Perhaps
America
's stint at
Capitol
-- which began with 1979's
Silent Letter
and wrapped up with 1984's
Perspective
-- isn't considered by most observers to be as "classic" as the
Warner
era that preceded it. Winnowed down to the duo of
Dewey Bunnell
and
Gerry Beckley
--
Dan Peek
departed in 1977, after
Harbor
moved decidedly into slickly synthesized adult contemporary while on
, a transition that eventually resulted in the 1982 smash hit "You Can Do Magic" and its 1983 Top 40 sequel, "The Border."
Classic Album Collection
traces this evolution via remastered versions of the group's six albums for the label (the first two each have two bonus tracks of mono single mixes):
(1979),
Alibi
(1980),
View from the Ground
(1982),
Your Move
(1983),
(1984), and
In Concert
(1985). These records have been reissued on CD before, but they've never sounded this smooth, vivid, or rich -- qualities that certainly enhance albums designed to be plush, immersive easy listens. For hardcore fans, the ones who are as curious about the mono single edits as they are about the aural upgrade, it's the remastering that makes this set worthwhile, but anybody with a fondness for supple soft rock would find that these albums are much better than their reputation suggests. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine