The United States of America is the debut and only album by American psyche… Read Full Bio ↴The United States of America is the debut and only album by American psychedelic rock band the United States of America. It was produced by David Rubinson and released on March 6th, 1968 by Columbia Records.
Being the only release by the United States of America when they were still together, the record received positive reviews on its release, charting at 181 on the Billboard 200. It has been re-issued several times and continues to receive critical acclaim, even decades after its original launch.
Composer Joseph Byrd has stated that his aesthetic aims for the band and album were to have an avant-garde political/musical rock group with the idea of combining electronic sound (not electronic music), musical/political radicalism and performance art. During the 1960s, Byrd was drawn to the leftist Communist Party group, explaining that it was, "The one group that had discipline, an agenda, and was willing to work within the existing institutions to educate and radicalize American society." The song "Love Song for the Dead Ché" reflects these ideas. Columbia Records originally wanted this title changed due to its political implications, but Byrd suggested "Julius and Ethel Rosenberg" as a replacement title if the original title had not been taken.
The record is littered with references to Byrd's obsession with old-time American music, such as the dixieland jazz intro on "I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife for You, Sugar". "The American Metaphysical Circus" also starts out with no fewer than five (5) layers of sound being heard in a collage. A calliope playing "National Emblem", a ragtime piano playing "At a Georgia Camp Meeting", two marching bands playing "Marching Through Georgia" and "The Red, White and Blue" switching between left and right channels. The other two tracks are of electronic sounds.
Being the only release by the United States of America when they were still together, the record received positive reviews on its release, charting at 181 on the Billboard 200. It has been re-issued several times and continues to receive critical acclaim, even decades after its original launch.
Composer Joseph Byrd has stated that his aesthetic aims for the band and album were to have an avant-garde political/musical rock group with the idea of combining electronic sound (not electronic music), musical/political radicalism and performance art. During the 1960s, Byrd was drawn to the leftist Communist Party group, explaining that it was, "The one group that had discipline, an agenda, and was willing to work within the existing institutions to educate and radicalize American society." The song "Love Song for the Dead Ché" reflects these ideas. Columbia Records originally wanted this title changed due to its political implications, but Byrd suggested "Julius and Ethel Rosenberg" as a replacement title if the original title had not been taken.
The record is littered with references to Byrd's obsession with old-time American music, such as the dixieland jazz intro on "I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife for You, Sugar". "The American Metaphysical Circus" also starts out with no fewer than five (5) layers of sound being heard in a collage. A calliope playing "National Emblem", a ragtime piano playing "At a Georgia Camp Meeting", two marching bands playing "Marching Through Georgia" and "The Red, White and Blue" switching between left and right channels. The other two tracks are of electronic sounds.
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The United States Of America
The United States of America Lyrics
Cloud Song How sweet to be a cloud Floating in the blue It makes…
Coming Down I think it's over now, I think it's ending. I think…
Hard Coming Love I don't love easy, babe, Got to be slow. Simple to talk…
I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife for You, Sugar Now listen, Baby, And try to understand That tying you is fi…
Love Song for the Dead Che A the dawn of an ordinary Sunday I remember the taste…
Stranded in Time Early in the morning When the sun is still asleep, Father dr…
The American Metaphysical Circus At precisely eight-o-five Doctor Frederick von Meier Will at…
The Garden of Earthly Delights Poisonous gardens, lethal and sweet, Venomous blossoms Chole…
Where Is Yesterday (Agnus dei Qui tollis peccata mundi Miserere eis. Agunus de…