Alan Parsons Project Gaudi released

Gaudi Alan Parsons Project

Released: February 7, 1987 Peak: 57 US, 66 UK, 53 CN, 61 AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: progressive rock lite

Tracks: Song Title [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. La Sagrada Familia [8:44] v: John Miles Too Late [4:34] v: Lenny Zakatek Closer to Heaven [5:54] v: Eric Woolfson Standing on Higher Ground [5:02] v: Geoff Barradale (1/24/87, 3 AR) Money Talks [4:23] v: John Miles Inside Looking Out [6:19] v: Eric Woolfson Paseo De Gracia (instrumental) [3:43] All tracks written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson. The ‘v’ after the song listing indicates who does lead vocals. Total Running Time: 38:39 The Players: Alan Parsons (production, engineering, assorted instruments) Eric Woolfson (vocals, keyboards, piano) Ian Bairson (guitar) Stuart Elliott (drums, percussion) Laurie Cottle (bass) John Miles, Chris Rainbow, Lenny Zakatek, Geoff Barradale (vocals) Andrew Powell (orchestral arrangements)

Rating: 3.273 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: This was the last Alan Parsons Project studio album, although Parsons would continue to work with Eric Woolfson and release albums under his own name. “True to form, they took on one last big theme;” DV this time the album draws inspiration from the unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona which was designed by Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi, who died in 1926. Unfortunately, the album “lack[s] the assertiveness or the instrumental endowments that usually occur within the Alan Parsons Project's work.” AMG “The songs…have difficulty supporting any imagery or symbolism concerning the album’s main character, which was done masterfully more than ten years earlier with Tales of Mystery and Imagination, a musical voyage through Edgar Allen Poe’s work. Here, the songs stand up well individually, but Parsons is a conceptual virtuoso who usually ties together his main idea through the use of each separate song. Although Gaudi isn't without some minor merit, its lasting impression doesn’t leave much regard for its central character.” AMG One plus: “unlike the previous two Project discs (Stereotomy and Vulture Culture), Gaudi has an orchestra again, arranged by Andrew Powell, and it grabs the center stage…early and refuses to let go. This results in a disc that really sounds like Parsons again: rich, sweeping, cinematic, and really, really well produced.” DV “The usual lineup of Miles, Woolfson, Zakatek, and Rainbow share the singing duties, with Geoff Barradale taking over on Standing on Higher Ground.” AMG “With a leaner, edgier sound” AMG this “straight-ahead power rock piece [is] driving and upbeat” DV and the best representation of “the easiness and touch that should have enveloped this album.” AMG “La Sagrada Familia is a magnum opus with powerful vocals by John Miles.” DV The song ranks as one of the Project’s best non-singles ever crafted. “Too Late is an oddly bittersweet song about unfinished love.” DV Money Talks “is the closest to hard rock the Project ever got, and includes at least one amusing dig at the music industry (‘Billboard, Cashbox / Money talks...’).” DV Like “In the Real World” on 1986’s Stereotomy, this song has the feel of a shoulda-been-album-rock hit. “The two Requisite Eric Woolfson-Voiced Attempts At American Soft Rock Chart Success (Closer to Heaven and Inside Looking Out) fall somewhat flat.” DV “The album does reveal some passion with the last track, Paseo de Gracia, a finely orchestrated instrumental done exquisitely in full Parsons style” AMG and featuring “a lovely piece of flamenco guitar.” DV “Gaudi would be the last heard from Alan Parsons…until 1993. It was an interesting way to go out, and leaves one wondering, once again, what would have happened if Arista Records had stopped meddling. Like Gaudi’s cathedral, it’s a work of art that has to be experienced to be enjoyed.” DV Notes: The 2008 remaster included alternate versions of “Too Late,” “Standing on Higher Ground,” “Money Talks,” “Closer to Heaven,” “Paseo de Gracia,” and “La Sagrada Familia.”

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Alan Parsons AMG All Music Guide review by Mike DeGagne DV DailyVault.com review by Duke Egbert WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 9/23/2021.

