America and Russell Morris Give Melbourne Fans A Century of Great Music

September 2017 will mark the 50th anniversary of the release of Russell Morris’ first single ‘Heat Wave’ with Somebody’s Image. America’s first hit ‘A Horse With No Name’ popped up on the chart in 1972, 45 years ago. When America performed ‘A Horse With No Name’ with Morris in Melbourne Wednesday night there were 95 collective years of hitmakers on stage at the same time.

Pairing the Australian legend Russell Morris with one of the world’s iconic 70s bands worked especially well. America’s history coupled with Morris’ legacy gave music fans true bang for the buck at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.

America’s debut album rose in December of 1971 so it wasn’t until the following year when it started to filter around the world. ‘America’ is still considered one of the 70s iconic albums.

45 years on, the songs from ‘America’ are still the backbone of an America gig. ‘Horse With No Name’ is their signature song and appropriately still signs off the show after all these years.

Since ‘Horse With No More’ debuted, America have never left the radio. When the songs were new they were all over pop radio. As they aged they migrated to classic rock radio. Somewhere in Australia or the USA an America song is heard on radio every single day.

Part of the band’s success can be attributed to the late Sir George Martin who produced the band from 1974-1979. Gerry Beckley paid tribute to Sir George America opened the show with a song he produced ‘Tin Man’. The Beatles ‘Eleanor Rigby’ was also included as a nod to Sir George, who also produced “that other band”.

For long-time and die-hard fans at times they dug deep performing album cuts ‘Cornwall Blank’ from ‘Homecoming’ and ‘Monster’ from ‘Harbor’, the rare ‘Greenhouse’ from ‘Hourglass’ and the forgotten ‘Driving’ resurrected for the 2015 ‘Lost & Found’ album of left-overs.

Co-founder Dan Peek, who left in 1977 and died in 2011, was also mentioned as they performed his song ‘Lonely People’ as a tribute.

Guitarist Andy Barr, bass player Rich Campbell and former Reel Big Fish drummer Ryland Steen are the musical workshop moulding show’s authenticity.

There is so much history in an America gig. Gerry Beckley in an honorary Aussie now, living half his life in Sydney with his Australian wife. That just may mean we see America more rather than less in coming years.

America setlist Hamer Hall Melbourne 26 July 2017

Tin Man (from Holiday, 1974)
You Can Do Magic (from View From The Ground, 1982)
Don’t Cross The River (from Homecoming, 1972)
Daisy Jane (from Hearts, 1975)
Riverside (from America, 1971)
I Need You (from America, 1971)
Here (from America, 1971)
Ventura Highway (from Homecoming, 1972)
Driving (from Lost & Found, 2015)
Monster (from Harbor, 1977)
Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles cover)
Cornwall Blank (from Homecoming, 1972)
The Border (from Your Move, 1983)
Greenhouse (from Hourglass, 1994)
Woman Tonight (from Hearts, 1975)
Only In Your Heart (from Homecoming, 1972)
California Dreamin’ (Mamas & The Papas cover)
Lonely People (from Holiday, 1974)
Sandman (from America, 1971)
Sister Golden Hair (from Hearts, 1975)