Alibi (America album)

Untitled

Alibi is the ninth original studio album by American folk rock duo America, released by Capitol Records in 1980, see (1980 in music).

History

Although Dan Peek departed America in 1977 after becoming a born-again Christian, remaining members Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley decided to continue the group as a duo. They signed with Capitol Records and released their inaugural album on that label, Silent Letter, in 1979. Although Silent Letter was once again produced by legendary producer George Martin, the album failed to make a significant commercial impact.

Prior to their follow-up album on Capitol, Bunnell and Beckley amicably parted ways with Martin in an effort to try a new musical direction. For the new album, the group utilized two producers -- Matthew McCauley and Fred Mollin. While Silent Letter was recorded by Bunnell, Beckley and their backing band (Willie Leacox, Michael Woods, David Dickey and Jim Calire), Alibi would be a virtual roll-call of the burgeoning West Coast music scene. The recording was graced by musicians such as Timothy B. Schmit, Waddy Wachtel, Mike Baird, Lee Sklar, Richard Page, Norton Buffalo and Steve Lukather.

Alibi, released in August 1980, was the first America album not to feature a picture of the band members on the cover. Instead, the cover sported a picture of a doll's head in the foreground of a desert landscape. Dewey Bunnell said he chose the picture while looking through the archives of acclaimed photographer Henry Diltz. The album was also unusual in the era of vinyl primacy in that it did not have numbered sides. Because the group and Capitol disagreed on which side would be side one, they agreed on a compromise: the sides would be labelled "Our Side" and "Their Side."

The album only peaked at number 142 on the Billboard album chart in the US but did better in other countries especially Italy. No singles charted in the US, but in Italy "Survival" was a number 1 hit and the whole album peaked at 4. "Hangover" did get some airplay.

Although Alibi was yet another commercial disappointment for America, the band's fortunes would dramatically improve with their next album, View From The Ground (1982), which included the Top Ten smash, "You Can Do Magic."

McCauley would later produce several tracks on America's Perspective album in 1984, while Mollin returned in 2011 to produce America's cover album, Back Pages.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

In his Allmusic review music critic Steven Thomas Erlewine noted the effect on the album of the departure of George Martin as producer. He wrote of the album; "Essentially, the album picks up where Silent Letter left off, meaning that it's a set of pleasant soft pop, but it's slicker and slighter than its predecessor... Alibi doesn't qualify as one of America's better latter-day efforts (even though it's certainly not one of their worst)."

Track listing

Our Side (Side One)

1. "Survival" - (Gerry Beckley)
2. "Might Be Your Love" - (Dewey Bunnell)
3. "Catch that Train" - (Beckley, Bunnell)
4. "You Could've Been the One" - (John Batdorf, Sue Sheridan)
5. "I Don't Believe in Miracles"(Russ Ballard)

Their Side (Side Two)

1. "I Do Believe in You"
2. "Hangover"
3. "Right Back to Me"
4. "Coastline"
5. "Valentine"
6. "One in a Million"