If you get a chance to pick up their first self-titled album on vinyl, do yourself a favor and get it. I recently got around to spinning a mint German copy. I'm reminded of how good the tunes are, and the sound quality is stunning. (Particularly the acoustic guitar)

:thmbsp:

One of the few bands my wife and I both really enjoy together. I am not ashamed to admit that :-)

Their "Greatest Hits" is a very good collection of... umm... their greatest hits (including their cover of "Muskrat Love", of course!) and sounds quite good too (at least on CD).

I think we have some or most of their early LP's at home... have to take a look...

America on vinyl---now that's a blast from the past. I'll keep my eyes open for that first LP. I used to have a copy many moons ago. There is something of a wince factor from some lyrics, but, I have to agree with you that this would be worth finding.

I saw America live once---can you believe Jackson Browne opened?

Their "Greatest Hits" is a very good collection of... umm... their greatest hits (including their cover of "Muskrat Love", of course!) and sounds quite good too (at least on CD).

I've got that ceedee and I've never liked that song. Not even The Captain and Tenille version. Other than that, America has some pretty good songs.

Don't like "Muskrat Love"??? Specie-ist! I think it might be one of those Paul Williams songs. If it ain't, it should be.

When America released "Horse with No Name," Neil Young's mother reportedly called him to congratulate him on the hit song. Have no idea what that song means. Thought I did until I really looked at the words. Think I get the part about the ocean and the desert and... what are they talking about again?

"Ventura Highway" (which I was on during a vacation two weeks ago) is a REALLY pretty song that captures the sense of freedom they are describing. It conveys the feeling that that the sensation, the exhilaration, will never end...

I've been through the desert on a horse with no mane... ;)
The first album is really good and the greatest hits album is essential IMO.

I like "Sandman"...
"Muskrat Love" is deeply and profoundly stupid, but beautifully produced and performed (both America's version and the C&T version). Not Paul Williams; not even Paul Anka or even Rupert Holmes! 'Twas one Willis Alan Ramsey.

BTW, Phil Hartman (the late comedian) drew the album art for "Greatest Hits".

Their second album, Homecoming, was even better for the same reasons. They had learned to make better use of the studio and were more confident as writers and performers, but the arrangements are still simple and acoustic (unlike later albums).

Their second album, Homecoming, was even better for the same reasons. They had learned to make better use of the studio and were more confident as writers and performers, but the arrangements are still simple and acoustic (unlike later albums).


As luck would have it, I have a mint German pressing of that album as well.
Just haven't got around to listening yet.

Something to look forward to this weekend!

Never got to hear "Homecoming" properly. My copy was so screwy I couldn't bear to listen to it.

BTW, Phil Hartman (the late comedian) drew the album art for "Greatest Hits".

I have heard that, but I note that the signature on the cover art is spelled "Hartmann". Is it in fact the same guy?

Never got to hear "Homecoming" properly. My copy was so screwy I couldn't bear to listen to it.

If you have a cassette deck, I could make you an old fashioned copy on tape that might sound pretty good.

If I can find decent metal tape anymore, that is.

I have heard that, but I note that the signature on the cover art is spelled "Hartmann". Is it in fact the same guy?
Yep. Saw him on The Tonight Show many years ago talking about what he all he's done and he mentioned doing album art as one of his past talents and cited "Greatest Hits" as one of the most famous. Guess he shortened his last name to a more common spelling.

If you have a cassette deck, I could make you an old fashioned copy on tape that might sound pretty good. If I can find decent metal tape anymore, that is.
Thanks :) but I don't do tape anymore. I think both the first and second albums are available on seedie nowadays. May pick up both. Appreciate the offer though.

If you get a chance to pick up their first self-titled album on vinyl, do yourself a favor and get it. I recently got around to spinning a mint German copy. I'm reminded of how good the tunes are, and the sound quality is stunning. (Particularly the acoustic guitar)

:thmbsp:


I was listening to this album recently on vinyl. I agree, the sonics are
breathtaking! Especially the 12 string guitar. It sounds great through
the speakers and the headphones. Highly recomended!

I love America. "Ventura Highway" was the song I discovered them with. I still have "You Can Do Magic" in one of my regular rotation playlists.

I liked their later-1975 or so-stuff a bit better. "Woman Tonight" & "Daisy Jane" come to mind.

I love America too. I think I have 3 or 4 LPs. I remember cruising down Ventura Highway in the sunshine in the summer of 77. That was great!

The only LP I have is Hideaway from 1976. I picked it up someplace and I'm listening to it now for the first time. Not very good. Nothing like the great tunes I remember from the radio.
Produced by George Martin
Art Direction & Design by Phil Hartmann

Thanks for bringing them up though. The vocals bring back some memories - I'm going see if I can find a good copy of their first LP or Homecoming.

