America (band)

I wonder if it was because "Hat Trick" (song) was too long, and perhaps the tap-dancing wasn't appealing to them. The piano and vocals are very moving.

 

Good point. For me, I know that if the jann wenner hof put America in, it would remind people to listen, as well as the average watcher to type it up and listen, perhaps to a random song, and giving them the same pleasure we get from listening to great music. I just want people to give things they don't ordinarily listen to a try.

 

I found an excellent video on YouTube showing their entire singles discography.
The first 20 seconds are partly in German but after that everything is in English.

 

In Germany, 'The Last Unicorn' is their most famous song, as it was their only top 40 single here.

 

My favorite album by them.

 

There box set is pretty good with decent sound.

 

One of my favorites too.
One of my favorite groups.....have probably seen them 20 times from the start .
Was at Anaheim Stadium when they played with the Beach Boys in 1976 on the Bicentennial . I was in the sea of people by the stage in the poster that they included in the Harbor LP from that day......great memories!

 

I bought the FLAC version of "Alibi" from 7 Digital. Sounds real good. They have other albums but "Alibi" was the cheapest of the ones I don't have (nI don't have any of the Capitol releases) so I just bought that one only. Converted to play in iTunes and the numbers are below from XLD.

DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR15 -0.83 dB -17.96 dB 01 Survival.m4a
DR14 -0.57 dB -17.21 dB 02 Might Be Your Love.m4a
DR14 -1.05 dB -17.86 dB 03 Catch That Train.m4a
DR14 -0.75 dB -16.87 dB 04 You Could've Been The One.m4a
DR13 -1.28 dB -18.87 dB 05 I Don't Believe In Miracles.m4a
DR14 -1.28 dB -17.23 dB 06 I Do Believe In You.m4a
DR14 -1.15 dB -17.74 dB 07 Hangover.m4a
DR14 -0.98 dB -17.32 dB 08 Right Back To Me.m4a
DR13 -1.52 dB -18.34 dB 09 Coastline.m4a
DR13 -0.71 dB -15.75 dB 10 Valentine.m4a
DR14 -2.35 dB -20.67 dB 11 One In A Million.m4a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of files: 11
Official DR value: DR14

 

They are a very underrated band, imo. Their first couple of albums also contain some really nice and crisp acoustic guitar playing (Riverside, Three Roses, Children, Here, Ventura Highway, etc).

 

I have a moment captured in my life when I was 14 and this song is the soundtrack to that memory. It's great...

 

Are you thinking of Muskrat Love? They did a version of it then Captain and Tennille did theirs and it became the bigger hit.

 

in a just world they would be in the rock hall, they very much deserve it.

 

Yep...I'm one of those who really don't know enough about them. Although I will add that Horse With No Name is one of the greatest songs I have ever heard. Until about 5 years ago I thought Neil Young sung it!! Need to check out more of their stuff. Oh....And they really do sound American!!

 

every single album in their catalog has more than a couple of really good songs on them.

the biggest sleeper of them all is quite possibly 'hourglass" released on, believe it or not, on the american grammaphon label and no one, except for me, bought it

 

I have got Hourglass and like it very much, especially the Dewey Bunnell songs

 

Their cover of California Dreaming was pretty good too.

 

the album following 'hourglass', 'human nature' is also quite good.

 

Till the sun comes up again is such a wonderful song!

 

America is in the same big boat as Poco, Bread, 10cc, Firefall, Grassroots, Loggins and Messina, Ambrosia....
List goes on and on.
Will never be nominated or inducted to rock hall.

 

I used to own Hideaway and Harbor, and also a cassette recording of Homecoming. All of those got lost in my various moves from city to city, along with Cyclone Tracy which also wiped out a lot of my stuff.

Although I liked America I never felt the need to replace those albums. A few years ago I picked up a "20 Greatest hits" CD that I think is pretty representative. they are one of those bands that I like but have no urge to own more than the equivalent of one or two albums. Every album seemed to have several outstanding songs and several very ordinary ones.

The one song that is not on this collection and I really wish it was, is "Another Try".

I prefer America to Asia, and I definitely like them better than Europe.

 

My wife actually asked me about them the other day. Apparently, she's been listening to some of their music on YouTube. I've never been into them before, so I guess I'd better find a place to dive in to their discography...

 

yep, you are 100% correct.

and its sad when janet jakson and llcool j get noms and the sex pistols and tupac are in. not one of these 4 can hold a condle to the bands you mentioned and i'll add carly simon, warren zevon, boz scaggs and CSNY to your list

 

I always have been a huge fan of them. Their first five albums are the best *americana* ever recorded IMHO.

 

Those groups I posted and the artists you posted I personally find their material more rewarding and entertaining than a heckuva lot of the famers in there...
The musicianship and vocals are top notch on those
mentioned.
Once again. Personal taste and preference.

 

I'm sure you've noticed already, but just for completeness' sake: Omnivore are releasing a demo compilation of theirs as a RSD Black Friday release. Shame we won't be getting it on this side of the pond, as America are one of my favorites - love the S/T and Homecoming in particular.

Link: RSDBF '18 Special Release: America - Highlights From Heritage: Home Recordings/Demos 1970-1973