Alan Parsons Project Vulture Culture released

Vulture Culture Alan Parsons Project

Released: February 23, 1985 Peak: 46 US, 40 UK, 25 CN, 32 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.3 world Genre: progressive rock lite

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. Let’s Talk About Me [4:22] Separate Lives [4:42] Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) [4:02] Sooner Or Later [ 4:26] Vulture Culture [5:21] Hawkeye [3:48] Somebody Out There [4:56] The Same Old Sun [5:24] Also from This Era: No Answers Only Questions [2:12] Total Running Time: 37:01 The Players: Alan Parsons (production, engineering, assorted instruments) Eric Woolfson (vocals, keyboards, piano) Ian Bairson (guitar) Colin Blunstone, Chris Rainbow, Lenny Zakatek (vocals) Stuart Elliott (drums, percussion) David Paton (bass) Richard Cottle (keyboards, synthesizer, saxophone)

Rating: 3.241 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: Vulture Culture confronts the notion that we live “in a parasitic society, where it's every man for himself. Those who can't fend for themselves simply won't survive in a world where the kindness of the human spirit is rapidly deteriorating.” AM This isn’t the most original theme ever attempted, and is rendered even more unoriginal by the fact that every Alan Parsons Project album seems to address the nature of man in the face of conflict, be it technology (I Robot), gambling (Turn of a Friendly Card, or the watchful eye of the government (Eye in the Sky). With the exception of the Edgar Allan Poe-themed debut album Tales of Mystery and Imagination, every Project album fudged a little on the overall concept, sometimes barely suggesting the theme. “On this album, though, the songs are weaker and are less effective in bringing out the album's complex idea…Vulture Culture lacks in cohesiveness and strength both lyrically and, to a lesser extent, musically.” AM “Vulture Culture is, fundamentally, a flawed work with only a few good bits.” DV “Production and engineering is, as always, crisp, clear, and flawless. Sad fact is, though, that that flawless production reveals the flaws in the compositions themselves.” DV The “chart successes of Eye in the Sky and Ammonia Avenue resulted in a more pop-oriented sound -- a sound that just doesn't work. Andrew Powell’s orchestral sound is completely absent on Vulture Culture, and the traditional Project sound goes right out the window with it.” DV When all is said and done, “without the usual balance of absorbing lyrics and well-maintained music, Vulture Culture remains one of this band’s less prolific albums.” AM “Vulture Culture can only be recommended to the completist.” DV Reissue A 2007 reissue added an alternate mix of “Separate Lives,” a demo of “Hawkeye,” two versions of “No Answers Only Questions,” and “The Naked Vulture.” The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Let’s Talk About Me Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson (see lyrics here) Vocals: David Paton Released: single (1/11/1985), Vulture Culture (1985) B-Side: “Hawkeye” Peak: 56 BB, 10 AR, 89 CN, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.84 video, 3.78 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: The Alan Parsons Project’s 1984 Ammonia Avenue album was a slight drop-off from the platinum, top-10 success of 1982’s Eye in the Sky (which produced the title cut, the group’s only top-10 hit). It wasn’t surprising that Vulture Culture would slip a bit more, but it was still a surprise to see it be the group’s first album since their 1976 debut to fall short of attaining at least gold status. It also was surprising that the lead single, “Let’s Talk About Me,” didn’t even each the top 40. Then again, the Project has a long history of song’s that feel tailor-made for pop radio that fall short. Among the song’s highlights are the layered snippets of dialogue and “the pounding percussion of Stuart Elliot.” DV As with every album by the project, there is a loose theme tying the songs together. For Vulture Cuture, the “fallacy of humankind is front and center.” AM The message is that “everyone lives in a parasitic society, where it’s every man for himself.” AM Just the title of “Let’s Talk About Me” suggests egocentrism. David Paton takes the lead on vocals here. He was a mainstay with the Project since their beginning, serving as bassist and a backing vocalist. He also assumed lead vocal duties on previous Project songs, most notably the Billboard Hot 100 hit “What Goes Up…” from 1978’s Pyramid album. He gained his greatest success with the group Pilot in the 1970s, especially the top-5 hit “Magic.”

