Gonzo’s Gems: “Aldo Nova’s Fantasy & Dreams”
By Sam “Gonzo” Gonzales
It was 1982, and I was two years into my military career, when I overheard two fellow sailors talking about some guy named Aldo Nova and the album he had just released. They were praising it pretty heavily, especially the first single from the album, “Fantasy”. So, I joined in on the conversation to find out more about this guy Aldo Nova. They quickly filled me in about him and one of them even volunteered to make me a copy so I could hear it with my own ears. When I did, I was impressed by it. It sounded different than anything I’d heard up to that point. It was definitely the red hot album my friends had been raving about!
Aldo Nova, born Aldo Caporuscio in Montreal, Canada on November 13, 1956, learned to play the guitar at the age of 15. He mastered the guitar and keyboards and began playing local clubs in his hometown. He eventually ended up with a three year stint playing George Harrison in a production of Beatlemania. He also cut his teeth working as a studio engineer prior to being signed with Portrait Records. So, with songs he had previously written, Aldo produced, arranged and performed almost his entire debut album, “Aldo Nova”, with the exception of drums, some bass and piano.
Aldo Nova‘s 1982 debut album, “Aldo Nova”, had a good mix of rockers and ballads. The musicality and energy of each song is clearly evident. Even the ballads where impressive as hell. The album’s opener and Aldo’s biggest hit, “Fantasy”, is an excellent song, loaded with guitar and keyboard hooks. Science fiction sound effects lull you in for a good minute before you’re assaulted by the sound of laser blasts and a big guitar riff. Keyboards then ease in and play a melodic and haunting sci-fi melody. The next two tracks, “Hot Love“ and “It’s Too Late”, rock out on their own without the assistance of keyboards. Things then calm down with the albums second single, the very melodic and pop sounding “Foolin’ Yourself”. “Foolin’ Yourself” proved to be a minor hit for Aldo. Closing out the album was the cool and jazzy “See The Light”. “Aldo Nova” was a strong debut album indeed.
1983 saw the release of “Subject”, a concept album dealing with dreams, reality and imagination. Synthesizers were featured prominently on this album. To start things off, we’re treated to two sound effects laden instrumentals, “Subject‘s Theme“ and “Armageddon (Race Cars)”, before being lead into “Armageddon”, where Aldo states in a semi-robotic voice: “On the border of your mind… lies a place… where dreams and reality are one… I will take you there… for I am the subject… the subject of your imagination…” Very cool stuff. Up next, “Monkey On Your Back”, a minor hit for Aldo that rocks out with “a story about two kids in the city who both have a problem with life… and it isn’t very pretty”. “Cry Baby Cry” and “All Night Long” were other highlights with great guitar and keyboard playing and catchy melodies and choruses.
“Twitch”, released in 1985, had a much more polished and keyboard-heavy sound than Aldo’s first two albums. “Twitch” also used outside writers and musicians, when up to that point, Aldo had handled practically every aspect of writing, arranging and performing the music on his albums. Though the album sounded bogged down, there were some Gems that managed to shine through. The mid-tempo pop-rock songs, “Tonite (Lift Me Up)” and “If Looks Could Kill” sparkle. “Heartless” picks up the pace slightly and ups the ante with an even catchier melody and chorus. “Lay Your Love On Me”, my favorite gem from the album, rocks the hardest and proudest of all the songs.
A comeback of sorts, Aldo Nova returned six years later with “Blood On The Bricks”. Released on Jon Bon Jovi’s Jambco Records, it featured production by Jon Bon Jovi, who also contributed vocals and co-wrote seven of the ten tracks. “Blood On The Bricks” was a much more inspired and hard-rocking effort than his two previous albums and offered up the gems: “Bang Bang”, “This Ain’t Love” and “Touch Of Madness”. “Bang Bang” and “This Ain’t Love” rock out confidently with the usual guitar finesse and catchy sing along choruses, but it‘s “Touch Of Madness”, the catchiest of all the songs on the album, that generates a beautiful shimmering pop-metal sheen. Aldo sings: “She’s so tough… But she knows that I’m a rebel too… No Romeo and Juliet… Got anything on me and you…”. “Blood On The Bricks” was a very promising release that could have gone on to be much bigger had it’s momentum not been cut short by the doom and gloom of grunge.
Aldo released “Nova’s Dream” in 1997, an album that showcased his return to his signature hard rock sound, before continuing on in the writer/producer mold. To date, Aldo has written and produced for artists such as Celine Dion, Garou, Chenoa, Agnes Carlsson and Clay Aiken. As a songwriter, Aldo‘s recent hits include Clay Aiken’s “This Is The Night” and Celine Dion’s “A Song For You”, “Can’t Fight The Feelin’”, “Fade Away” and “Shadow Of Love”.
In retrospect, it’s clear to see that Aldo Nova was ahead of his time. A true “pop-metal” pioneer, he created a formula which used catchy melodies and choruses, searing guitar work and big drums. He helped to lay the foundation for the big “pop-metal” sound which many big bands like Def Leppard, Loverboy and Bon Jovi incorporated into their own music over the years resulting in great success. If you really want to hear “pop metal” at it’s best — fantastic songs, combining melodic rockers and heartfelt ballads — listen to “Aldo Nova” and “Blood On The Bricks”.
(CDs) “Aldo Nova” and “Blood On The Bricks“
(Songs) Fantasy, Hot Love, It’s Too Late, Heart To Heart, Foolin’ Yourself, See The Light, Armageddon, Monkey On Your Back, Cry Baby Cry, All Night Long,
Tonite (Lift Me Up), If Looks Could Kill, Heartless, Lay Your Love On Me, Bang Bang, This Ain’t Love, and Touch Of Madness
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