America Band Songs Greatest Hits
On The Acoustic

Daisy Jane was written by Gerry Beckley for the band and included it on their 1975 "Hearts" album. This is the same as the first single came from which was "Sister Golden Hair". Daisy Jane being the 2nd single peaked at #20 and was their last top 20 as a trio.

Producer George Martin, who worked with The Beatles, played piano on this track. Janet Jackson released a song in 1986 called "Lets Wait Awhile". After being contacted by Gerry Beckley, she decided to do an out of court settlement for possible plagiarism.

Played in standard tuning with just a few picking riffs and using a down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. Fir chords use Cmaj7, Gmaj7, F, A#, C, Am, Dm, Am7 and a Gsus

Horse With No Name was released by Dewey Bunnell and America in the latter part of 1971 (UK) and early 1972 in the USA. The song went to the top almost immediately on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked in the top 10 in the UK at #3 and Ireland at #4.

American never had another top in in the UK, just this song. There was some controversy over the song making references to drugs and that it sounded very much like Neil Young. 

This song hail from the 1971 debut album "America".

The chords here are pretty simple, just Em and A6/9 with a bit odf picking in standard tuning. F or rhythm I use a down up stop up down up stop up and repeat with a few shuffles added in during the song.

I Need You was from the 1972 debut album called America and was their 2nd single released from the album. The song peaked at #9 in the US and #5 in Canada.

You can play this song with a down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern in standard tuning with no lead work required. The chords for this one are A, Amaj7, D, G, C, E, Bm, Em, F, D7, Cmaj7 and an Am.

Lonely People was recorded by with America in 1974 where the song peaked at #5 and then he re-wrote song of the lyrics and released it again as a Christian song in 1986 where it reached #1. Dan and his wife both wrote the song. 

He thought that Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles was a real downer type song for humanity, and decided to write a song that up-lifted humanity instead, and this was that song.

For rhythm here I play a root down root up down up or root up root up down up and repeat pattern with no lead work in standard tuning. The chords you'll need are G, Bm, D, C, D/Gb, Em, B, Am, Gb and an F.

Sister Golden Hair came from the 1975 "Hearts" album and was a #1 hit for the band. Gerry Beckley wrote this one while they were touring with Jackson Browne.

He made a few suggestions to the lyrics, which Beckley agreed with him and made changes before they recorded the song.

One of those great songs by the band America.

The chords here are Dbm, A, E, B and Gbm with no lead in standard tuning. For rhythm play a down up stop up down up stop up pattern.

Tin Man almost never got recorded if Gerry Beckley, who wrote the song, had gotten his way. But Dewey Brunnell and Dan Peek dis-agreed and the song eventually was released as a single from the 1974 "Holiday" album. 

It reached #4 on the US charts but failed to chart in the UK. George Martin, producer, also played piano on this track.

The rhythm here is just a steady shuffle as you'll see in my demo below in standard tuning with no picking section. The chord here are Dsus, D, Bm, Em/G, Bm, Em and D7.

Ventura Highway is a very well known song from America but the song never hit the top or the charts in 1972 but did reach #8. Jesse Ventura had liked this song apparently and his wife was a horse lover, so at his inauguration as Governor,  he invited the band to come and play those two songs, which they accepted.

This song is from their 1972 album "Homecoming".

I use a drop D tuning on this one and there is some lead work required. The chords are Dmaj7, G, Gbm and Em.

 For the rhythm you'll need is a down down up down up down along with a down up down up down up and repeat with a fast shuffle as well as some down strokes throughout in various places.

You Can Do Magic came about when Gerry Beckley and Dewey Brunnell went on with their band America after the death of Dan Peek. They had not seen a top 40 since 1976, so when they released this song, in 1982, and it put the band back in the spotlight as a duo when it peaked at #8 on the charts. 

This song also helped promote their album "View From The Ground".

Played in standard tuning and no lead work, play a down up stop up down up stop up and repeat rhythm pattern. The chords required are Em, Bm, Cmaj7, D and Dsus.

2. How many #1 hits did America have?

If you're counting #1 hits on all US charts, they had four which were A Horse With No Name, Sister Golden Hair, Tin Man and Today's The Day.

If you're talking top 10 hits then additionally you'd have to add I Need You, Ventura Highway, Lonely People, Daisly Jane, You Can Do Magic and The Border.