Sony Music has announced the release of The Alan Parsons Project – The Turn Of A Friendly Card, 2CD Deluxe 35th Anniversary Edition on November 6. Originally released in November 1980, The Turn Of A Friendly Card, the fifth album from The Alan Parsons Project, spawned several singles, which included “Games People Play”, “Time”, “Snake Eyes” and album namesake, “The Turn Of A Friendly Card”. The 35th anniversary milestone for this classic and essential concept album is being celebrated with a deluxe 2CD package featuring compelling and extensive unreleased and rare material. With never-before-heard content from the late Eric Woolfson’s personal archive, additional studio and alternate versions, with all re-mastering overseen by Alan Parsons. Totaling a fantastic 27 extra tracks across the release, which were not featured on the original album. 17 tracks of which are previously unreleased, and includes home recordings, rare single edits and alternate studio recordings.

With the recent discovery of home recordings in Woolfson’s personal archive, fans are offered unique insight into Eric’s creative process, from the very first ideas he explored for the songs that would become the final versions on this classic album. These have been carefully restored and included in this package.

Presented with an extensive booklet detailing memories of the making of the album by Alan Parsons, APP musicians, Hazel and Sally Woolfson, along with rare photos (many previously unpublished), and lyrics.

The back story to this concept album is a fascinating one, emanating from Eric Woolfson’s relocation, for a time, to Monte Carlo, along with Alan Parsons. Famous for its casino and high-roller culture, the influence of the surroundings was not lost and Eric came to ponder the analogy of the casino becoming a cathedral of sorts for those who embraced the chance of the gambler. Leading eventually to this theme carrying through the entirety of the album’s content.

“In 1978 Eric moved us to Monaco assisted by a wonderful lady called Evelyn Cattalano who subsequently became Her Excellency the Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco in the United Kingdom. One evening in the casino in Monte Carlo, Eric was talking with Evelyne’s father Pierre Cattalano, a director of the Monte Carlo Casino. Pierre explained to Eric about 'The Eye in the Sky’ - the window in the ceiling of the casino where the gaming tables are watched constantly. As he was describing some of the various scams that players had used to cheat the tables, Pierre noticed Eric's shock at the extent of the devious tactics used and responded by saying, ‘My dear Eric, you must remember, a casino is not a cathedral.’ Eric never forgot these words and often wondered if perhaps a casino was a kind of cathedral. This concept permeated into his lyrics for 'The Turn of a Friendly Card’ and also influenced the final sleeve design for that album featuring, as it does, a stained glass window of the King of Diamonds.” – Hazel Woolfson

The Alan Parsons Project came to be after a chance meeting between Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons in 1974 at renowned Abbey Road Studios in London. The series of monumental concept albums that were to follow as a result of this partnership defined the era of progressive art rock and pushed the boundaries of the genre during their tenure of activity from 1976-1987. They have sold over 50 million albums and continue to inspire generations with their music, which is regularly sampled by new artists, featured in film soundtracks, adverts, video games and TV shows.

The Turn Of A Friendly Card 35th Anniversary 2CD Legacy Edition will include CD, HD and Standard Digital formats, with a Limited Edition vinyl 7” of the single edits to come in the anniversary month of November.

Tracklisting:

CD1

“May Be A Price To Pay”

“Games People Play”

“Time”

“I Don’t Wanna Go Home”

“The Gold Bug – Instrumental”

“The Turn Of A Friendly Card (Part One)”

“Snake Eyes”

“The Ace Of Swords”

“Nothing Left To Lose”

“The Turn Of A Friendly Card (Part 2)”

Bonus tracks

“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)

“The Gold Bug” (demo)

CD2 (Eric’s Songwriting Diaries)

“May Be A Price To Pay”

“Games People Play”

“Time”

“I Don’t Wanna Go Home”

“The Turn Of A Friendly Card”

“Snake Eyes”

“Nothing Left To Lose”

“TOCF / Snake Eyes / I Don’t Wanna Go Home”

Extra bonus tracks

“May Be A Price To Pay” (Early version – Eric guide vocal and unused guitar solo)

“Games People Play” (Early version – Eric guide vocal)

“Time” (Orchestra and Chris Rainbow backing vocals)

“The Gold Bug” (Early reference version)

“The Turn Of A Friendly Card Part 1” (Early backing track)

“Snake Eyes” (Early version – Eric guide vocal)

“The Ace Of Swords” (Early version with synth “orchestration”)

“The Ace Of Swords” (Early version with piano on melody)

“The Turn Of A Friendly Card Part Two” (Eric guide vocal and extended guitar solo)

“Games People Play” (single edit)

“The Turn Of A Friendly Card” (single edit)

“Snake Eyes” (single edit)