Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (Box Set in Feb 2023, standalone Blu-Ray in May)

[SHB]

JediJoker called it. His powers of perception are powerful I must say

 

[splinter7]

The Alan Parsons Project / The Complete Albums Collection – SuperDeluxeEdition

Vinyl box set, 11 LPS. Only available from the band's website.

"Hurrah! just what everyone wanted" - said about no one on this forum.

 

[JulesRules]

An upshot might be that they could skip the vinyl in future box sets.

I know, a man can dream?

 

[marpow]

Just posted on Twitter by official APP twitter account.

I like how the video ends, with "Where do we go from here now that all of the children---then stops.
I finished it, now that all of the children are dying and nobody's gonna buy your big box set.

 

[SHB]

Is The Complete Albums Collection through Esoteric Recordings? If so, why is this coming out before TOAFC Super Deluxe Edition? APP Facebook page posted TOAFC was supposed to be out in Spring of 2022 and there was no mention of The Complete Albums Collection Vinyl Boxset. If not, what is the hold up with Esoteric Recordings? Aren't they the ones now handling these Super Deluxe Editions? I'm sure this is a splendid day for vinyl lovers and good for them. But dang, like many, I want that 5.1 mix of TOAFC

 

[rtbluray]

I gotta say Alan and those around him have really disappointed me lately:

1) There was the BLU-RAY from the show in Israel that was released with lossy Dolby 5.1 audio instead of DTS-HD Master Audio as advertised. (Despite the complaints of many, the label refused to repress updated Blu-Rays...)
2) Then the new album is released last month, and we didn't even get a DTS audio track on the DVD.
3) The "Turn of a Friendly Card" box set still hasn't been released yet, despite it being announced last December.

I highly doubt Esoteric will release anything this year from APP that will compete with any other products being released.

 

[Sal1950]

"The Complete APP Boxed Set"
Great, while sticking my nose into this set after all the talk here, I learned that there was an album in the set that had never been released and I didn't have in my computer, The Sicillian Defence.
Thankfully I was able to pick up a copy of the CD today and just finished listening to it. Got to admit I'm a sucker for Alan's melodies and there are a few on them on this set. A shame that it is so unfinished consisting mainly of Alans keyboard work but still I enjoyed it tremendously..
Maybe if contract issues don't forbid it, he'll go back and polish it up someday. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[JulesRules]

Maybe if contract issues don't forbid it, he'll go back and polish it up someday. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

Eric Woolfson had actually planned to update one of the tracks, but then he died

I like how the video ends, with "Where do we go from here now that all of the children---then stops.
I finished it, now that all of the children are dying and nobody's gonna buy your big box set.

It IS weird that both preview clips have been using songs from TOAFC and no other albums.

 

[Albert Dagger]

Wow, this wasn't the news I was expecting. We know this surround remix is coming, but when... I don't really need another purchase of the APP studio albums

 

[panamac]

I would love to have this on a stand alone blu-ray. Previous releases suggest it will. The only APP release that I want to do the deep dive on is I Robot. Hopefully we'll hear something about it. 2022 is the 45th anniversary.

Meanwhile, the 2 channel DSD file of Robot is pretty worthy...

 

[jaybird100]

Meanwhile, the 2 channel DSD file of Robot is pretty worthy...

But surround, be it 5.1 or Atmos, would be better.

 

[rtbluray]

FINALLY!!! (no vinyl in the box set this time either!)

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product...dly-card-3cd-blu-ray-limited-edition-box-set/
• A DELUXE LIMITED EDITION BOXED SET OF THE CLASSIC ALBUM BY THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT.

• THREE CDs AND ONE BLU-RAY DISC (REGION FREE), REMASTERED AND REMIXED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES BY ALAN PARSONS.

• FEATURING AN ADDITIONAL 42 BONUS TRACKS DRAWN FROM ERIC WOOLFSON’S SONGWRITING DIARIES, STUDIO SESSION OUT-TAKES AND A STUNNING NEW 5.1 SURROUND SOUND FROM THE ORIGINAL MULTI-TRACK MASTER TAPES BY ALAN PARSONS AND FOUR PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS.

• INCLUDES A LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WITH NEW ESSAY AND A REPLICA POSTER.

First released in November 1980, ‘The Turn Of A Friendly Card’ was the fifth album by The Alan Parsons Project, the brainchild of composer, musician and manger Eric Woolfson and celebrated producer and engineer Alan Parsons.

Inspired by the period in which both Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons had resided in Monte Carlo, this legendary album was recorded in Paris. The album sessions featured the contribution of musicians such as Ian Bairnson (guitars), David Paton (bass), Stuart Elliott (drums) with Eric Woolfson playing keyboards and providing lead vocals, along with Elmer Gantry, Chris Rainbow and Lenny Zakatek.‘The Turn Of A Friendly Card’ would become one of the biggest selling albums for The Alan Parsons Project, attaining gold status in many European countries and the USA. The album featured such classic compositions as ‘Games People Play, ‘Time’, ‘The Gold Bug’ and ‘The Turn Of A Friendly’ suite which dominated the album’s second side.

