L’anno 2020 segna il 50° anniversario del leggendario gruppo degli America. L’America Records ha annunciato che pubblicherà all’inizio di giugno il cofanetto celebrativo di 8 dischi HALF CENTURY. Prodotto e compilato da Jeff Larson per America Archives, contiene CD con rare registrazioni in studio con mix alternativi, demo e prove, tra cui diversi brani inediti che vanno dal 1970 al 2000. Inoltre, il re-master della performance in studio BREMEN 1973 e due CD di Radio Interviews che forniscono una panoramica della carriera della band, insieme a un DVD di Super 8 HOME MOVIES (1972-1975) per dare ai fan uno sguardo del dietro le quinte dei primi anni di questa band così longeva.
I membri fondatori, Gerry Beckley e Dewey Bunnell (insieme all’ex compagno di band Dan Peek) si sono incontrati al liceo a Londra alla fine degli anni ’60 e si sono rapidamente armonizzati in cima alle classifiche sulla base della loro canzone d’autore A Horse With No Name. America divenne un nome familiare globalmente e aprì la strada per una serie impressionante di successi dopo il loro primo singolo n. 1 in classifica. Quaranta o più anni dopo, questi amici stanno ancora facendo musica insieme, girando il mondo e entusiasmando il pubblico con il loro sound senza tempo.
Sin dai loro anni formativi, gli America sono stati una band in grado di trascendere i confini con la sua musica edificante e il suo messaggio positivo. Abbracciando un arcobaleno di culture divergenti, il pubblico americano continua a crescere, con una legione fedele di fan di prima, seconda e terza generazione, tutti a testimoniare il fascino duraturo del gruppo.
“Penso che gli ingredienti del suono degli America siano i fondamenti di base che si traducono a livello internazionale”, spiega Beckley. “Gli italiani sono grandi fan della musica dance, ma adorano anche una ballata – sono romantici nel cuore. È lo stesso in Estremo Oriente. Molte volte in questi paesi vediamo persone cantare insieme e non sanno davvero cosa significano le parole. La musica è veramente la lingua internazionale”.
Disc 1: London Demos 1970: All Previously Unreleased
Early demos from the Fall of 1970 of the trio preceding their first Warner Bros self-titled album. This set represents the most complete set to date from this era recorded between several iconic London studios of the time.
1) Children (Dick James Session)
2) Riverside (Chalk Farm)
3) Rainy Day (Polydor Studios)
4) Here (Chalk Farm)
5) Satan (Polydor Studios)
6) Bummer (Chalk Farm)
7) Sea of Destiny (Chalk Farm)
8) How Long (Chalk Farm)
9) James Holladay (Dick James Session)
10) Children (Chalk Farm)
Disc 2: Bremen 1973 (Live on Air) – First Time Remastered Audio Release (Only previously available as a DVD)
An on-air live recording of the Trio from 1973, in-between the albums “Hat Trick” and “Holiday.” This recording has been remastered for the first time and includes all the un-edited studio banter.
1) Ventura Highway (Live)
2) I Need You (Live)
3) Don’t Cross The River (Live)
4) A Horse With No Name (Live)
5) Moon Song (Live)
6) Lonely People (Live)
7) Wind Wave (Live)
8) Rainbow Song (Live)
9) Tin Man (Live)
10) California Revisited (Live)
11) Green Monkey (Live)
Disc 3: The Caribou Sessions 1976 – All Previously Unreleased
Rehearsals, outtakes, and demos from February1976 for the album “Hideaway,” recorded at the famed Caribou Ranch Studios in the Rockies – Nederland, Colorado. These recordings provide a “you are there” experience as these songs were being formed on their initial takes.
