Sister Golden Hair – America | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1) and Adult Contemporary (#5); 1975
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
America was one of the top groups in America during the first half of the 1970’s. Four of their first five albums placed in the Top 10, and six singles sailed into the Top 10. A Horse With No Name kicked off the 45 rpm streak when it captured the #1 spot for three weeks in 1972.
Before year’s end, I Need You and Ventura Highway reached number nine and eight respectively. After three singles failed to find an audience in 1973, America returned to the Top 10 with Tin Man and Lonely People from Holiday, an album produced by George Martin, of Beatles fame.
Martin’s second effort with America – Hearts – arrived in 1975. It, too, was a winner. The lead-off single, Sister Golden Hair, moved to the top in June. After founding member Dan Peek’s departure in 1976, the band’s hits trailed off until 1982 when the remaining American’s, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, rode You Can Do Magic to #8.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- George Martin
Lyrics Written by:
- Gerry Beckley
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).