View From the Ground [Single, Original recording remastered, Import]

America | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single, Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B00002594U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #533,438 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. You Can Do Magic

2. Never Be Lonely

3. You Girl

4. Inspector Mills

5. Love on the Vine

6. Desperate Love

7. Right Before Your Eyes

8. Jody

9. Sometimes Lovers

10. Even the Score

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars high quality soft rock--irresistibly catchy hooks, November 7, 2004

By 

Dave "missing person" (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: View From the Ground (Audio CD)

America had been experiencing a lack of commercial success for a while, but they climbed back into the Top Ten on the US Billboard singles chart with the infectiously catchy, minor-keyed feel-good song "You Can Do Magic"--it was written, produced, and largely played by Russ Ballard who had formerly been a member of Argent, & it's the track that opens this 1982 album, "View From the Ground". It's been said that "You Can Do Magic" is basically the trademark America sound updated for the early '80s with the addition of synthesizers. That's funny & highly misleading because the song really doesn't sound updated at all--there is that "magic" effect that casually pops up on the chorus (is even that an actual synthesizer??--it sounds like it could be a piano run through some effects), but otherwise the song has acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, electric piano, drums, vocals... and no audible synthesizer whatsoever! The song really doesn't sound like it was recorded in 1981 or 1982. And that goes for nearly the entire album--much like Crosby, Stills & Nash on their 1982 album "Daylight Again", "A View From The Ground" finds America stuck in the '70s, either unwilling or unable to "modernize" their sound. And I say more power to them--I give these guys major credit for not jumping on the synth-pop bandwagon and for keeping their sound supremely tasteful on here. Legendary musicians Jeff Porcaro, Steve Lukather, Dean Parks, Christopher Cross, Carl Wilson, & others all appear on here, and any fan of that "laidback '70s California soft rock sound" will fall for this album lock, stock & barrel. "Never Be Lonely" is an irresistible up tempo song with great vocal hooks & jangly guitar including a fade strongly reminiscent of the Cure (!). "You Girl" is a bit sappy but has a super-catchy chorus & a nice chord sequence. "Inspector Mills" is corny, but very nicely tuneful--it's an ironic title since Gerry Beckley looked a lot like Mike Mills of R.E.M. (sorry, couldn't resist). They try to rock out on "Desperate Love" & "Even the Score" and they end up in arena rock territory--they seem rather forced, but the former does have a really catchy chorus. "Love On the Vine" has splendidly tuneful verses, & the ballad "Right Before Your Eyes" offers yet another catchy chorus. The mid-tempo "Jody" is an utterly characteristic, yet rote Russ Ballard love song--it`s not a disaster, but it`s dull & clearly filler. Overall though, with the album being so tastefully produced & offering so much catchiness, it's strongly recommended. Thumbs up to One Way Records for issuing "A View From the Ground" on CD (they've done the same for all of America's 1979-1984 albums as well)--the sound quality on the disc is solid, although unfortunately songwriter's credits are not listed.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The band that never left has come back!, May 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: View From the Ground (Audio CD)

Unfortuneately a series of event occured in the mid to late 70's that left America in sort of a state of flux. Original member Dan Peek departed for a solo career, and the remaning duo continued on a new label, all the while virtually disappering form the "Top Singles" Chart.This album is America's triumphant return to the charts yielding Russ Ballard's "You Can Do Magic" and the forgotten yet unmistakeable "Right Before Your Eyes" aka "Rudolph Valentino". Other bright spots are "Love On The Vine" featuring Beach Boy Carl Wilson, and Beckley's love song saga "Inspector Mills" and the a virtually unoticed potential Adult Contemporary hit "Sometimes Lovers"

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, December 8, 2005

By 

D. Moses (London, London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: View From the Ground (Audio CD)

This is the one and only America album which is mostly Gerry rather than Dewey. Usually, they split the vocal duties half each, but here Gerry sings lead on 7 and Dewey only on 3.
I have always loved both of them, but Gerry has been my favourite, so to hear him in prominence was no bad thing for me. But those who prefer Dewey may feel a bit lacking here.
All Dewey's contributions are outstanding: 'You girl' and 'love on the vine' are catchy folk songs, with excellent memorable choruses. 'Even the score' which rounds off the album, is a raucous rocker and is proof america can really rock out. Excellent song, with a savage guitar solo, and nice acoustic guitar embelishments.
Gerry is incredible here, as always. 'Inspector Mills' is probably the best here. A beautiful, heartfelt melody, with an even better electric guitar driven middle eight, this is a brilliant and well thought out, complex ballad.
'Never be lonely' is extremely catchy and fast, being driven by shimmering acoustic guitars, nice electric arpeggio passages, and beautiful melodies and harmony vocals. Another winner.
'Sometimes lovers' follows the same pattern. Acoustic, with a lovely melody, and memorable instrumental passages.
Of the covers, they are also top notch. 'You can do magic' is the best known of america's 80's output, followed by 'Right between the eyes'. The former is a pop song, with a catchy melody. The latter is another beautiful ballad, with nice electric piano.
'Jody' is described by many as filler, but to me, it has another lovely melody, with Gerry going into falsetto effectively, at times. Also love this one.
Lastly, is 'desperate lovers'. it is the only song I would give an average rating to, rather tha exceptional. Gerry sings lead vocal, but dewey chimes in to sing lead in the chorus. It is a faster paced rock song, which is still catchy and effective nontheless.
A wonderful album which just seems to run so smoothly from beginning to end.