Holiday (America album)

Holiday is the fourth studio album by the American folk rock band America, released on the Warner Bros. Records label in June 1974. The album was produced in London by longtime Beatles record producer George Martin, the first of seven consecutive albums he produced with America.

Holiday
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 26, 1974
RecordedAIR Studios, London
StudioApril 17 to May 7, 1974
Genre
Length33:21
LabelWarner Bros. 2808
ProducerGeorge Martin
America chronology
Hat Trick
(1973)
Holiday
(1974)
Hearts
(1975)
Singles from Holiday
  1. "Tin Man"
    Released: August 1974[1]
  2. "Lonely People"
    Released: December 1974

The album was a big hit in the US, reaching number 3 on the Billboard album chart and being certified gold by the RIAA. It produced two hit singles: "Tin Man" reached number 4 on the Billboard singles chart and went to number 1 on the adult contemporary chart; and "Lonely People" which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard singles chart and also hit number 1 on the adult contemporary chart. Several other songs received radio airplay on FM stations playing album tracks, including "Baby It's Up To You" and "Another Try". The album was also released on Quadrophonic reel-to-reel tape for 4-channel enthusiasts.

History edit

Band member Dewey Bunnell was thrilled at the prospect of working with Martin as producer. He was quoted as saying that it "was great working with George. It was like we knew each other. We were familiar with the Beatles, of course, and we had that British sense of humor."[2] In a separate interview, Dan Peek recalled to Circus magazine: "Gerry (Beckley) had been in England, and we'd talked about using George Martin as our producer. He's such a hot arranger, thinking about all the stuff he's done. There were several other people we wanted to use, but that idea sort of flashed and George was available."[3]

It was the recording debut of America's longtime drummer Willie Leacox, who is in the car in the cover photo.

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [5]

In his Allmusic review music critic Mike DeGagne noted the effect of George Martin's production on the album as well as the rebound from the failure of Hat Trick, writing "this album as a whole ascertained that the group was definitely showing their true potential once more."[4]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Miniature"Gerry Beckley1:12
2."Tin Man"Dewey Bunnell3:27
3."Another Try"Beckley3:16
4."Lonely People"Dan Peek, Catherine Peek2:27
5."Glad to See You"D. Peek3:42
6."Mad Dog"Beckley2:39
7."Hollywood"Bunnell2:49
8."Baby It's Up to You"Beckley2:24
9."You"D. Peek2:25
10."Old Man Took"Bunnell3:10
11."What Does It Matter"Beckley2:18
12."In the Country"D. Peek2:58

Personnel edit

America
  • Dewey Bunnell - vocals, guitars
  • Gerry Beckley - vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass
  • Dan Peek - vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards

with:

  • Willie Leacox - drums, percussion
Technical

Charts edit

Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6] 25
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7] 3
US Billboard 200[8] 3

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[9] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[10] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "Great Rock Discography". p. 16.
  2. ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 147.
  3. ^ Lonely People Songfacts
  4. ^ a b DeGagne, Mike. "Holiday > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  5. ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "America". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 16. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3886a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  8. ^ "America Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  9. ^ "British album certifications – America – Holiday". British Phonographic Industry.
  10. ^ "American album certifications – America – Holiday". Recording Industry Association of America.