The 1980 Listening Post - The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card

 The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card

#461

November 1980

The Alan Parsons Project

The Turn of a Friendly Card

Genre: 80s Radio Friendly Prog

3.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Games People Play

Time

Maybe it’s because “Games People Play” sounds like a prog version of a Studio 54 type staple that I like this more than just about everything that Parsons put out to this point. The song pivots into the cut-from-the-Floyd-fabric “Time” but, you know what? As a suite, they work extremely well inasmuch as the latter sounds like a gauzy filtered backing soundtrack to a Randal Kleiser schmaltz-fest which is also borne out of the 70s sensibilities. 

What I like about this album aside from the production and a lot of the tunes is the construction. Side One ends with a track that doesn’t leave wanting more nor lowers your enjoyment. It’s a fine closer after the big hits. Side Two is where we get the obligatory instrumental track and it’s a harbinger of what Roger Taylor would do on Fun in Space a year later. In fact, I’d say ol’ Roger might owe a bit to Mr. Parsons. 

From there we get the “Turn of a Friendly Card” saga. Which belongs on the second side so you can remember to never have to return to it. It goes absolutely nowhere. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-turn-of-a-friendly-card-bonus-track-version/278775186