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
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