AMBROSIA
Prog Related • United States
From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
Founded in LA, California, USA in 1970 - Hiatus between 1982-1989 - Still active as of 2018
Ambrosia formed in 1970, in the South Bay/San Pedro area of Southern California. The musicians were inspired by the progressive rock era, and developed a large regional following for their inventive musicianship and skillful arranging. Ambrosia came to national prominence in 1975 with the release of their self-titled debut album on 20th Century Fox Records. Ambrosia was produced and engineered by the legendary Alan Parsons, and featured the top ten hit "Holdin' on to Yesterday", as well as the FM classic "Nice Nice, Very Nice". After lengthy touring, the band returned in 1976 with "Somewhere I've Never Traveled," also produced and engineered by Parsons. The Album yielded the title song, which quickly became an FM favorite. Both Ambrosia and "Somewhere I've Never Traveled" received Grammy nominations, and set the stage for the band's signing to Warner Bros. Records. During that time, the group also scored a top 40 hit with a cover of the Beatles classic "Magical Mystery Tour", from the motion picture "All This and WWII." In 1978, Warner Bros. released Life beyond L.A., which simultaneously scored their first gold CHR hit' "How Much I Feel", as well as the #1 rock track "Life Beyond L.A." Extensive touring with Fleetwood Mac and the Doobie Brothers, in addition to major headlining shows, cemented Ambrosia's reputation as a stellar live act. In 1980, Warner Bros. released "One Eighty," a smash LP that produced two of the year's biggest hits, "You're the Only Woman" and "Biggest Part of Me." Though a headlining world tour and three Grammy nominations followed, one of the biggest honors bestowed upon them was Quincy Jones' declaration that "Biggest Part of Me" was one of his all time favorite songs. Ambrosia released their fifth and final album, "Road Island," in 1982.
The Year 2000 marks the 30th anniversary of Ambrosia, and the band has celebrated with a very busy touring schedule that has reaped box office success, while proving to the world that Ambrosia will be a driving force in the new millennium.
AMBROSIA Videos (YouTube and more)
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AMBROSIA discography
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AMBROSIA top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
3.90 | 162 ratings
Ambrosia 1975 |
3.19 | 82 ratings
Somewhere I've Never Travelled 1976 |
2.76 | 50 ratings
Life Beyond L.A. 1978 |
2.16 | 49 ratings
One Eighty 1980 |
3.44 | 58 ratings
Road Island 1982 |
AMBROSIA Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
2.08 | 8 ratings
Live at the Galaxy 2002 |
3.50 | 2 ratings
Standing Room Only 2007 |
0.00 | 0 ratings
The Biggest Part of Me - Greatest Hits Live 2010 |
5.00 | 1 ratings
Live... 5th Floor Cincinnati 2017 |
AMBROSIA Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)
AMBROSIA Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
4.00 | 9 ratings
Anthology 1997 |
2.33 | 3 ratings
The Essentials 2002 |
4.50 | 2 ratings
How Much I Feel and Other Hits 2003 |
4.00 | 3 ratings
Ambrosia / Somewhere I've Never Travelled 2012 |
AMBROSIA Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)
4.00 | 4 ratings
Holdin' On To Yesterday 1975 |
4.00 | 2 ratings
Nice, Nice, Very Nice 1976 |
4.00 | 2 ratings
Can't Let a Woman 1976 |
4.50 | 2 ratings
Magical Mystery Tour 1977 |
0.00 | 0 ratings
Rhino Hi-Five: Ambrosia 2006 |
AMBROSIA Reviews
Showing last 10 reviews only
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by Lupton
Side two is in some ways even more ambitious. The opening track "I Wanna Know"has a great emi-improvised slowburn build up before the song proper kicks in and a great big fat bombastic prog-rocker it is too."The Brunt" which follows is another very quirky number about dealing with traffic and likening it to a .The main instrumental section is head spinningly complex almost Zappaesque ending up as a bizarre soundscape full of jungle noises and chants mixed with the sound with the sound of elephants trumpeting in the background.The musical pastiche."Danse With Me George" presumably referring to Chopin's relationship with George Sands is even more ambitious at just over seven minutes and close in spirit to what 10CC were doing on the "Original Soundtrack" but frankly more innovative and enjoyable. The album is rounded off with a punchy power-pop rocker "Can't Let a Woman"jwhich perfectly shows up their dynamic style and a wistful ballad "We Need You Too"although even that last track has some dramatic moments. I must admit when I first heard this album many moon ago I found it almost too dense to fully appreciate but with repeated listenings the shear richness of this recording really does reveal itself.Clearly it is not for everyone but as a pop-prog cross-over this album is hard to beat.
