Subject.Aldo Nova

Aldo Nova | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 17, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 1983
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B001PCOT3Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,334 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Subject's Theme

2. Armageddon

3. Monkey on Your Back

4. Hey Operator

5. Cry Baby Cry

6. Victim of a Broken Heart

7. Africa (Primal Love)

8. Hold Back the Night

9. Always Be Mine

10. All Night Long

11. War Suite

12. Prelude to Paradise

13. Paradise

Editorial Reviews

CD reissue of the 1983 album from the Canadian guitarist. Aldo Nova was a rock singer-guitarist who had a few charting albums in the early 1980s. They have been out of print for years and fans have been clamoring for them.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe you had to be there..., July 31, 2004

By 

Brent A. Anthonisen "Johnny Sideburns" (Alpharetta, GA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Subject (Audio CD)

...but the truth is, if you were watching MTV in the early '80's or listening to AOR you were well familiar with a song/video called "Fantasy" by a guy called Aldo Nova...it's a song that still finds its place in the rotation for "classic rock" radio stations even today.

And even though the follow-up single/video, "Ball And Chain" was pretty good, you wondered just what this guy was capable of; he had already proved that he COULD BE Canada's Paul McCartney (at least in the sense that he could play all required instruments and perform all necessary vocals on a successful debut album).

"Subject...", sadly out-of-print as of this writing, proves that indeed the potential was there. This early Bon Jovi protege' (see the liner notes for the "Bon Jovi" debut CD) proves that he was indeed a force to be reckoned with regarding the atmosphere in which the early 1980's recording industry was leading...hey, if Loverboy and April Wine could score gold and platinum records Stateside, why not a guy who could write, arrange, and perform most (if not all) the musical/vocal parts on a single album?

Possibly because Aldo tried to follow mid-'70's Canadian rock gods Rush into the realm of AOR success via the pretentious route of the "concept album"...always a dangerous trek for those better suited for the pop/rock genre...and unfortunately, Aldo found that the people who REALLY dug his debut album and those who loved Pink Floyd or Rush weren't exactly the same peer group.

Nonetheless, this album was received warmly enough so that Aldo was given the sandwich position in a North American tour with Blue Oyster Cult (headliners, obviously) and German heavy metal up-&-comers Accept (of "Balls To The Wall" fame).

Things looked good...it was a great tour (I saw it with primo seats), but for some reason the USA music press never caught on. Maybe Aldo Nova was lost under the radar. If so, that's a d@mn shame...because this guy is a musician's musician.

Anyway, this is a rather ambitious project for a guy releasing only (at the time) his 2nd album on a major label...and it is possible the label got cold feet at the prospect of releasing it...but the truth is there are a number of radio friendly songs on this album...see "Monkey On Your Back", "Hey Operator", "Victim Of A Broken Heart", "Always Be Mine", and "All Night Long".

Sequenced between those tracks are a number of "experimental" songs that give this album the degree of "what the f#$& was he thinking?" license that doom most prog-rock offerings to lore and legend...but the truth is that compared to both earlier and later releases, Aldo Nova was trying to get the most out of art for the sake of art itself. Whether this means anything coming from a guy with a mullet at the time is for history to decide...but the truth is that this an ambitious album that may well have been let down by its label...and the success of other video-oriented bands at the time.

For fans of early-'80's pop/rock, this is required listening. For people who wonder if Aldo Nova ever recorded anything after "Fantasy", prepare to be completely blown away. Find this one at all cost.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great rock Album-A major "Should have been a hit.", May 8, 1999

By 

Xarias "xarias" (Westminster, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Subject (Audio CD)

This is a really great CD by a really great artist that should have gotten more notice than he did.If you only know the name Aldo Nova from the song "Fantasy" you are not alone, but you need to hear the other CDs.

Aldo Nova is a guy, not a band, and his second CD, "Subject: Aldo Nova" is awesome, though not a commercial hit, (with the possible exception of the sleeper AOR "Monkey on your back").

"Subject:Aldo Nova" is a fabulously produced, synth/guitar rock album, with just the slightest hint of concept CD thrown in for good measure. Aldo plays all instruments, and very well I might add.

If you like this one, you'll love, "Blood on the Bricks"

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Vivacious and solid., August 9, 2000

By 

sauerkraut - See all my reviews

This review is from: Subject (Audio CD)

Subject is a solid and consistent second album from Aldo Nova. I've always enjoyed listening to it. I first started listening to Aldo Nova several years ago. I used to listen to Subject a lot. I still like to listen to sometimes--it's got energy. Subject is pop rock with a slight progressive edge. I find every song to be listenable, melodic, and enjoyable. Subject is just as good as the the previous debut album. There's a nice and effective blend of guitar and keyboard playing throughout. The album consists of 14 tracks. The musicianship, songwriting, and production are good. Almost all of the material is written by Aldo Nova. Aldo Nova's guitar work is really good, and his singing is efficient and unique. I've never heard another vocalist that resembles him. His guitar solos on Subject are well constructed and sprightly. Keyboards add an atmospheric sweetness to the songs, also. Subject contains vocal songs and instrumentals. My favorite tracks are "Monkey on Your Back," "Victim of a Broken Heart," and "Always Be Mine." "Monkey on Your Back" is a lively straight-ahead rocker with cool guitar work. The ballad "Victim of a Broken Heart" is moving and well done. It has an emotional intro, and Aldo Nova does a nice job with the vocals. The aspect of "Always Be Mine" that I like the most is the keyboard playing. Subject is an interesting and pleasurable disc. It's worth a listen.