Rock Archeologia

Aim - Aim For The Highest 1974 Blue Thumb Records

Artist: Aim
Album: Aim For The Highest
Label: Blue Thumb Records
Catalog#: BTS64
Release: 1974
Country: US
Genre: Rock, Prog Rock
Total Time: 00:35:37

• Background
A very cool logo on Aim's only LP and easy to spot in cut-out bins for many years; Aim was headed up by guitarist Michael W. Overly who made a name for himself as a solo artist and later in the group Christopher Cloud with Tommy Boyce formerly of the bubblegum songwriting duo Boyce & Hart. Following the 1973 LP 'Blown Away', Christopher Cloud split with Overly forming Aim shortly thereafter and hitting the road with Steely Dan, Blue Oyster Cult, The Guess Who and BTO in support of 'Aim For the Highest'.
• The Songs
With the band's photo surrounded by what appears to be angel wings and lyric content on several tracks that could be construed as 'religious', I imagine this was tough album to market. Compounding the album's issues is a lack of quality material, Mike Overly's high-pitched tenor which quickly becomes annoying and a tendency to get all funky and boogie things up way too often. The title track sets the tone with a loud Ohio Players influenced funk-up, turning it down for the lazy R&B of 'My Friend' and 'Hollywood' which checks-in as side one's best cut matched with the poppy 'Morning Magic' happily recalling the first Steely Dan album. 'Endlessly' is a nice classically based ballad which includes harpsichord, an instrument I can never get enough of although once again Overly's painful yelping is too much to bare, seriously challenging my endurance and following the glammy '4 O'Clock Rock' as well as the unbearable 'We Can Make It'; I'm breathing a much needed sigh of relief as the needle finally leaves the vinyl.

 • Side I:
A1. For The Highest 02:47
A2. My Friend 04:16
A3. Hollywood 02:02
A4. You Need Me 04:22
A5. Seattle 03:37  
 • Side II:
B1. I'm Here
B2. Morning Magic
B3. How Are We To Live
B4. Endlessly
B5. 4 O'Clock Rock
B6. We Can Make It

   Produced And Engineered by Chris Huston
   Recorded And Mixed at Wally Heider's, Hollywood, California
   Album Design & Graphics: Richard Taylor

Personnel:

Michael W. Overly - Guitars, Flutes, Lead and Background Vocals
Warren "Bugs" Pemberton - Drums
Patrick O'Connor - Bass, Background Vocals
Loren Newkirk - Electric and Acoustic piano, Organ, Harpsichord
Alan Estes - Congas, Background Vocals

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