The Alan Parsons Project: The Turn Of A Friendly Card (2LP, 45RPM, Half-speed Mastering)
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The Alan Parsons Project [click here to see more vinyl featuring The Alan Parsons Project]
Alan Parsons – Project on on "Games People Play", whistling and finger snaps on "The Gold Bug", Clavinet on "The Gold Bug" and "The Ace of Swords", harpsichord on "The Ace of Swords", additional vocals on "Time"
Eric Woolfson – piano, harpsichord, lead vocals
Stuart Elliott – drums, percussion
David Paton – bass guitar
Ian Bairnson – electric, acoustic and classical guitars; pedal steel guitar on "Time"
Chris Rainbow – lead and backing vocals
Elmer Gantry (Real name: David Henry Trais Terry) – lead vocal
Lenny Zakatek – lead and backing vocals
The Philharmonia Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Andrew Powell
Written by Parsons and Woolfson
2 LPs, Gatefold jacket with OBI
Limited Numbered Edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 45 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Record Press : Optimal Media
Label : Cooking Vinyl
Original Label : Arista
Recorded 1979-1980 in Acousti Studio, Paris, France
Engineered by Alan Parsons
Produced by Alan Parsons
Half-speed remastering by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios
Originally released in 1980
Reissued in 2026
Tracks:
Side A :
- May Be a Price to Pay
- Games People Play
Side B :
- Time
- I Don't Wanna Go Home
Side C :
- The Gold Bug
- The Turn of a Friendly Card (part one)
- Snake Eyes
Side D :
- The Ace of Sword
- Nothing Left to Lose
- The Turn of a Friendly Card (part two)
Reviews :
« 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. » Review by Mike DeGagne
"Alan Parsons’ attention to engineering detail and multi-level instrumentals is captured by the audiophile virgin vinyl. The luxurious tones of the synthesizers are contrasted with the jagged electric guitars. The mix levels are balanced delicately. Whether its the power of the string sections or delicacy of the lithe vocalists, the quality is superior. The Turn Of A Friendly Card is a discerning combination of intriguing pop music and eminent studio technology." - Audiophile Audition, September 2011
Half-speed mastering. In half-speed mastering, the whole process is slowed down to half of the original speed. A typical 33 1/3 rpm record is cut at 16 2/3 rpm. The source material is also slowed down (reducing the pitch in the process) meaning the final record will still sound normal when played back. Slowing the whole process down allows more time, which means the end result sounds better and is more efficient — allowing engineering to minimize the effects of inherent limitations within the vinyl format. The result is a more accurate and more open high-frequency response in the half speed vinyl when compared with a normal speed recording.
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4.5/5 , Discogs: 4.75 / 5