# xmcd
#
# Track frame offsets: 
#        182
#        26422
#        49052
#        68547
#        83332
#        103482
#        117927
#        145417
#
# Disc length: 2327 seconds
#
# Revision: 4
# Processed by: cddbd v1.5.2PL0 Copyright (c) Steve Scherf et al.
# Submitted via: ExactAudioCopy v0.90b4
#
DISCID=62091508,64091508
DTITLE=Ambrosia / Ambrosia
DYEAR=1975
DGENRE=Rock
TTITLE0=Nice, Nice, Very Nice
TTITLE1=Time Waits For No One
TTITLE2=Holdin' On To Yesterday
TTITLE3=World Leave Me Alone
TTITLE4=Make Us All Aware
TTITLE5=Lover Arrive
TTITLE6=Mama Frog
TTITLE7=Drink Of Water
EXTD=Originally Released 1975\nCD Edition Released February 1, 2000\n\n
EXTD=AMG EXPERT REVIEW: Although they would become better known for sm
EXTD=ooth AOR ballads like "How Much I Feel," Ambrosia first made thei
EXTD=r name with this album of progressive rock with a pop music twist
EXTD=. Its songs skillfully blend strong melodic hooks and smooth voca
EXTD=l harmonies with music of an almost symphonic density. Good examp
EXTD=les of this crossbreeding are "Drink of Water," which sounds like
EXTD= the Beach Boys tackling a Pink Floyd space rock epic, and "Nice,
EXTD= Nice, Very Nice," which utilizes a combination of stately close-
EXTD=harmony vocals and dynamic instrumental breaks to put forth a cle
EXTD=ver lyric derived from a Kurt Vonnegut novel. The complexity of t
EXTD=he music is further highlighted by its crystal-clear sonic landsc
EXTD=ape, mixed by Alan Parsons, which highlights unique touches like 
EXTD=the use of a Russian balalaika ensemble and 300-year-old Javanese
EXTD= gongs on "Time Waits for No One." Despite this prog rock ambitio
EXTD=usness, the group is smart enough to avoid letting their instrume
EXTD=ntal chops take precedence over their music's melodic content: Th
EXTD=ey keep their songs succinct and punchy (nothing extends over six
EXTD=-and-a-half minutes) and they infuse tunes like "Lover Arrive" an
EXTD=d the radio favorite "Holdin' on to Yesterday" with a delicate se
EXTD=nse of pop songcraft that makes the group's cinematic sound easy 
EXTD=for listeners to assimilate. The end result is an album that is i
EXTD=ntricate enough to please prog rock addicts but catchy enough to 
EXTD=win over a few pop fans in the process. Though Ambrosia would go 
EXTD=on to score bigger hits later in their career, this is definitely
EXTD= their most cohesive and inspired album.  -- Donald Guarisco\n\n\n
EXTD=AMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNice, nice, very nice, January 23, 20
EXTD=07\nReviewer: Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA)\nThis is a grea
EXTD=t debut by a band that I had pretty much completely forgotten abo
EXTD=ut until recently, which is a shame because this superb 1975 albu
EXTD=m is anything but forgettable. Come to think of it, the follow up
EXTD= album Somewhere I've Never Traveled (1976) is also quite good, a
EXTD=lthough not nearly as adventurous. \n\nAs it is presented on this
EXTD= album, the music of Ambrosia was clearly influenced by English p
EXTD=rogressive rock although it is presented in a very accessible for
EXTD=mat - sort of a progressive/pop blend. Lush vocal harmonies and a
EXTD=coustic textures are balanced by tasteful Hammond organ, electric
EXTD= guitar, and synthesizer work; and it is all supported by a very 
EXTD=creative rhythm section. Melodies and harmonies are all used a lo
EXTD=t and there are some very nicely played instrumental passages in 
EXTD=amongst the vocal sections (all pieces feature vocals). In short,
EXTD= the songs on this album are some of the tightest, best-written, 
EXTD=and performed rock songs I have ever heard - this is especially i
EXTD=mpressive in that they say a great deal in the short time that it
EXTD= takes for each track to unfold (about 3-7 minutes). The sound qu
EXTD=ality and attention to detail throughout is also simply unbelieva
EXTD=ble and this debut is certainly worthy of the Grammy it won for B
EXTD=est Engineered Album (thanks to the recording wizard Alan Parsons
EXTD=). \n\nI suppose that it is worth mentioning that the track Nice,
EXTD= Nice, very Nice was authored by none other than Kurt Vonnegut Jr
EXTD=. - he was my favorite author while in high school and the lyrics
EXTD= he contributes here are very...well...Vonnegut. \n\nWell there y
EXTD=ou have it - a fantastic album by musicians who took their craft 
EXTD=very seriously and it shows in every shimmering note on this albu
EXTD=m. Very highly recommended to folks that like the prog/pop side o
EXTD=f things. One other album that comes to mind is Black Noise (1977
EXTD=) by the Canadian band FM which is roughly similar, although a bi
EXTD=t further on the prog side of things.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER RE
EXTD=VIEW\nUnbelievably great debut album, July 19, 2006\nReviewer: BE
EXTD=NJAMIN MILER (Eugene, OR United States)\nFor many years, I dismis
EXTD=sed Ambrosia as a soft rock act. "How Much I Feel" frequently end
