Updated 1-01-2000

A Special Message Of Thanks From Burleigh-12-18-99

A Special Message Of Thanks From Joe-12-17-99

Tollak Joins Ambrosia Web!-Updated-11-13-99

Buy Ambrosia CD's Directly From Ambrosia!

EarthTone Music Joins Links Section!

Shem Joins The Concert Listings!

Tin Drum Has An Official Website!-Updated 12-22-99!!!

Flowers-A Special Message Of Thanks From Burleigh-12-18-99

Thanks to all Travelers for the flowers; I have to tell everyone on this
list that you have been a real sparkplug at times to Ambrosia just
knowing that someone cares and is interested in what you do. And on a
personal note I appreciate the friendship, inspiration, and kind words
many of you have given to me and my family. You are the greatest and I
only hope Ambrosia continues to live up to the respect you give it. All
the best to everyone and I hope to see as many of you as possible this
coming millenium.  BURLEIGH THE MAGNIFICENT

Flowers-A Special Message Of Thanks From Joe-12-17-99

Dear Traveller's,    I would like to express my deep thanks and appreciation
for all the support and love you have sent my and Ambrosia's way- lo these
many years.    You guys are terrific and have been a great source of
inspiration for all of us and  I want to send a special thanks for the
flowers that did a lot to bolster my spirits after spending several weeks in
the studio or on the road without a day off,  ( trying to establish the
studio and keep up with the Ambrosia dates has been more than a full time job
).
All you guys have been great,  and Rex and Pat please pass this letter on to
the list and the website fans,  I would like to let them know how much their
enthusiasm for our music is appreciated.   
 I hope all of you have a wonderful season and I look forward to seeing Pat
and Billie soon in Florida and the rest of the Traveller's and fans on the
road next year.
Onward to the next Millenium,   with much love,    Joe Puerta.

Tollak Joins Ambrosia Web!

Tollak, the master of the harmonica, has joined the Ambrosia Web
family! We are delighted to have him here! You can check out his
new CD release "Northern Lights" and purchase it on line as well!
Check out his extrodinary & unique musical stylings here!

Ambrosia Import CD's Released By Warner Bros. Japan!

Warner Brothers has released the 1st Ambrosia LP on CD (7-28-99). The One Eighty CD has been re-relased as well. Road Island is due to be released for the 1st time on the WB Japan
label on 8-3-99. Life Beyond L.A. is due to be re-released by WB Japan on 8-3-99 as well.
Prices range from about $50 (YES $50!!!) to $20, depending where you look. We are still
awaitng the promised domestic release of Ambrosia & Somewhere I Never Travelled as a
double CD with bonus tracks on a US label. Stay tuned for more news!

Buy Ambrosia CD's Directly From Ambrosia!

Now you can purchase the Ambrosia Import CDs directly from Ambrosia!
This way, Ambrosia will finally profit from their brilliant music!
You can also purchase David Pack's solo CD, "Anywhere You Go".Click Here For Details!

Concert Listings
| Ambrosia | Joe Puerta | Burleigh Drummond | Christopher North | David Pack | Shem |
| Tollak |

Inside Rock & Roll
Ambrosia
By WMMO's Jerry Steffen

The first time founding Ambrosia members David Pack (lead guitar, vocals) and Joe Puerta (bass guitar, vocals) played music together was in their mid-teens doing Doors covers in a high school group called the Sentry's. But it was while they were part of the 1969 Los Angeles area band Down Puxny, when Pack and Puerta composed "Holdin' On To Yesterday," a soon-to-be classic that wouldn't be heard on the radio until over five-years later. It was after the addition of keyboard player Christopher North and drummer Burleigh Drummond when the group took on the new name of Amber Gris Mite, named for the whale secretion that was the main ingredient in perfume. But after they discovered some other band had already released an album called Amber Gris, the guys looked on the same dictionary page to find another word that would become their new name. Ambrosia: "nectar of the gods; something pleasing to the senses; immortality." Although Ambrosia recorded just five studio albums, all between 1975 and 1982, the only CD the group has available in the States, so far, is their best-of package titled, Anthology. The guys in the band are hoping their back catalog will be released sometime early next year. After a bit of digging, I found a few tasty factoids about some of Ambrosia's best known songs. Enjoy! Jerry Steffen

"Holdin' On To Yesterday" (Peaked at #17 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart/1975/from the album Ambrosia)

This was not only Ambrosia's very first hit single, but the very first song David Pack and Joe Puerta wrote together. The song was mixed by Alan Parsons not long after concluding engineering duties for the legendary Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon project. After forging a friendship with legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein in 1972, Pack was able to recruit Bernstein violinist Daniel Kobialka in the studio to utilize his improvisational talents on this particular track.

