♫ Conclusion Of ‘America Week’ ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, music, music history

Well, friends, I’ve really enjoyed ‘America Week’, hearing and learning about some of the music by the band, America.  Today, I want to conclude with a few … two that were mentioned during the week, and one that wasn’t mentioned but that I like.  No lyrics tonight, just the music and a bit of trivia.

It was Clive who mentioned this first one, Head and Heart.  This was originally by John Martyn in 1971, and then covered by America in 1972.

This next one, Muskrat Love, was mentioned by Richard and is also a cover of a song originally by Willis Alan Ramsey.  When he mentioned it, I thought he was making up the title, for Richard’s humour often goes over my head, but nope, he was right!

And last is one that wasn’t a chart blockbuster, but I rather like it, called You Can Do Magic.  Released in 1982, this one charted at #8 in the U.S., #37 in Canada, and #59 in the UK.  According to SongFacts …

America had three members – Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek – until 1977 when Peek left to pursue a career in Christian music. Beckley and Bunnell continued as a duo, but struggled to find a hit – their only Hot 100 entry from 1977-1981 was a cover of “California Dreamin'” that made #56.Until Peek’s departure, the band always wrote their own songs, composing separately with the writer also taking lead vocals. When they found themselves hitless, Beckley and Bunnell started accepting songs from outside writers, including Russ Ballard, who wrote a track on their 1980 album Alibi called “I Don’t Believe in Miracles.” For their next album, View from the Ground, Ballard gave them “You Can Do Magic,” and with a lead vocal by Gerry Beckley, it returned America to the charts.

“It fit right into our body of work,” Beckley told us. “It was a huge hit and a turning point for us, because it was a hit for Dewey and I, after Danny departed. It was our first hit as a duo.”

Well, friends, I’ve really enjoyed this ‘America Week’ and I hope you have too.  I’m already thinking ahead to who my next ‘featured artist’ for a week will be!

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22 thoughts on “♫ Conclusion Of ‘America Week’ ♫”

  2. Today I have had an earworm crawling around in my head. It’s a King Crimson number, which is one formidable piece of music to have on your mind.

    Liked by 4 people

  3. I’ve enjoyed this ‘week.’ Thanks for playing Head And Heart. Pete is right: John Martyn’s original is great. While you’re listening to that you could also go for his song May You Never – a real gem.

    Liked by 3 people

  5. Jill, thanks for the harmonious week of America’s music. It is nice to use harmonious and America in the same sentence for a change. I like the bookend songs in this post, but “Muskrat Love” is OK but not in my short list of America’s songs. We used to do a spoof of Billy Idol covering “Muskrat Love.” It is pretty funny. Thanks again, Keith

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    • I’m glad you enjoyed ‘America Week’, Keith! Clive said he’s waiting for AC/DC week, and I told him it’s on the docket for 2050! Like you, I thought “Muskrat Love” only mediocre as compared to some of the others.

      Liked by 2 people

      • 😄All will appreciate America’s “Muskrat Love” if they subject themselves to The Captain and Tennille’s cover of it! 🚫😄
        Thank you, Jill, this week’s music coverage has been excellent!

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        • LOL – That was the PCP era – Pre Cell Phone – when we remained dependent on cameras to capture things. No one had a camera when I did that act — it was a secure compartmentalized information facility and cameras weren’t permitted — so it was never recorded. Alas, alas. Hugs ‘n cheers.

          Liked by 1 person

          • Ahhhh yes … sometimes I forget what life was like without cell phones, the internet, social media and the like. I even remember having a camera with a roll of film and when you snapped the last picture, you carefully removed the film and took it to the drug store to be developed, then picked up your pictures a few days later. Ahhhh … the old days. I still can’t remember how we survived without email, though!!! Hugs ‘n cheers

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            • I know, right? I was a product manager for medical devices in 2000. Since I was new to that role, my company sent me to a week-long training seminar for product management. Fifteen of us were in class; one was a Nokia product manager. She told us, “You’re not going to believe how cell phones are about to change. They’re going to change the world.” Well, we thought that was pure hyperbole. In a sense, it was, but their capabilities and impact on our society is pretty amazing. Hugs ‘n cheers

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  6. Pingback: ♫ Conclusion Of ‘America Week’ ♫ | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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