EXTD=s up on those soft rock compilations. Then I discovered this band
EXTD= had earned some respect in the prog rock community, and it wasn'
EXTD=t that song or the album that song originated, Life Beyond L.A. I
EXTD=t was their first two albums, originally released on 20th Century
EXTD=, their self-entitled debut and Somewhere I've Never Travelled th
EXTD=at their reputation in the prog community sits on. \n\nAmbrosia w
EXTD=as a four piece, Los Angeles-based band consisting of bassist Joe
EXTD= Puerta, guitarist David Pack, keyboardist Christopher North, and
EXTD= drummer Burliegh Drummond. All had classical training. They were
EXTD= different from your typical LA bands of the time, such as The Ea
EXTD=gles, because they were an art rock band, something that city was
EXTD=n't exactly known for. The band relied heavily on vocal harmonies
EXTD=, but the Yes or perhaps Styx comparisons are more valid here. I 
EXTD=believe the Styx comparison comes from the fact some of the vocal
EXTD=s remind me of Tommy Shaw. But then the band don't clone the soun
EXTD=d of any band. They really had some very ingenious vocal arrangem
EXTD=ents which shows throughout this whole album. \n\nThe album was p
EXTD=roduced by Alan Parsons, which means that you get youself some to
EXTD=p-rate production. "Nice, Nice, Very Nice" is the opening song, b
EXTD=ased on a Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. poem. I have always wondered, what w
EXTD=as up with those fake foreign accents? "Time Waits For No One" is
EXTD= total genius, especially with the vocal arrangements. This stuff
EXTD= is definately more complex and elaborate than what the Alan Pars
EXTD=ons Project was doing. "Holdin' On To Yesterday" was the album's 
EXTD=hit, it was also the most straightforward number on the album, wh
EXTD=ich went well over the AM dial. "Mama Frog" is a bit different fr
EXTD=om the rest of the album, it has an almost jazz rock/fusion feel,
EXTD= even the vocalist sings in the style of a jazz rock vocalist, bu
EXTD=t then the band goes off the deep-end with the droning synth and 
EXTD=narration of "Jabberwock" from "Alice in Wonderland". "Drink of W
EXTD=ater" ends on a excellent note, with lots of great synth and orga
EXTD=n solos. \n\nNot too long after this album came out, Alan Parsons
EXTD= started working on Tales of Mystery & Imagination, which launche
EXTD=d The Alan Parsons Project, and none other than Ambrosia helped s
EXTD=ome on that album! \n\nI can very easily recommend this album.\n\n
EXTD=\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nI have done died and gone to heav
EXTD=en, March 10, 2005\nReviewer: Chris Cormier "Wonderbar" (canada)\n
EXTD=Prog rock with Beatleish writing and produced by Alan Parsons. Th
EXTD=e best of both worlds. This album, and their next, 'Somewhere I'v
EXTD=e Never Travelled' are studies in how to make innovative and orig
EXTD=inal music, without being enamored by overplaying or overly compl
EXTD=ex time signatures, etc. This band toured with Styx, and interest
EXTD=ingly I find a lot of styles that made their way into Styx's musi
EXTD=c seemed to be previewed by this band. The songwriting is absolut
EXTD=ely brilliant, the instruments are played with REAL emotion, the 
EXTD=sounds are well chosen to suit the song. Only recently discoverin
EXTD=g this band's talent, I always knew this band for their radio hit
EXTD=s, which were well-written but rather in the vein of adult contem
EXTD=porary. This album, in contrast, is real rock and roll (at times)
EXTD=, with clear melodies, surprising lyrical depth, and jazzy-pop pl
EXTD=aying, and above all, a sense that they're having fun doing this 
EXTD=and not taking it too seriously. The last song is one of the best
EXTD=, with a thundering pipe organ underscoring some fiery vocals tha
EXTD=t recall 'Sixty Years On' by Elton John. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOME
EXTD=R REVIEW\nOne of the best albums of the '70s, February 14, 2005\n
EXTD=Reviewer: leeaubel@earthlink.net "Gibsonian" (Downey, Calfornia)\n
EXTD=If you really like to listen to songs that demand you sit down an
EXTD=d pay attention, with fascinating vocals and occasionaly flashes 
EXTD=of virtuosity, buy this album (and the next album; "Somewhere I'v
EXTD=e Never Travelled"). I first got this newe in '75 and wore it out
EXTD= over the next few years. \n\nMusically, they are a kind of more 
EXTD=relaxed alternative to Yes - great singing and musicianship, with
EXTD= occasional flashes of brilliance... Unfortunately by the 4th alb
EXTD=um they went commercial, but the first two are spectacular... \n\n
EXTD=\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBest side 2 ever?, June 21, 2004\nR
EXTD=eviewer: natimp (Alabama)\nOn the LP, I only ever listened to sid
EXTD=e 2 (the 4 last songs on the CD). But if you like Alan Parsons-st
EXTD=yle music, these are 4 of the best songs of that genre. Later Amb
EXTD=rosia albums are to this one as late Genesis is to early Genesis.
