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History (1975)
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To buy this CD from Amazon.com, click here: History: America's Greatest Hits
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America
History
Warner Brothers
CD 3110-2
______________________________________________________________
1. A Horse With No Name
(Bunnell)
Dewey Bunnell: 6-string acoustic guitar and lead vocal
Gerry Beckley: 12-string acoustic guitar
Dan Peek: Bass
Kim Haworth: Drums
Ray Cooper: Percussion
Produced by Ian Samwell with Jeff Dexter and America
Recorded at Morgan Studios, London
Engineer: Robin Black
Remixed by George Martin
2. I Need You
(Beckley)
Gerry Beckley: Piano, bass and lead vocal
Dan Peek: Electric, 12-string guitar
Dewey Bunnell: 6-string acoustic guitar
Dave Atwood: Drums
Produced by Ian Samwell with Jeff Dexter and America
Recorded at Trident Studios, London
Engineer: Ken Scott
Remixed by George Martin
3. Sandman
(Bunnell)
Dewey Bunnell: 6-string acoustic guitar (rhythm and lead) and lead vocal
Dan Peek: 12-string acoustic guitar and 6-string lead guitar
Gerry Beckley: Bass
Dave Atwood: Drums
Produced by Ian Samwell with Jeff Dexter and America
Recorded at Trident Studios, London
Engineer: Ken Scott
Remixed by George Martin
4. Ventura Highway
(Bunnell)
Hal Blaine: Percussion and drums
Joe Osborne: Bass
Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek and Dewey Bunnell: Guitars and piano
Produced by America
Engineer: Mike Stone
Assistant Engineer: Chuck Leary
Remixed by George Martin
5. Don’t Cross The River
(Peeks)
Henry Diltz: Banjo
Joe Osborne: Bass
Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek and Dewey Bunnell: Guitars and piano
Produced by America
Engineer: Mike Stone
Assistant Engineer: Chuck Leary
Remixed by George Martin
6. Only In Your Heart
(Beckley)
Hal Blaine: Percussion and drums;
Joe Osborne: Bass;
Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek and Dewey Bunnell: Guitars and piano
Produced by America
Engineer: Mike Stone
Assistant Engineer: Chuck Leary,
Remixed by George Martin
7. Muskrat Love
(Ramsey)
David Dickey: Bass
Chester McCracken: Congas
AMERICA: All other instruments and vocals
Recorded at The Record Plant
Produced by America
Engineer: Mike Stone
Assistant Engineer: Lee Kiefer
Remixed by George Martin
8. Tin Man
(Bunnell)
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
America: Bass, keyboards and guitars
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Tape operator: Peter Henderson
Recorded at Air Studios, London
9. Lonely People
(Peek & Peek)
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
America: Bass, keyboards and guitars
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Tape operator: Peter Henderson
Recorded at Air Studios, London
10. Sister Golden Hair
(Beckley)
David Dickey: Bass
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
America: All other instruments and vocals
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Tape operator: Peter Henderson
Recorded at Air Studios, London
11. Daisy Jane
(Beckley)
David Dickey: Bass
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
America: All other instruments and vocals
Recorded at The Record Plants, San Francisco and Los Angeles
Mixed at Air Studios, London
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Assistant engineer: Tom Anderson
12. Woman Tonight
(Peek)
David Dickey: Bass
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
Female Singers: Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Jessica Smith
America: All other instruments and vocals
Recorded at The Record Plants, San Francisco and Los Angeles
Mixed at Air Studios, London
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Assistant engineer: Tom Anderson
______________________________________________________________
America is Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley
Produced by George Martin
A very special thank you to David Dickey and Willie Leacox
Thank you: Vivian Bunnell, Malcolm Cecil, Ray Cooper, Scott Harden, Kim Haworth, Margaret Holmes, Craig Hull, Jim Hoskins, Doug Kenny, Robert Margouleff, Cassie Peek, Larry Penny, Ian Ralfini, Ken Warnick, Ed Wynne.
