The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn Of A Friendly Card DSD ANDYT1000 KAT

Total download size: 1.60GB Total play length: 40:43

Cover art included, liner notes not included

First Time In DSD! Never Available As An SACD!

An All-Time Audiophile Favorite

Inspired by the theatricality of casino gambling as exemplified in Las Vegas and Monte Carlo. The concept of ‘risk’ at the gambling tables has obvious parallels to the risks we take in life.

“I’ve often, in common with many other writers, been inspired at the oddest of moments and one of the things that did start the creative juices flowing was actually sitting in casinos in Monte Carlo, with the din going on of people with machines, people talking, people moving about, and all the hustle and bustle that goes on there. It stimulated the writing of the track in particular ‘Turn of a Friendly Card’ and of course the track ‘Snake Eyes.’” — Eric Woolfson

As Eric was living in Monaco at the time this album was being prepared, and as life in Monaco tended to revolve around the casino, it is no surprise Eric found inspiration there for his work. In the mid 60s, Eric had written a song called ‘Turn of a Friendly Card’ which was totally different to what eventually appeared on this album. Although he wasn’t satisfied with the original song, he really liked the title and re-worked it for this album which was of course related to the theme of gambling.

The whole album is meant to be a warning about the dangers of casino gambling. The song ‘Snake Eyes’ has the lead singer singing the lines “Snake Eyes, Seven Eleven” and on the craps table if one were to make the bets known as ‘snake eyes’ as well as ‘seven eleven’, one would always lose, much like betting on red and black at the same time at the roulette table. There was a well known psychology book entitled ‘Games People Play’ which Eric’s wife Hazel was reading at the time and Eric found this title translated nicely to the gambling medium. “The Gold Bug” title of one of the instrumental tracks is the title of an Edgar Allan Poe short story. “The Ace of Swords” title came from a pack of Tarot cards.


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