AMERICA: Homecoming

Original released on LP Warner Bros BS 2655

(US, December 1972)

"Homecoming", America's finest album, refines and focuses the folk-pop approach found on their debut release. The songs here are tighter and more forthright, with fewer extended solo instrumental sections than before. The sound quality is clear and bright; the colorful arrangements, while still acoustic guitar-based, feature more electric guitar and keyboards. The performance quality is more assured, among the most urgently committed the group would ever put on vinyl. Verses are still sometimes banal and clunky ("You can't disregard your friends/But life gets so hard when you reach the end") or cryptic ("Sorry, boy, but I've been hit by purple rain"), but a number of the song subjects here exhibit a yearning sense of wanderlust and love of the outdoors that proves to be highly evocative and compelling (particularly on "Moon Song," "Ventura Highway," "California Revisited," and "Cornwall Blank"). Chordal progressions are sophisticated and contain many subtle surprises. A few new style wrinkles can be seen in the country-influenced "Don't Cross the River," the drivingly gutsy "California Revisited" (perhaps the hardest-rocking song the group would ever produce), and the hushed yet mildly funky "Head & Heart." Chart hits from this release include "Ventura Highway," "Only in Your Heart," and "Don't Cross the River," but each song here has something to recommend it. This top-flight album is a very rewarding listen. (David Cleary in AllMusic)

AMERICA Debut Album

Original released on LP Warner Bros BS 2576

(US 1971, December 29)

America's debut album is a folk-pop classic, a stellar collection of memorable songs that would prove influential on such acts as the Eagles and Dan Fogelberg. Crosby, Stills & Nash are the group's obvious stylistic touchstone here, especially in the vocal harmonies used (compare the thick chordal singing of "Sandman" and "Children" to CS&N's "You Don't Have to Cry" and "Guinevere") and the prominent use of active strummed acoustic guitar arrangements (contrast "Riverside" to CS&N's "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"). America's intricate interplay of acoustic guitar textures is more ambitious than that of their influences, however. Performance quality is usually good, though on occasion sloppily executed or out of tune (especially on the openings to "Donkey Jaw" and "I Never Found the Time"). Lengthy instrumental introductions ("Donkey Jaw"), middle improvisatory interludes ("Here"), and closings ("Clarice") are frequently encountered. Most of these selections boast highly unusual and inventive chord progressions that work well without drawing undue attention to themselves. Lyrics are sometimes trite ("I need you/Like the flower needs the rain") or obscure ("He flies the sky/Like an eagle in the eye/Of a hurricane that's abandoned"), but the music more than makes up for any verse problems; only the odd "Pigeon Song" seems an unsalvageable misstep. Sound quality here has a covered, intimate feel that lends a ghostly aura to this release. Chart hits from this album include the spectrally loping "A Horse with No Name," the squarishly tuneful "I Need You," and the nervously dour "Sandman." Other highlights include the buoyantly charming "Three Roses," the yearningly lovely "Rainy Day," and the quietly ringing "Clarice." In spite of its flaws, this platter is very highly recommended. (David Cleary in AllMusic)

DISCOGRAPHY

Formed 1968, Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Gerry Beckley (born 1952): guitar, bass, piano, vocals

Dewey Bunnell (born 1951): guitar, vocals

Dan Peek (born 1950 > died 2011): guitar, bass, piano, vocals (1968-1977)

1971-12-29 LP AMERICA (US Warner Bros BS 2576): A1. Riverside; A2. Sandman; A3. Three Roses; A4. Children; A5. A Horse With No Name; A6. Here; B1. I Need You; B2. Rainy Day; B3. Never Found the Time; B4. Clarice; B5. Donkey Jaw; B6. Pigeon Song

1972-01-12 Sg (US Warner Bros WB 7555): A. A Horse With No Name; B. Everyone I Meet Is From California

1972-09-19 Sg (US Warner Bros WB 7641): A. Ventura Highway; B. Saturn Nights

1972-12 LP HOMECOMING (US Warner Bros BS 2675: A1. Ventura Highway; A2. To Each His Own; A3. Don’t Cross the River; A4. Moon Song; A5. Only in Your Heart; B1. Till the Sun Comes Up Again; B2. Cornwall Blank; B3. Head and Heart; B4. California Revisited; B5. Saturn Nights

