THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD

"The Turn of a Friendly Card" is famous due to the massive single Games People Play, which is the first time I had even heard of the band. The video clip played often on rock music shows during the 80s and is memorable along with the tune itself. It has a killer hook and infectious chorus never forgotten over all these years by this reviewer. After the first two great opening tracks the album returns to the pop AOR sound with I Don't Wanna Go Home. The keyboard funk is similar to I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You and is almost a trademark sound from APP at this stage.

Next up on The Gold Bug we have a whistling intro and a finger snapper rhythm. The funk is evident with the fast keyboard work and it boasts a fine brass sax sound. Of particular interest to me are the instrumentals on APP albums that are usually a highlight for me over all the ballads and poppy catchy songs. The Gold Bug is yet another great instrumental, and has some vocal intonations but primarily is dominated by keys and guitars. A definitive highlight, this track is more like the type of sound I like from APP, that was absent on the disappointing "Eve".

The Turn of a Friendly Card Part One is familiar to me as I had heard it on "The Definitive Collection" and part 2 is in a similar vein. I like the full blown orchestral treatment especially in the final coda that fades out. The rest of side 2 blurs into the background and is really radio friendly beyond what my ears can stand. A shame really as the band are potentially innovative and the musicianship is always high quality. But this is really easy listening AOR music, with no threat of prog at all, and as a result quite forgettable and not something I would bother to return to, unlike the dynamic first 3 APP albums.