America: In The Beginning - Part 6
Introduction Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Well, HAT TRICK was released, the LP took an enormous toll on the band, far more than they ever experienced in their days with DAZE (a band they were in during high school, led by GERRY). The LP was a genuine masterpiece & so tightly integrated into a single & sharply focused piece of art, with no stray colors. The cover photo communicates the confident mood of the artists after a long & difficult journey & the back photo silhouette conveys a sense of closure (as Satchel Page once said, "Don't look back, someone may be gaining") with a fearless march to the next challenge. The guys actually took some extended time off to catch their breath, everything was happening so fast. Sure, time off was somewhat risky while the momentum was raging, but the guys were exhausted & needed the rest. It also allowed them to ponder their next move.

A year past the HAT TRICK release, they tossed around the idea of hiring a producer. GERRY had said that typically after a year or so, you are ready to do it again, even after long days & months in mixing sessions grinding out the final tunes; but this LP had really drained them & GERRY wasn't sure he was able to give his usual 110% to both aspects of producing & writing/performing. Without even putting their heads together, they had individually tagged the best in the business. The guys came together & presto they pretty much agreed that George Martin (see his book "All You Need is Ears", includes a photo of GERRY & DEWEY, probably working on SILENT LETTER) was their no. 1 choice. Was he retired, they wondered? In the mean time they organized the inclusion of Mr. Willie Leacox into the band as drummer supreme. As you know the drummer must be able to keep perfect time & Willie is a perfectionist with no need for a watch. Willie, armed with a bachelors degree, majoring in piano, was a great asset to the band.


Last Revised: 19 September 1997