America: History - America's Greatest Hits

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America were Dewey Bunnell (or was it Burrell? No - it was Bunnell), Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley. They were Americans who met in England as the sons of USAF fathers stationed there. Hence the inclusion of the Houses Of Parliament on this compilation's cover.

Their sound was very typical of the early seventies country rock boom. They had a penchant for a killer hook and a captivating, mysterious lyric, however, exemplified in their two biggest hits, A Horse With No Name and Ventura Highway. 

The sun's out, so let's get out there on that highway....

We kick off by letting the horse run free on the one everyone remembers - the sublime, lyrically mysterious and magnificently atmospheric A Horse With No Name. In many ways, this track exemplifies early seventies folk rock more than any other, by any other group. It captivated me as a thirteen year old in early 1972 and still sends shivers down my spine now It is simply gorgeous. "After nine days I let the horse run free....". Such an evocative line, isn't it? Indeed the whole damn song is.

I Need You strangely fades in plaintively in a CSN-style but it kicks in to a Beatles-esque drum part half way through. As often with America's output, there are strong rock stylings to this, particularly near the end as well as the folk ones. Sandman also ups the beat somewhat with some solid drums and buzzy guitar sounds and sumptuous bass. It is very much of its time, so very early seventies, with echoes of the hippy era still floating around all over the place in both its often foreboding music and beguiling, intriguing lyrics.. 

Ventura Highway is just a delicious slice of 1970s freeway Americana. It is melodic, airy, catchy ad breezily beautiful. So very evocative of its era. "Alligator lizards in the air...." says one of the most memorable, often-quoted lines. America had not forgotten their hippy roots, had they, man?

Don't Cross The River has a CSNY Marrakesh Express-style shuffling rhythm at the beginning before it breaks out into a lively country rocker. Once more, it is really attractive and just so damn enjoyable in its breezy country rock fashion. The very folk-rock-ish Only In Your Heart reminds me of some of Gilbert O'Sullivan's songs from the same period, paricularly in its vocal and in its clunky, piano-driven quirky melody too. There is some nice buzzy electric guitar at the end as well.

Muskrat Love is a quirky, bizarre song about a couple of loved-up muskrats (Sam and Susie), as the title suggests. It has a goofy appeal, though. Up next is a proper America classic, however, a real echo back to the Horse With No Name glory days in the airy, beautiful melody and vocals of Tin Man. It also has a sumptuous bass line. It is simply one of the group's best tracks. No question. The "Sir Galahad" line puts me in mind of Steely Dan. Check out those harmonies too. 

George (Beatles) Martin is credited as the producer of this whole album, but as far as I know he only produced 1974's Holiday and 1975's Hearts albums for the group. Anyway, he definitely produced this next song and with that in mind, you have to say that Lonely People is very McCartney-ish, with airs of CSNY (again, of course), Neil Young and The Byrds too. Or maybe those artists often carried airs of America in their music. The harmonica solo is positively Lindisfarne-esque as well. It's a really good song.

The catchy Sister Golden Hair was the group's last big single and it was a damn good one too. Most attractive and infectious in its way and its guitar intro is very George Harrison. It has a chunky rock backing that gives it a real winning power on the chorus and on the song's bop-doo-wop ending. The group's sound was changing, right at the end of their career. I really love everything about this song. 

Daisy Jane is a reflective, low-key, beautiful piano ballad with another soft rock backing the chorus. It has a winning AOR feel to it. Woman Tonight is semi-funky and very Steely Dan in style, with some captivating percussion. There is a bit of the same sort of guitar Steely Dan used on 1976's Haitian Divorce right at the end. 

This is a short and sweet collection - just the twelve songs that are over almost before you've settled into it - but it stands as a fine representation of early seventies harmonious country rock. Put it on during a hot summer's afternoon and chill out. 

Secondary, 2 of 7

Comments

  1. bobbyb14/04/2024, 20:39

    One time I asked somebody what the fuck are alligator lizards in the air?? As it turns out it's a kind of cloud that forms in the shape of a alligator or lizard. But when you ask people what is purple rain they don't know. I don't think that one means particularly anything but it just sounds cool I guess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Punk Panther15/04/2024, 09:38

      Yes, it sounds gloriously hippy cool, doesn't it?

      Delete

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