Another Classic- 5 stars
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by Lupton
Poor old Ambrosia are still remembered primarily for their string of hits in the early eighties like "How Much I Feel" and "Biggest Part Of Me" all very pleasant love ballads but hardly Prog right? In fact there is a lot more to them than those singles. Their eponymous debut is an absolute stunner. Style-wise it could be described as a very proggy form of West Coat Rock incorporating elements of ELP,Bernstein and Blue Eyed Soul along the way.The opening track "Nice Nice Very Nice" seems to leap out of the speakers with its bombastic thudding contrapuntal base and swirling hammond organ and an extremely catchy chorus. The next track "Time Waits For No- one" is even more striking with its latin infused rhythms and one of the most inventive instrumental sections clearly inspired by Bernstein circa "West Side Story" Just superb.In fact it is interesting how similar to ELP the band sound on this track no doubt due to both bands being so heavily inspired by people like Copland and Bernstein."Holding On To Yesterday" is certainly not Prog even in the loosest sense but nevertheless is a gorgeous soulful ballad and probably an indicator of the more mainstream music they produced later on."Make Us All Aware" which opens side two is another brilliant and very proggy song with its celtic style instrumental section.Probably the most astonishing track is "Mama Frog" - a full on slice of Jazz Fusion even incorporating a couple of spoken verses from "The Jabberwocky". On top of the sheer sophistication of the playing, the actual production is first rate probably helped by Alan Parsons engineering input.Ambrosia would never produce anything quite as progressive as this album but I am probably one of the few Prog Archive reviewers who like all of their albums almost as much as their debut. Everything they did was pretty slick and classy to these ears anyway.As for the debut though I cannot recommend it enough.An absolute blasty of an album
5stars
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by Zoltanxvamos
My conclusion is, this is a fairly underrated album, the vocals are gorgeous, the keyboards are strong and well played, and the songwriting is top notch. What's not to like about this album? Whatever anyone sees, I can't see it, this album is beyond amazing.
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by sgtpepper
Excellent vocal harmonies, catchy songs and various instruments used belong to the definitive highlights. Neither compositions nor instrumetanl performances amaze with complexity but the musicians are competent enough to find themselves somewhere between Eagles/Kansas. The keyboardists and the drummer seem to be the most proficient players here.
"Mama frog" bears echoes of Yes and Canterbury, it is one of the most progressive tracks on this album.
Solemn moments with church organ and angel harmonies are present in the beginning and end of the last track as well as in a more rocking fashion on track, too.
Though a higly professional, well arranged (by Alan Parson) and thought-out record, it can't get more than 3.5 stars for it is not special progressive effort.
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by Kingsnake
But for a progressive rock-website, a prog-album is what we want. And a prog-album it is. The album starts of with some easy listening pop-rock songs, but when the listener reaches the final part of the album, there are some treats.
The musicianship on the entire album is outstanding and the production (Alan Parsons) is top! The vocals are like any 70's record; really good and harmonious.
The band is a kind of mix between Alan Parsons Project, Eagles, 10CC and Steely Dan but more progressive. The best tracks are Mama Frog and Drink of Water.
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by
BrufordFreak
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator
Five star songs: "Time Waits for No One," Holdin' on to Yesterday," the jazzy, GENTLE GIANT-like "Mama Frog," the medieval folk/THE ASSOCIATION-llike "Make Us All Aware," and the beautiful and emotional CARPENTERS/SIMON AND GARFUNKLE-like "Lover Arrive"
Song on the Breech: "Nice, Nice, Very Nice"
Songs that bring the album down a bit: The Beatles/pre-XTC-like "World Leave Me Alone"; the plodding STYX/PROCUL HARUM/URIAH HEEP-like "Drink of Water"
Still, a four star effort that, in my opinion, contributed something positive to the progressive rock world.
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by
Progfan97402
Prog Reviewer
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by Suedevanshoe
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by maryes
Ambrosia Prog Related
Review by
Warthur
Prog Reviewer