Separate Lives Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 32 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.29 streaming About the Song: “’Separate Lives’ and ‘Sooner Or Later’ end up sounding like the unholy mating of Parsons’ immaculate synths with bubblegum pop.” DV

Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Chris Rainbow Released: single (4/27/1985), Vulture Culture (1985) B-Side: “Somebody Out There” Peak: 71 BB, 11 AC, 30 AR, 9 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 6.54 streaming About the Song: Still, there are a few good moments. “The most appealing song, Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) with vocalist Chris Rainbow at the helm, combines simplicity with a timeless chorus.” AM It is “a brilliant, textured, and complex ballad in the middle of a field of mostly banal lyrics and uninspired arrangements.” DV Rainbow had appeared on Project albums since 1979’s Eve, offering lead vocals on such memorable songs as “Snake Eyes,” “The Turn of a Friendly Card,” and “Since the Last Goodbye.”

Sooner or Later Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 25 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.44 streaming About the Song: “’Separate Lives’ and ‘Sooner Or Later’ end up sounding like the unholy mating of Parsons’ immaculate synths with bubblegum pop.” DV

Vulture Culture Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Lenny Zakatek Released: Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 8 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.79 streaming About the Song: The title cut is right in the middle of the pack. It is neither a complete throwaway, nor is it a standout like the two aforementioned songs. What hurts the song most is the fact that it is the title cut, thus weighing down the song with expectations that it will bring a clarity to the overall album theme. Instead, it would be more appropriate as one of those songs that after an album is over, you say, “I kinda liked that one song.” The song is the most rock-oriented on the album, thanks to Lenny Zakatek on vocals. He sang lead on three of the Project’s best-known songs: “I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You,” “Damned if I Do,” and “Games People Play.”

Hawkeye Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: B-side of “Let’s Talk About Me” (1/11/1985), Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.66 streaming About the Song: “The instrumental Hawkeye adds life and contrast to the album at just the right time.” AM It is still “somewhat average [but] has a great saxophone part.” DV

Somebody Out There Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Colin Blunstone Released: B-side of “Days Are Numbers (The Traveller)” (4/27/1985), Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 36 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.68 streaming About the Song: This song features Colin Blunstone (lead singer of the Zombies in the 1960s) on vocals. He was a regular on Project albums, including lead vocals on “Can’t Take It with You” and “Old and Wise.”

The Same Old Sun Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Vulture Culture (1985) Peak: 18 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.99 streaming About the Song: The Same Old Sun is a beautiful “Broadway-style ballad, similar in feel and in quality to ‘Shadow of a Lonely Man’ from Pyramid.” DV It makes for an excellent album closer and is one of the Project’s more overlooked songs.

No Answers Only Questions Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Vulture Culture (2007 reissue) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.19 streaming About the Song: This track was added to the 2007 reissue of Vulture Culture. It is credited solely to Eric Woolfson. He included the song in his 2007 musical Dancing Shadows.

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Mike DeGagne DV DailyVault.com review by Duke Egbert WK Wikipedia page for Vulture Culture WK Wikipedia page for “Let’s Talk About Me” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 9/29/2025.

Alan Parsons Project Eye in the Sky charted in the U.S.

Eye in the Sky Alan Parsons Project

Charted: June 19, 1982 Peak: 7 US, 28 UK, 3 CN, 4 AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.06 UK, 2.38 world (includes US and UK) Genre: progressive rock lite

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. Sirius [1:48] Eye in the Sky [4:33] Children of the Moon [4:49] Gemini [2:09] Silence and I [7:17] You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned [4:19] Psychobabble [4:50] Mammagamma [3:34] Step by Step [3:52] Old and Wise [4:52] Total Running Time: 42:03 The Players: Alan Parsons (production, engineering, assorted instruments) Eric Woolfson (vocals, keyboards, piano) Ian Bairson (guitar) David Paton (bass) Stuart Elliott (drums, percussion) Colin Blunstone, Chris Rainbow, Elmer Gantry, Lenny Zakatek (vocals) Mel Collins (saxophone) The Philharmonia Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Andrew Powell

