Sons of American fathers and British mothers, their fathers being military personnel stationed at the West Ruislip USAF base in London, all three attended London Central High in Bushey, Hertfordshire in the mid-60s where they met while playing in two different bands.
They eventually got together and formed the rock band America, honoring the name of the homeland they had hardly even seen during their several travels around the world. They played their first gigs in pubs and clubs in the London area, including some highlights at the Roundhouse, where Pink Floyd had been playing at the beginning of their own career.
Their first LP was recorded at Trident and Morgan studios in London and produced by Ian "Sammy" Samwell, who was known for the hits he had written for Cliff Richard, with the assistance of Jeff Dexter.
The album was initially released in Europe with only moderate success and without the breakout hit "A Horse With No Name." Samwell helped the group to record and persuaded the Warner Brothers label to release the new song on an EP which was highly popular in the United States as well as in Europe.
America the album was re-released with "Horse", and quickly went platinum with the other favorites "I Need You," "Sandman," and "Riverside." Their second album, appropriately named Homecoming, saw the band moving back to the United States to record. The most notable song was "Ventura Highway."
The group's fourth album Holiday had them with George Martin (former producer for The Beatles), who worked with them through Silent Letter in 1979 with much success. The next album, Hearts, featured "Sister Golden Hair" and "Daisy Jane."
Peek left the group after recording Harbor in 1977. The remaining duo produced many more albums and had one more significant radio hit, "You Can Do Magic," reaching #8 on the pop charts in 1982. Their last top-40 hit was "The Border," which went to #33 on the pop charts (and #4 on the adult contemporary charts) the next year.
America continued with consistent live work and sporadic recordings following their departure from Capitol Records in the mid-80s.
In 1982 America provided the soundtrack for the magical anime film The Last Unicorn. Although officially produced by an American company, the film is an important transitional work in the development of Japanese anime, since most of its animation was subcontracted to the Japanese company Topcraft. The music was composed by Jimmy Webb, though performed by America, and the title song was covered many times later on. The tone is wistful and the themes are of loss.
Beckley released a solo set - "Van Go Gan" - in 1999.
Later, in his post-America career, Peek became a born-again Christian and released some highly-successful Contemporary Christian albums. His autobiography "An American Band" chronicles America's most successful period and his own spiritual journey.
Members include:
Gerry Beckley (1970-present) - lead and backing vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass, harmonica
Dewey Bunnell (1970-present) - lead and backing vocals, guitars
Dan Peek (1970-1977) - lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, harmonica
In The Country
America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lookin' for a better way
Why don't you all go to the country
Hitch a ride from the city
Get away for the day
The summertime is gonna take you
People playing music won't forsake you
You gotta go all the way
All you dancers and twisters
Lookin' for a place to play
Why don't you all go to the country
People in the city
Get away for the day
I don't know how I'm gonna do it
But someone else will push me to it
But when it's hot
You gotta go all the way
The summertime is gonna take you
People playing music won't forsake you
I don't know how I'm gonna do it
But someone else will push me to it
These lyrics are encouraging people who are looking for a better way to live their lives to go to the countryside to escape the city and its problems. The singer is addressing "brothers and sisters," implying that this is a message to anyone who feels stuck or overwhelmed in their current situation. The song suggests that going to the country is a way to find peace, community, and music, with the summertime being a particularly good time to do so. The lyrics suggest that the city can be overwhelming, and that one needs to go "all the way" to fully escape its trappings.
The song seems to be a call to action, urging people to make a change in their lives and seek out a new way of being. The singer suggests that they don't know how they themselves are going to make the change, but that "someone else will push me to it." This could imply that the singer is aware of how difficult it can be to make a major life change, but that they believe it is necessary for personal growth and happiness. Overall, the lyrics are a simple and upbeat message of escape and possibility.