CDD Pre-Mastering by WCI Record Group
Venetta Fields appears courtesy of A&M Records
Cover Design: Phil Hartmann
Art Direction: Ed Thrasher
Direction: Hartmann and Goodman
______________________________________________________________
NOTES:
Over a remarkable three year run, a trio called America proved the enduring appeal of clean harmonies, uncluttered arrangement and evocative lyrics with a nearly unbroken string of Top 10 singles and best selling albums. Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek fashioned their distinctive, disarming sound from the simplest of musical elements, updating and enhancing the singer/songwriter tradition and, in the process, setting new standards in pop craftsmanship. The trio first met at an American school in the U.K., the sons of Air Force officers stationed overseas.
The fledgling musicians played separately and together in a variety of local bands. Choosing their name while listening to an Americana jukebox, the recorded a demo of a Dewey Bunnell original called “A Horse With No Name,” showcasing the vocal skills that would become America’s trademark. The song was released in England in January of 1972 and immediately shot into the top 5. Encouraged by the results, the threesome embarked on a tour of North America as complete unknowns. Their first concert was in a lunchroom at an Ontario College.
America’s status in their namesake nation quickly changed when “A Horse With No Name” reached the top of the charts. It eventually sold more than a million copies and garnered the group a Grammy for Best New Artists of 1972.
Their self-titled debut album, containing both their first hit and its Top 10 follow-up, “I Need You” topped the Stateside charts for more than a month. The follow-up, “Homecoming” was another million-seller and highlighted on of America’s best-known songs, “Ventura Highway,” along with the Top 40 hit “Don’t Cross The River.” What followed was a string of million-selling albums: ‘73’s Hat Trick, ‘74’s Holiday and ‘75’s Hearts (the later pair produced by Beatles producer George Martin). Each, in turn, yielded up more America classics: the Top 5 hits “Tin Man” and “Lonely People” and the number one single “Sister Golden Hair.” In 1977 Peek left America, but rejoined in briefly in 1982 to score another Top 10 hit with “You Can Do Magic.” First released in October of 1975,
History: America’s Greatest Hits, chronicled America’s extraordinary track record of two Number One, six Top 10 and eight Top 40 hits in less than three years. The package, also featuring an elegant cover of the Captain and Tennille’s “Muskrat Love,” was a hit in its own right, selling more than four million copies to date and still going strong.
America
History
Warner Brothers
CD 3110-2
______________________________________________________________
1. A Horse With No Name
(Bunnell)
Dewey Bunnell: 6-string acoustic guitar and lead vocal
Gerry Beckley: 12-string acoustic guitar
Dan Peek: Bass
Kim Haworth: Drums
Ray Cooper: Percussion
Produced by Ian Samwell with Jeff Dexter and America
Recorded at Morgan Studios, London
Engineer: Robin Black
Remixed by George Martin
2. I Need You
(Beckley)
Gerry Beckley: Piano, bass and lead vocal
Dan Peek: Electric, 12-string guitar
Dewey Bunnell: 6-string acoustic guitar
Dave Atwood: Drums
Produced by Ian Samwell with Jeff Dexter and America
Recorded at Trident Studios, London
Engineer: Ken Scott
Remixed by George Martin
3. Sandman
(Bunnell)
Dewey Bunnell: 6-string acoustic guitar (rhythm and lead) and lead vocal
Dan Peek: 12-string acoustic guitar and 6-string lead guitar
Gerry Beckley: Bass
Dave Atwood: Drums
Produced by Ian Samwell with Jeff Dexter and America
Recorded at Trident Studios, London
Engineer: Ken Scott
Remixed by George Martin
4. Ventura Highway
(Bunnell)
Hal Blaine: Percussion and drums
Joe Osborne: Bass
Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek and Dewey Bunnell: Guitars and piano
Produced by America
Engineer: Mike Stone
Assistant Engineer: Chuck Leary
Remixed by George Martin
5. Don’t Cross The River
(Peeks)
Henry Diltz: Banjo
Joe Osborne: Bass
Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek and Dewey Bunnell: Guitars and piano
Produced by America
Engineer: Mike Stone
Assistant Engineer: Chuck Leary
Remixed by George Martin
6. Only In Your Heart
(Beckley)
Hal Blaine: Percussion and drums;
Joe Osborne: Bass;
Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek and Dewey Bunnell: Guitars and piano
Produced by America
Engineer: Mike Stone
Assistant Engineer: Chuck Leary,
Remixed by George Martin
7. Muskrat Love
(Ramsey)
David Dickey: Bass
Chester McCracken: Congas
AMERICA: All other instruments and vocals
Recorded at The Record Plant
