The release of Holiday Harmony puts such doubts to rest. Not only is this a great Christmas album, it is also a fantastic album in its own right. Simply put, America hasn't sounded so good in decades. Unlike recent efforts like Hourglass or Human Nature, America eschews contemporary pop styling for a more elemental acoustic sound with surprisingly effective results. Producer Andrew Gold (famous for the '70s hit "Lonely Girl" and the "Golden Girls" theme) obviously put a lot of love and care into nurturing America's unique sound, and the whole album comes across as warm, honest, and very cohesive. And the Christmas standards that they cover have never been so catchy and fun to sing along with!

The album starts off with Dewey's rendition of "Winter Wonderland," which features harmony vocals that draw upon "A Horse With No Name" motif. Gerry's take on "Let It Snow" features a classy, 1940s-era guitar style with some fantastic backing on the viola. "White Christmas" incorporates the classic "Tin Man" guitar and vocal arrangement in a new and unexpectedly effective take on the Bing Crosby classic. Other traditional songs, like "Silver Bells," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," and "Silent Night," have more traditional renditions, but are delivered with warmth and affection.

"Sleigh Ride" features a rougher, electric take on this standard, and "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" casts this classic in a Beatlesque light with impressive results.

The album features three new tracks. "A Christmas To Remember" is a slower ballad with sentimental lyrics. "Winter Holidays" incorporates guitar chords similar to "Muskrat Love," and showcases the classic Dewey Bunnel delivery that we remember from songs like "Old Man Took."

The standout cut on the album is "Christmas In California," written by Dewey and Andrew Gold and sung by Gerry. The lyrics about Christmas "under palm trees, sun and blue" are incredibly catchy, and the feel of the song is strongly reminiscent of "Ventura Highway," right down to the lyrics of the "wind in your hair" and the breezy guitar riff. Yet this song stands on its own as a modern America classic.

Although this album is geared toward Christmas, don't be fooled! This is the sort of album that can make you feel good all over in the middle of October or any other month!

This album's exceptional feel only makes me hope for another collaboration between Andrew Gold and America. It's a winning combination!


What a pleasant surprise!   December 25, 2002
Randy Neumeyer (Tomball, Tx USA)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

I got this as a X-mas gift and have always loved America. But ,I'll be honest, I thought," America doing Christmas songs?" Come on -how good could this be?
It is Wonderful! I've listened to it all day today on Christmas Eve and it will be my favorite each December. It may be the best holiday cd in my collection. I highly recommend it, It's cute how they use Horse with No Name and Tin Man melodies in several of the tunes too.


This was my favorite gift!   January 1, 2003
Charles L. Crum (Arlington, VA)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I have to say I am somewhat surprised to say this is a great album! America covers the holiday classics with their own unique touch and wrote three new songs that range from very good to excellent. They have never sounded better. This is a must purchase for any America fan and I recommend it to others as well. If hearing the backbeat to Tin Man during the start of White Christmas enhances your enjoyment rather than detracts, this will quickly become your all-time favorite holiday CD.


Simply Fabulous !   October 8, 2002
Jim Nakao (HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA USA)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

This new CD by AMERICA is truly fantastic. AMERICA has written a few new songs that will blow you away. CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA, is one of their finest songs, rich in warm melody, overflowing in acoustic harmony. GERRY taking this song to snowy limits. DEWEY's version of WHITE CHRISTMAS will no doubt become a classic, it is filled w/his glowing melodic voice that seems to glide on ice. Please give this CD a listen. You will hear classic AMERICA doing classic American songs for the Holidays. Each song has that AMERICA touch, you will hear some AMERICA hits flowing in on some of the songs, very creative indeed.


Fantastic!   December 17, 2002
C. Kuschel-Toerber (Frankfurt, Hessen)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, along with veteran Weastcoast rocker Andrew Gold, have created a really unique Christmas album that cleverly manages to combine Xmas standards with their unmistakable band sound... soaring harmonies, warm guitars, a perfect mix of known classics and newly written material.

The most wonderful feat here is the incorporation of a few bars from America classics like "A Horse With No Name" or "Tin Man" into standards such as "White Christmas". I always thought Dan Fogelberg's 2000 Christmas Album would be the best of its kind I'd ever get to hear, but "Holiday Harmony" is just as good: six stars if I could give them!