Search - America :: Hideaway

America starting to slip on this album

Richard D. Warlick | Clayton, N.C. United States | 12/16/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"America was one of my favorite groups during their heyday in the 70's. To me that heyday lasted through their sixth album, "Greatest Hits" and started slipping on this album. Perhaps their desire to expand their sound was greater than their ability to do so. The hit "Today's the Day" and "Watership Down", a sound track for an animated film I never saw, were up to the quality of their previous albums, but from there the quality slips a bit. "Amber Cascades" was the second single, and is not a bad song in the "Tin Man"/"Ventura Highway" vein, "Lovely Night" offers a touch of reggae, and "She's a Liar","Don't Let it Bring You Down" and "Jet Boy Blue" rock harder than most previous America tunes, with "Jet Boy Blue" being the best of those 3. From there the tunes become pretty forgettable. Somehow I think America lost focus of their real strengths on this album. Those strengths are harmonies that were unsurpassed in the 70's, and the best sounding mix of acoustic guitars around. I bought this on cd recently for mostly nostalgic purposes, but until "Hourglass" many years later, I think America's classic album days began some dry years with the release of "Hideaway". By the way, George Martin did produce this release and he is quite heavy handed here, but the tunes just weren't very worthy of his involvement."

Very good

A Fan | VA | 09/03/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I really liked this album when it was released in 1976 and still do. It was a hit in the US peaking at 11 on the album chart and being certified GOLD by the RIAA. It includes the top 25 hit Today's The Day (which went all the way to number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart) and the minor hit Amber Cascades. Other songs received some airplay like Jet Boy Blue (this song should have been released as a single), Letter, and Watership Down. George Martin must have had a ball producing this album as he makes heavy use of strings and horns, but it is done very well. A very good album."

Great album

Tnahpellee | Australia | 07/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album reminisces 60's pop quite a bit (remember the brass driven rockers?). It's a really good album. It's a very diverse album and some of the tracks try to rock out very much, like 'Don't let it get you down'. 'She's a liar' is a light hearted piece of 70's catchy pop. One of the Dan Peek songs is a throwback to early-60's teen idol. His Jet Boy Blue is a brilliant 60's-ish rocker with their beautiful vocal harmonies. Watership Down is a big-ballad with a prog-ish edge, and 'Who loves you' is a very big ballad. George Martin's arrangements really started to shine here."