1973-06-28 Sg (US Warner Bros WB 7725): A. Muskrat Love; B. Cornwall Blank

1973-11 LP HAT TRICK (US Warner Bros BS 2778): A1. Muskrat Love; A2. Wind Wave; A3. She’s Gonna Let You Down; A4. Rainbow Song; A5. Submarine Ladies; A6. It’s Life; B1. Hat Trick; B2. Molten Love; B3. Green Monkey; B4. Willow Tree Lullaby; B5. Goodbye

1974-06 LP HOLIDAY (UK Warner Bros K 56045): A1. Miniature; A2. Tin Man; A3. Another Try; A4. Lonely People; A5. Glad to See You; A6. Mad Dog; B1. Hollywood; B2. Baby It’s Up to You; B3. You; B4. Old Man Took; B5. What Does It Matter; B6. In the Country

1975-04 LP HEARTS (US Warner Bros BS 2852): A1. Daisy Jane; A2. Half a Man; A3. Midnight; A4. Bell Tree; A5. Old Virginia; A6. People in the Valley; B1. Company; B2. Woman Tonight; B3. The Story of a Teenager; B4. Sister Golden Hair; B5. Tomorrow; B6. Seasons

1976-04 LP HIDEAWAY (UK Warner Bros K 56236): A1. Lovely Night; A2. Amber Cascades; A3. Don’t Let It Get You Down; A4. Can’t You See; A5. Watership Down; A6. She’s Beside You; A7. Hideaway, Part I; B1. She’s a Liar; B2. Letter; B3. Today’s the Day; B4. Jet Boy Blue; B5. Who Loves You; B6. Hideaway, Part II

1977-03 LP HARBOR (UK Warner Bros K 56351): A1. God of the Sun; A2. Slow Down; A3. Don’t Cry Baby; A4. Now She’s Gone; A5. Political Poachers; A6. Sarah; B1. Sergeant Darkness; B2. Are You There; B3. These Brown Eyes; B4. Monster; B5. Hurricane; B6. Down to the Water

1977-07-24 LP LIVE (UK Warner Bros WB 56.434): A1. Tin Man; A2. Muskrat Love; A3. I Need You; A4. Old Man Took; A5. Daisy Jane; A6. Company: A7. Hollywood; B1. Sergeant Darkness; B2. Amber Cascades; B3. To Each His Own; B4. Another Try; B5. Ventura Highway; B6. Sister Golden Hair; B7. Horse With No Name

1979-07 LP SILENT LETTER (UK Capitol E-ST 11950): A1. Only Game in Town; A2. All Around; A3. Tall Treasures; A4. 1960; A5. And Forever; B1. Foolin’; B2. All Night; B3. No Fortune; B4. All My Life; B5. One Morning; B6. High in the City

1980-11 LP ALIBI (US Capitol SOO 12098): A1. Survival; A2. Might Be Your Love; A3. Catch That Train; A4. You Could’ve Been the One; A5. I Don’t Believe in Miracles; B1. I Do Believe in You; B2. Hangover; B3. Right Back to Me; B4. Coastline; B5. Valentine; B6. One in a Million

1982 LP THE LAST UNICORN (OST) (GER Virgin 295.732): A1. The Last Unicorn; A2. Man’s Road; A3. In the Sea; A4. Now That I’m a Woman; A5. That’s All I’ve Got to Say; A6. The Last Unicorn, Part II; B1. Forrest Awakens; B2. Red Soup; B3. Red Bull Attacks; B4. The Cat; B5. The Tree; B6. Haggard’s Unicorns; B7. Bull-Unicorn-Woman; B8. Unicorns in the Sea; B9. Unicorn and Lear

1982 LP VIEW FROM THE GROUND (UK/US Capitol ST 12209): A1. You Can Do Magic; A2. Never Be Lonely; A3. You Girl; A4. Inspector Mills; A5. Love on the Vine; B1. Desperate Love; B2. Right Before Your Eyes; B3. Jody; B4. Sometimes Lovers; B5. Even the Score

1983 LP YOUR MOVE (UK/US Capitol EST 12277): A1. My Kinda Woman; A2. She’s a Runaway; A3. Cast the Spirit; A4. Love’s Worn Out Again; A5. The Border; B1. Your Move; B2. Honey; B3. My Dear; B4. Tonight Is For Dreamers; B5. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely; B6. Someday Woman

