Be a Price to Pay [Intro - Demo]
- Nothing Left to Lose [Basic Backing Track]
- Nothing Left to Lose [Chris Rainbow Vocal Overdub Compilation]
- Nothing Left to Lose [Early Studio Version with Eric's Guide Vocal]
- Time [Early Studio Attempt]
- Games People Play [Rough Mix][*]
- 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
Counting Crows - August and Everything AfterRelease date: 1993-09-14; Music CD
Best price: $6.78
Price in other shops:
Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever AmenRelease date: 2005-03-22; Music CD
Best price: $6.71
Price in other shops:
Eva Cassidy - SongbirdRelease date: 1998-05-19; Music CD
Best price: $9.81
Price in other shops:
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson KingRelease date: 2004-11-22; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Alan Parsons - Turn of a Friendly CardRelease date: 2008-03-18; Music CD
Best price: $9.96
Price in other shops:
The Guggenheim Grotto - ...Waltzing AloneRelease date: 2006-09-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on BroadwayRelease date: 1994-09-20; Music CD
Best price: $14.21
Price in other shops:
Nick Drake - Pink MoonRelease date: 2003-05-06; Music CD
Best price: $5.60
Price in other shops:
James Taylor - Sweet Baby JamesRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.87
Price in other shops:
Cat Stevens - Tea for the TillermanRelease date: 2000-05-23; Music CD
Best price: $8.81
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
![Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary [3 CD] Image](/images/Blade-Runner-Trilogy-25th-Anniversary-3-CD-B000Z0OX9O-X.jpg)
Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary [3 CD]Release date: 2007-12-18; Music CD
Best price: $22.48
Price in other shops:
Rush - Snakes & Arrows Live 2 CD SetRelease date: 2008-04-15; Music CD
Best price: $14.59
Price in other shops:
Alan Parsons Project - EveRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $8.40
Price in other shops:
Asia - PhoenixRelease date: 2008-04-15; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Alan Parsons Project - I RobotRelease date: 2007-03-20; Music CD
Best price: $7.56
Price in other shops:
Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the SkyRelease date: 2007-03-20; Music CD
Best price: $7.30
Price in other shops:
Alan Parsons - Tales of Mystery and ImaginationRelease date: 2007-09-11; Music CD
Best price: $19.75
Price in other shops:
Alan Parsons Project - Vulture CultureRelease date: 2007-03-12; Music CD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops:
Alan Parsons - StereotomyRelease date: 2008-03-18; Music CD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops:
Alan Parsons - PyramidRelease date: 2008-03-18; Music CD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops: