History: America's Greatest Hits

America

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 28, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 1975
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0002VEPGW
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,207 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Horse With No Name

2. I Need You

3. Sandman

4. Ventura Highway

5. Don't Cross the River

6. Only in Your Heart

7. Muskrat Love

8. Tin Man

9. Lonely People

10. Sister Golden Hair

11. Daisy Jane

12. Woman Tonight

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

America, History: America's Greatest Hits

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 70's classic, but now obsolete, July 24, 2006

By	A Fan (VA) - See all my reviews

This was a must have album when it was released in 1975. It was a big hit (peaking at number 3 on the Billboard album chart) and was one of the biggest selling albums of the 70's, selling more than 5 million copies. Every song on here is good and was a hit, however this collection has become obsolete since the release of America's Complete Greatest Hits. Every song on this CD is on Complete Greatest Hits, plus 10 more songs.

The only reason to buy this CD is to get the George Martin remixes of their early hits. Legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin did not start producing America's music until their 4th album "Holiday". When this album was released, Martin remixed the hits from their first 3 albums (Horse With No Name, I Need You, Sandman, Ventura Highway, Don't Cross The River, Only In Your Heart, and Muskrat Love). So they do sound a little different on this CD than on any other. I actually prefer the original mixes on most of them, except for Don't Cross the River. Martin adds a fiddle to the song and it really works well. So unless you are a hardcore America or George Martin fan who has to have every mix of a song, you would be better off buying America's Complete Greatest Hits CD.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice set, since updated, February 19, 2005

By	Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The 22 song collection "America - The Complete Greatest Hits" supplants the old "History" by updating the America output from the both the Warners and Capitol years (but leaving out "Silent Letter" and "Alibi" or any of the post Capitol albums, especially the fine "Hourglass").

The surprising thing is just how many of these light weight acoustically based ditties made the top ten in the band's heyday. Even more so is just how well many of them have held up. The CSN&Y sound alike of their first hit, "Horse With No Name," brought them their first attention. A lot of folks were shocked that this trio was actually a couple of American Army brats (Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley) who had teamed up with Londoner Dewey Bunnel and made songs out of homesickness. They began to include some jazzy flavors to the songs (like the banjo in "Don't Cross The River") and a willingness to explore other songwriters, like "Muskrat Love." It was the harmonies that were what made some of the finest songs by America such standouts, like "Sister Golden Hair." The lyrics were frequently poetic and imagistic ("alligator lizards in the air," "spinning round smoke glass, stain bright colors," etc), adding a somewhat psychedelic flair to several of the earlier songs.

If you're searching for a collection of America hits, the one to own is Rhino's "Complete Greatest Hits." It will sit next to your Eagles, Cat Stevens and Seals & Crofts CDs from the seventies quite nicely.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting trivia..., October 14, 2004

By	Ricks Girl (Twin Falls, ID USA) - See all my reviews

I would imagine it goes without saying that this is an excellent album. I have two copies :)
I recently learned while watching an A & E Biography that comedian Phil Hartman was the album cover artist (in his younger days). I thought that was really cool information and wanted to share it.