History (America's Greatest Hits) (CD 1987)

If you are a fan of the Eagles, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and similar genre music groups from the early 1970's California music scene then this America CD will appeal to you.

The only downside to this CD is that the 1982 'You can do magic' song is not on this compilation but that is the only complaint.

What you do get here is a great collection of America's 3 years of hits from about 1971 - 75 era, their musical sound is unique, with 12 string guitar, six string guitar and bass to the fore, the 3 main men do have a great sound and bring their own styles to mix into the music, you can hear any of the tracks here on this CD and know it is them.

I can remember the hits Horse with no name and Ventura highway coming out and it is nice to now have these on CD to listen to again.

This group was like the ones mentioned at the beginning of this review, were making a 'signature' style of music post Beatles, Hendrix , psychedelia and folk.

America's style which is been unique has often been referred to under the 'country rock' label but it is more than that, with certain country, folk, bluegrass, flamenco and hispanic flavours to it, the music from America and these other groupsmentioned at the start of this review set the course for later groups to follow particularly ELO (when you compare their early songs), Elton John and a host of others, all of these and more had head this sound.

All in all a great CD, and great to play along to if you have a 12 string or like the 'California' sound!

Matt Sanders