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

HOLIDAY was released & by the summer of '74 was a huge success w/two mega hits in TIN MAN & LONELY PEOPLE. AMERICA's worldwide reputation as world class artists was firmly established. Although not long out of Central High school in Waterford (near London) & the South Ruislip Air Force base, the trio was now part of a very select group of highly successful & elite performers. The road crew included 4 burly body guards w/AMERICA jackets & of course a lighting & sound crew. GERRY traveled with the famous black baby grand piano, encircled in gold stripes. At times GERRY could sure stir the audience into a frenzy with his wild heart-thumping guitar swinging movements on stage; No more three guys on stools. At the baby grand, red roses were routinely left for him by smiling teenage ladies.

With George Martin in tow, the band was ready for the next project. That next project produced HEARTS. It contained AMERICA's last #1 hit, SISTER GOLDEN HAIR, which GERRY has described as being influenced a bit by Jackson Browne, insofar as style was concerned; kind of like words that just flow, like conversation to music. GERRY did SISTER GOLDEN HAIR on the 12-string acoustic guitar, as you have all seen & heard. By the way SISTER was a song that could have been released on an earlier LP, but the guys felt that it just didn't fit the central musical themes. Also GERRY has said, honestly, that SISTER is not a true story. DAISY JANE was also "painted" by GERRY & was also a smash hit, this one of course on the acoustic piano. In concert he brings the house to their knees with this one & the red roses from the gals flow freely. The HEARTS LP also featured a song by GERRY & DAN, THE STORY OF A TEENAGER. This song was to be used in a Universal movie of the same name, but the movie was shelved & never released. It is a very poignant song that deserves a place in music & literary history. DEWEY contributed some OUTSTANDING cuts such as MIDNIGHT (GERRY too), COMPANY, SEASONS, & PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY. Especially PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY & SEASONS were extremely fine compositions that showed the versatile & comprehensive skills of DEWEY. I can really picture PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY as the theme song in a depression era movie, maybe a Frank Capra movie. Please listen to DEWEY's songs on this LP carefully - there is more to them than most initial interpretations. Lastly, the CD version as an import contains a song by DAN PEEK not released in the US version, SIMPLE LIFE - just another added dimension. Would I like to hear all their songs never released, what a treasure.


Last Revised: 19 September 1997