EXTD= (You would think they were different bands.) The music might see
EXTD=m slightly dated to some, but this is the ONLY vinyl I still pull
EXTD= out and play from time to time.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\n
EXTD=Unbelievable!, December 3, 2002\nReviewer: S. Glaser (champaign, 
EXTD=il United States)\nAn utterly brilliant release. The music is mes
EXTD=merizing, soaring and clever clever clever, filled with endless s
EXTD=urprises. And the mixing by Alan Parsons cannot be described. Par
EXTD=sons is the greatest genius who has ever sat behind a mixing cons
EXTD=ole. You will never appreciate the full magnitude of this CD unti
EXTD=ll you play it through a high quality amp into a pair of high qua
EXTD=lity headphones. The richness and clarity of every single note ca
EXTD=nnot be matched any other way.\nThis is a band and an album that 
EXTD=never got close to the acclaim they deserved. Don't cheat yoursel
EXTD=f by missing it.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nStunning Debut 
EXTD=Album., July 6, 2001\nReviewer: Linda Ames (Lake Forest, CA)\nA t
EXTD=imeless masterpiece finally out on cd. Ambrosia creates a stunnin
EXTD=g debut album mixed by the legendary Alan Parsons. Christopher No
EXTD=rth, a man known to play his organ so ferociously that his hands 
EXTD=bleed, pulls lightning from the sky during his hammond solos on D
EXTD=rink Of Water. This is a must have cd!\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER R
EXTD=EVIEW\nProgressive MOR? Yes, it is possible., June 27, 2001\nRevi
EXTD=ewer: D. Hartley (Seattle, WA USA)\nI was starting to wonder whet
EXTD=her Ambrosia had some superstitious reason to withhold U.S. domes
EXTD=tic CD release of "Ambrosia 1" for so many years (were they afrai
EXTD=d of exposing thier original, loftier artistic goals and somehow 
EXTD=jinxing the continuing mass-appeal of thier latter-day, easy to d
EXTD=igest 'MOR' radio pablum?) At any rate, "Ambrosia" is finally acc
EXTD=essible, affordable, and a required purchase for the discerning r
EXTD=ock fan. 'MOR' is perhaps an unfair label for the melodic, though
EXTD=tfully written and impeccably performed material on this stunning
EXTD= debut. Imagine the intricate song structures of early Yes or Gen
EXTD=esis, recorded with the hyper-professional aesthetic of Steely Da
EXTD=n's pristeen "L.A. studio" sound, and you've got "early Ambrosia"
EXTD= defined. Lead singer David Pack's impressive pipes lead the way 
EXTD=into some dynamic vocal arrangements (most notably on "Nice Very 
EXTD=Nice" and the lovely, choir-like "Drink Of Water"). If you like t
EXTD=his one, you'll next want to check out the similar "Somewhere I'v
EXTD=e never Travelled", after which the band (unfortunately) evolved 
EXTD=toward a more 'generic' Toto/Doobie Brothers sound.\n\n\nAMAZON.C
EXTD=OM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAMBROSIA BEFORE 'THE HIT', September 3, 2000\n
EXTD=Reviewer: R. Lindeboom "theboomer" (Cambria, CA USA)\nA friend of
EXTD= mine told me that he saw an ad for Ambrosia recently, promoting 
EXTD=their reunion tour. In the ad the band says: "Please forgive us f
EXTD=or 'The Hit' we had." Yep. And with "The Hit," one of Los Angeles
EXTD=' greatest bands ever slipped into disrepute. But two years befor
EXTD=e this anomoly, there was this album. It is an album filled with 
EXTD=brilliant music. .... The mix on "World Leave Me Alone" is breath
EXTD=taking! The way the guitars are layered -- with the acoustic laye
EXTD=red in a rich, frontal attack pattern rare anywhere in rock -- is
EXTD= the perfect blend of the light and heavy that is the hallmark of
EXTD= this self-titled release from Ambrosia. And then there's the stu
EXTD=nning "Drink of Water," in which Chris North wrenches bolts of li
EXTD=ghtning from the sky with his keyboards. .... Then there's David 
EXTD=Pack's voice. Because of *it*, it was inevitable that Ambrosia wo
EXTD=uld have hits; that voice alone insured their destiny as future r
EXTD=adio sweethearts. But before this abberation -- so serious in cha
EXTD=racter that it required a printed and public apology -- there was
EXTD= Joe Puerta and Burliegh Drummond, on bass and drums respectively
EXTD=. They were incredible! Burleigh's work at the end of "Drink of W
EXTD=ater" is stunning. .... In the history of Los Angeles rock, there
EXTD= have been many great bands like The Byrds, The Doors, The Mother
EXTD=s of Invention, Love, The Beach Boys, The Association, The Motels
EXTD= and Missing Persons -- and Ambrosia stands musically and lyrical
EXTD=ly with the best of them. At least in my opinion. The first two A
EXTD=mbrosia albums are great albums. This is the better of the two. Y
EXTD=es, Alan Parsons was working with these guys on the first couple 
EXTD=of albums but these guys gave him great stuff to work with. "Love
EXTD=r Arrive" is as beautiful a rock song as just about any you could
EXTD= ever name. Haunting and rich in it's simplicity and beauty. "Mak
EXTD=e Us All Aware" is still one of the most lyrical, rich and melodi
EXTD=c, precision "scortchers" ever set to vinyl -- er, I mean laser! 
