THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT – The Turn Of A Friendly Card [Deluxe 2CD Anniversary Edition] (2015)

Looking for the definite version of THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT classic “The Turn Of A Friendly Card” release? Well, it gets the Deluxe Anniversary treatment in this expanded, remastered 2-CD edition.

Back in the day, Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson were ‘on fire’ and rattled off some unforgettable albums, all great in their own right, but I think “The Turn Of A Friendly Card” is their finest moment.
But hold on. Didn’t the whole Alan Parsons Project back catalogue get a sympathetic remastering in 2007 – 2008? Yes, indeed it did, with the ‘bolt on’ of a handful of mildly interesting, but frankly unessential ‘work in progress’ out-takes.

So what does this Deluxe Anniversary set with its seductive plum coloured sleeve has to offer?
You have the original album in a glorious remaster, a terrific deluxe 3-panel digipak with a new 20 page booklet full of excellent photos, lyrics, a new 2015 Alan Parsons essay, and a bonus disc running out at 20 tracks (17 previously unreleased) over 70 minutes.

But there is, in fact, no ‘new material’. The first eight tracks follow the album’s running order in the form of Eric Woolfson’s ‘Songwriting Diary’ versions. These amount to no more than Eric’s ‘notes to self’, half-finished tunes and lyrics.
The ‘extra’ bonus tracks are more interesting featuring unused guitar solos, orchestrations and vocal lines. Also included, for completeness, are the single edits of ‘Games People Play’, ‘The Turn Of A Friendly Card’ and ‘Snakes Eyes’ all nice for an iPod random compilation.

So, the real deal here is “The Turn Of A Friendly Card” main album excellent remastering. Some said it’s the same previously appeared, to my ears sounds much better, fully and balanced.
If you haven’t got “The Turn Of A Friendly Card” in your collection, shame on you. It’s an essential record plenty of magic. Go out and buy this “The Turn Of A Friendly Card [Deluxe 2CD Anniversary Edition]”… the bonus material will largely please die hard fans, but what matters here is the original album sounding in all its glory.
A Must Have.

CD 1:
The Turn Of A Friendly Card remaster 2015
01 – May Be a Price to Pay
02 – Games People Play
03 – Time
04 – I Don’t Wanna Go Home
05 – The Gold Bug
06 – The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part One)
07 – Snake Eyes
08 – The Ace of Swords
09 – Nothing Left to Lose
10 – The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part Two)
Bonus Tracks:
11 – May Be A Price to Pay [Intro – Demo]
12 – Nothing Left to Lose [Basic Backing Track]
13 – Nothing Left to Lose [Chris Rainbow Overdub]
14 – Nothing Left to Lose [Early Version with Eric’s Vocal]
15 – Time [Early Studio Attempt]
16 – Games People Play [Rough Mix]
17 – The Gold Bug [Demo]

CD 2:
Eric’s Songwriting Diary:
01 – May Be a Price to Pay
02 – Games People Play
03 – Time
04 – I Don’t Wanna Go Home
05 – The Turn of a Friendly Card
06 – Snake Eyes
07 – Nothing Left to Lose
08 – TOFC / Snake Eyes / I Don’t Wanna Go Home
Extra Bonus Tracks:
09 – May Be a Price to Pay [Early Version & Unused Guitar Solo]
10 – Games People Play [Early Version, Eric Guide Vocal]
11 – Time [Orchestra & Chris Rainbow Backing Vocals]
12 – The Gold Bug [Early Reference Version]
13 – The Turn of a Friendly Card (I) [Early Backing Track]
14 – Snake Eyes [Early Version, Eric Guide Vocal]
15 – The Ace of Swords [Early Version Synch Orchestration]
16 – The Ace of Swords [Early Version with Piano on Melody]
17 – The Turn of a Friendly Card (II) [Extended Guitar]
Single Edits:
18 – Games People Play [Single Edit]
19 – The Turn of a Friendly Card [Single Edit]
20 – Snake Eyes [Single Edit]

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Turn-Friendly-Card-Anniversary-Edition/dp/B013L5TSGW
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