America Tribute Page

Winter/Spring 2024

I was in college at Cal Poly Pomona in the early 1970's when I first heard America and it was love at first listen. Their sometimes crazy words created vivid pictures in my mind and their amazing harmonies really appealed to my musical senses and I have loved the band ever since. Over the years I have recorded some of their most famous tunes and recently (2024), I got on an America kick again and have recorded some more. Since I now have quite a few recordings of America's tunes I thought it appropriate they have their own web page. Most of these songs were written by members of America but a couple are covers that America recorded. More information about America can be found here.

For the most part I played all of the instruments used during these recording  (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, synthesizers and various percussion instruments) and sing most all of the vocal parts in every song. My friends, Paul Douglass, played the drums/percussion on many of these songs and Chris Redd played bass and lead guitar on some as well.

-- I want to make one thing perfectly clear --
I record these songs with total respect for the artists that wrote and performed them originally. I never have and never will try to make any money on these recordings. These songs cannot be sold for any reason because I don't own the rights to any of these songs. I record these songs for myself, my family and my friends only, never to make money.

It is best to listen to these songs with headphones as that is how I recorded and mixed them.
In no particular order, here are my recordings of my favorite America songs.

Song	Notes	Written By
Daisy Jane (Live)	This is a 495's version of Daisy Jane recorded in the plant room of my Black Forest house with Chris on bass and Paul on electronic drums. Turned out pretty well I thought. This was recorded probably in 2018 or thereabouts.	Gerry Beckley
Horse with No Name	A great song	Dewey Bunnell
I Need You	A great song (STILL EVOLVING)	Gerry Beckley
You Can Do Magic	My cover of a Russ Ballard's tune that America recorded as well. (STILL EVOLVING)	Russ Ballard
Musk Rat Love	My cover of a Willis Allan Ramsey tune.  I changed some of the words to this song as a tribute to my wife Heather.	Willis Allan Ramsey
Only In Your Heart	A great song	Gerry Beckley
Sister Golden Hair	A great song	Gerry Beckley
Tin Main	A great song. (STILL EVOLVING)	Dewey Bunnell
Ventura Highway	A favorite song of mine from my college days which I recorded years ago.	Dewey Bunnell

If a song is marked (STILL EVOLVING) it means it is not quite finished yet. Done for the most part but likely to be tweaked into its final form.

Remember: if you find a song you like you can right click on the link and download it to your computer.
Please share these tunes with whoever you like.