Post Description

Studio Album, released in 1976, United States.

Tweede album van deze Amerikaanse Progrelated Rockband.
Persoonlijk vind ik dit hun beste album ; hierna heeft toetsenist Chrisopher North de band verlaten en was het wel gedaan met de prog.

While not heavily progressive, Ambrosia had a definitely proggy attitude. One of those bands who successfully combined poppish melodies with unusual arrangements and stellar musicianship, they garnered both critical and popular praise alike. The key to Ambrosia"s success was their song-oriented approach to art rock. 

Several of the songs on this album, such as the frolicsome "Danse With Me George," feature full orchestrations that go well beyond the usual background string arrangements common in other pop music. The terrific "Cowboy Star," for example, boasts an orchestrated middle piece that sounds like a soundtrack for a western, before a thunderous organ bridge brings the song back around to its closing vocals. "Danse With Me George," which is the most overtly progressive piece on the album, starts with a classical piano lead in, after which the verses pave the way to a glorious mix of styles, including a barroom rag, the fully orchestrated Le Danse, a 20s-sounding refrain, and a Spanish section before the classical piano leads the song into a Zappa-ish bit of fun. Finally, a vocal bridge takes the song back into the final verse and a magnificent classical ending. Really wonderful stuff.

Ambrosia"s adventurous yet accessible music was one of the high points of the 70s. If you missed out on them, grab this album, as well as their first, self-titled album. (Later albums, while good, lost much of the band"s progressive edge.) Unless you"re one of those stuffy types who can"t stand a little well composed pop mixed in with your prog (you know who you are!), I guarantee you"ll be utterly charmed by this talented group

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. And (0:46)
2. Somewhere I"ve Never Travelled (4:12)
3. Cowboy Star (6:24)
4. Runnin" Away (3:31)
5. Harvey (1:29)
6. I Wanna Know (6:02)
7. The Brunt (5:29)
8. Danse With Me George (Chopin"s Plea) (7:51)
9. Can"t Let a Woman (4:24)
10. We Need You Too (5:33)

Total Time: 45:41

Line-up / Musicians

- Joe Puerta / bass, Moog pedals, guitar on "Harvey", vocals
- David Pack / guitars, string ensemble, Rhodes on "George", vocals
- Christopher North / acoustic and electric keyboards, vocals
- Burleigh Drummond / drums, percussion, bassoon, vocals