Out today (April 24th) is America's latest vault collection, Heritage II: Demos/Alternate Takes 1971-1976. The set is a followup to 2017's critically acclaimed package Heritage: Home Recordings/Demos 1970-1973. The 13-track set features alternate versions of such America favorites as “Tin Man,” “Simple Life,” and “Amber Cascades,” among others.
Newly discovered is a previously unreleased 13-minute acoustic instrumental jam by the band — Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and the late-Dan Peek — called “Jameroony.”
Dewey Bunnell recalled to us America's early pre-fame High School days when the group was living overseas: “We were at a U.S. Air Force base in England — that's where we met. And we had these kind of similar interests in the music world, and we knocked around London and saw all these great acts of the late-'60s and stuff going on there; the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park. It was just an exciting time.”
Bunnell told us that above all else, America's harmonies remain their ultimate stock in trade: “We've always said, it doesn't matter what we're singing or recording, generally once Gerry and my vocal blend is on there with the harmonies and so on, that's kind of what we are. Maybe that's truth with everybody, 'cause everybody's voice is so unique, a blend is double unique.”
The tracklisting to Heritage II: Demos/Alternate Takes 1971-1976 is:
“Cornwall Blank” (Demo Version)
“Jameroony” (Acoustic Version)
“Mandy” (Demo Version)
“Tin Man” (Backing Track With Backing Vocals)
“What Does It Matter” (Demo Version)
“You” (Vocals/Strings Excerpt)
“Mad Dog” (Demo Version)
“Simple Life” (Alternate Mix)
“Lovely Night” (Demo Version)
“Today's The Day” (Alternate Mix)
“Amber Cascades” (Acoustic Version)
“Letter” (Alternate Mix)
“Jet Boy Blue” (Alternate Mix)
