A Horse with No Name
"A Horse with No Name" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by America | ||||
from the album America | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released |
| |||
Recorded | 1971 | |||
Studio | Morgan Studios, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:08 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | Dewey Bunnell | |||
Producer(s) | Ian Samwell | |||
America singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Audio sample | ||||
|
"A Horse with No Name" is a song by American folk rock trio America. Written by Dewey Bunnell, it was released on the Warner Bros. label, in late 1971 in Europe and early 1972 in the United States. The song was met with commercial success and topped charts in Canada, Finland, and the United States.[5] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 24, 1972.[6] The song was quickly added to a rerelease of the bands' debut studio album, America (original release January 1972). The song is a staple of the group's discography and one of their most popular.
Development
Trying to find a song that would be popular in both the United States and Europe, Warner Bros. was reluctant to release the ballad "I Need You" as the first single from America. The label asked the band if it had any other material, then arranged for America to record four more songs at Morgan Studios, in Willesden, London.[9] "A Horse with No Name" was released as the featured song on a three-track single in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy and the Netherlands in late 1971. On the release, "A Horse with No Name" shared the A-side with "Everyone I Meet Is from California", while "Sandman" featured on the B-side. However, its early-1972 two-track United States release did not include "Sandman", with "Everyone I Meet Is from California" appearing on the B-side.
Composition
"A Horse with No Name" was recorded in E
Reception
Despite the song being banned by some US radio stations, most notably WHB in Kansas City, because of supposed drug references to heroin use ("horse" is a common slang term for heroin),[13] the song ascended to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, and the album quickly reached platinum status. The song charted earlier in Ireland (reaching number 4), the Netherlands (reaching number 11) and the UK (reaching number 3, the band's only Top 40 hit in the country[14]) than it did in the United States.
The song's resemblance to some of
The single achieved sales of over 50,000 copies in Australia, being eligible for the award of a gold disc.[17]
The song has received criticism for its lyrics, including "The heat was hot"; "There were plants, and birds, and rocks, and things"; and "'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain."[18] According to an anecdote from Robert Christgau, Randy Newman dismissed "A Horse with No Name" as a "song about a kid who thinks he's taken acid".[19][20]
Penn Jillette asked the band about their lyrics, "there were plants, and birds, and rocks, and things" after a show in Atlantic City, where America opened for Penn & Teller. According to Jillette, their explanation for the lyrics was that they were intoxicated with cannabis while writing it.[21] In a 2012 interview, Beckley disputed Jillette's story, saying, "I don't think Dew was stoned."[22]
Personnel
Credits adapted per back cover of a 1972 vinyl issue of America.
America
- Dewey Bunnell – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Gerry Beckley – 12-string acoustic guitars, backing vocals
- Dan Peek – bass, backing vocals
Additional personnel
- Ray Cooper – percussion
- Kim Haworth – drums
Cover version
A capella band The King's Singers covered the song on their 1975 album 'Keep On Changing'.[23]
In the season 4 episode of BoJack Horseman "The Old Sugarman Place", the title character drives through the desert to Patrick Carney and Michelle Branch's interpretation of the song. This version also appears on the soundtrack album of the series.[24]
Musical references
The song was sampled by
The song is name-checked in the 1991 Tin Machine song 'Stateside' on the Tin Machine II album.[27]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Italy (FIMI)[42] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[43] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[45] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
See also
References
- ^ Micchelli, Thomas (March 9, 2019). "Painting Paradoxes of Family, Race, and Prison". Hyperallergic. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
(both apparent references to the 1972 folk-rock song, 'A Horse with No Name,' by a band called, tellingly, America) beckon toward freedom.
- ^ ISBN 978-1440865787.
- ^ "200 Greatest Soft Rock Songs". Entertainment.expertscolumn.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
- SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- ^ "A Horse with No Name" USA chart history, Billboard.com. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
- ^ RIAA. "RIAA Gold & Platinum Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
- ^ Nick Churchill. "Decadence and depravity…with added cheese - Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine". Dorsetlife.co.uk. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
- ^ "Highway Highlight (from the box set booklet)". Archived from the original on June 2, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
- ^ Rosen, Craig (September 30, 1996). The Billboard book of number one albums: the inside story behind pop music's blockbuster records. Billboard Books.
- ^ "A Horse With No Name by America Chords and Melody". Hooktheory. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ Hodge, David (January 13, 2012). "A Horse With No Name by America - Adding Some Personal Touches". Guitarnoise.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
- ^ "Horse With No Name Guitar Lesson | Strumming Pattern & Chords". Guitarcoachmag.com. September 16, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
- ^ "Liner notes, Highway Highlight". Archived from the original on June 15, 2006. Retrieved June 11, 2006.
- ^ "America singles charts history". Official Charts. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 5, 1971. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100 - Week of March 25, 1972". Billboard.com.
- ISBN 978-1-387-71246-5.
- ^ John Mendelsohn (1972). "Rolling Stone Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2006.
- ^ Christau, Robert (April 16, 1972). "America's Imitation Worse Than Young's". Newsday – via RobertChristgau.com.
- ISBN 0-89919-026-X– via the Internet Archive.
- ^ Jillette, Penn. (2012). Gilbert Gottfried Again! (Episode 14, 2012/05/21). Penn's Sunday School. Ace Broadcasting Network.
- ^ "Q&A With America Singer Gerry Beckley". Patch.com. December 19, 2012.
- ^ "The King's Singers - Keep On Changing (1975, Vinyl) - Discogs". Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "Hear Patrick Carney, Michelle Branch's New Song for 'BoJack Horseman'". Rolling Stone. 28 August 2017.
- ^ "Place with No Name sounds like Horse with No Name". news.com.au. July 17, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (February 22, 2019). "The Number Ones: America's "A Horse With No Name"". Stereogum. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Pegg, Nicholas (2016). The Complete David Bowie. p. 265.
- ^ "America – A Horse With No Name" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "RPM100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. 6 May 1972. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1972-05-06. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- Les classement single.
- ^ "none". Billboard. October 7, 1972. p. 53.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie.
- ^ "America – A Horse With No Name" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Flavour of New Zealand, 27 March 1972". Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- Canciones Top 50.
- ^ "America: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "America Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "America Chart History (Easy Listening)". Billboard.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-89820-213-7.
- ^ Musicoutfitters.com
- ^ "Italian single certifications – America – A Horse with No Name" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – America – A Horse with No Name". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – America – A Horse with No Name". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – America – A Horse with No Name". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 21, 2020.