Almost fifty years ago in London, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and the late Dan Peek first joined their voices together in song – beginning a musical journey as the band America that continues to this day.  In anticipation of America’s golden anniversary in 2020, Rhino is getting the party started with a new multi-format anthology.  America – 50th Anniversary: The Collection arrives from the label on July 12 in 3-CD, 1-CD, 2-LP, and digital versions.  It’s the first large-scale America anthology since 2000’s Highway: 30 Years of America.

The 3-CD iteration, naturally with 50 tracks, is packed not only with hits but with demos, alternates, rarities, and live recordings.  All seven albums that America recorded at Warner Bros. Records are represented in the set: America (1971), Homecoming (1972), Hat Trick (1973), Holiday (1974), Hearts (1975), Hideaway (1976), and Harbor (1977), the last four of which were produced by George Martin. The set also includes “You Can Do Magic,” the band’s effervescent top 10 hit from the 1982 Capitol release View From The Ground.

All of America’s U.S. top ten Hot 100 singles are present including their chart-topping debut “A Horse with No Name,” “Ventura Highway,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People,” “I Need You,” “Sister Golden Hair,” and “You Can Do Magic.”  Other enduring chart entries are featured as well, such as “Daisy Jane,” “Sandman,” “Don’t Cross the River,” “Muskrat Love,” “Woman Tonight,” and “Today’s the Day.”  The set premieres live versions of “Riverside” and “Children” from the BBC’s The Old Grey Whistle Test as well as demos of “Mad Dog,” “Sergeant Darkness,” and “Sister Golden Hair.”  An early studio version (Take 4) of “Ventura Highway,” an alternate mix of “Watership Down,” and the single version of “Everyone I Meet Is from California” are also part of the package.

The single-disc set, subtitled Golden Hits, brings together 15 tracks including all of those top ten smashes.  The double-LP vinyl version has 24 cuts, making room for the fan-favorite deep cuts as well.  The previously unreleased material is exclusive to the 3-CD version.  In the liner notes, Dewey Bunnell reflects on America’s success, “There wasn’t any contrivance in what we did.” Beckley offers, “We didn’t start out with some grand plan – it just turned into a soundtrack for so many people’s lives. That’s something that I treat with great respect.”

All versions of America’s 50th anniversary celebration are due on July 12.  The band will also be marking the occasion on a 50th anniversary tour.  Rhino.com, for a limited time, is offering a booklet signed by Bunnell and Beckley with pre-orders of the 3-CD edition.  Click here for more information!  You’ll find Amazon links and the complete track listings with discography below!

America, 50th Anniversary: The Collection (Warner Bros./Rhino, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. A Horse with No Name
2. I Need You
3. Sandman
4. Here
5. Rainy Day
6. Three Roses
7. Riverside (Live on The Old Grey Whistle Test) (*)
8. Children (Live on The Old Grey Whistle Test) (*)
9. Everyone I Meet Is from California (Single Version)
10. Ventura Highway
11. To Each His Own
12. Don’t Cross the River
13. Only in Your Heart
14. Cornwall Blank
15. Till the Sun Comes Up Again
16. Head and Heart

CD 2

1. Hat Trick
2. Muskrat Love
3. Green Monkey
4. Submarine Ladies
5. Molten Love
6. It’s Life
7. Rainbow Song
8. She’s Gonna Let You Down
9. Tin Man
10. Another Try
11. Lonely People
12. Hollywood
13. Baby It’s Up to You
14. Old Man Took
15. Mad Dog (Demo) (*)

CD 3

1. Midnight
2. Sister Golden Hair
3. Daisy Jane
4. Woman Tonight
5. Old Virginia
6. Company
7. Today’s the Day
8. Amber Cascades
9. Watership Down (Alternate Mix)
10. Letter
11. God of the Sun
12. Political Poachers
13. Sarah
14. Are You There
15. You Can Do Magic
16. Sergeant Darkness (Demo) (*)
17. Ventura Highway (Early Take)
18. Sister Golden Hair (Demo) (*)
19. A Horse with No Name (Live)

CD 1, Tracks 1 & 9 from Warner Bros. single WB 7555, 1971
CD 1, Tracks 2-6 from America, Warner Bros. BS 2576, 1971
CD 1, Tracks 7-8 & CD 2, Track 15 & CD 3, Tracks 16, 18 previously unreleased
CD 1, Tracks 10-16 from Homecoming, Warner Bros. BS 2655, 1972
CD 2, Tracks 1-8 from Hat Trick, Warner Bros. BS 2728, 1973
CD 2, Tracks 9-14 from Holiday, Warner Bros. W 2808, 1974
CD 3, Tracks 1-6 from Hearts, Warner Bros. BS 2852, 1975
CD 3, Tracks 7-8 & 10 from Hideaway, Warner Bros. BS 2932, 1976
CD 3, Track 9 from Highway: 30 Years of America, Warner Bros./Rhino R2 79887, 2000
CD 3, Tracks 11-14 from Harbor, Warner Bros. BSK 3017, 1977
CD 3, Track 15 from View from the Ground, Capitol ST 12209, 1982
CD 3, Track 17 from Archives Vol. 1, America Records, 2015
CD 3, Track 19 from America Live, Warner Bros. BSK 3136, 1977

America, 50th Anniversary: Golden Hits [Single CD] (Warner Bros./Rhino, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. A Horse With No Name
2. I Need You
3. Sandman
4. Don’t Cross The River
5. Ventura Highway
6. Only In Your Heart
7. Muskrat Love
8. Tin Man
9. Lonely People
10. Daisy Jane
11. Woman Tonight
12. Sister Golden Hair
13. Amber Cascades
14. God Of The Sun
15. You Can Do Magic

America, 50th Anniversary: The Collection [Double Vinyl LP] (Warner Bros./Rhino, 2019) (Order Links TBD)

Side One

1. A Horse With No Name
2. I Need You
3. Sandman
4. Three Roses
5. Everyone I Meet Is From California
6. Don’t Cross The River

Side Two

1. Ventura Highway
2. To Each His Own
3. Only In Your Heart
4. Muskrat Love”
5. Green Monkey
6. Rainbow Song

Side Three

1. Tin Man
2. Another Try
3. Lonely People
4. Hollywood
5. Daisy Jane
6. Woman Tonight
7. Sister Golden Hair

Side Four

1. Company
2. Today’s The Day
3. Amber Cascades
4. God Of The Sun
5. Political Poachers
6. You Can Do Magic