Top 10 Ambrosia Songs

Photo: Jusdafax [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Our Top 10 Ambrosia Songs list is a tribute to the spectacular music of the great band Ambrosia. The band was defined as a group of musicians who all played their instruments well while writing great songs that crossed the genres of progressive rock, soul, and pop music. The band had a knack for writing outstanding, slick pop songs that captured a large audience. It’s difficult to describe their sound, but they sort of fell somewhere between Steely Dan, The Beatles, Toto, ELP and Boz Scaggs with progressive overtones. Regardless of categorization, they were simply a great band.

In the 1970s, during their heyday, the band Ambrosia consisted of David Pack, Joe Puerta, Burleigh Drummond, and Christopher North. In the present day, Ambrosia continues to tour but with different members. Lead singer David Pack is no longer with the group. Legendary pianist and songwriter Bruce Hornsby joined the band for their final album in 1982 entitled Road Island.

Ambrosia did not leave behind a lot of material. The band released five albums during a seven-year period between 1975 and 1982. Ambrosia only released one live album. Ambrosia’s first album was released in 1975 entitled Ambrosia. The band followed up their debut album one year later, in 1976, with the remarkable record Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled. Two years later, in 1978, Ambrosia released Life Beyond L.A. Their 1978 album turned them into a household name as it contained their huge single “How Much I Feel.” Ambrosia followed that 1978 successful record with another big-selling album in 1980, One Eighty. The band’s final Road Island album was released in 1982.

While their albums were full of substance, the band was known for their singles. Ambrosia released 12 singles during their career, many of them were big hits. Our top 10 Ambrosia songs will take a look at some of their biggest hits while also including some key album tracks.

# 10 – Can’t Let a Woman

We open our top 10 Ambrosia songs list with the song “Can’t Let A Woman.” The song was released on the band’s second album, Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled. The album was released in 1976. “Can’t Let A Woman” was the first single released from the record. The song was written by David Pack, who also performed the lead vocal on the track.

# 9 – For Openers (Welcome Home)

Continuing with our top 10 Ambrosia songs list we turn to the band’s final album titled Road Island. The final studio album was released in 1982, and it was a great one. The song “For Openers (Welcome Home)” was the opening track on the album. David Pack sang the song. “For Openers (Welcome Home)” was also released as the third single from the album.

# 8 – Somewhere I’ve Never Traveled

The legendary Ambrosia song “Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled” was the title track to the band’s second album. It was very unique how Ambrosia managed to merge progressive music with pop music at the same time. The band Asia which featured all those legendary musicians from Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, and King Crimson, did something similar to what Ambrosia did in blending genres very successfully. The song “Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled” is a great example of Ambrosia intermixing those rock and roll genres.

# 7 – Nice, Nice, Very Nice

The Ambrosia song “Nice, Nice, Very Nice” was released on the band’s debut album in 1975. The song was released as the album’s second single. It was also the album’s opening track. Lead vocals on the song “Nice, Nice, Very Nice” were performed by bassist Joe Puerta. Listen to that great bass and drums riff at the song’s opening. The synth line surrounds the groove setting up for a nice easy sailing tune.

# 6 -Holdin’ On To Yesterday

At this point in the list, we merge into the progressive section of Ambrosia songs. The killer track “Holdin’ on to Yesterday” was released on the band’s debut album Ambrosia in 1975. A great mix of soul, pop, and progressivism defines this key track in the band’s catalog of great music. Listen to how great David Pack sings on this one. Ambrosia blended genres so well.

# 5 – Life Beyond L.A.

The excellent title track to the Life Beyond L.A. album defines the halfway point on this top 10 Ambrosia songs list. The keyboard work on this one is highly addicting. It’s simply great progressive rock pop at its finest. Drummer Burleigh Drummond and vocalist wrote the song, with guitarist David Pack also performing the lead vocal on the song. This one really brings me back to the summer of 19878 when I played this album almost every day on a cassette player in my orange Fiat (that was always broken)

# 4 – Art Beware / Apothecary

In 1978, Ambrosia released their spectacular album Life Beyond L.A. It was such a great record we could have easily filled every spot on this top 10 Ambrosia songs list with tracks from this excellent record. One we were not going to miss adding to this list was the two-track combo of “Art Beware” and “Apothecary.” Easily one of the highlights of the record. Don’t miss this one!

# 3 – Biggest Part Of Me

The following three songs to appear on this top 10 Ambrosia songs list are the big hits. One cannot write the history of Ambrosia without mentioning these big-time songs. The first one to appear, entitled “Biggest Part of Me,” was released on the band’s One Eighty album. It was the highly-anticipated follow-up to the band’s mighty successful Life Beyond L.A. album. The “Biggest Part of Me” reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980. The song was written by David Pack, who also sang lead vocals on the track. It was the closing song on the album.

# 2 -You’re The Only Woman (You & I)

Continuing our list of top 10 Ambrosia songs, we turn to the excellent single “You’re the Only Woman (You & I).” It was the follow-up single to the previous top 10 hit “Biggest Part of Me.” While not as successful as “Biggest Part of Me,” the single “You’re the Only Woman (You & I)” was a top 20 hit for the band, peaking at number thirteen in 1980. It just feels so good to go through these songs again. They were such a large part of our lives growing up in the 70s and 80s.

# 1 – How Much I Feel

For many Ambrosia fans,` the single “How Much I Feel” was the song that introduced them to the band. The song “How Much I Feel” was released on the album Life Beyond L.A. The album and single were both released in August of 1978. You could not go one day doing that summer without hearing “How Much I Feel” multiple times on the radio. The song was a massive hit for the band.

Looking back, it’s astonishing that the song did not hit number one. Blame that one on the Grease soundtrack. Nonetheless, “How Much I Feel” still had great success on the pop charts as it reached all the way to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Ultimately, “How Much I Feel” was the song that turned the group into superstars. If there is one song that people will remember this band by, it’s “How Much I Feel. ” That’s why it’s number one on this top 10 Ambrosia songs list.