Produced by America
Engineer: Mike Stone
Assistant Engineer: Lee Kiefer
Remixed by George Martin
8. Tin Man
(Bunnell)
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
America: Bass, keyboards and guitars
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Tape operator: Peter Henderson
Recorded at Air Studios, London
9. Lonely People
(Peek & Peek)
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
America: Bass, keyboards and guitars
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Tape operator: Peter Henderson
Recorded at Air Studios, London
10. Sister Golden Hair
(Beckley)
David Dickey: Bass
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
America: All other instruments and vocals
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Tape operator: Peter Henderson
Recorded at Air Studios, London
11. Daisy Jane
(Beckley)
David Dickey: Bass
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
America: All other instruments and vocals
Recorded at The Record Plants, San Francisco and Los Angeles
Mixed at Air Studios, London
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Assistant engineer: Tom Anderson
12. Woman Tonight
(Peek)
David Dickey: Bass
Willie Leacox: Drums and percussion
Female Singers: Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Jessica Smith
America: All other instruments and vocals
Recorded at The Record Plants, San Francisco and Los Angeles
Mixed at Air Studios, London
Produced and arranged by George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Assistant engineer: Tom Anderson
______________________________________________________________
America is Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley
Produced by George Martin
A very special thank you to David Dickey and Willie Leacox
Thank you: Vivian Bunnell, Malcolm Cecil, Ray Cooper, Scott Harden, Kim Haworth, Margaret Holmes, Craig Hull, Jim Hoskins, Doug Kenny, Robert Margouleff, Cassie Peek, Larry Penny, Ian Ralfini, Ken Warnick, Ed Wynne.
CDD Pre-Mastering by WCI Record Group
Venetta Fields appears courtesy of A&M Records
Cover Design: Phil Hartmann
Art Direction: Ed Thrasher
Direction: Hartmann and Goodman
______________________________________________________________
NOTES:
Over a remarkable three year run, a trio called America proved the enduring appeal of clean harmonies, uncluttered arrangement and evocative lyrics with a nearly unbroken string of Top 10 singles and best selling albums. Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek fashioned their distinctive, disarming sound from the simplest of musical elements, updating and enhancing the singer/songwriter tradition and, in the process, setting new standards in pop craftsmanship. The trio first met at an American school in the U.K., the sons of Air Force officers stationed overseas.
The fledgling musicians played separately and together in a variety of local bands. Choosing their name while listening to an Americana jukebox, the recorded a demo of a Dewey Bunnell original called “A Horse With No Name,” showcasing the vocal skills that would become America’s trademark. The song was released in England in January of 1972 and immediately shot into the top 5. Encouraged by the results, the threesome embarked on a tour of North America as complete unknowns. Their first concert was in a lunchroom at an Ontario College.
America’s status in their namesake nation quickly changed when “A Horse With No Name” reached the top of the charts. It eventually sold more than a million copies and garnered the group a Grammy for Best New Artists of 1972.
Their self-titled debut album, containing both their first hit and its Top 10 follow-up, “I Need You” topped the Stateside charts for more than a month. The follow-up, “Homecoming” was another million-seller and highlighted on of America’s best-known songs, “Ventura Highway,” along with the Top 40 hit “Don’t Cross The River.” What followed was a string of million-selling albums: ‘73’s Hat Trick, ‘74’s Holiday and ‘75’s Hearts (the later pair produced by Beatles producer George Martin). Each, in turn, yielded up more America classics: the Top 5 hits “Tin Man” and “Lonely People” and the number one single “Sister Golden Hair.” In 1977 Peek left America, but rejoined in briefly in 1982 to score another Top 10 hit with “You Can Do Magic.” First released in October of 1975,
History: America’s Greatest Hits, chronicled America’s extraordinary track record of two Number One, six Top 10 and eight Top 40 hits in less than three years. The package, also featuring an elegant cover of the Captain and Tennille’s “Muskrat Love,” was a hit in its own right, selling more than four million copies to date and still going strong.
