America

Inspired by the close-harmony songs of Crosby Stills and Nash, the singer-songwriter trio of Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek, and Gerry Beckley actually formed in London. Perhaps they chose their name to remind the UK they were from the big place across the pond. If so, their first hit “A Horse With No Name” rammed home the point, as its dreamlike story of riding across a dessert on the eponymous anonymous quadruped became a massive worldwide hit. Their self-titled debut LP did not stop there, however, finding further success through the sweet ballad “I Need You” and the driving “Sandman”.

The flow of hits continued throughout the 1970s… “Ventura Highway” (from Homecoming), “Sister Golden Hair” (from Hearts), and “Tin Man” from Holiday.