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Highway (America Album)
''Highway: 30 Years Of America'' is the third principal major label compilation album by American folk rock duo America, released by Rhino Records in 2000. The collection represented the first boxed set release of America's material. Originally, the collection was promoted as including four discs, including newly recorded material, but was scaled back to three discs shortly before release. The resulting collection was heavily tilted toward the Warner Bros. releases, with the remainder of the group's career relegated to a portion of the third disc. No material from ''Human Nature'', and only one track from '' Alibi'', was included. All songs which charted on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart are represented with the exception of the group's 1982 hit, "Right Before Your Eyes". The collection notably contains a demo of "Ventura Highway" prior to the addition of the famous guitar riff for which it is best known. Only two previously unreleased tracks were included in the 64-tra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Box Set
A box set or (its original name) boxed set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists and bands with an extremely long and successful career often have anthology or "essential" collections of their boxes of music released as box sets. These often include rare and never-before-released tracks. Some box sets collect previously released boxes of singles or albums by a music artist, and often collect the complete discography of an artist such as Pink Floyd's ''Oh, by the Way'' and ''Discovery'' sets. Sometimes bands release expanded versions of their most successful albums such as Pink Floyd's ''Immersion'' box set versions of their ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' (1973), ''Wish You Were Here'' (1975) and ''The Wall'' (1979) albums. Pink Floyd have also released ''The Early Years 1965–1972'' box set which features mostly unreleased mate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dewey Bunnell
Lee Merton "Dewey" Bunnell (born 19 January 1952) is a British-American musician, singer, guitarist, and songwriter, best known as a member of the folk rock band America (band), America. Biography Bunnell was born in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England, to an American serviceman father, stationed at the United States Air Force base at RAF South Ruislip, and his English wife. As a young musician, Bunnell was inspired by the Beatles and the Beach Boys. While attending London Central Elementary High School, London Central High School in England, he met Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek. After an initial attempt at forming a band in the late 1960s, the trio formed America in 1969 and released their first album in 1971. As with the other members, Bunnell wrote, sang and played guitar. His best-known compositions include "A Horse with No Name", "Ventura Highway", and "Tin Man (America song), Tin Man". Bunnell has explained that "A Horse with No Name" was "a metaphor for a vehicle to get away fro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Today's The Day (America Song)
"Today's the Day" is a song by America on their 1976 album '' Hideaway''. and written by group member Dan Peek. Background According to Dan Peek, "Today's the Day" was the inspiration for the Rod Stewart hit " Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" a US #1 single for eight weeks from November 1976 to January 1977 which also afforded Stewart an international smash hit. Peek would recall that one evening when he and his guest Rod Stewart were playing together in Peek's home recording studio, "I played 'Today's the Day', the song I had been working on. Rod said that he liked it and that it gave him an idea for a song. Of course after his recording of 'Tonight's the Night' came out I laughed when I remembered what he'd said. I'm sure I probably smacked my forehead and said, 'Why didn't I think of that?'" Reception ''Cash Box'' said the song has "a nice melody that builds to a certain tension" and that "the harmonies here seem to melt into one voice." Chart history "Today's the Day" ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amber Cascades
"Amber Cascades" is a song written by Dewey Bunnell and performed by America. It reached number 17 on both the U.S. and the Canadian adult contemporary charts, number 75 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and number 82 on the Canadian pop chart in 1976. It was featured on their 1976 album, '' Hideaway''. The song was produced and arranged by George Martin Sir George Henry Martin (3 January 1926 – 8 March 2016) was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, and musician. He was commonly referred to as the "Fifth Beatle" because of his extensive involvement in each of the B .... Retrieved February 13, 2015 Charts References 1976 songs ...[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Daisy Jane
"Daisy Jane" is a song written by Gerry Beckley of the group America included on the 1975 America album '' Hearts''. Issued as that album's second single — following up the #1 hit "Sister Golden Hair" — "Daisy Jane" reached #20 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming the final Top 20 hit by the original three-member incarnation of America. On the Easy Listening chart the track reached #4. In Canada the chart peak of "Daisy Jane" was #16 on the Pop singles chart and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song's narrator indicates he's flying back to Memphis in hopes of reconnecting with the girl he left behind "to roam the city". Beckley, who wrote the song at his cottage in East Sussex, has stated: "There was no such person as Daisy Jane and I had never even been to Memphis": Beckley believes that he likely drew the idea of writing a song entitled "Daisy Jane" from the Nick Drake song "Hazey Jane". ''Cash Box'' called it "a tender rock ballad with George Martin’s brilli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sister Golden Hair
"Sister Golden Hair" is a song by the band America from their fifth album '' Hearts'' (1975), written by Gerry Beckley. It was their second single to reach number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100, remaining in the top position for one week. Background Beckley says "There was no actual Sister Gold Hair." The lyrics were largely inspired by the works of Jackson Browne Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and political activist who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States. Emerging as a precocious teenage songwriter in mid-1960s Los Angeles, he h .... Beckley commented, " ackson Brownehas a knack, an ability to put words to music, that is much more like the L.A. approach to just genuine observation as opposed to simplifying it down to its bare essentials... I find Jackson can depress me a little bit, but only through his honesty; and it was that style of his which led to a song of mine, 'Sister Golden Hair', wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lonely People
