Silent Letter | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 15, 1979 | |||
Recorded | March–April 1979 | |||
Studio | AIR, Montserrat | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 34:50 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | George Martin | |||
America chronology | ||||
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Singles from Silent Letters | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Silent Letter is the eighth studio album by American folk rock duo America, released by Capitol Records in June 1979.
It was the first America studio album following the departure of Dan Peek. [4] It was also the first America release on Capitol Records and the last album—and last of seven consecutive—which longtime Beatles producer George Martin produced with America.
It was also their first studio album since their debut to have a title beginning with a letter other than "H". The title itself acknowledges the missing "H" by its wry reference to silent letters in the English language.
The album contains fast-paced disco songs, piano-based power ballads (often sung by Gerry Beckley) and mid-tempo pop rock songs.
In his AllMusic retrospective review, music critic Steven Thomas Erlewine noted the band's transition from "folky California soft rock" to adult contemporary. He wrote of the album: "The end result may be flawed, but in an enjoyable way. And compared to the records that preceded it and some of albums that followed it, Silent Letter certainly seems like a latter-day highlight for America." [1]
The album was not a commercial success, reaching only number 110 on the Billboard album chart. However, it did produce three minor hit singles. "Only Game in Town" bubbled under the Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 107. "All My Life" and "All Around" narrowly missed the Top 40 on the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at number 48 and 45 respectively. The former was a big hit in Asia.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Only Game in Town" | Lewis Anderson, Julie Didier, Casey Kelly | 4:12 |
2. | "All Around" | Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell | 3:21 |
3. | "Tall Treasures" | Beckley, Bunnell | 3:15 |
4. | "1960" | Beckley | 3:10 |
5. | "And Forever" | Bunnell | 3:11 |
6. | "Foolin'" | Beckley, Ricky Fataar | 2:53 |
7. | "All Night" | Bunnell | 3:19 |
8. | "No Fortune" | Beckley | 3:18 |
9. | "All My Life" | Beckley | 3:02 |
10. | "One Morning" | Bunnell | 2:12 |
11. | "High in the City" | Beckley, Bunnell | 3:02 |
with:
Chart (1979) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [5] | 51 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [6] | 80 |
US Billboard 200 [7] | 110 |
America are a British-American rock band formed in London in 1970 by US artists Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek, and Gerry Beckley. The trio met as sons of US Air Force personnel stationed in London, where they began performing live. Achieving significant popularity in the 1970s, the trio was famous for its close vocal harmonies and light acoustic folk rock sound. The band released a string of hit albums and singles, many of which found airplay on pop/soft rock stations.
Homecoming is the second studio album by America, released on November 15, 1972, through Warner Bros. Records. Acoustic guitar-based, with a more pronounced electric guitar and keyboard section than their first album, their second effort helped continue the band's success, and includes one of their best known hits, "Ventura Highway".
"California Dreamin'" is a song written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips in 1963 and first recorded by Barry McGuire. The best-known version is by the Mamas & the Papas, who sang backup on the original version and released it as a single in December 1965. The lyrics express the narrator's longing for the warmth of Los Angeles during a cold winter in New York City. It is recorded in the key of C-sharp minor.
Daniel Milton Peek was an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the co-founder (1970-1977) of the band America and a "pioneer in contemporary Christian music".
"These Dreams" is a song by American rock band Heart from their 1985 self-titled eighth studio album Heart. It was released on January 18, 1986, as the album's third single, becoming the band's first song to top the Billboard Hot 100. The single's B-side track "Shell Shock", was also the B-side of Heart's previous single "Never".
"Nothin' at All" is a song by American rock band Heart from their eponymous eighth studio album (1985). It was released on April 3, 1986, as the album's fourth single. The song was written by pop and musical theatre composer Mark Mueller.
"(If There Was) Any Other Way" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion. It was included on her first English-language album, Unison (1990). "(If There Was) Any Other Way" was released by Columbia Records as the album's lead single in Canada on 26 March 1990. The next year, it was issued as the second single in other countries. The song was written by Paul Bliss, while production was handled by Christopher Neil.
Hat Trick is the third studio album by the American folk rock trio America, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1973. It peaked at number 28 on the Billboard album chart; it failed to go gold, whereas the group's first two releases had platinum sales. The album produced the single, "Muskrat Love", which reached number 67 on the Billboard singles chart and number 11 on the adult contemporary chart. That song would become a much bigger hit for Captain & Tennille three years later.
Holiday is the fourth studio album by the American folk rock band America, released on the Warner Bros. Records label in June 1974. The album was produced in London by longtime Beatles record producer George Martin, the first of seven consecutive albums he produced with America.
Hearts is the fifth studio album by American folk rock trio America, released by Warner Bros. Records in 1975. The album was produced by long-term Beatles producer George Martin, the second of seven consecutive albums he produced with America.
Hideaway is the sixth studio album by American folk rock trio America, released by Warner Bros. Records in April 1976. The album was produced by longtime Beatles producer George Martin, the fourth of seven consecutive albums he produced with America.
Alibi is the ninth studio album by American folk rock duo America, released by Capitol Records in 1980.
Your Move is the eleventh studio album by American folk rock duo America, released by Capitol Records on June 3, 1983.
Perspective is the twelfth studio album by American folk rock duo America, released by Capitol Records on September 21, 1984.
View from the Ground is the tenth studio album by British-American folk rock duo America, released by Capitol Records in August 1982.
"Muskrat Love" is a soft rock song written by Willis Alan Ramsey. The song depicts a romantic liaison between two anthropomorphic muskrats named Susie and Sam. It was first recorded in 1972 by Ramsey for his sole album release Willis Alan Ramsey. The song was originally titled "Muskrat Candlelight" referencing the song's opening lyric.
Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine is a 1986 solo album by Daryl Hall. The album features his only top-ten solo single, "Dreamtime", which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, "Foolish Pride", peaked at number 33.
"You Can Do Magic" is a song by singer-songwriter Russ Ballard that was recorded as a 1982 single by folk rock duo America from their album View from the Ground.
"Blue Eyes Blue" is a pop song written by American songwriter Diane Warren. The tune was written for the 1999 soundtrack of Runaway Bride. The British rock musician Eric Clapton recorded the song for the soundtrack and released his performance of the song as a single on July 20, 1999, for Reprise Records.
Reddy is the eleventh studio album release by Australian-American pop singer Helen Reddy. Between 1971 and 1978, Reddy had ten studio albums released by Capitol Records, the label also having issued her Greatest Hits album and a concert album: Live in London, the latter issued in December 1978 - which same month Reddy filed suit claiming Capitol Records had shortchanged her $1,793,000, the suit being an apparent bid to win release from the label. However Reddy, issued in June 1979, would be released by Capitol Records, Reddy's tenure with the label extending to include her twelfth studio album: Take What You Find, issued in 1980.