The claim to fame for
America
's 1982 album,
View From the Ground
, is that it yielded the
soft rock
duo's last Top Ten hit,
"You Can Do Magic."
Vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist
Gerry Beckley
and vocalist/guitarist
Dewey Bunnell
scored big with this infectious, hook-riddled single. It was written and produced by
Argent
guitarist and solo artist
Russ Ballard
, who is most famous for penning songs that others have hit with.
is an exceptionally slick-sounding yet pedestrian album overall, despite -- or because of -- the famous hired guns and anonymous session pros involved. In addition to
Beckley
,
Bunnell
, and
Ballard
Blood, Sweat & Tears
veteran
Bobby Colomby
produced a couple of tracks.
Toto
is represented by guitarist
Steve Lukather
, bass guitarist
Mike Porcaro
, and drummer
Jeff Porcaro
. Backing vocalists include
the Beach Boys
'
Carl Wilson
Christopher Cross
the Eagles
Timothy B. Schmit
. Actor/musician
Bill Mumy
contributes guitar work and co-wrote a few tunes, including the brightly upbeat
"Never Be Lonely."
"Desperate Love"
is frantically melodic, even edgy -- for
, that is; the flashes of biting guitar that pepper this song and other portions of
probably all emanate from
Lukather
.
"Right Before Your Eyes"
is a
pop
ballad
that just missed the Top 40. The best way to experience
is through its singles, which means greatest-hits albums are the answer. Although
was reissued on CD by
One Way
, go for one of the two readily available collections with
"You Can Do Magic"
: 1991's
Encore: More Greatest Hits
or 2001's
The Complete Greatest Hits
. ~ Bret Adams