Tommy Shaw - Ambition
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Free Music Notes for Ambition
Free Music Review: Thanks, Terry and Tommy
Hit: 5 Stars
For those who are fans Tommy Shaw of Styx and Damn Yankees, you know what a great songwriter Tommy is when he has a creative counterpart to bounce his musical ideas off of-- Such as the guys in Styx and Damn Yankees. Before Damn Yankees, Tommy met a very talented producer by the name of Terry Thomas. Tommy was in desperate need of a fresh start in his solo career after his second album failed. He got a new manager and his manager teamed him up with Terry. The result was "Ambition" a very well-written and produced "AOR" rock album in 1987. There are very few dull moments on this disc. "Somewhere In the Night" is worth the price of the whole CD alone. Very powerful stuff. Terry took Tommy in a very different songwriting direction and the result was a dark, atmospheric and emotional record that somehow manages to retain the "soul" of Tommy Shaw's style. All the sudden, he's singing in odd minor keys and in higher registers at Terry's urging. Arguably, it marks the beginning of a creative journey that will take him to Damn Yankees, to Shaw-Blades, back to Styx and back to Shaw-Blades again, with several songwriting credits on the side for other artists along the way. Wow. Most people don't realize the impact that this supposed "failure" had on his career. Commercially the album was a failure (thanks for nothing Atlantic Records) despite it's album rock-friendly production values and solid musical performances. But it is a great record that deservedly has been reissued. On a side note, this was a big break for Terry Thomas as well, who went on to produce some fine album-rock records for Bad Company and Giant in the late 80's.Free Music Review: '80s pop rock obscure gem
Hit: 5 Stars
This is my favorite of all the Tommy Shaw solo albums. I remember looking for this in 1988, the year after it came out, and it was already in the bargain bin. I scooped it up then and was glad I did, as it disappeared for good soon after that. I'm glad to see it's available now for others to buy and enjoy.
This is an awesome, vintage 1980s melodic pop/rock album. To me, every single track shines. For sure "No Such Thing" is a great rocker to open the album, as is the title track at track 4. "Dangerous Game" has a soaring, anthemic melodic quality to it that can't be beat. "Ever Since The World Began" is a remake of the Survivor song that appears on the "Eye Of the Tiger" album, and it is as hearfelt and brilliant a performance as the original. "Somewhere in the Night" is another soaring melodic anthem in the second half of the album, and "Lay Them Down" as the closing track is also beautifully thick with melodies.
If you are a fan of '80s melodic pop/rock, you owe it to yourself to pick up this underrated gem of an album. Back when this came out, I was buying a lot of popular albums with singles that got a lot of airplay, as that was the music that defined my youth. That being said, I'm glad I didn't let this one slip by me despite its lack of high charting singles. Note that this was the last Tommy solo album before the brilliant supergroup Damn Yankees was formed. It's certainly not as heavy throughout as the DY material is, but melodically it was surely a sign of things to come.
Free Music Review: extremely well polished and Produced album
Hit: 5 Stars
I grew up a big Styx fan and followed them through the years. I bought this on cassette way back in 1987 and a few years later I found the original Atlantic CD in some dscount bin (what a find!).
I think this is the BEST Shaw solo effort ("What If" comes in very close though).
The songs have a very rich texture and are very well produced. Songs like Outsider and Lay them Down are very well done. No Such thing, the only single and video is a great rocker. I was amazed the album totally bombed in 1987 and even more shocked when a few years later Tommy Shaw become a household name when he scored the No.3 hit with Damn yankees, it was Atlantics time then to re-release this album and market it, they seriously dropped the ball or prob didnt even remember they signed him to a one time record deal.
This remains a lost treasure. The songs are great, there isnt a crappy song on this album. a solid 5 stars.
Free Music Review: FINALLY!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
If you only own one Tommy Shaw CD, this should be it. The title track, "Somewhere in the Night," and "No Such Thing" are the standout songs here, though they are all good. After leaving Styx in 1983 and before joining Damn Yankees in 1990, this 1987 solo effort (his 4th in as many years) finds Shaw in top songwriting form. CDs weren't really mainstream yet in 1987 and this title was never reissued (until now, 20 years later) so original issue CD copies of this are VERY rare. I have one, though I won't tell you how much I paid for it. Buy "Ambition" now! It's a piece of Rock history and Tommy Shaw's best solo album.Free Music Review: Great 80's Concept Album !
Hit: 5 Stars
It's moody, a little dark, like for driving down the highway at night . . . But that's why I loved it in the 1980's ! I just was never able to find the CD ! To me, it is the most well-done, well-produced album by Tommy Shaw, as I have heard most of his others to date . . . Still, yes, it has a certain heavy keyboard-80's sound, but it is more 'serious' than his other efforts in my humble opinion . . .
So, dark, but GREAT guitar, it should have really been the concept for another Styx album, instead of the more light-wieght stuff they all have done . . .