1 She’s A Liar (Outtake / Alternate Mix)
2 Amber Cascades (Alternate Early Mix)
3 Today’s The Day (Outtake / Walkthrough)
4 Lovely Night (Outtake / Take 1 Session
5 Hideaway PT 1 (Early Band Outtake)
6 Watership Down (Alternate Mix)
7 Letter (Alternate Mix)
8 Lovely Night (Buzz Studio Demo)
9 Jet Boy Blue (Outtake / Alternate Mix)
10 Who Loves You (Alternate Mix)
11 Caribou (Outtakes Montage)
12 I’m New In Town –(Buzz Studio Demo)
Disc 4: The Poison Oak Sessions 1981: All Previously Unreleased
In 1981, between the album “Alibi” (1980) and “View From The Ground” (1982), the band recorded several songs at Dewey’s home studio, Poison Oak, in Northern California. This set contains early incarnations and alternate versions of songs released on later America albums as well as unheard songs that have been in the vault until now.
1. Sailors and Seagulls (unheard song)
2. Look at Me Now (Early Version)
3. My Dear (Early Version)
4. Sometimes Lovers (Early Version)
5. All The People – Whole Wide World (Early Version)
6. Coming On (unheard song)
7. Now I Want Your Love (unheard song)
8. Inspector Mills (Early Version)
9. China Sea (unheard song)
Bonus Tracks:
10. Doesn’t The Time (unheard song)
11. Someday Forever (unheard song)
Disc 5: The Alternate 90’s Plus: All Previously Unreleased
Alternate mixes from the albums “Hourglass” (1994) and “Human Nature” (1998) along with unreleased songs that came before, in-between and after these official releases.
1. Young Moon (mix without inst. intro)
2. Call of the Wild (Alternate Early Mix)
3. Sleeper Train (Alternate Early Mix)
4. Ports of Call ((Alternate Early Mix)
5. Mirror to Mirror (Alternate Early Mix)
6. Whole Wide World (Alternate Early Mix)
7. Hope (unheard song)
8. The Hills Are Green (unheard song)
9. Horse (Interlude)
10. From A Moving Train (Single Version – edited shorter intro)
11. Wheels Are Turning (unheard song)
12. Town and Country (unheard song)
13 Moment To Moment (Alternate Mix)
14. Wednesday Morning (unheard song)
15. Oloololo (unheard song)
16. Overwhelming World (Alternate Mix)
17. Moment to Moment (Alternate Mix)
18. Hot Town (unheard song)
19. Pages (Alternate Early Mix)
20. If It Is The End (Previously Unreleased)
21. Remembering (New 2020)
Discs 6 & 7 America on the Radio – All Previously Unreleased
Various radio interviews stemming from 1974 – 2000’s which provides a narrative and unique overview to their long career.
America Radio Interviews and Promo – The 70’s
America Radio Interviews and Promo – The 80’s
America Radio Interviews and Promo – The 90’s – 2000’s
Disc 8 – America – Home Movies (DVD)- All Previously Unreleased
“Home Movies” is all previously unreleased footage from the bands personal archive. A collection of very, “fly on the wall” footage, these films provide an amazing insight into the band, shot between 1972 and 1975, showing behind the scenes footage of, “Hat Trick at Home”, early attempts at making home making of music videos and various on the road activities. These films give the viewer an amazing view of historical events as they unfolded. To any America fan, the ultimate access all area’s time machine.
This DVD is EXCLUSIVE to this box set and will not be available beyond it.
Film 1) America Hat Trick at home 1: Rooftop Jam – Green Monkey – 1973 Kings Road, Los Angeles, CA
Film 2) America Hat Trick at home 2: Goodbye – 1973 Kings Road, Los Angeles, CA
Film 3) America Hat Trick at home 3: Sandman – 1973 Kings Road, Los Angeles, CA
Film 4) America Hat Trick at home 4: Hat Trick Rehearsal – 1973 Kings Road, Los Angeles, CA
Film 5) America: Bremen Behind The Scenes – 1973 (No Audio) Bremen, Germany
Film 6) America: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 1 – 1973 Los Angeles, CA
Film 7) America: Air Studios – London Misc. Footage – 1974 London, England
Film 8) America: Airplane High Jinx 1 – 1974 (No Audio) In the Air
Film 9) America: Airplane High Jinx 2 – 1975 In the Air
Film 10) America: Tour Plane Interview – 1975 On the Ground
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