This new deluxe edition comprises 3CDs and a Blu-Ray disc (Region Free) with an additional 42 tracks drawn from Eric Woolfson’s song-writing diaries, studio session out-takes and a stunning new 5.1 surround sound mix by Alan Parsons and a high resolution remastered original stereo mix, along with the promotional videos of ‘Games People Play’, ‘The Gold Bug’ and ‘The Turn Of A Friendly Card’ plus a promotional television advertisement. This stunning set also features a lavish illustrated book with a new essay with photos, memorabilia and features recollections from Alan Parsons and Sally Woolfson. It also includes a reproduction poster.

Track Listing:

DISC ONE
THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD’ REMASTERED
1 MAY BE A PRICE TO PAY
2 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
3 TIME
4 I DON’T WANNA GO HOME
5 THE GOLD BUG
6 THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (PART ONE)
7 SNAKE EYES
8 THE ACE OF SWORDS
9 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 VOCAL COMPILATION)
14 TIME (EARLY STUDIO ATTEMPT)
15 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY (ROUGH MIX)
16 THE GOLD BUG (DEMO)

DISC TWO
ERIC WOOLFSON’S SONGWRITING DIARIES
1 MAY BE A PRICE TO PAY
2 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
3 TIME
4 I DON’T WANNA GO HOME
5 THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD
6 SNAKE EYES
7 NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
8 TOFC / SNAKE EYES / I DON’T WANNA GO HOME
9 LA LA LA LAH
10 NEXT YEAR
11 SOMEONE ELSE
12 TAKING IT ALL AWAY
13 TO THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE

DISC THREE
RECORDING SESSIONS BONUS TRACKS
1 MAY BE A PRICE TO PAY (EARLY VERSION – ERIC GUIDE VOCAL AND UNUSED GUITAR SOLO)
2 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY (EARLY VERSION – ERIC GUIDE VOCAL)
3 TIME (ORCHESTRA AND CHRIS RAINBOW BACKING VOCALS)
4 THE GOLD BUG (EARLY REFERENCE VERSION)
5 THE GOLD BUG (CHRIS RAINBOW BACKING VOCALS)
6 THE GOLD BUG (CLAVINET WITH NO DELAY)
7 THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD – Part One (EARLY BACKING TRACK)
8 SNAKE EYES (EARLY VERSION – ERIC GUIDE VOCAL)
9 THE ACE OF SWORDS (EARLY VERSION WITH SYNTH ORCHESTRATION)
10 THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD – Part Two (ERIC GUIDE VOCAL AND EXTENDED GUITAR SOLO)
SINGLE EDITS
11 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY (SINGLE EDIT)
12 THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (SINGLE EDIT)
13 SNAKE EYES (SINGLE EDIT)

DISC FOUR – BLU RAY
5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIX (2019) AND HIGH- RESOLUTION ORIGINAL STEREO MIX BY ALAN PARSONS
1 MAY BE A PRICE TO PAY
2 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
3 TIME
4 I DON’T WANNA GO HOME
5 THE GOLD BUG
6 THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (PART ONE)
7 SNAKE EYES
8 THE ACE OF SWORDS
9 NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
10 THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (PART TWO)
VISUAL CONTENT
1 THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (ALBUM AD)
2 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY (PROMOTIONAL VIDEO)
3 THE GOLD BUG (PROMOTIONAL VIDEO)
4 THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (PROMOTIONAL VIDEO)

 

[César]

Despite of disposing away the vinyl, they kept the price: almost 70 pounds! Ouch!
I hope other retailers will offer a better price

 

[rtbluray]

Despite of disposing away the vinyl, they kept the price: almost 70 pounds! Ouch!
I hope other retailers will offer a better price

just for comparison, the Ammonia Avenue box set (with vinyl) is £89.99 while the new TOAFC box is £69.99
I guess maybe the new APP vinyl box set was exactly what we needed if this means that future album box sets will no longer contain vinyl (just CDs and Blu-Ray, which is perfect for me!)

 

[panamac]

Best source to pre order from with USA address?

 

[thalter]

Hopefully, they will see fit to offer a standalone Bluray disc.

 

[rtbluray]

Hopefully, they will see fit to offer a standalone Bluray disc.

I doubt it, only because if they were planning to offer that, it would be on sale right now along with the box set.

 

[SHB]

Yay! Finally. Thank you RT for the good news

 

[rusinurbe]

One hopes a standalone Blu Ray will appear in due course like the other boxes

 

[rtbluray]

One hopes a standalone Blu Ray will appear in due course like the other boxes

I doubt it, only because if they were planning to offer that, it would be on sale right now along with the box set.