EXTD=:) Even the minor hit here, "I Keep Holding On To Yesterday," sti
EXTD=ll holds up marvelously 25 years later. Yes, there is no perfecti
EXTD=on in this world -- something that the band explores musically wi
EXTD=th lyrical help from Vonnegut in "Nice, Nice, Very Nice" -- but t
EXTD=his is definitely about as close as Los Angeles progressive rock 
EXTD=has ever come. Yes, please forgive them indeed for "The Hit."\n\n
EXTD=\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nPleasant early progressive album, M
EXTD=arch 28, 2000\nReviewer: kireviewer (Sunnyvale, Ca United States)
EXTD=\nThis is one of those albums that will evoke an emotional but ir
EXTD=rational response. People who grew up listening to this album wil
EXTD=l say this is the greatest album ever. And it is a very good albu
EXTD=m, it's just not that great. There isn't a bad song on the album,
EXTD= but none them are perfect. Even the fantastic classic, Nice, Nic
EXTD=e, Very Nice (words by Kurt Vonnegut) has a bad instrumental inte
EXTD=rlude in the middle. \nThis is early progressive rock. It is soft
EXTD=er and more pop-ish than most. But most of the music and singing 
EXTD=are very good and it never gets into the overblown excesses of ma
EXTD=ny later progressive albums (except for the reading of the poem J
EXTD=abberwocky). It is very pleasant to listen to from start to end. 
EXTD=I don't know, maybe it does deserve 4 stars. My low rating may ju
EXTD=st be an emotional and irrational response.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTO
EXTD=MER REVIEW\nA classic, finally available on CD, February 7, 2000\n
EXTD=Reviewer: David Ash "scooob" (Lexington, KY USA)\nIf you think of
EXTD= Ambrosia as the band that had some wimpy soft rock hits in the e
EXTD=arly '80s, take my word for it that on this, the group's debut, t
EXTD=heir ambitions were much broader, and the result was a classic al
EXTD=bum that has been out of print for way too long.\nThough the smoo
EXTD=th vocal harmonies and devotion to melody are as evident here as 
EXTD=on Ambrosia's later, sappier songs, just as prominent are complex
EXTD=, ambitious arrangements and cool time signature shifts, carried 
EXTD=off by impressive musicianship. In other words, this is art rock,
EXTD= somewhat in the vein of Pink Floyd or Genesis in the mid-seventi
EXTD=es. But it's not precious or pretentious or any of those other pe
EXTD=jorative p-words often applied to progressive rock.\n\nBonus: the
EXTD= lead song's lyrics are taken from a Bokononist Calypso from Kurt
EXTD= Vonnegut's classic novel Cat's Cradle. If you know what that mea
EXTD=ns, you must buy this album.\n\n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: Fr
EXTD=eddie Piro \n\nAlbum Notes\nAmbrosia: David Pack (vocals, guitar,
EXTD= keyboards); Burleigh Drummond (vocals, bassoon, drums, percussio
EXTD=n); Christopher North (vocals, keyboards); Joe Puerta (vocals, ba
EXTD=ss).\n\nEngineers include: Chuck Johnson, Billy Taylor, Tom Trefe
EXTD=then.\nRecorded at Mama Jo's, North Hollywood, California. \nIncl
EXTD=udes liner notes by Freddie Piro.\nAll tracks have been digitally
EXTD= remastered.
EXTT0=
EXTT1=
EXTT2=
EXTT3=
EXTT4=
EXTT5=
EXTT6=
EXTT7=
PLAYORDER=
