Sigma Sound Studio 1972

Description

AMERICA LIVE IN THE STUDIO FEBRUARY 1972 While their fathers were stationed at the United States Air Force base at RAF South Ruislip, West London in the mid-1960s, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek attended London Central High School at Bushey Hall, where they met while playing in two different bands. Peek left for the United States for an abortive attempt at college during 1969 but soon returned to the UK and the three began making music together. Starting out with borrowed acoustic guitars, they developed a style which incorporated three-part vocal harmony in the style of contemporary acts like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. They chose their group name in order to avoid claims they were British musicians trying to sound American and played their first gigs in the London area, including a number at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm. Through Ian Samwell and Jeff Dexter's efforts they were eventually contracted to Kinney Records (UK) in March 1971 and assigned to the UK Warner Brothers label. America s debut album was recorded at Trident Studios in London and produced by Ian Samwell - best known as Cliff Richard's former lead guitarist - and Jeff Dexter, Samwell's roommate, who was also involved in the music business. He co-produced the album and became the trio's manager. Released in 1971 to only moderate success, Samwell and Dexter subsequently took the trio to Morgan Studios to record several additional songs. One of them was a Bunnell composition called Desert Song . The track had its public debut at The Harrogate Festival, four days later to great audience response. After several performances and a TV show, it was re-titled A Horse with No Name and became a major worldwide hit in early 1972. America's debut album was re-released with the hit song added and quickly went platinum. The album also achieved a second major chart success with Beckley's I Need You , peaking at No. 9 on Billboard. After their initial success, the trio decided to dismiss Samwell and Dexter and relocate to Los Angeles. The recording of a second album was delayed by the relocation as well as by an injury to Peek's arm. Deciding not to replace Samwell, the group opted to produce the album themselves. The trio began a move away from a mainly acoustic style to one more rock-music-oriented with the help of Hal Blaine on drums and Joe Osborn on bass. Peek began to play lead electric guitar on more tracks and the group expanded from an acoustic trio to embrace a fuller live sound, adding Dave Caty on bass and Dave Atwood (who'd played on their debut) on drums. Homecoming, was released in November 1972 and went gold within a month. The FM broadcast included on this CD comes from a live appearance at the Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia which the band made in February 1972, just before their debut was re-issued. The interesting set list includes seven cuts from America, another two that would be on Homecoming and two covers - Arlo Guthrie s Coming Into Los Angeles , and the old Broadway hit Winter Of Our Love . However, the pièce de résistance of this recording are the four numbers which the band dropped from their set soon after this show took place, and which have never been included on any America album until now.