It was 1975, it was America at the Hollywood Bowl

Even the America join the ranks of bands looking back on their golden age. The American band released a live album recorded at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in 1975. Previously available as a Record Store Day exclusive, “Live from the Hollywood Bowl 1975”containing previously unreleased recordings is now released on CD and as a 2-LP set on red vinyl.

Dewey Bunnell
remembers exactly how the evening unfolded: “If I remember correctly, this concert was planned to highlight the summer of 1975. The release of our fifth album, “Hearts,” in March of that year had been a great success and included our second No. 1 single, “Sister Golden Hair,” so we were in top form. The year before, we had developed a great collaboration with Sir George Martin on our first project together in London, the “Holiday” album. And the making of “Hearts” at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California, had been fun and creative. Meanwhile, the live act had evolved into a big show and we played a lot of sold-out gigs that year.”

Bunnell, 72, continues, “So the plan was to make the Hollywood Bowl show as special as possible. George was involved from the beginning and it was decided that he would conduct a symphony orchestra with him playing first, doing a show he called “Bond to Beatles and Bach” that he had recorded the year before, and then conduct behind us during our show. It was incredible to hear George conduct Beatles songs like “Yellow Submarine” live at the Hollywood Bowl! We had planned to record the concert and had the Record Plant mobile recording truck on site to capture the performance for posterity. There would be fireworks and a plane spelling out AMERICA over the Bowl with a grand finale performing “Horse With No Name” as our three heads in fireworks were lit over the structure.”

Dewey’s recollection continues: “We had invited many important guests, friends and artists to attend.

all very spectacular! The stage was set for a magical evening! As the saying goes, “the best laid plans often go awry”! The sky writer immediately ran into trouble because the letters seemed to dissolve in the wind above the Bowl as they were “written”, so there was never a clear reading of AMERICA. After the show itself had gone very well, our three heads lit up only to rain sparks down on the stage, scattering the symphony players behind us! The reception and party after the show had everyone describing the hilarious chaos in those final moments as we left the stage! It was an unforgettable scene that we have laughed about for many years! Now, almost 50 years later, the recording of that evening is finally available, and it sounds great. It is the only complete live concert recording of the original trio, with Dan Peek and Gerry (Beckley, ed.)”.