Line by Line Meaning
All you brothers and sisters
Everyone who is seeking a better way of life
Lookin' for a better way
Searching for a solution to their current situation
Why don't you all go to the country
Consider going to a rural area
Hitch a ride from the city
Get a ride from someone in the city
Get away for the day
Take a break from daily life
The summertime is gonna take you
The warm weather will entice you to go out
People playing music won't forsake you
Musicians will continue to perform and entertain
But when it's hot
During heat waves
You gotta go all the way
It is necessary to fully embrace the change
All you dancers and twisters
People who enjoy dancing and partying
Lookin' for a place to play
Searching for an environment where they can relax and have fun
People in the city
Those who reside in an urban area
I don't know how I'm gonna do it
I am not sure how to achieve my goals
But someone else will push me to it
Another person or external factors will motivate me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Music_i
0:57 25 Aspen - Colorado
1:59 24 Atlanta - Georgia
3:00 23 Yosemite NP - California
4:01 22 Zion NP - Utah
5:07 21 San Antonio - Texas
6:13 20 Savannah - Georgia
7:16 19 Philadelphia - Pennsylvania
8:25 18 Sedona - Arizona
9:27 17 San Diego - California
10:32 16 Denali NP - Alaska
11:30 15 New Orleans - Louisiana
12:42 14 Niagara Falls - New York
13:50 13 Boston - Massachusetts
14:57 12 Miami - Florida
16:06 11 Seattle - Washington
17:16 10 Hawaii
18:29 9 Orlando - Florida
19:29 8 Washington D.C.
20:41 7 Los Angeles - California
21:42 6 Chicago - Illinois
22:56 5 Yellowstone NP - Wyoming
24:07 4 Las Vegas - Nevada
25:22 3 San Francisco - California
26:22 2 Grand Canyon - Arizona
27:22 1 New York City
E.A.N
13:49 13. Boston
15:00 12. Miami
16:09 11. Seattle
17:17 10. Hawaii
18:28 9. Orlando
19:32 8. Washington DC
20:43. 7. LA
21:44 6. Chicago
22:59 5. Yellowstone
24:09 4. Las Vegas
25:24 3. San Francisco
26:24 2. Grand Canyon
27:25 1. New York
Pu Doeun
1:59 24 Atlanta - Georgia
3:00 23 Yosemite NP - California
4:01 22 Zion NP - Utah
5:07 21 San Antonio - Texas
6:13 20 Savannah - Georgia
7:16 19 Philadelphia - Pennsylvania
8:25 18 Sedona - Arizona
9:27 17 San Diego - California
10:32 16 Denali NP - Alaska
11:30 15 New Orleans - Louisiana
12:42 14 Niagara Falls - New York
13:50 13 Boston - Massachusetts
14:57 12 Miami - Florida
16:06 11 Seattle - Washington
17:16 10 Hawaii
18:29 9 Orlando - Florida
19:29 8 Washington D.C.
20:41 7 Los Angeles - California
21:42 6 Chicago - Illinois
22:56 5 Yellowstone NP - Wyoming
24:07 4 Las Vegas - Nevada
25:22 3 San Francisco - California
26:22 2 Grand Canyon - Arizona
27:22 1 New York City
Subhadeep Dey
00:57 Aspen, Colorado
01:59 Atlanta, Georgia
03:01 Yosemite National Park, California
04:01 Zion National Park, Utah
05:08 San Antonio, Texas
06:14 Savannah, Georgia
07:17 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
08:26 Sedona, Arizona
09:27 San Diego, California
10:32 Denali National Park, Alaska
11:30 New Orleans, Louisiana
12:42 Niagara Falls, New York
13:50 Boston, Massachusetts
14:58 Miami, Florida
16:07 Seattle, Washington
17:16 Hawaii
18:26 Orlando, Florida
19:30 Washington DC
20:42 Los Angeles, California
21:43 Chicago, Illinois
22:57 Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana & Wyoming
24:08 Las Vegas, Nevada
25:23 San Francisco, California
26:22 Grand Canyon, Arizona
27:23 New York City, New York
Нелли Шарко
25 - Aspen, Colorado
24 – Atlanta, Georgia
23 – Yosemite NP, California
22 – Zion NP, Utah
21 – San Antonio, Texas
20 – Savannah, Georgia
19 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
18 – Sedona, Arizona
17 – San Diego, California
16 – Denali NP, Alaska
15 – New Orleans, Louisiana
14 – Niagara Falls, New York
13 – Boston, Massachusetts
12 – Miami, Florida
11 – Seattle, Washington
10 – Hawaii
9 – Orlando, Florida
8 – Washington DC
7 – Los Angeles, California
6 – Chicago, Illinois
5 – Yellowstone NP, Wyoming
4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
3 – San Francisco, California
2 – Grand Canyon, Arizona
1 – New York, New York
Jim Green
I hate to be a nitpicker, but Zion is pronounced ZYE-un, not ZYE-ahn, named after the mountain in Israel.
Continuing the nitpicker tradition I established earlier, San Diego is actually about 9 miles from Mexico, though some suburbs are nearer.
