Aldo Nova

Aldo Nova's Life a Fantasy?

"I quit the steel factory and began supporting myself by working days in a recording studio so I could spend all my nights playing rock and roll." – Aldo Nova

Without a doubt, one of the hardest things for anybody to do is to pursue an ever elusive dream. And why you ask? Because so often the odds are so overwhelmingly against you.

Not only must a person deal with the pressures from family and friends, they must also deal with the pressures that build within themselves. The ability to handle that pressure and the guts to take the first step in the pursuit of a dream are the keys to any goals, whether it’s music or any other endeavor.

Canadian born Aldo Nova knows all too well what pressure is all about.

"When I graduated from high school," recalled Nova, "my father insisted I go out and find a steady job. After a short stint in a steel factory, I realized that I had to go out and play music. I quit the steel factory and began supporting myself by working days in a recording studio so I could spend all my nights playing rock and roll.”

Five years later, Aldo Nova realized his dream. He doesn’t have to work in a recording studio to realize it either. On tour with Cheap Trick, Nova has seen his self-titled debut album sell over a half a million copies on the strength of his superb hit single, “Fantasy.” It has become a staple on FM radio around the country.

Interestingly enough, Nova not only composed and sang the ten tracks songs that appear on this album, he also played most of the guitars and keyboard parts as well. His final stamp on the album, engineering and producing the music as well. It's a breathtaking accomplishment for any musician to undertake.

“When I write music,” explained the Canadian musician, “I could visualize every musical note to go along with the lyrics I was composing. I knew exactly how I want it to end up. So, instead of becoming frustrated with outside musicians, and risking deviation from my desired results, I chose to learn it all myself.”

Makes sense.

Aldo Caporuscio actually started work on his album back in 1979 while he was employed as a staff writer for ATV Music in Montreal. Eventually, some of Aldo's material fell upon the ears of Sandy Pearlman, the manager of Blue Oyster Cult. Pearlman asked Nova if it would be possible for the two of them to work together and a union was formed. Before long, Aldo Nova was signed to Portrait Records, a division of Columbia Records.

After he inked a deal with Portrait, his next task was to find musicians to replicate the music he had in his head .With 95 percent of the album already complete, the musician traveled to San Francisco in hopes of finding the right musicians to round out his band. While back in Montreal after a fruitless search, Portrait vice president Lennie Petze paid a visit to the musician. After listening to several tracks and making some minor suggestions, the Portrait executive told Nova he liked what he heard and he should give the label the album as is. A delighted Nova readily agreed.

"One of the things that I tried to do with the album,” offered Nova, “was to achieve a live sound you could feel listening to the music. I write in songs, not albums, so the music can easily translate into a live, electrifying rock and roll show. Some people play music and quit if it doesn't work out immediately. But, there is nothing else I am going to do. Aldo Nova will play music every way, shape and form that is humanly possible."