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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ammonia Avenue, October 11, 2008
Ammonia Avenue was the Project's seventh studio album. It peaked at #15 on the charts & was the last Project album that cracked the Top 20. It had more charting singles than any other Project album. The songs that charted: "You Don't Believe" (#54 Hot 100), "Ammonia Avenue" (#15 Top 200), "Don't Answer Me" (#15 Hot 100) & "Prime Time" (#34 Hot 100). Ammonia Avenue could be considered the last album of Parsons early or classic era or it could be considered the transitional album before the late era. It's certainly the dividing line for the Project's impact on album or singles charts. Most of the usual suspects are here as lead vocalists: Eric Woolfson, Lenny Zakatek, Chris Rainbow & Colin Blunstone. surprisingly, there isn't a lead vocal by the bassist, David Paton.
Ammonia Avenue has a lot of good tracks, comes close to being the equal of Eye in the Sky. The album opens with "Prime Time", a very good song. It was unusual for the Project to open an album with a song that wasn't an instrumental. This changed with Ammonia Avenue. "Let Me Go Home" is about as close as the Project came to rocking out on a song. It's not what one would call hard rock but for the Project it is. Ian Bairnson provides an excellent solo proving, once again, he's an underrated guitarist. "One Good Reason" is another very good song. "One Good Reason" is a song that hints at the future direction the Project would embark upon. "Since the Last Goodbye" is a nice ballad but it might be the weakest song on the original album. That's not saying it's a bad song, it's not, it's just surrounded by so many good songs. "Don't Answer Me" has a pop sound, it's typical Parsons but that isn't a bad thing. There's a great sax solo in it performed by Mel Collins. "Dancing On a Highwire" is an adventurous song. Bairnson performs a very tasteful solo. "You Don't Believe" is one of the two best songs on the album, it has one of the catchiest choruses I've ever heard. "Pipeline" is the only instrumental on the original album. It's not the same "Pipeline" recorded way back in the sixties but Parsons is acknowledging a group that has been largely forgotten. But as far as instrumentals go, this isn't on the level as "I Robot" or "Sirius" but it has another great sax solo by Collins. "Ammonia Avenue" is reminiscent of "Silence & I" from Eye in the Sky. Woolfson's voice is particularly suited to this type of song.
There are eight bonus tracks included in the remastered version of Ammonia Avenue. There's an early rough mix of "Don't Answer Me", there's even a false start included at the beginning of the track. Next is the demo version of "You Don't Believe" that's much shorter than the final version. This version is an instrumental & it would have worked well that way also. "Since the Last Goodbye" is only 29 seconds long & has only the vocal overdubs by Chris Rainbow. The rough mix of "Since the Last Goodbye" follows, this version has a guide vocal by Woolfson. This is a case that shows why Rainbow did the vocal for the final version. Woolfson has a fine voice for certain songs but this is a case where it isn't suitable. The next track is an instrumental version of "You Don't Believe". In the credits it's listed as an instrumental tribute to the Shadows (get it? "Pipeline"). This is another song that would have worked well as an instrumental. Parsons was never crazy about this version but I found it to be interesting. The next bonus track is "Dancing On a Highwire/Spotlight" which is listed as a work in progress & this version is definitely that. The vocal is very rough & incomplete, the drumming isn't even on time. There are parts where one can hear voice directions for the musicians. "Ammonia Avenue Part" is next & is a rough mix with a vocal by Woolfson which wasn't used. On this version Woolfson had yet to complete the lyrics so some of the vocals are only syllable phrasing. This is more typical of songs in their early stages than most people realize. The final bonus track is "Ammonia Avenue" that is only orchestral overdubs, kind of like the Naked versions on some of the remastered albums but without the length.
This is one of the Project's three best albums & the remastering is GREAT! The booklet has a lot of information but isn't deep. This one is really worth the money, even the early versions of songs are mostly interesting. I highly recommend that Project fans get this edition. The long wait is over!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Parsons goes pop/rock?, October 28, 2008
After purchasing this installment in the excellent Alan Parsons Project reissue programme, I realised quite how much I'd under-rated this album when it first appeared back in 1984. The seventh Project outing was markedly different from its predecessors but, whilst I still don't think it's the Project's best album, it's an enjoyable listen and has some real high-points. Please note that four stars is a judgement relative to other APP albums - considered more broadly, all APP albums are emphatically five-star material. No one has done this sort of thing better.
The first five APP albums were innovative, leading-edge progressive rock. 'Eye in the Sky' was slightly more commercial, and this trend continued with 'Ammonia Avenue', which moved more into the pop/rock mainstream. The Project was evolving from progressive rock into a pop/rock band - and, in my opinion, did this better than anyone else.
An immediately noticeable feature of 'Ammonia Avenue' was that the nine tracks included a string of catchy, rocky cuts, any one of which could have been a hit single. 'Prime Time' was perhaps the most commercial-sounding APP track to date (which is in no way a criticism - I love it). 'Let Me Go Home' is a typically gutsy vocal performance from Project stalwart Lenny Zakatek. 'One Good Reason' packs a real punch through great percussion and Eric Woolfson's finely-crafted vocals. 'Don't Answer Me' (featuring Woolfson again) is another catchy cut. 'Dancing on a Highwire' struck me at the time (and still does) as being the best track on the album, with Colin Blunstone excellent on lead vocals. 'You Don't Believe' is another rocker, with Zakatek again belting out a great gutsy vocal. 'Pipeline' is a typically classy APP instrumental.
For me, the two slower tracks don't quite measure up to the standard set by these rockers, but no matter - 'Ammonia Avenue' is a great collection of songs.
The reissue is welcome, featuring subtle remastering and the customary fascinating set of bonus tracks which, via rough mixes, demos and guide vocals, give a great insight into the production process. A departure from the earlier albums, then, but an outstanding collection of great songs by one of rock music's all-time great acts.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Time to throw your original copy out, this remaster is essential!, October 2, 2008
I'll be brief. It was a 4 star album to begin with. Now it's nothing less than 5 stars. This new expanded remaster sounds so much better than the original. There is no comparison. The real draw though, is a treasure trove of vocal demos, backing tracks, orchestral overdubs, etc. It's an absolute must for any big APP fan. Get this one and throw your original copy away.
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