Rating: 4.078 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings) Quotable: “On no other album by this group is there such a tight amalgamation of music, lyrics, and ideas, all combining to create songs that are accessible to a vast audience” – Mike DeGagne, AllMusic.com Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: ”The fusion of Parsons’ thematic intentions and exquisitely textured music comes to fruition on 1982's Eye in the Sky,” AM an album which ”returned in some ways to [Parsons’] more progressive, art-rock past,” AZ but also serves as “the transition between the seventies’ Project art rock sound and the more clinical, Fairlight-laden eighties sound.” DV “Parsons’ approach was a synthesis of studio wizardry with a symphonic, spacey interplay between keyboards, synthesizers and basic rock instrumentation.” AZ ”With a powdery feel and pristine sound, Eye in the Sky is worthy of both amiable songs and conceptual substance, something not found on all of the Alan Parsons Project’s albums.” AM “On no other album by this group is there such a tight amalgamation of music, lyrics, and ideas, all combining to create songs that are accessible to a vast audience.” AM ”The album deals with the futuristic outlook of how our lives will be constantly monitored by ‘Big Brother’ and the manner in which man's right for freedom and choice may someday be thwarted by the government, or the powers that be. Aside from Parsons' intriguing concept, the individual songs serve a dual purpose by carrying out the album's message while at the same being perfect examples of well-crafted rock.” AM ”What you have here is a seriously tasty piece of symphonic pop/rock, music for grownups.” DV ”Eye in the Sky is, quite simply, the Project’s finest hour.” DV Reissue The 2007 reissue added alternate versions of “Sirius,” “Old and Wise,” and “Silence and I.” There was also an additional song (“Any Other Day”), the instrumental medley “The Naked Eye” and “Eye Pieces.” The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Sirius Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 3 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 13.0 video, 116.15 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: ”The up-and-down flow of the instrumental Sirius is astonishing and is used wisely as the opening track.” AM It gained distinction as the soundtrack for the Chicago Bulls in their Michael Jordan championship era. “P.Diddy (Puff Daddy) also chose [it] as the backbone for the title track of his most platinum-selling CD, The Saga Continues. In 2000, ‘Sirius’ was featured in an IMAX documentary movie about Michael Jordan.” AP

Eye in the Sky Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson (see lyrics here) Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: single (7/3/1982), Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 3 BB, 3 CB, 3 GR, 3 AC, 11 AR, 11 CN, 22 AU, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.50 US, -- UK, 0.55 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 143.90 video, 357.01 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: The Alan Parsons Project built a loyal platinum base with their first five semi-conceptual albums. Their progressive-rock-lite sound was embraced by album rock stations with future radio staples such as “Damned if I Do” and “Games People Play,” songs which also found audiences at top-40 radio. However, it wasn’t until their sixth album, Eye in the Sky and its title cut, that the group found its biggest audience. The album was the group’s second top-10 album after 1977’s I, Robot. Meanwhile the title cut reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the Alan Parsons Project their only top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The term “eye in the sky” might suggest the “Big Brother is always watching you” idea from George Orwell’s dystopian classic 1984 but there are no lyrical references to the book in the song and the official website doesn’t mention any connection. Parsons has said, however, that the album did play with the idea that “there’s always a camera watching you, there’s always a helicopter in the sky overseeing you, and you can read a line of small newspaper print from space.” SF It can also be viewed as a reference to the ceiling cameras in casinos. SF “Eye in the Sky” ”is a prime example of a fabulous rock song, highlighted by the harmonic beauty of Eric Woolfson.” AM When the song gained a foothold at radio, it was often paired on album-rock-oriented formats with “Sirius,” the instrumental lead-in on the album.