1984-11 LP PERSPECTIVE (UK Capitol 240216-1): A1. We Got All Night; A2. See How the Love Goes; A3. Can’t Fall Asleep to a Lullabye; A4. Special Girl; A5. 5^TH Avenue; B1. (It’s Like You) Never Left at All; B2. Stereo; B3. Lady With a Bluebird; B4. Cinderella; B5. Unconditional Love; B6. Fallin’ Off the World

1985 LP IN CONCERT (US EMI ST-12422): A1. Tin Man; A2. I Need You; A3. The Border; A4. Sister Golden Hair; A5. Company; B1. You Can Do Magic; B2. Ventura Highway; B3. Daisy Jane; B4. Horse With No Name; B5. Survival

1994-05-17 CD HOURGLASS (UK/US American Gramaphone AGCD 494): 1. Young Moon; 2. Hope; 3. Sleeper Train; 4. Mirror to Mirror; 5. Garden of Peace; 6. Call of the Wild; 7. Whole Wide World; 8. Close to the Wind; 9. Greenhouse; 10. Ports-of-Call; 11. Everyone I Meet Is From California; 12. You Can Do Magic

1995 CD AMERICA IN CONCERT: KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR (EU King Biscuit 70710-88001-2): 1. Tin Man; 2. Old Man Took; 3. Daisy Jane; 4. Love on the Vine; 5. Ventura Highway; 6. I Need You; 7. Inspector Mills; 8. California Dreamin’; 9. Never Be Lonely; 10. You Can Do Magic; 11. Sandman; 12. Here; 13. Sister Golden Hair; 14. Horse With No Name

1998 CD HUMAN NATURE (US Oxygen 90004-2): 1. From a Moving Train; 2. Wednesday Morning; 3. Town and Country; 4. Moment to Moment; 5. Hidden Talent; 6. Wheels Are Turning; 7. World Alone; 8. Overwhelming World Suite; 9. Pages; 10. Hot Town; 11. Whispering; 12. Oloololo

2002-10 CD HOLIDAY HARMONY (EU Rhino 74498): 1. Winter Wonderland; 2. Let It Snow; 3. White Christmas; 4. Christmas to Remember; 5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas; 6. Sleigh Ride; 7. Silver

2007-01-16 CD HERE AND NOW (US Burgundy 88697051712): 1.1. Chasing the Rainbow; 1.2. Indian Summer; 1.3. One Chance; 1.4. Golden; 1.5. Always Love; 1.6. Ride On; 1.7. Love and Leaving; 1.8. Look at Me Now; 1.9. This Time; 1.10. Work to Do; 1.11. All I Think About Is You; 1.12. Walk in the Woods; 2.1. Ventura Highway; 2.2. Don’t Croo the River; 2.3. Daisy Jane; 2.4. I Need You; 2.5. Tin Man; 2.6. Muskrat Love; 2.7. Woman Tonight; 2.8. Only in Your Heart; 2.9. Lonely People; 2.10. Sandman; 2.11. Sister Golden Hair; 2.12. A Horse With No Name

2011-07-26 CD BACK PAGES (US eOne EOM-CD 2137): 1. America; 2. A Road Song; 3. Woodstock; 4. Caroline No; 5. Someday We’ll Know; 6. Sailing to Philadelphia; 7. Crying in My Sleep; 8. Time of the Season; 9. Something in the Way She Moves; 10. On the Way Home; 11. Till I Hear From You; 12. My Back Pages

AMERICA - "Hideaway"

Original released on LP Warner Bros K 56236

(UK, April 1976)

"Hideaway" finds America in fine form, serving up punchy pop from a diverse range of styles. Their style is a lot more lush and orchestrated here, and they actually kind of sound like an American version of the Moody Blues. Tracks like "She's a Liar" and "Letter" have undeniable hooks and the latter has poetic lyrics. Also particularly interesting is the Dan Peek number "Can't You See" with a really strong melody. Along with his other song "Today's the Day", it keeps the acoustic flavour to their sound. And this album benefits from a couple of interesting instrumentals (the title tracks Pt.1 and 2). And it is a George Martin production. (in RateYourMusic)