With involvement from Jon Bon Jovi, Aldo Nova’s return in 1991 heralded a few changes, but not all of them were convincing.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Aldo Nova
ALBUM: Blood On The Bricks
LABEL: Jambco
SERIAL: 848-513-2
YEAR: 1991
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
LINEUP: Aldo Nova – vocals, guitars, keyboards, organ * Randy Jackson – bass * Kenny Aronoff – drums * Stebe Segal – slide guitar * Greg Matheson – organ, hammond b3 * Aldo Mazza – percussion * The No Sweat Horns – horns * Alan Jordan, Jon Bon Jovi, Rick Virag – backing vocals * Kip Lennon – backing vocals (#8) * Daniel Barbe – piano (#4, #8)
TRACK LISTING: 01 Blood On The Brick * 02 Medicine Man * 03 Bang Bang * 04 Someday * 05 Young Love * 0 6 Modern World * 07 This Ain’t Love * 0 8 Hey Ronnie (Veronica’s Song) * 09 Touch Of Madness * 10 Bright Lights
WEBLINK: FB Link
Background
By the late 80’s and early 90’s, Canadian AOR legend Aldo Nova had disappeared from public view though he was still active in the music industry. He hadn’t been seen since 1985’s excellent ‘Twitch’, a purist AOR album, and with involvement from Jon Bon Jovi, Aldo Nova’s return in 1991 heralded a few changes, but not all of them were convincing.
There’s a cowboy theme running through this album no doubt influenced by Bon Jovi‘s success during those missing six years. It’ certainly something that could’ve been avoided, and as a result this album was mostly absent from my CD player during 1991.
The Songs
Revisiting this album many decades later, it’s probably not as bad as I remember it to be. Certainly not as good as those first three Nova albums (not hard to imagine why), but this one does have its moments. The flashy guitar work is still there, the production values and songwriting are still way above average, as heard on songs like ‘Medicine Man’ and ‘Young Love’.
I wasn’t too keen on the overly done slide guitar, which takes Aldo more to the Cinderella side of the kerb rather than the 1982-1985 era which made him popular. ‘Modern World’ and ‘Touch Of Madness’ are also pretty good, while the sole Aldo Nova written ‘Bright Lights’ is probably the pick of the bunch. The others I can take or leave it.
In Summary
Now signed to Jambco Records which was Jon Bon Jovi’s label, the album wasn’t a great success but it was good to see Aldo Nova back in the spotlight again, if only fleetingly. The association promised much, but the end result was overall – disappointing.
Video
Medicine Man
Blood On The Bricks
Someday
Entire Album (Select Tracks)