Children of the Moon Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: David Paton Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 29 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 8.74 streaming About the Song: Children of the Moon and Gemini “have Parsons’s love of the esoteric.” AZ

Gemini Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Chris Rainbow Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 39 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 4.78 streaming About the Song: Children of the Moon and Gemini “have Parsons’s love of the esoteric.” AZ The latter “is an astonishing piece of vocal harmony.” DV

Silence and I Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 3 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 8.81 streaming About the Song: Next up is Silence and I, “a rich, multi-layered vocal and orchestral piece.” DV

You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Lenny Zakatek Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Charted: 6/26/1982 Peak: 22 AR, 12 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.48 streaming About the Song: You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned “ is a surprisingly straight-ahead rock number.” DV

Psychobabble Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Elmer Gantry Released: single, Eye in the Sky (1982) First Charted: 7/10/1982 Peak: 57 BB, 38 GR, 54 AR, 3 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 5.89 streaming About the Song: ”Psychobabble is a cerebral rock song that best represents the album’s concept” AM and, “though never a hit…remains a favorite of fans.” AZ

Mammagamma Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 24.29 streaming About the Song: ”Mammagamma is another instrumental that brandishes the group’s trademarked mysteriousness, wrapped in an ominous science fiction-type glow.” AM It “allowed Parsons to fully indulge his fondness for orchestration with its instrumental structure.” AZ

Step by Step Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Lenny Zakatek Released: Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 37 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.74 streaming

Old and Wise Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Wooflson (see lyrics here) Vocals: Colin Blunstone Released: single (1/15/1983), Eye in the Sky (1982) Peak: 21 AC, 74 UK, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 9.80 video, 50.22 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: The title cut from Eye in the Sky gave the Alan Parsons Project their greatest hit. The album also featured “Old and Wise.” It was released as a single, but didn’t fare nearly as well. It did reach the lower rungs of the UK chart and was a minor hit on Billboard’s adult contemporary chart. On a personal note, however, it is my favorite Alan Parsons Project song and one of my top 100 songs of all time. Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson co-wrote the song “about a man approaching death, addressing those he knew with fond remembrance.” SF The song begs to be played at funerals with its simultaneously heart-wrenching and uplifting statement “To those I leave behind / I want you all to know/ You’ve always shared my darkest hours / I’ll miss you when I go.” They recorded a version with Woolfson singing lead – as he often did on songs by the Project – without the orchestration or saxophone solo which was featured on the final album version. His vocal is featured on the 2007 album reissue of Eye in the Sky, but the 1982 released featured Colin Blunstone. Parsons knew him from his days in the Zombies when Parsons was an engineer on the group’s 1968 Odessey and Oracle album. SF Blunstone had worked with the Project before, having sung “The Eagle Will Rise Again” on the group’s 1978 Pyramid album. Woolfson and Blunstone were both at Abbey Road studios and Woolfson told him, “I’d like to play you this song.” SF Eric sat down at a piano in the same studio where the Zombies had recorded “Time of the Season” and played “Old and Wise.” Blunstone thought it was wonderful and Woolfson asked if he’d take a stab at the vocals. SF Blunstone would record other songs with the Project, but this was the only single released by them which featured Blunstone on vocals. WK

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Mike DeGagne AZ Amazon.com review by Steve Gdula DV DailyVault.com review by Duke Egbert AP AlanParsonsMusic.com SF Songfacts page for “Eye in the Sky” SF Songfacts page for “Old and Wise” WK Wikipedia page for Eye in the Sky album WK Wikipedia page for “Eye in the Sky” song WK Wikipedia page for “Old and Wise” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 9/25/2025.

Alan Parsons Project “Games People Play” charted

 

Games People Play The Alan Parsons Project

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Alan Parsons Project released The Turn of a Friendly Card

Turn of a Friendly Card Alan Parsons Project

Released: November 1, 1980 Peak: 13 US, 38 UK, 16 CN, 24 AU, 14 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, -- UK, 2.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: progressive rock

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. May Be a Price to Pay [4:52] Games People Play [4:17] Time [5:05] I Don’t Wanna Go Home [4:54] The Gold Bug [4:28] The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part One) [2:39] Snake Eyes [3:17] The Ace of Swords [2:58] Nothing Left to Lose [4:03] The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part Two) [3:12] Total Running Time: 40:25 The Players: Alan Parsons (production, engineering, assorted instruments) Eric Woolfson (vocals, keyboards, piano) Chris Rainbow, Elmer Gantry, Lenny Zakatek (vocals, backing vocals) Ian Bairson (guitar) David Paton (bass) Stuart Elliott (drums, percussion) The Philharmonia Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Andrew Powell

