Customer Reviews

Harbor [2005 Reissue]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Recorded with a moble studio in Hawaii, which probably didn't help them keep their focus on recording. Still a very good album and their last album with the original line-up. The album was a modest hit in 1977 peaking at 21 on the US album chart, but pop music was being over-taken by disco and America was fading from the spotlight that they had enjoyed since 1972. Surprisingly none of the songs made a dent on the singles charts and none received much airplay. Best songs are God Of The Sun, Don't Cry Baby, Monster, and the rocker Hurricane. Bowing to commercial pressures the album does include a disco song, Slow Down. The album was produced by legendary Beatles producer, Sir George Martin.

I have been an America fan since 1974, and have all of their albums. Even though they have made many great albums, this one is by far my favorite. Gerry Beckley steals the spotlight on this one with gems like "God of the Sun", "Sarah", "Sergeant Darkness", and "Monster". Give it a listen, you won't be disappointed.

I'm 45 but I remember this album as a kid.and some of thies songs bring back a flood of memories thank you

Not much to say: "Harbor" is America's "Pet Sounds" and "Sgt. Pepper."

The original line-up never got a second act. This is the best they ever got to be.

A great America Classic album from 1977; I personally own all America's music and this album is definitely worth listening to however it is far from being their best. So buy it only if you are a hardcore America fan, otherwise try Hat Trick or America instead.

America broke the scene in 1972 with folky-acoustic pop with the hit song 'A horse with no name' and a brilliant debut album which forwarded outstanding tracks such as 'Sandman', 'Three roses' and 'Never found the time', as well as the hit 'I need you' and the afforementioned 'Horse with no name'.

From 1973's Homecomming album, they gradually moved away from the acoustic, desert sounds of the debut and slowly progressed towards a more artistic direction, gaining former Beatles producer George Martin along the way.

'Harbor', from 1977, is possibly the pinnacle of Martin's work with the band, at least in terms of ambition. One track features bouzuki's, oboe's, an orchestra, etc. Although some people don't like this type of experimenting, in fact, it is refreshing (in my view) to hear a wider variety of instruments. There's oboe all over this album, a feat very few records, even from the experimental 70's, can claim to have achieved.

The songs are short and concise, and the songwriting is often excellent. The overall theme of the music of emptiness, isolation, loss, relationship turmoil, all dealt with artistically, as least, as was as much possible within the frame-work of a three minute pop song. 'America' performed with plenty of emotion, Dan Peeks' songs particularly heartfelt on his last outing with the band. Although some songs overdo the dark concept ('are you there' seems to be about devil-worship, one song is called 'monster'), and not everything is a masterpiece, there are enough inspired moments to warrant a 7/10 rating, or ***1/2.