Hat Trick

by America

Overview

America's Hat Trick has the distinction of being the album that contained the first song that the band sang that wasn't theirs. Written by Willis Ramsey, the syrupy "Muskrat Love" only went as high as number 67 on the singles chart for America, but the Captain & Tennille managed to take it all the way to number four only three years later. The rest of Hat Trick failed to garner any hits and is a slight disappointment after the success of their self-titled debut in 1972, which harbored the band's first number one hit in "A Horse With No Name," and after Homecoming, their satisfying follow-up. Hat Trick peaked at number 28 on the album charts, faltering mainly because the songs lacked the cordial folk-rock melodies and mindful songwriting that prevailed on the earlier releases. "She's Gonna Let You Down" and "Rainbow Song" are the album's best cuts, but banal offerings such as "Green Monkey," "Willow Tree Lullaby," and "Molten Love" have Bunnell and Peek straying off course, sounding stale and musically feeble. The unsuccessful repercussions that evolved from Hat Trick both commercially and otherwise were not overlooked by the band, and they rebounded with 1974's Holiday, an album which yielded hits in "Tin Man" and "Lonely People," which both made Billboard's Top Five. ~ Mike DeGagne

Product Details

Release Date:	12/10/2021
Label:	Music On Vinyl
UPC:	8719262020429

Album Credits

Performance Credits

America   Primary Artist,Vocals
David Dickey   Bass
Chester McCrackin   Congas
Joe Walsh   Guitar
Tom Scott   Saxophone
Bruce Johnston   Vocals (Background)
Dan Peek   Guitar,Vocals
Billy Hinsche   Vocals (Background)
Rovert Margoliffe   Synthesizer
Lorene Yarnell   Percussion
Lee Kiefer   Harmonica
Chet McCracken   Congas
Carl Wilson   Vocals (Background)
Dewey Bunnell   Drums,Guitar,Vocals
Jim Ed Norman   Piano
Gerry Beckley   Guitar,Vocals
Hal Blaine   Drums,Percussion
Henry Diltz   Banjo

Technical Credits

Henry Diltz   Photography
Willis Alan Ramsey   Composer
Dan Peek   Composer,Producer
Gary Burden   Design,Art Direction
Lorene Yarnell   Taps
Lee Kiefer   Assistant Engineer
Pete Reuther   Inspiration
Mike Stone   Engineer
America   Musician,Producer
Dewey Bunnell   Composer,Producer
Jim Ed Norman   Arranger
Michael Stone   Engineer
George Martin   Arranger,Remixing
Gerry Beckley   Composer,Producer