Rating: 4.098 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Their Commercial Peak? The Turn of a Friendly Card came at roughly the mid-point of the Alan Parsons Project’s career. It was their fifth of ten albums released between 1976 and 1987. An argument could be made that it was also their peak. They did have a couple of other albums which were bigger chart successes; 1977’s I, Robot and 1982’s Eye in the Sky hit the top 10 while Card peaked at #13, but all three achieved platinum status. However, the real kicker was that Card was the only album of the Project’s career to produce two top-20 hits. In fact, the only other album to generate even two top-40 hits was 1984’s Vulture Culture. The only bigger singles for the Project were 1984’s “Don’t Answer Me” (#15) and “Eye in the Sky” (#3). The Concept “By then well-known for their concept albums, in 1980 the Project turned its sights” JW to “the age-old temptation of gambling and its stranglehold on the human psyche.” MD “It was a reasonably original theme for a concept album, having rarely been addressed by anyone with more intellectual wattage than Kenny Rogers (insert cutting remark here)” JW “The actual theme is well above the notion of gambling. Instead, it appears to be how we look at life, especially the hand we've been dealt and what chances lie ahead of us if we're willing to take some risks.” CT Execution “The Turn of a Friendly Card is to the point and doesn’t let down when it comes to carrying out its idea.” MD It “is a strong piece of work that hangs together well and still entertains through repeated listens.” JW “The Turn of a Friendly Card remains one of this group’s most enjoyable albums.” MD “Parsons and lyricist/occasional lead vocalist Eric Woolfson co-composed the album with imagination and flair.” JW “What sets this album apart and makes it remarkably listenable…is the strength of the arrangements by keyboardist/co-composer/producer Parsons.” JW Reissue In 2015, a deluxe anniversary edition added a second disc with songwriting demos from Eric Woolfson, additional early versions of the songs, and single edits of “Games People Play,” “The Turn of a Friendly Card,” and “Snake Eyes.” The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

May Be a Price to Pay Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Elmer Gantry Released: The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) Peak: 9 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 4.71 streaming About the Song: “Elmer Gantry's soaring vocals” JW kick things off on “the spacious, driving, synth-and-drums thumper May Be a Price to Pay.” JW

Games People Play Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson (see lyrics here) Vocals: Lenny Zakatek Released: single (US, November 1980), The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) B-Side: “The Ace of Swords” Peak: 16 BB, 18 CB, 18 GR, 13 HR, 12 RR, 8 CL, 9 CN, 95 AU, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 5.30 video, 42.69 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: On “Games People Play,” the lead single from The Turn of a Friendly Card, “our hero makes the conscious decision to walk away from the life he's been leading to try and find something different.” CT The song arguably does a better job of conveying its album’s theme than any other Project song. Each of the group’s ten albums was wrapped around a concept, but the message wasn’t always clear. However, the themes behind Card about gambling and playing with others’ emotions were readily apparent on “Games.” Parsons explained that they were living in Monte Carlo at the time and that “it’s very linked to the content of the album…which was all about gambling, gamblers, the problems of gamblers, and games people play.” SF This was the Project’s fourth top-40 hit and a song which has become a staple on album-rock radio. It is what Songfacts.com calls “one of the most high-tempo, rock-style songs that this progressive group recorded.” SF “There is a dynamism to the very progressive way Parsons mixes strings with exotic synth tones and…acoustic drums that creates one terrific pop hook after another.” JW This “is a great example of the AP approach at this stage of his career in that it has a basic pop structure, but features unusual shifts in tone and tempo, an ambient middle section, great use of orchestral elements and a generous guitar solo – all decidedly progressive touches.” JW The song features Lenny Zakatek on vocals. He also stepped up to the mike on two of the band’s previous top-40 hits – 1977’s “I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You” and 1979’s “Damned if I Do.” He “sounds compelling and focused, giving the song a seriousness that aids in realization of the album's concept.” MD