"Nice, Nice, Very Nice" (#63/1975/Ambrosia)

This was an Ambrosia original which was inspired by a poem called "The 53rd Calypso of Bokonon" from the Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. book, "Cat's Cradle" which was written about cultural diversity, the cosmos and the end of life as we know it. ("Oh a sleeping drunkard up in central park; A lion hunter in the jungle dark; And a Chinese dentist and a British queen; All fit together in the same machine; nice very nice; nice very nice; nice very nice; So many different people in the same device.") Because some of the words were lifted directly from Vonnegut's novel, the author was given a writing credit for the song alongside the other four members of the band. The song, which was mixed by Alan Parsons, featured such unusual instruments such as balalaikas, gamelans, a bassoon and even percussion on a water cooler.

"Time Waits For No One" (album track/1975/Ambrosia)

This David Pack/Joe Puerta composition, which was inspired by the lyrics of poet T.S. Eliot, requires repeated listens because of all of its ingredients. According to the Ambrosia Anthology liner notes, the song opens with a ratchet stuck inside of a gourd simulating the winding of a clock. Also used: huge Javanese gongs, a carillon (a set of fixed chromatically tuned bells sounded by hammers controlled by a keyboard), crashing alarm clocks, a balalaika group and last, but not least, their tip-of-the-hat to mentor Leonard Bernstein by including hand claps reminiscent of the song "America" from the musical West Side Story." The track was engineered and mixed with the help of Alan Parsons.

"The Raven" (#80/1976/Tales Of Mystery And Imagination)

Although this was one of the very first songs to be recorded by the Alan Parsons Project, it's listed here because all four members of Ambrosia (Joe Puerta, David Pack, Burleigh Drummond and Christopher North) took part in this historic, but somewhat strange session. Alan Parsons and his collaborator and manager, Eric Woolfson, were so secretive about the music they were making, that they lied to their musicians as to what the songs were about. Because he didn't want anyone to know his song "The Raven" was part of a concept album based on the writings of Edgar Allen Poe to be titled Tales Of Mystery And Imagination, Parsons told the band the song was called "The Raver" and was about, "a street walker in London." Puerta said, "If you listen to that track, that's where that (funky) groove came from, because he had told us it was, "The Raver."

"Magical Mystery Tour" (#39/1977/All This And World War II)

Before beginning work for their new label Warner Brothers, Ambrosia gave 20th Century Fox Records once last piece of music for an all-star soundtrack album of Beatles songs that would pre-date the Peter Frampton/Bee Gees film-flop "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by at least 20-months. Alongside Ambrosia, Mercury Records' A&R man Lou Reizner recruited such acts as Rod Stewart, Peter Gabriel, Tina Turner, Leo Sayer, Helen Reddy, and yes, the Bee Gees, to record their renditions of Beatles' songs for a film he produced called, All This And World War II. The movie, which featured grainy newsreel footage to Lennon/McCartney covers, was a box office bomb. And although the film's double-disc album soundtrack didn't do much better when released, that lone Ambrosia track, "Magical Mystery Tour," became the only previously unreleased song from the 30-song set to find a place on the Billboard Pop Singles charts.

"How Much I Feel" (#3/1978/Life Beyond L.A.)

David Pack wrote this ballad back in 1967 when he was a 15 year old student attending Torrence High School just south of Los Angeles. He said the song was the result of losing a girl who broke his heart. When his composition was finally laid down on tape over ten years later during the Life Beyond L.A. sessions in 1978, the song was almost omitted from the album because the band thought they would alienate their progressive rock audience by releasing a pop ballad. Although "How Much I Feel" did signify a slight change of musical direction for Ambrosia, (in fact, the album title to their next release, One Eighty, was a sly reference to that stylistic shift), the song did become the band's biggest hit single to date by peaking at number-three on the Billboard Pop Singles charts.

