There’s not shortage of compilation albums of British-American trio, America. Formed in England while their fathers were stationed there as part of the US Army, the band would eventually relocate to Los Angeles and further soak up the soft folk rock sounds of the early 70s. A success right out of the gate, their first three singles went top ten in the US including their most well known song – “A Horse With No Name”. With vocals of Dewey Bunnell sounding not unlike Neil Young and terrific backing vocals of Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek; the guitar strumming song went to #1 on the back of the song’s memorable “la la la la” as it comes out of the chorus.
Fans of 2000s Saturday Night Live will smile at the Spanish guitar sounds of “Ventura Highway”, a track that was surely the inspiration for the theme to The Californians skit. “Tin Man” and “Lonely People” are nice sounding tracks that glide by, ones that if they appeared on a random playlist would have the listener ask, “who is this?”. The band would then hit #1 again with the great strumming guitar riff of “Sister Golden Hair”. The crisp drumbeat helps pick up the pace of the chorus. Less successful is the band’s polarizing single, “Muskrat Love”, a song that Captain and Tennille would have great success with a few years later.
The Complete Greatest Hits ends with a slick 80s sound on songs such as “You Can Magic” that was a top ten hit in the US. Replacing the “la la la” with “doo doo doo”, it’s their first single without Dan Peek who left a few years prior. The album then finishes with two new songs that follows in their familiar pattern of pleasant and catchy sound. And that is what sums up this collection – a handful of great songs and a slew of pleasing ones that can easily soundtrack a summer evening of watching the sunset while enjoying a glass of California white wine.
8/10
The Light Appears 