CoronaVinyl Day 339 (A): History: America's Greatest Hits by America

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Today's CoronaVinyl category is "A," and you'll all be happy to know that, about a month ago, I obtained another couple of stacks of records from my benevolent middle-aged neighbor.  One of those was America's 1975 greatest hits album, History: America's Greatest Hits.

Canadian folk rock and pop group America had a string of hits in the early to mid '70s (and even a couple in the early '80s).  Legendary producer George Martin produced a few of their albums in the mid '70s, including History.  The last five tracks on History had been produced by Martin in the first place, and he remixed the first seven songs on the album as well.  The remixes have, over time, become the more recognizable versions of several songs, like "Ventura Highway" and "Sandman."

Eleven of the twelve songs on History were previously released as singles ("Sandman" being the exception), and each of those eleven charted on the Billboard Hot 100, including eight that reached the Top 40, six that reached the Top 10, and two #1s ("A Horse With No Name" and "Sister Golden Hair").

History went to #3 on the Billboard album chart and #1 on the album chart in their native Canada, and it eventually went quadruple platinum in the U.S.  It's a pleasant listen.  And an interesting tidbit is that the album cover was drawn by none other than future SNL star Phil Hartman, who was a very successful album cover artist and designer prior to being a very successful comedian and actor.

Favorite Song on Side 1:  "Ventura Highway"
This 1972 hit (#8 on the Billboard Hot 100) is a folk rock classic.  Whenever I visit LA and see a sign for the Ventura Highway, it's impossible for me not to sing this song in my head.

Favorite Song on Side 2:  "Sister Golden Hair"
Their second #1 song in the U.S., "Sister Golden Hair" is one of the band's signature songs.  It also has a pretty delicious fill courtesy of drummer Willie Leacox.