In the 70’s they were recording and releasing at least an album a year. Each of the three original band members wrote songs and sang lead vocals. By the way George Martin is credited with five studio albums, remix of the greatest hits and a live album.
Martin produced their next album Hearts released in March 1975. America scored it’s second No. 1 single “Sister Golden Hair” in April 1975.The song featured an opening guitar riff inspired by (George Harrison’s 12 string acoustic and the slide guitar) ”My Sweet Lord” . Beckley’s “Daisy Jane” was the follow up single entering the top 20. Towards the end of the year Peek’s “Woman Tonight” was the third single making it to No. 44.
In December 1975 Martin culled the hits from the group’s first three albums and produced History: America’s Greatest Hits which eventually sold over 5 Million copies.
Comedian Phil Hartman of Saturday Night Live fame did the artwork for the History album. Their connection with Hartman was that his brother John was the band’s manager. The band says even then Hartman was very funny. Sadly Hartman was shot and killed in his sleep on May 28 1998 by his wife Brynn
It was time for the sixth album which was recorded in April 1976 at Caribou Ranch near Nederland Colorado, Inspiring the title, Hideaway.Two singles “Today’s The Day” and “Amber Cascades” were released reaching to No. 23 and 75 in the Billboard charts.
Martins implementation of more complex instrumentation made it tougher to perform on stage and they would often switch from different instruments during songs.
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Warner Bros.contract ends
Meanwhile Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell continued as America. They ended their contract with Warner Bros. with the release of their first concert LP, Live (Rare!) in October 1977 and then moved to Capitol. The album was recorded at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and featured a backing orchestra conducted by Elmer Bernstein.The concert was recorded not long after Peek left the group. Live barely reached into the top 130.
In March 1979 Beckley and Bunnell recorded a cover of the Mamas And Papas “California Dreaming” from the movie California Dreaming. Although the movie didn’t do well at the box office and the soundtrack was issued by an unknown label American International,the single reached No. 56 on the charts.
Capitol Records
Their first album for Capitiol was Silent Letter released in 1979 followed by 1980’s Alibi which included players like Timothy B. Scmit(The Eagles),Leland Sklar(session musician who played on numerous recordings with artists like Jackson Browne and James Taylor) and Steve Lukather(Toto).
In July 1982 America released their next album View From The Ground. Former vocalist and lead singer of the group Argent, Russ Ballard produced the album and wrote their next hit single “You Can Do Magic” reaching No. 8 on the charts in August 1982.This was the band’s first major success in seven years.
Having had success with Ballard on View From The Ground, he produced the band’s next album Your Move in 1983 resulting the last charting single for America “The Border “.
For their tweltfth studio album Perspective,they opted for a different style from it’s previous albums. Ballard was out and synthesizers and drum machines were in. They brought in Richie Zito as producer.Zito has produced 38 charting singles and worked with Elton John, Cher , and many others. This new style didn’t work. No commercial singles and the album made the charts for only three weeks reaching at no. 185.
In July 1985 America ended their contract with Capitol Records with In Concert
Dan Peek released his first solo album in 1978 All Things Are Possible and then disappearing. He re-emerged in May 1984 after several years of obscurity and releasing his second solo album Doer Of The World. Since Peek was a young boy he suffered with rheumatoid arthritis and was hospitalized for weeks at a time. Because the Ronald Mcdonald Houses provide housing for families of hospitalized children around the United States and the world, Peek wanted to help.He decided to dispose of five of his vintage guitars. In 2010 they were auctioned off and sold to a collector resulting in a $50,000 donation. Sadly Dan Peek died in his sleep a year later on July 24 2011 at the age of 60. Rumors of a reunion with America never happened.
Throughout the late 80’s,-the 2000’s, America remains active and very popular touring and playing concerts in the United States and all over the world about 100 days a year.
America have been together since 1970 and have released around 20 albums . If you include the greatest hits package or live packages the no. goes to around 30.