America Releases ‘Live From the Hollywood Bowl 1975’ Album
by Best Classic Bands Staff
America in 1975 (Photo © Henry Diltz; used with permission)
America has released a new live album recorded at the renowned Hollywood Bowl in 1975. The band, whose self-titled debut album and first single propelled them to the top of the U.S. charts in 1972, were one of music’s top recording artists at the time. America – Live From The Hollywood Bowl 1975 arrived September 6, 2024, via Primary Wave Music. Previously available as a Record Store Day exclusive, the album, featuring never-before-heard recordings of their performance backed by a symphony conducted by the legendary George Martin, is now widely released on CD and as a 2-LP set on red vinyl. It’s available here. Listen to several of the tracks, including such favorites as “Ventura Highway” and “Sister Golden Hair,” below.
The unique performance from August 3, 1975, has been recently restored and remastered for this special release. America – Live From The Hollywood Bowl 1975 features live renditions of such hits as “Lonely People,” “A Horse With No Name,” “Don’t Cross the River,” and many more.
Dewey Bunnell remembers exactly how the evening played out: “As I recall, this show was planned to highlight the summer of 1975. The release of our fifth album, Hearts, in March of that year had been a great success and included our second #1 single, ‘Sister Golden Hair,’ so we were at the top of our game.. We had developed a great partnership with Sir George Martin the year before with our first project together in London, the album Holiday. And the making of Hearts at the record Plant in Sausalito, CA had been fun and creative. Meanwhile, the live performance had evolved into a strong show, and we toured a lot that year playing large sold-out venues.”
Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and George Martin during sound check at the Hollywood Bowl, Aug 5, 1975 (Photo © Henry Diltz; used with permission)
On Aug. 2, one day before the 49th anniversary of the concert, the Grammy-winning band shared their performance of “Sister Golden Hair” with Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, and Dan Peek front and center. A thicket of strummed acoustic guitars lay a foundation for the harmony vocals, and the instantly recognizable slide guitar melody. As the song patiently unfolds, their voices swell to choir-size.
Bunnell continues: “So the plan was to make the Hollywood Bowl show as special as possible. George was involved from the beginning of the planning, and it was decided that he would conduct a symphony that would include him performing first, doing a show he called ’Bond to Beatles and Bach’ which he had recorded the year before, and he would then conduct behind us during our show.
“It was amazing to hear George conducting Beatle songs like ‘Yellow Submarine’ live at the Hollywood Bowl! We planned to record the show and had the Record Plant mobile recording truck on-site to capture the performance for posterity. There would be fireworks and a skywriter plane spelling out A-M-E-R-I-C-A above the Bowl with a big finale on the encore performance of ‘Horse With No Name’ as our three heads in fireworks were ignited above the shell of the [venue]. And we had invited many important guests, friends, and artists to attend…all very spectacular! The stage was set for a magical evening!
As the saying goes, ‘the best laid plans often go astray’! The skywriter had some trouble right away as the letters seemed to dissipate in the wind above the Bowl as each was ‘written,’ so there was never a clear reading of AMERICA. And after the show itself went very well, our three heads were ignited only to rain sparks down on the stage sending the symphony players scattering to the wings behind us! The reception and party after the show included everyone describing the hilarious chaos in those final moments as we left the stage! It made for an unforgettable scene that we have laughed about for many years!
Now, almost 50 years later, the recording of that night is finally available, and it sounds great. It represents the only full concert live recording of the original trio including Dan Peek as well as Gerry [Beckley and me].”
America – Live From The Hollywood Bowl 1975 Track Listing
Miniature
Tin Man
Muskrat Love
Baby It’s Up To You
Moon Song
Old Man Took
Old Virginia
I Need You
Lonely People
Don’t Cross The River
Ventura Highway
Glad To See You
Woman Tonight
The Story Of A Teenager
Midnight
Company
Hollywood
Daisy Jane
Sister Golden Hair
A Horse With No Name
Related: The #1 Singles of 1972
In conjunction with the album release, America have embarked on their “Ride on Tour 2024,” continuing through November 22. Tickets are available here and here.
America’s other recordings are available here.
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4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationA truly great band that somehow was underrated for the last 50+ years. Saw them 3 times over 3 decades. They brought it each and every time, they were incredible live. The R+R Hall should be ashamed.
Raining sparks down on performer’s heads doesn’t sound like “hilarious” chaos to me. Remember Great White.
Really interested in this, as this is the band at its (no pun intended) peak. Unfortunately, the downturn happened within two years, the hits dried up, and Dan Peek departed before the end of the ’70s. Nice brief early ’80s re-emergence, in good part thanks to Russ Ballard.
How can you go 20 songs deep into your 1975 repertoire and not include “Sandman” ?