Surprisingly, America was formed in London. The trio of Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and Dan Peek met in London where their fathers were stationed at the United States Air Force base at RAF South Ruislip. The three attended London Central High School and began playing together on borrowed acoustic guitars. The name came from the Americana jukebox in the mess hall, and a desire to distinguish themselves from the British musicians around them who were trying to sound more American.
America is al...
Surprisingly, America was formed in London. The trio of Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and Dan Peek met in London where their fathers were stationed at the United States Air Force base at RAF South Ruislip. The three attended London Central High School and began playing together on borrowed acoustic guitars. The name came from the Americana jukebox in the mess hall, and a desire to distinguish themselves from the British musicians around them who were trying to sound more American.
America is also their self-titled debut album released in the States in January 1972. The album originally was released without “A Horse With No Name,” but when that single garnered significant commercial success it was added to a re-release of the album in early 1972. The re-released album would top the US album charts and produce two top-10 singles.
The band would be a force in the folk-rock and soft rock genres for a generation. With close harmonies similar to Crosby, Stills & Nash, and complex acoustic guitar arrangements, their first seven albums would be in the top 50 on the album charts, though this first debut would be their lone chart topper to date. Their compilation album “History: America's Greatest Hits” was released at the end of 1975.
America produced albums of original material up through 2015. In 1977 Dan Peek left the group to pursue music in the Contemporary Christian genre. Speculation regarding a reunion of the original members continued through the years until Peeks death in 2011.
Rob brings us a great debut folk rock album in this week's podcast.
Riverside
The lead off track is a good example of the original America sound. It has a laid back message: I don't want to take anything from you, and I don't want you to take anything from me. It is a “live and let live” message using a metaphor of life on two sides of the river.
A Horse with No Name
This is the track that put the band on the map. Originally entitled “Desert Song” the track takes inspiration from a Salvador Dali painting and an M.C. Escher painting. Writer Dewey Bunnell created lyrics loosely based on his travels as a child with family through the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico.
Three Roses
Bunnell paints a picture of both a quiet life and romantic uncertainty in this song inspired by his girlfriend, soon to be wife. “Three roses were bought with you in mind.” Dan Peek takes lead vocal duties on this one with subdued but complex chords and harmonies.
I Need You
The second single from the album was written by Gerry Beckley when he was 16 years old. Beckley also takes lead vocals on this ballad which went to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. You can sense the similarity to bands like the Beatles and Alan Parsons in this track.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main theme from the television series “Emergency!”
This first responder action series focused on Squad 51 in Los Angeles saw its debut in January 1972.
STAFF PICKS:
Family Affair by Sly & the Family Stone
Bruce begins the staff picks with the most successful hit from Sly & the Family Stone. This song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and the R&B Singles chart for five. This track is a little different for the group, as the guitars are toned down, and the electric piano (with Billy Preston on keyboard) is brought up. The lyrics talk about the ways a family can go wrong.
Roundabout by Yes
Lynch brings us a song written by singer Jon Anderson and guitarist Steve Howe. The song originated from a trip the group took in Scotland in which they encountered a number of roundabouts. The line, “in and around the lake” came from one of the lochs they passed. This opening track from Fragile was drastically edited to produce a single coming in at 3:27 rather than the over 8-minute original. It reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, the group's highest charting single until 1983's “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”
Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne
Wayne's staff pick is a single off Browne's debut and self-titled album. The lyrics discuss the feeling that the singer is becoming jaded about life by seeing all the wrong in the world, and now being unable to cry about it. David Crosby and Graham Nash provide backing vocals to this song which went to number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Misty Mountain Hop by Led Zeppelin
Rob features a song which was the B-side to Zeppelin's “Black Dog.” The lyrics take their inspiration from the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as the “Legalize Pot Rally” held in Hyde Park in July 1968. It appeared on the massive Led Zeppelin IV album. As Rob says, it is a “mixture of stoner idealism and Tolkien nerdery.”
COMEDY TRACK:
Pigeon Song by America
We exit with a little double dipping, and with gratefulness that none of us is a pigeon named Fred.
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