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Ambrosia Article From Hit Parader ("One Eighy"  Review)

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AMBROSIA - Pop Star of the Month

"One Eighty," Ambrosia's second offering on Warner Bros. Records is as
distinct a musical change in direction as its title suggests. A group
renowned for its lush, layered pop sound, Ambrosia < Burleigh Drummond,
drums, percussion, vocals; Joe Puerta, bass, vocals; David Pack, guitars,
vocals < have finished a lean, economical and motivating new sound that at
once encompasses and transcends their former musical persona.

"'One Eighty' is exactly that" enthuses David Pack, "a new day for Ambrosia
a one hundred-and-eighty degree shift."

"We also finished the album in January, 1980" interjects Burleigh Drummond
revealing yet another meaning to this intriguing LP's title.

A group who originally joined forces in and around Los Angeles' South Bay
in 1970, Ambrosia came to the attention of classical music engineer Gordon
Parry a scant three months after their formation It was Parry who
introduced the band to then-conductor of the L.A. Philharmonic, Zubin
Mehta. Mehta was so impressed with Ambrosia's creative potential that he
featured the fledgling group in his 1971 All American Dream Concert.

Shortly afterwards, the band separated for a short time as each member
undertook individual projects, further developing the broad-based
eclecticism that was later to become an Ambrosia trademark.

Once reunited, the group plunged full ahead into developing their intricate
and sophisticated sound which caught the attention of Freddie Piro who
promptly signed them to 20th Century Records. Their self-titled debut LP
yielded two hit singles: "Holdin' On To Yesterday" and "Nice Nice, Very
Nice," the latter lyrically co-written with author Kurt Vonnegut Jr. from a
passage in his landmark novel, "Cat's Cradle."

"Somewhere I've Never Travelled" Ambrosia's second offering on 20th was
produced by noted engineer/producer Alan Parsons. The LP carried Ambrosia's
bold and innovative musical synthesis even further, establishing them as a
prime mover in progressive sounds for a growing number of ears. Shortly
after the release of "Somewhere," the group scored again with their hit
rendering of "Magical Mystery Tour" from the soundtrack album of "All Thisand World War II." Both "Ambrosia" and "Somewhere I've Never Travelled"
received Grammy nominations.

Following an extensive North American tour, the group signed with Warner
Bros. Records. "Life Beyond L.A." was their first release for their new
label and far and away their most successful outing to that date.

"We've always liked the element of surprise, of using a wide range of
musical textures and styles," Pack was quoted as saying at the time of the
album's release. "Life Beyond L.A." was indeed a surprise, with a stylistic
lexicon ranging from jazz to hard rock to the blue-eyed soul of their smash
hit "How Much I Feel." The tune reached the Top 5 in the fall of 1978 while
the LP went on to a Top 20 position.

With a substantial hit single and album on the airwaves, the band set out
on a six month tour of the States, both as special guests for such groups
as label-mates The Doobie Brothers and as headliners themselves. During
that time, an addition of three new band members was made < Royce Jones,
vocals, percussion; David Cutler Lewis, keyboards, synthesizers;
Christopher North (now reunited with the band after a brief absence),
keyboards, synthesizers. After returning to Los Angeles in March, they
began a lengthy rehearsal period in preparation for their Warners
follow-up, which they started recording in August.

Co-produced by Ambrosia and Freddie Piro, "One Eighty" quite definitely
embodies a harder-edged, more highly energized rock sound than formerly
demonstrated by the band, yet for all its forward momentum, it still
retains the incisive melodic skills and consummate blend of influences for
which Ambrosia are justifiably famed.

"'One Eighty' was heavily influenced by playing live," remarks Puerta. "We
wanted to present on record our full, live sound.

"Our goal is to instantly ignite our listeners," continues Pack, "and to
constantly challenge ourselves to create something that will remain a vital
musical force of the future."

"One Eighty" is a breathtaking step into a new decade for both Ambrosia and
fans of well-conceived, passionately performed music. From the blistering
hard edge of "Rock n' a Hard Place," "No Big Deal" and Burleigh's
songwriting and singing debut, "Cryin' In The Rain" through the intriguing
Oriental motifs of "Kamikaze" (a number the band calls "Southern California
Progressive Punk) to the synth-rock power of "Ready" and the evocative
sweep of "Biggest Part of Me" (one of the album's two ballads and "One
Eighty"'s first single), Ambrosia, on "One Eighty," have laid undisputed
claim to the musical attention of a whole new generation of listeners.

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Rex Stocklin

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