On their way to becoming a global household name, America’s journey found them exploring a wide variety of musical terrain. Their best-known tunes, which also include “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People,” and “Sister Golden Hair” were cornerstones of 1970’s Top 40 and FM rock radio. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners would discover there was always much more to America than surface perceptions. The combination of melodic pop rock and folk-jazz elements, slinky Latin-leaning rhythms and impressionistic lyric imagery contrasted well with other more traditional country-rock leanings and highly personal lyrics.
America’s albums—six certified gold and/or platinum, with their first greatest hits collection, History, hitting four plus million in sales—displayed a fuller range of the trio’s talents than did their singles. Their material encompassed an ambitious artistic swath; from effects-laden rockers to oddball medleys to soul-bearing ballads, America displayed a flawless blend of disparate genres and styles as wide-open as the great American plains.
Enjoying massive success early in their career, America earned their stripes as musical soldiers on the battlefield amidst the excess, craziness, and chaos of the 70’s. The trio won the Grammy® for Best New Artist in 1972 and began working with George Martin and Geoff Emerick in 1974. This successful team went on to record seven albums and several Top Ten hits, including “Tin Man,” “Sister Golden Hair,” and “Lonely People.”
Their growth as singers, songwriters, and musicians has continued into the present day as illustrated by landmark releases such as 2000’s Highway 3-disc box set, 2002’s Holiday Harmony, an album comprised of seasonal classics and live showcases, 2007’s Here & Now, 2009’s Live In Concert: Wildwood Springs, 2011’s Back Pages and 2015’s Lost And Found and America: Archives Vol. 1.
In 2020, the band released their ultimate 8-disc anniversary box set, Half Century (America Records), and streamed their concert special America—Live at the London Palladium for the very first time (it is commercially available as a DVD and CD). 2020 also saw the release of the book America, the Band: An Authorized Biography by journalist Jude Warne. She weaves original interviews with the band and many others into a dynamic cultural history of America the band, and America, the nation. Billy Bob Thornton wrote the foreword.
As further testament to the band’s staying power and influence, America’s recordings have been licensed for a multitude of placements in films (including American Hustle, The Nice Guys, The Last Unicorn, and Girl Most Likely), television shows (among them The Sopranos, Friends, Breaking Bad, and Saturday Night Live) and video games (including Grand Theft Auto).
From their formative years, America has been a band capable of transcending borders with its uplifting music and positive message. Embracing a rainbow of divergent cultures, America’s audiences continue to grow, comprising a loyal legion of first, second, and third generation fans, all bearing testament to the group’s enduring appeal.
Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com