Time Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: single (4/18/1981), The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) B-Side: “The Gold Bug” Peak: 15 BB, 14 CB, 10 GR, 13 HR, 7 RR, 10 AC, 20 CL, 30 CN, 3 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 1.0 radio, 6.50 video, 34.15 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: “Time” features Eric Woolfson on lead vocals for the first time. WK This ballad “immediately tugs on the heart strings and stays with you for a long time.” CT Woolfson’s “vocals are pitch-perfect,” JW “floating along amongst sighing strings and synthesizer washes and layered background vocals.” JW He “carries this luxurious-sounding ode to life's passing to a place above and beyond any of this band's other slower material.” MD It “may…be the best on the entire album” JW and “one of the Alan Parsons Project's best numbers.” CT

I Don’t Wanna Go Home Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Lenny Zakatek Released: The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) Peak: 19 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.33 streaming About the Song: “No sooner has our hero left his old life behind when the voice of reason kicks in on I Don't Wanna Go Home,” CT voiced, by the way, by the “gritty ‘tattered and torn’ despair” JW of Lenny Zakatek. “This also could be the voice of doubt -- you take your pick: ‘You can't win you damn fool / You drank all the wine from the cup / And your painted lady's gone now / And you're way back on the downside, Lookin' up.’ As our hero realizes his plight, he decides not to return to his past - possibly because he can't face ridicule on his return.” CT

The Gold Bug Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: single (EU, November 1980), B-side of “Time” (4/18/1981), The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 6.24 streaming About the Song: The album features a pair of instrumentals. First up is “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.” MD The song references the Edgar Allan Poe short story of the same name WK and includes a whistling part from Parsons where he imitates the spaghetti western film themes of Ennio Morricone. WK The saxophone was originally credited to Mel Collins, but in the remastered edition is noted as “a session player in Paris whose name escapes us.” WK

The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part One/Part Two) Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Chris Rainbow Released: single (UK, October 1980), The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) Peak: 44 CL, 90 AU, 2 DF (Part Two) Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2.10 video, 24.35 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: The second half of the album is comprised of a five-part suite bookended by parts one and two of “The Turn of a Friendly Card.” The suite highlights “the breakdown of human willpower and our greedy tendencies.” MD It “is the only part of the album that squarely addresses gambling.” JW Part two wraps up the album. This song rightly showed up on the Project’s second anthology, released in 1988, but was never a hit, despite nicely showcasing the album’s concept and still standing firmly on its own. This could well be the Project’s best forgotten song.

Snake Eyes Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Chris Rainbow Released: single (September 1981), The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) First Charted: 3/21/1981 Peak: 67 BB, 83 HR, 47 AR, 25 CL, 13 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.26 streaming About the Song: On “The Turn of a Friendly Card (Part One),” “our hero continues to press his luck, if only to return to what he used to be on Snake Eyes.” CT “Sung by Chris Rainbow, [this] is the most compelling of the five pieces [of the Turn of a Friendly Card suite on side two of the album], and ties together the whole of the recording.” MD

The Ace of Swords Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: NA (instrumental) Released: B-side of “Games People Play” (November 1980), The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.51 streaming About the Song: “The Ace of Swords” “features expert incorporation of the orchestra into a largely futuristic, synthesizer-driven cut. The APP core of Ian Bairnson (guitars), David Paton (bass), Stuart Elliott (drums) and Andrew Powell (orchestral arrangements), along with Parsons and Woolfson on keys, is at the height of its powers here.” JW

Nothing Left to Lose Alan Parsons Project

Writer(s): Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson Vocals: Eric Woolfson Released: The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) Peak: 8 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 5.82 streaming About the Song: Although our protaganist “thinks luck is about to come his way, he eventually hits rock bottom with a deafening thud... which leads us to Nothing Left to Lose. On this number, the realization finally comes to him, and he is left with a clean slate to start his life again: "You read the book you turn the page / You change your life in a thousand ways / The dawn of reason lights in your eyes / With the key you realise / To the kingdom of the wise.’” CT

Resources/References: MD Mike DeGagne, AllMusic.com SF Songfacts page for “Games People Play” CT Christopher Thelen, DailyVault.com JW Jason Warburg, DailyVault.com WK Wikipedia WK Wikipedia page for “Games People Play” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/24/2008; last updated 9/24/2025.