Industry Standard

Orderly and systematic formulation, adoption, or application of standards used in the industrial sector of the economy. An industrial standard is a generally accepted requirement to be met for the attainment of a recurrent industrial objective. In the automotive industry, standardized tire sizes are an example.

In Financial Ratio Analysis, industry average ratios used as standards to test whether ratios of a particular firm are normal. There are many widely used sources of industry standards. Robert Morris Associates, the national association of banks and credit officers, computes a set of 16 key ratios for over 300 lines of business. These ratios are published in Annual Statement Studies. See also Financial Statement Analysis.

• Artist: The Dixie Dregs
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1982
• Total Time: 37:27
• Genre: Rock

Review

Although they dropped the "Dixie" from their name in 1981, Industry Standard is still basically what one would expect from the Dixie Dregs. It also proved to be the band's last album before they disbanded, with fans having to wait ten years for a reunion and a new record. This incarnation of the band is actually the strongest one musician-wise, with master fiddler Mark O'Connor (in his lone appearance as a Dreg) making strong solo and ensemble statements. O'Connor really gets to show off his stuff on the requisite country-tinged instrumental, in this case the amusingly titled "Where's Dixie?" By this point, Steve Morse's compositional acumen had reached the level of complexity and polyphony that he would mine in his solo work throughout the '80s and '90s, and the sound of the band is more streamlined than ever before. Gone from Industry Standard are many of the Mahavishnu-isms that were so present in the band's work from the 1970s. One peculiar feature of this record is the presence of two vocalists, ex-Santana member Alex Ligertwood, and Doobie Brother Patrick Simmons, on one track each. This marks the first and only time the Dregs incorporated singing into their music. The album suffers somewhat from its inclusion, although there are some fine moments in the Steely Dan-inspired "Ridin' High." The excellent "Chips Ahoy" is perhaps the strongest track on Industry Standard, with a lilting, haunting melody played, paradoxically, at breakneck speed by Morse and O'Connor. Also of note is the driving "Assembly Line" and a lovely acoustic guitar duet, "Up in the Air," between Morse and Yes' Steve Howe. Morse, as per standard operating procedure, demonstrates his versatility, range, and chops throughout the album. The interplay between the guitarist and drummer Rod Morgenstein is particularly stunning, as in Morse's cathartic solo in "Conversation Piece." All in all, Industry Standard is one of the band's strongest albums, although it plays more like a Steve Morse solo record than any other Dregs release. To those not bothered by this, it will undoubtedly provide hours of listening enjoyment. [Long out of print, Industry Standard was re-released in 1992 by BMG, and is available as a Japanese import.] ~ Daniel Gioffre, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Assembly Line	Steve Morse	The Dixie Dregs	(4:25)
Crank It Up	Steve Morse	The Dixie Dregs	(3:35)
Chips Ahoy	Steve Morse	The Dixie Dregs	(3:39)
Bloodsucking Leeches	Steve Morse	The Dixie Dregs	(3:59)
Up in the Air	Steve Morse	The Dixie Dregs	(2:27)
Ridin' High	Steve Morse, Patrick Simmons	The Dixie Dregs	(3:40)
Where's Dixie	Steve Morse	The Dixie Dregs	(3:57)
Conversation Piece	Steve Morse	The Dixie Dregs	(6:12)
Vitamin Q	Steve Morse	The Dixie Dregs	(5:33)

Credits

Rod Morgenstein (Group Member), Steve Howe (?), T Lavitz (?), T Lavitz (Keyboards), Andy West (Group Member), Steve Morse (Group Member), Patrick Simmons (Guest Appearance), T Lavitz (Saxophone), Andy West (Bass), Andy West (?), Steve Howe (Guitar), Steve Morse (Audio Production), Alex Ligertwood (Guest Appearance), Mark O'Connor (?), Chuck Allen (Engineer), Eddie Offord (Producer), Rod Morgenstein (Drums), Eddie Offord (Audio Production), Mark O'Connor (Group Member), Andy West (Guitar (Bass)), Tom Hill (Photography), Rod Morgenstein (?), Dave Colvin (Engineer), Patrick Simmons (?), Steve Howe (Guest Appearance), Eddie Offord (Engineer), Alex Ligertwood (Vocals), Alex Ligertwood (?), Daved Levitan (Design), T Lavitz (Group Member), Steve Morse (Guitar), Mark O'Connor (Violin), Steve Morse (Producer), Steve Morse (Banjo), George Marino (Mastering), Patrick Simmons (Vocals), Steve Morse (Liner Notes)

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)