After my jock career ended with a cumulation of injuries, I joined many of my friends as a hippie.
I had many friends that were in bands (including the band that became Kansas) and guitar players. Mostly into the great jazz-rock fusion and jazz players.
America was a guilty pleasure.
Don't know if I still have a copy of America or not.

I remember being 16 and pondering the meaning of the lyrics:
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain

After two days in the desert sun
My skin began to turn red
After three days in the desert fun
I was looking at a river bed
And the story it told of a river that flowed
Made me sad to think it was dead

decided it meant to look inward.
deeeep, huh?

Today I think maybe it means don't be a dumb ass and ride your horse in the desert too long.

I also remember wooing 16 yr old girl friends back then with America.

Never got to hear "Homecoming" properly. My copy was so screwy I couldn't bear to listen to it.

When you say "screwy", what exactly do you mean?

I'm listening to it now, and while the sound quality is great, it almost seems to vary in speed at times. Could be this turntable, but thought I'd check.

I liked their later-1975 or so-stuff a bit better. "Woman Tonight" & "Daisy Jane" come to mind.

Daisy Jane might be my favorite single...

Really brings it all back.

'Alligator lizards in the air'? Really? Musta been 'suckin' on a piece of grass' a bit too long. Actually, I used to play 'Sister Golden Hair' in my college band circa '90. Kind of our secret weapon because I played slide on it. @#*&!! I'm too young to be getting nostalgic already...
I can't get away with playing that slide lick around the house because my (brunette) wife always thinks I'm getting wistful about some blonde goddess from the past. Sigh.
Jeez, I wasn't 'til you mentioned it, honey..
Dan

When you say "screwy", what exactly do you mean?
I'm listening to it now, and while the sound quality is great, it almost seems to vary in speed at times. Could be this turntable, but thought I'd check.
There were many things wrong with my copy. One side was pressed off center, so wow was apparent. Some songs had audible tape flutter (also heard on at least one song from the first album) and there was a mastering flaw on "Don't Cross The River" where the grooves actually connected together and would cause the stylus to jump. I think the damn thing was even bowl shaped to boot! Many of Warner's singles and albums were mastered and pressed by Capitol back then and well...there ya go...

I have a few America albums, which I am very fond of. I agree that their greatest hits album is an essential one. Not so sure about Muskrat Love, but the rest of it is so good that I overlook that.

Of all the seventies rock music I own, anything by America is a runaway favorite with my children.

Don't like "Muskrat Love"??? Specie-ist! I think it might be one of those Paul Williams songs. If it ain't, it should be.

When America released "Horse with No Name," Neil Young's mother reportedly called him to congratulate him on the hit song. Have no idea what that song means. Thought I did until I really looked at the words. Think I get the part about the ocean and the desert and... what are they talking about again?

"Ventura Highway" (which I was on during a vacation two weeks ago) is a REALLY pretty song that captures the sense of freedom they are describing. It conveys the feeling that that the sensation, the exhilaration, will never end...


I think I know what you meant about Paul Williams. I imagine he's a great man but when I saw an old video of him singing: "Rainbow Connection" I did not want to check out more of his music. I found it kinda funny. As a kid I thought it was awful! I now know he was behind The Carpenters who I love dearly.

America made some great music.:music: :thmbsp: Where are they now?

I just picked up a copy of the Greatest Hits album in a guys record collection that I bought. It's in pretty decent shape too.

I'm really glad someone knew that Willis Alan Ramsey wrote "Muskrat Love". But the name of the song is actually "Muskrat Candlelight" and he performs it wonderfully on his self titled album from way back when.

I'm really glad someone knew that Willis Alan Ramsey wrote "Muskrat Love". But the name of the song is actually "Muskrat Candlelight" and he performs it wonderfully on his self titled album from way back when.
I think he also wrote a song that Jimmy Buffet covered on of his early albums, that as memory serves was called "The Ballad of Spider John".

I, too, have their Greatest Hits LP, and I like (mostly) every song from it. A great band.

Although, I did picked on by my friends for liking America. And silly me, I thought it would be my Monkees LP that would set them off...

was there greatest song.
It's an amazingly beautiful song that gives me goose bumps most every time.

I have only heard their hits on the radio but finding out they recorded a song about rats making love is definately enough for me to only buy their greatest hits album. Plus I don't have so much time to just listen to anything.

I would like to know what they do now. Probably producing and buying and selling real estate like most wealthy business men.

It always seemed to me that "Horse With No Name" was about peyote