"Biggest Part Of Me" (#3/1980/One Eighty)

David Pack said he wrote the song in a streak of inspiration one afternoon before leaving for a Fourth of July beach party "with the car running in the driveway." Just like "How Much I Feel," "Biggest Part Of Me" also peaked at number-three on Billboard's Pop Singles charts. The tune was nominated for three Grammy's ("Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group," "Best Instrumental Arrangement with Vocals" and "Best Jazz Fusion Performance"), and was much later honored with a BMI award for being played over two-million times on radio stations across the country. The track features former "Tonight Show" band member and popular West Coast session saxophonist Ernie Watts.

"You're The Only Woman (You & I)" (#13/1980/One Eighty)

David Pack said this ballad was inspired by the beautiful harmony-styled songs from Beach Boy, Brian Wilson. Pianist David Cutler Lewis, who played keyboards (Rhodes and Prophet) on the session, said he helped come up with the "chord alterations and textures that influence the total song." Also, former Steely Dan session man Royce Jones supplied the soulful background vocals on this track.

For more info, call 849-5000, or e-mail WMMO promotions.

© Copyright 1999 Cox Interactive Media

Orange County Stories May 12, 1999

Sweet Smell of Vindication
Pop music: Overtures of a return to an orchestral presence in rock give fresh legs to oft-maligned Ambrosia, which is considering a new album.
By ERNESTO LECHNER, Special to The Times

Progressive-rock band Ambrosia spent most of its heyday in the '70s and '80s being drubbed by rock critics for its grandiose arrangements and lofty art-rock ambitions.
Though the Los Angeles band used eccentric time signatures and orchestral sonic textures like front-line prog-rock outfits such as Genesis, it also demonstrated an appreciation OC ROCK/POP for economical songwriting.
It's a sound that Ambrosia singer, guitarist and songwriter David Pack thinks is making a comeback.
"What I like about what's happening in music now is that I'm starting to hear an orchestral presence again in rock, like with the Smashing Pumpkins and even some Green Day songs," Pack said from Nashville, ahead of the group's show Thursday opening for the Doobie Brothers in Cerritos.
And yes, it gives him some sense of vindication about his band, which has survived and continues to tour.
"I don't feel like a victim. Just knowing that the band has made music that stands the test of time is a statement by itself. The fact is that we're still around."
Indeed, after enduring a bitter breakup in 1982, the four band members eventually started missing each another. Seven years later, they reunited for some live gigs. The band has continued to tour on and off since, and is now considering recording an album of new material.
"We have enough music to make a new record," Pack said. "But it's also hard to find the right label to promote it correctly. Even though I'm working on a solo album right now, Ambrosia is a whole other musical universe for me, and I tend to write differently within that context."
Like many of its contemporaries, Ambrosia, which formed in 1971, was born out of its members' desire to emulate the Beatles. But by the time the foursome released its first album in 1975, a new, elaborate style was all the rage. Bands such as Genesis, Pink Floyd and Gentle Giant brought their formal training and classical influences to contemporary music, creating majestic works that stretched the boundaries of rock 'n' roll.
"What we didn't like about progressive rock was that it was too flamboyant without substance," said Pack, 47. "Those bands dated themselves by making the arrangements more of the central focus than the quality of songwriting. I think that we were different in that respect."
"We were also influenced by the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and all the great rhythm-and-blues stuff that was happening at the time. We were like sponges, absorbing all good music that was around. We were hoping to be like the Beatles but able to orchestrate our own music."
After the band's breakup, Park started a new career as a record producer with the help of Quincy Jones. Since then, he has produced albums by Natalie Cole, Wynonna Judd, Aretha Franklin and a star-studded tribute to his mentor, Leonard Bernstein.
"Until I started producing people, I never realized that we had fans within the industry," he said. "When I heard Patti LaBelle and Quincy Jones telling me that they love Ambrosia songs . . . it gave me confidence that as a band, we were on the right track."


* * *
Does that suggest the world might be ready to embrace Ambrosia again?
"You hear orchestral instruments working their way back into rock, giving it a greater depth of field," Pack said. "There's definitely a bridge between the '70s and the late '90s. What we were trying to do back then is coming back around. And I love that."

