ALPHA

Man alive, did I wear a groove into the vinyl album of this one when I was a kid. Unlike the majority, I preferred the follow-up to their debut. Cannot be taken as a prog or progressive album, however. Sure, it has progressive moments, but it's more like a Journey album than a King Crimson or Yes album.

Side one still gets cranked in the car from time to time...and it's not because of the hits "Don't Cry" or "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes". I much prefer "My Own Time (I'll Do What I Want)" and "Never In A Million Years". Lush mixing and layering makes for a wall of sound...especially from Geoff Downes.

"The Last To Know" is a very sappy ballad; but, I've always liked it. A tender intro by Downes, Wettons amazing vocals that are powerful even when softly spoken. Palmers drumming is the highlight, though. I hang onto this one purely for nostalgic reasons. The music is out of date and it's lambasted by critics and fans alike, but the music gave me a lot of enjoyment as a kid...and it still does.