Ambrosia - Somewhere I've Never Travelled

Somewhere I've Never Travelled
Ambrosia
20th Century T-510
Released: September 1976
Chart Peak: #79
Weeks Charted: 17

Burleigh Drummond Christopher North Joe Puerta David Pack Somewhere I've Never Travelled is an amazingly ambitious work by four musicians who sound as if they've spent the last 20 years living inside a radio. All sorts of elements pop up: Yes vocal harmonies; old Blood, Sweat and Tears brass riffs; hokey Moody Blues spoken song intros; symphonic string sections; the overture from a failed sequel to Annie Get Your Gun; Keith Emerson attacking a cathedral organ; Paul McCartney being cute; Gordon Lightfoot being serious; ELO's string section; Peter Gabriel and Genesis; Marlin Perkins' Wild Kingdom; Chopin; the Beach Boys; Ricky Ricardo and Guy Lombardo.

The band obviously has no sound of its own. But under the superb production of the ubiquitous Alan Parsons, the album never ceases to sparkle and entertain. Inside this musical scrapbook are two potential followups to last year's hit, "Holdin' On to Yesterday." They are "Danse with Me George," a song to George Harrison, and "I Wanna Know." Complete with a cover that folds into a pyramid, this album would make a great gift for the fan who either has, or wants, everything.

- Alan Niester, Rolling Stone, 4/24/77.

Original album advertising art.
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One of the most interesting and ambitious newer groups out of L.A. delivers a fascinating, fine-textured work that is truly like a close-up into one of the most intriguing collective minds in today's music. Ambrosia is one of the few groups that has mastered the technique of being both far-out galactic in scope of vision and mainstream AM commercial in execution. The seemingly crystal-clear production of Alan Parsons is a vital element of this sound, it would seem. All four members of the group write songs and sing leads, yet Ambrosia has a cohesive and distinctive style no matter which combination of personnel is providing the material. There is an unusual dreamlike quality that pervades its work. The songs seem to be reaching the listener direct from some strange and beautiful realm of the unconscious. It is an experience rare in popular music today or at any time. Ambrosia is the group that proves it is possible to make music within the scope of science fiction without meandering all over the place in meaningless instrumental flurries. Best cuts: "Somewhere I've Never Travelled," "Runnin' Away," "We Need You Too," "I Wanna Know," "The Brunt."

- Billboard, 1977.

Their second album is more in the symphonic realm but just as good as their debut. * * *

- Scott Bultman, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.

Ambrosia's early albums showed a successful synthesis of rock and classical training, often with intentionally humorous results (as on the comically baroque track "Danse with Me George," from the group's 1977 album Somewhere I've Never Travelled).

- Christopher Scapelliti, Musichound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, 1996.

Reader's Comments

Gary Shollenberger

You mention that the Ambrosia song "Danse with Me George" is a song to George Harrison. Where do you get your information from? Its my understanding that the song is a reference to George (Georgie) Sand (oh my little Georgie Sand), a French writer who was known for smoking cigars and dressing like a man (both mentioned in the song).

Phil Hepple

Gary you are correct about the song being an ode to George Sand. The guy that stuck that in the review about George Harrison was totally clueless.

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