* * *
* Ambrosia opens for the Doobie Brothers on Thursday at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. 8 p.m. $37-$52. (800) 300-4345.
Copyright 1999 Los Angeles Times. All Rights Reserved

Ambrosia TV!

Ambrosia will be featured on VH1's "Where Are They Now" (For Those Who DON"T  Know!)
Airdates & Times:
3-2-99 @10PM
3-3-99 @12AM
3-5-99 @1PM
3-6-99 @11AM
3-7-99 @6PM
3-10-99 @8PM

This News From Dave Pack's Site... 

Ambrosia CDs Update:  David is rummaging through 25 year old Ambrosia
tapes to find 'bonus cuts' for an upcoming Warner release of the first two
Ambrosia albums, packaged in a double CD set, to be released hopefully in the
spring.
News Flash!

Questions regarding the re-release of the prior Ambrosia records will hopefully be answered soon according to Warner Archival Chief in N.Y. Greg Geller. Rhino Records has been acquired by Warner Bros. to handle it's back catalogue and according to Geller they are now considering whether to release them individually or as a boxed set...or both! Please feel free to send your comments directly to Greg Geller, Warner Bros. Records NYC or to Rhino Records in Los Angeles.

Tour Dates 1999-For all 1998 concert listings & reviews Click Here

Ambrosia-Updated 1-01-2000

February 13-14, 1999-Atlantis Casino Resort
David Cutler Lewis will be there!
3800 South Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502
Call (800) 723-6500  (702) 825-4700   

February 20, 1999 -Club Caprice-CANCELLED!
Redondo Beach, CA
Call (310) 316-1700

May 13, 1999 Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Dr.
Cerritos, CA, 90703
w/ The Doobie Brothers

May 14-15, 1999-Flamingo Casino
1800 East Front Street
Kansas City, MO
Call 1-800-946-8711

May 17, 1999-Arizona Charlies
Las Vegas, NV
Call (702) 258-5200

May 22, 1999-Washington Rodeo Arena
Walla Walla, WA
Call 1-800-891-5779

May 28, 1999-Cafe Milano
Nashville, TN
Call (615) 255-0073

May 29, 1999-Cancelled
Galveston Pop Festival
Galveston,TX
Call (409) 621-4400

June 10, 1999
Albany,  NY

June 11, 1999
Bodles Opera House
Chester,  NY
Call (914) 469-4595

June 12, 1999
Budweiser Summer Stage
Big Flats,  NY
Call 1-800-650-TAGS
With Little River Band

June 13, 1999
National Music Center
6PM-$18.50
Lenox, MA
Call (413) 662-2323
With Les Lokey &G.E.Smith

June 19, 1999
Club Caprice
Redondo Beach, CA
Call (310) 316-1700

June 25, 1999
Central Park
Warsaw, IN

July 28, 1999
Innsbrook Pavillion
Richmond, VA
Call (804) 598-1333

July 30, 1999
Slim's
San Francisco, CA
Call (415) 255-0333
With Guests: Tin Drum

July 31, 1999
Radisson Hotel
500 Leisure Lane
Sacramento, CA
Call (916) 912-2020

August 5, 1999
The Long Bar
Monterey, CA
Call (831) 649-4241

August 6, 1999
The BoardwalkFestival-FREE Show
Santa Cruz, CA

August 7, 1999
Festival
Denver, CO

August 13, 1999
Humphrey's in San Diego, CA.
With guests: Gary Wright

August 14, 1999-Coach House
San Juan Capistrano, CA
8 PM-$19.50
Call (714) 740-2000

September 4, 1999 - CANCELLED
Key Club Hollywood, CA
Call (310) 786-1712

September 5, 1999 - CANCELLED
Irvine Meadows
Irvine, CA
With Blue Oyster Cult
Mark Farner

September 11, 1999 - CANCELLED
The Key Club
Hollywood,CA

September 24, 1999
WMMO Downtown Concert Series
Church Street Market - 7PM -FREE!!
Orlando, FL Call (407) 849-5000

November 13, 1999
Feather Falls Casino
Orovile, CA
Call (530) 533-3885

November 19, 1999
Jaax Concert Hall & Nite Club 9-11PM! - $20
6335 Rolling Road
W. Springfield, VA
Call (703) 569-5940