"Lonely People" is a song written by the husband-and-wife team of Dan Peek and Catherine Peek and recorded by America. Background "Lonely People" was the second single release from America's 1974 album '' Holiday''. "Lonely People" reached number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the Peeks' only credited song to reach that chart's top 10, and was America's second number one on the Easy Listening chart, where it stayed for one week in February 1975. "Lonely People" was not automatically earmarked for the ''Holiday'' album: Dan Peek unsuccessfully submitted a demo of the song for John Sebastian to consider recording. "Lonely People" was written as an optimistic response to the Beatles' song "Eleanor Rigby". Dan Peek considered "Eleanor Rigby" an "overwhelming" "picture...of the masses of lost humanity, drowning in grey oblivion" and would recall being "lacerated" on first hearing the lyrics of its chorus which run "All the lonely people: where do they all come from...where d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tin Man (America Song)
"Tin Man" is a 1974 song by the pop rock band America. It was written by band member Dewey Bunnell and produced by George Martin, who also plays the piano part on the recorded version. The song was included on the band's album '' Holiday'', also from 1974. Background The song's title and some of its lyrics refer to the Tin Woodman from '' The Wizard of Oz''. Songwriter Bunnell was quoted describing the parallel: "My favorite movie, I guess. I always loved it as a kid. Very obscure lyrics. Great grammar - 'Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man.' It's sort of a poetic license." Dan Peek - who describes "Tin Man" as "quintessential Dewey, easy stream of consciousness with a major seventh acoustic bed" - states that Bunnell "actually begged us not to record the song. Knowing Dewey it was probably reverse psychology; if it was, Gerry eckleyand I fell for it, insisting it was perfect for the album." Released as the first single from ''Holiday'', "Tin Man" became the band's fou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Willis Alan Ramsey
Willis Alan Ramsey (born 5 March 1951) is an American singer/songwriter, a cult legend among fans of Americana and Texas country. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised in Dallas, Texas. Ramsey graduated from Highland Park High School in 1969, and was a prominent baritone in the school's Lads and Lassies Choir. In his senior year, he played a leading role in the musical ''Carousel''. He released the critically acclaimed album, ''Willis Alan Ramsey'', in 1972 on the Shelter label. The album included " Muskrat Candlelight" which was covered (under the title "Muskrat Love") by America in 1973 and by Captain & Tennille in 1976. Owing to conflict with his label, Ramsey left Shelter at the end of his contract. As a result, Ramsey's fans have been waiting half a century for the release of his "mythical second album". When asked where the new album is, he often responds, "What's wrong with the first one?" In the 1980s, he moved to Great Britain to reconnect with his ancestry ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Muskrat Love
"Muskrat Love" is a soft rock song written by Willis Alan Ramsey. The song depicts a romantic liaison between two anthropomorphic muskrats named Susie and Sam. It was first recorded in 1972 by Ramsey for his sole album release ''Willis Alan Ramsey''. The song was originally titled "Muskrat Candlelight" referencing the song's opening lyric. A 1973 cover version by the folk/rock band America—retitled "Muskrat Love" for the lyrics that close the chorus—was a minor hit reaching number 67 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. In 1976, a cover by pop music duo Captain & Tennille resulted in the song's highest profile, peaking at number four on the Hot 100 chart. It also reached number two on the ''Cash Box'' chart, which ranked it as the 30th biggest hit of 1976. America version Background America recorded "Muskrat Love" for their 1973 album '' Hat Trick'', marking the second time the band had recorded a song not written by a member of America. In putting together 10 songs to c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ventura Highway
"Ventura Highway" is a 1972 song by the band America from their album ''Homecoming'', written by Dewey Bunnell. Background Dewey Bunnell, the song's vocalist and writer, has said that the lyric "alligator lizards in the air" in the song is a reference to the shapes of clouds in the sky he saw in 1963 while his family was driving down the coast from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California, where they had a flat tire. While his father changed the tire, he and his brother stood by the side of the road, watched the clouds, and saw a road sign for Ventura. In the booklet for the boxed set, ''Highway'', he states that the song "reminds me of the time I lived in Omaha as a kid and how we'd walk through cornfields and chew on pieces of grass. There were cold winters, and I had images of going to California. So I think in the song I'm talking to myself, frankly: 'How long you gonna stay here, Joe?' I really believe that 'Ventura Highway' has the most lasting power of all my ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dan Peek
Daniel Milton Peek () was an American musician best known as a member of the folk rock band America from 1970 to 1977, together with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell. He has been called a "pioneer in contemporary Christian music". Early life Peek was born in Panama City, Florida, on November 1, 1950, while his father was in the U.S. Air Force. Beginning in 1963, Peek was educated at London Central Elementary High School at Bushey Hall in North London. For the 1965–66 school year, Peek attended San Angelo Central High School after his family relocated from Pakistan earlier that year. He moved again to England in 1968 with his family when his father was assigned to a base in London. It is there that he met Bunnell and Beckley at London Central High School. In 1973 he married Catherine Maberry (d. March 11, 2021), with whom he would write a number of songs, including " Lonely People". When Peek was a young boy, he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and had to be hospitalized ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