Another way to get around Denali is via the shuttle buses, and by personal vehicle up to the Savage River campground at Mile 15 of the 90 mile park road.
Not mentioned about Miami is that 2 national parks are right on the edge of the metro area--Everglades and Biscayne.
Though Hawaii may be composed of hundreds of islands, all but 7 are more like islets, and beyond Kauai and Niihau, they're off limits unless you're a scientist, as they make up the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Sanctuary. In addition to what was mentioned of the traditional Hawaiian culture, the Hawaiian language is noticed in the unique brand of English of the state.
Chicago also has the largest Polish population in the world, aside from Warsaw.
Yellowstone also has some spectacular waterfalls, and a huge portion of lakes, and back country.
Based upon figures I've been accumulating over the years, New York City is the home to the largest enclaves in the world of people from Albania, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Hungary, Macedonia, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands, plus the largest black and Jewish groups, and 25% of all the remaining American Indian/Native American population.
Very good list. You did a fine job.
Freddy Martinez
I’ve been to 7 of these places
1. Philadelphia, PA is a really beautiful city and has the best cheesesteaks I’ve ever had
I would recommend Jim’s Steaks on Southstreet
2 Sedona, AZ is really beautiful went to some waterfall down there and if it was an amazing experience
3. San Diego, CA Don’t really remember anything since I was like 6 or 7
4. Miami, FL Haven’t really explored Miami I was just stuck in the Airport. The Airport was one of the biggest I have ever seen
5. Orlando , FL Haven’t really explored Orlando but the airport is really nice! And it also one of the biggest Airports I have ever seen
6. Grand Canyon, AZ went there for a school field trip it was one of the most beautiful Places I have ever seen. Can’t wait to see it again
7. Washington DC I saw the Vietnam Memorial, WW2 memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and a lot of other sites! Buts it really expensive there
Bad Driving in Hamilton Toronto Area
The USA is such a beautiful country. As a Canadian, I am always blown away by how much the US has to offer. It has tropics, deserts, basically every climate you can imagine all within its borders. Numerous developed cities with lots of opportunities as well.
America gets so much shit from the rest of the world (including by Canadians) but I would love to live in the US.
Monkey Adoo
very good USA
Indigoism
The reason why we get so much shit in America is because of our horrible political system. Most people and our landscapes are absolutely beautiful and America has so much too offer for travelers.
It sucks our so called leaders give its citizens a bad name, but then again I can say the same for many nations around the world.
D
@Indigoism America has the best political system in the world. The best form of government is the one that governs least. Sure a lot of political leaders are corrupt that's why you don't want government to have too much power over the people and the country but instead a small and limited government that we should have if the constitution was obeyed. Free market capitalism is not the problem what causes all our problems is big government interference in the free market that's what leftists don't realize
Rosselini`s Desires
@Indigoism Your bank system is a damn mess also. It doesn`t feel safe to do business with those banks there.
Rosselini`s Desires
@D If the government stayed out of the free market entirely society would most certainly collapse. It would become like the old wild west.
Music_i
0:57 25 Aspen - Colorado
1:59 24 Atlanta - Georgia
3:00 23 Yosemite NP - California
4:01 22 Zion NP - Utah
5:07 21 San Antonio - Texas
6:13 20 Savannah - Georgia
7:16 19 Philadelphia - Pennsylvania
8:25 18 Sedona - Arizona
9:27 17 San Diego - California
10:32 16 Denali NP - Alaska
11:30 15 New Orleans - Louisiana
12:42 14 Niagara Falls - New York
13:50 13 Boston - Massachusetts
14:57 12 Miami - Florida
16:06 11 Seattle - Washington
17:16 10 Hawaii
18:29 9 Orlando - Florida
19:29 8 Washington D.C.
20:41 7 Los Angeles - California
21:42 6 Chicago - Illinois
22:56 5 Yellowstone NP - Wyoming
24:07 4 Las Vegas - Nevada
25:22 3 San Francisco - California
26:22 2 Grand Canyon - Arizona
27:22 1 New York City
Snack oN
Palm springs california is the best place to visit make sure to order a uber when visiting for easy travel.
E.A.N
13:49 13. Boston
15:00 12. Miami
16:09 11. Seattle
17:17 10. Hawaii
18:28 9. Orlando
19:32 8. Washington DC
20:43. 7. LA
21:44 6. Chicago
22:59 5. Yellowstone
24:09 4. Las Vegas
25:24 3. San Francisco
26:24 2. Grand Canyon
27:25 1. New York
Random_editor206
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