Ammonia Avenue

Alan Parsons Project | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000002VCO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,687 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Prime Time

2. Let Me Go Home

3. One Good Reason

4. Since the Last Goodbye

5. Don't Answer Me

6. Dancing on a High Wire

7. You Don't Believe

8. Pipeline

9. Ammonia Avenue

Editorial Reviews

Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Includes the same bonus tracks that appear on the EU/US expanded editions. Sony/BMG 2009. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prime Time For Parsons' Project, February 1, 2003

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ammonia Avenue (Audio CD)

The Alan Parsons Project's 1984 release, "Ammonia Avenue," is definitely one of their best albums. Following the highly-successful "Eye In The Sky," "Ammonia Avenue" is yet another winning blend of this excellent studio group's progressive pop/rock, anchored by writer/producer Alan Parsons and his partner, singer/composer Eric Woolfson. Great songs are everywhere---the radio hits "Prime Time" & "Don't Answer Me," the catchy "One Good Reason," the excellent melodic rock of "Dancing On A Highwire," the dreamy instrumental "Pipeline," and the lovely title track that closes the album. The tunes are memorable, the vocals by such singers as Eric Woolfson himself, Lenny Zakatek, Chris Rainbow & Colin Blunstone are first-rate, the musicianship from such Project regulars as guitarist Ian Bairnson, drummer Stuart Elliot, et al, is tight, and Parsons' 80's polish to the production is sparkly. "Ammonia Avenue" is an excellent album from Alan Parsons & company. You can't go wrong purchasing this one. :-)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ammonia Avenue Rocks, May 18, 2006

By 

William Breeden (St. Louis, Missouri) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ammonia Avenue (Audio CD)

I enjoy this album. If the music moves you, it moves you, whether it's pop, opera, or whatever. This album helped me get out of a bad relationship, along with Vulture Culture. I enjoy the entire APP catalog. I also say OF COURSE Alan was influenced by the 80s culture. This album was released SMACK DAB in the middle of the 80s. I commend Alan, Eric, et al for producing this nice collection of thoughtful songs. These are enjoyable songs, each with a great message. ONE GOOD REASON is the ultimate break-up song, which every young naive guy needs at some point. Buy it, play it, enjoy it.

Update to my previous review: This is one of The Alan Parsons Project's greatest albums. It's difficult to choose among them; they are all fantastic. I bought this album in 1995 (in CD format) and it has never left my regular playing rotation. "Ammonia Avenue" was released in 1984, the same year as the following album "Vulture Culture." By this time, APP had sort of moved away from strictly them-based albums into a more pop friendly format. I know some fans prefer the earlier albums, and that is fine, but I enjoy all of them. These songs are fantastic individually, but they also work great together in this album.

Alan Parsons' music has been a very important part of my life ever since I discovered it, and this album is right up there. The music is both simple and complex at the same time. The melodies are catchy, and even the first time you hear them, they feel somehow familiar. At the same time, they are deep and complex enough to remain one of your favorites for years to come. Highly recommended.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Their Second Best!!!, May 8, 2003

By 

Brandon Stanley "bls2182" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ammonia Avenue (Audio CD)

After "I Robot", 'Ammonia Avenue' is definitely their finest. Mind you, it's a close second. This is a very consistant and rewarding album, with so many great tracks that I can't really cite any specifics without pointing out another that is just as good, or better! Contrary to what another reviewer has said, "Don't Answer Me" is a great track. It has kind of a Roy Orbison thing going on with the music. If you ever get an oppurtunity to see the music video for this song, it is amazing.

"One Good Reason" is another great track. I love the way that the drums pan from left to right in the speakers, really takes advantage of the two-speaker spectrum, something that not many bands have really utilized. As opposed to most groups, AAP has used the studio as an instrument.

"Ammonia Avenue" the title track, is probably the highlight of the album. Eric Woolfson provides his usual wonderful and gentle voice to this ballad-ey mini epic. This is also probably one of the most musically complex tunes that AAP did, up until "Gaudi". In fact, i'd go as far to say that it's near-flawless, if not for the fact that it is so similar to the song "Silence and I" from the 'Eye in the Sky' album.

"Prime Time" is another great tune. I love the way that it builds up from the beginning. Not much else to say but that it is very satisfying. Also, "Pipeline" is a very fine instrumental, something that the band never really did much of, after their debut album.

I could go on, but I think you probably have a good idea of what it's all about. Musically, it's 80's pop, and the songs do have a dated sound, but I can't complain. Music belongs to the era it was made. Besides, AAP was and is much more sonically interesting than many bands that are around. This, however, was probably one of their last truly flawless-as-a-whole recordings. Regardless, it's a fine recording, and definetly one of those essential albums for any collection.