Music & More

Ambrosia So Many People in the Same Device :  Despite their string of hit singles in the late seventies and early eighties, Ambrosia was at heart, a progressive band. This, their first album was clearly progressive, albeit with beautiful vocal harmonies (they worshipped CSN&Y), and superb production by Freddie Piro with engineering by Alan Parsons. All of the members of Ambrosia were tapped by Parsons to play on his first Alan Parsons Project album, Tales of Mystery and Imagination - Edgar Allen Poe. When first released, Ambrosia got immediate attention at radio, especially college radio, because "Nice, Nice, Very Nice" had lyrics taken from a poem in Kurt Vonnegut's novel, Cat's Cradle. Vonnegut was at the peak of his popularity, and his books were devoured, discussed, and quoted on campuses everywhere. Plus Ambrosia wrote the perfect music for it and the result was utterly charming. For the other song to stream, we could drop the needle anywhere and come up...

The Beatles (White Album) Paul McCartney wrote "I Will", (credited as Lennon/McCartney), during the Beatles famed trip to India to meditate with the Maharishi in 1968, and it was part of the White album. Paul played acoustic guitar and sang, Ringo Starr played bongos, and John Lennon played percussion. George Harrison did not appear on the track. In Barry Miles' book, Many Years From Now, Paul talked about the writing. "I wrote...very simple words, straight love-song words really. I think they're quite effective. It's still one of my favourite melodies that I've written. You just occasionally get lucky with a melody and it becomes rather complete and I think this is one of them; quite a complete tune." Paul is quite right. With its timeless melody and its charming lyric, "I Will" is one minute and forty-four seconds of pure bliss. Listen to "I Will" Who knows how long I've loved you You know I love you still Wil...

Wish I Was Springsteen - Single Jay Leighton, a gifted British singer-songwriter, has just released "Wish I Was Springsteen", the first single and lead track from his forthcoming album, Hours. Growing up with the classic albums of the seventies such as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Nick Drake, Leighton embraces his Springsteen fixation on the single. Jay says "I have always found Springsteen to be a brilliant storyteller. Nebraska as an album and as a track are superb examples of this but the thing I love the most about the album is that it has captured the very desolation of Nebraska. When we drove across it I felt that desolation, almost tinged with sadness but at the same time extremely inspiring. I can't think of another record that has ever managed to capture the feeling for a place as much as Nebraska has by Springsteen. I love it!" The unstoppable melody and ear-friendly production of "Wish I Was Springsteen" has more in common w...

Gems From the Record Room - New Feature (6/25/12) Ambrosia - Ambrosia (1975) Michael Stanley - Michael Stanley (1972), Friends & Legends (1973) Wendy Waldman - Love Is The Only Goal: The Best Of Wendy Waldman (1996) Joe Williams - I Just Want to Sing (1985) Various Artists - An Austin Rhythm And Blues Christmas (1983)

The Beatles - "I Will" (1968)

Music: Johnny A – Get Inside (Favored Nations, 2004) Johnny A - World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, 3/11/06 Jennie Abrahamson - Rockwood Music Hall, 5/04/07 A-ha - Saturday Video Fun: A-ha - Take On Me (1985) Airdance - Falcon Ridge, 7/23/04 Monty Alexander Trio - Zanzibar Blue, 12/18/04 Jackie Allen, Melody & Holly , New York City, 5/23/06 Lily Allen - TLA, Philadelphia, 2/12/07 Lily Allen - Allright, Still (Capitol, 2007) Lily Allen - Live on Jonathan Ross, 1/30/09 Lily Allen - Doctor Rosen Rosen Remix - Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You (2009) Allman Brothers Band - In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, 9/23/1970 Ambrosia - Gems From the Record Room: Ambrosia - Ambrosia (1975) Gabrielle Aplin - So Young, So Talented - Home (2011) & Never Fade (2011) & On Your Knees (2010) Jessica Andrews - Saturday Video Fun: Jessica Andrews - Who I Am (2001) Annekei - Rockwood Music Hall, 11/29/07 & 1/30/08 Annekei - The Living Room, 5/20/08 Annekei...