November 20, 1999
Foxwoods Casino-Cinedrome Nightclub - FREE!
Ledyard, CT

December 11, 1999
Tacoma, WA
1-888-831-ROLL
Emerald Queen Casino
With guests:Pablo Cruise & Howie Mandel

December 28, 1999
Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa
Sanibel, FL
Call:(800)767-7777 (in USA only)
Phone:(941)466-4000
Fax:(941)466-6050

December 31, 1999-CANCELLED
Austin, TX
One World Theatre
With Guests: Tin Drum
Call: 512-330-9500

January 9, 2000
Miami, FL
Gulfstream Park

February 11-13, 2000
Folk Arts Theatre
Manila, The Philippines!

March 31, 2000
Santa Anna, CA
Galaxy Theatre
Call: 949-496-8930

April 1, 2000
Hollywood, CA
Roxy Theatre
Call: 310-278-9457

May 5, 2000
Tifton, GA
Arts Festival
Call: 912-386-3558

August 19, 2000
Atlantic City, NJ
Resorts Casino
Call: 609-344-6000

J

Joe Puerta

January 17, 1999 Les Lokey-Featuring Joe Puerta!
Astor Street Ballroom
Live taping for the Hotel Milwaukee Radio Show!
924 E Juneau Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414/271-4220

January 25, 1999 Les Lokey-Featuring Joe Puerta!
Poet's Corner @ Thai Joe's Lava Lounge
2239 N Prospect Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 223-3333

February 3, 1999 Les Lokey-Featuring Joe Puerta! Opening for Dave Davies
Middle East Club
472-480 Massachusetts Avenue
(At the Corner of Brookline Street)
Cambridge, MA
Phone: 617-492-9181
Fax: 617-547-3930

February 4, 1999 Les Lokey-Featuring Joe Puerta! Opening for Dave Davies
Emerald City Night Club
114 River Street
Montpelier, VT
(802) 223-7007

February 6, 1999 Les Lokey-Featuring Joe Puerta! Opening for Dave Davies
Sit'n Bull Pub
163 Main St.
Maynard, MA
(508) 897-7232 for music updates
(508) 897-4663 for food, directions, philosophy, whatever

D
David Pack

February 9, 1999
Cafe Milano in Nashville, TN
7pm Benefit for State Wide Anti-Suicide Program
Featuring:
David Pack
Michael McDonald
Victoria Shaw
Fire Fall
Wynonna
 

T

Tin Drum Updated-11-13-99

Earthtone Music Showcase!
w/Tollak, Shem, Michelle Bass (featuring Rich Rees) & Janet Robin
November 18th, 1999
14 below
1348 14th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 451-5040
fax (310) 451-0251

October 1st, 1999
Three Rivers Music Festival
Three Rivers, CA

September 25th, 1999
Cancer Society Benefit
Newbury Park, CA

January 28, 1999 Ventura Theatre Ventura, CA - Opening for Bill Bruford's Earthworks!

July 30, 1999
Slim's
San Francisco, CA
Call (415) 255-0333
With Guests: Ambrosia

December 31, 1999-CANCELLED
Austin, TX
One World Theatre
With Guests: Ambrosia
Call: 512-330-9500

Christopher North

July 23, 1999 Sacred Grounds
As Part Of The ALL STAR Chuck Alvarez Band!

Shem

Earthtone Music Showcase!
w/Tin Drum, Tollak, Michelle Bass (featuring Rich Rees) & Janet Robin
November 18th, 1999
14 below
1348 14th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 451-5040
fax (310) 451-0251

SHEM   
                      Performing at
                      The Lounge At The Beach

                      Thursday 9/30/99 @ 7:30pm
                       1018 Hermosa Ave.-- Hermosa Beach, Ca.

Afterward He'll be playing with his band "Strings Attached"  until
closing with:
Tollak Ollestad
Bruce Watson
Jim Wheeler
Chris Ralles

SHEM   
                      Performing at
                      The Lounge At The Beach

                       Saturday 9/11/99 @ 7:30pm
                       1018 Hermosa Ave.-- Hermosa Beach, CA

Tollak

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