Gerry Beckley From America

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“I knew that this batch of songs, even the choice of the album’s title, was going to be about my journey,” says Gerry Beckley, who finds himself embracing his past – personally, professionally and creatively – nearly as much as he looks to the future.  But for the singer/songwriter/performer best known for his 49-year career as co-founder of the legendary band America – and whose acclaimed collaborations have also ranged from Carl Wilson and Dan Fogelberg to David Cassidy and John Waters – the journey still shimmers with a melodic melancholy that makes his music as familiar as it is iconic.  And as America prepares to celebrate its half-century anniversary, Beckley brings his own journey home on his new Blue Élan Records release, "Five Mile Road."

“In your 20s, you make the mistake of viewing maturity as something that just clicks on like a light switch,” says Beckley of this first project since his 2016 Blue Élan debut, "Carousel."  “But had any of us given it more thought, we’d have realized that we’re going to be far more evolved at 30, 40 and even beyond 50 years old.  The title track lyric of ‘five miles out / five miles back’ reflects on how we go through the decades, yet it can still seem like just a blip on the map.  There’s an undeniable reality to that in all of our lives, and so much of that is woven throughout this album.”

"Five Mile Road" is produced by Gerry Beckley and Jeff Larson, with all songs written by Beckley except “Life Lessons,” which was written by Gerry and actor/musician Bill Mumy.  And while the album also features instrumental assistance from longtime friends that include Mumy, Jason Scheff of Chicago and Rusty Young of Poco, the majority of the backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, piano and additional keyboards are all Beckley (“When I make a solo album,” he says, “there’s a whole lot of ‘solo’ in there”).  The results may sound reminiscent of America, but Beckley instead crafts rich echoes of his past without directly referencing it.  “I’ve produced or co-produced several of my own projects as well as many of America’s albums, so it would have been a bit strange if what we ended up with was not an up-to-date reflection of my history,” he explains.  “I’ve always approached both writing and production with the belief that they can contain multiple layers of stuff, with lyrics that can be heard and absorbed over time.  I want the songs on this album to slowly grow on the listener.”

Beckley’s layered approach is instantly both recognizable and unique.  The album’s opener “Life Lessons” belies its driving guitars and soaring harmonies with reflections on youth, loss and regret by a narrator ‘still searching for the song.’   “Home Again” glistens with piano, yearning, and the hard-won wisdom of knowing ‘life is not what it seems,’ with a jubilant chorus that is classic Beckley.  In “Calling,” a beautifully delicate melody and vocal disguise an achingly plaintive lament for lost love.  “Let’s face it,” Gerry says with a laugh, “I wrote and sang a #1 hit that began, ‘Well I tried to make it Sunday, but I got so damn depressed.’  ‘Sister Golden Hair’ was an upbeat song, but there’s clearly a melancholy woven through.  I don’t like to oversimplify it, but I feel that’s kind of ‘my thing’.  Or I can just say that’s who I am.”

Elsewhere on the album, Beckley reflects on the resonance of love (“Something To Remember” and “So Long Marni”), the seduction of drifting (“Vagabond”) and the persistence of L.A. memories (“Heart Of The Valley”).  “Hang Your Head High” is a rocking anthem for the disenfranchised, “Stop Feeling Sorry” is sweet balm for the uncertain, and “Sudden Soldier” is a potent ode to the innocence and vulnerability of young military personnel Beckley sees weekly in his airport travels.  The title track “Five Mile Road” is an enduring metaphor for the journey, a poignant contemplation on the peaks and pitfalls of the lullaby of life.  The album’s closer, “Two People At Once,” bookends as both a consideration of life’s dichotomies and a search for its larger meanings.  It’s a tender coda, the sound of an artist living in the moment while simultaneously reckoning with his own legacy.  “Sometimes I find myself looking back more than I look forward,” Beckley admits, “but I’m 66 years old and at a beautiful place in my life with my wife, kids and career.  The challenge is how to convey your head and heart, to make music that isn’t preachy or clichéd reminiscence.  I firmly believe that if you’re doing it well and blessed to still be able to go to the creative places, then it doesn’t stop.”

Certainly that credence extends to America’s extraordinary half-century milestone, which Beckley and co-founder Dewey Bunnell plan to celebrate with a 50th Anniversary Tour in 2019.  “I would never want to give the impression that Dewey and I are anything less than astounded by it all,” Gerry says.  “But I always pair that with the confession that we feel responsible for what we’ve built.  Somewhere in our shared journey has been our saving; by staying commercially and creatively somewhat along the center, we never flamed out, broke up or hit bottom.  Our songs marked a time and place in many people’s DNA, and we still work hard to put on a great show.  It’s mind-blowing, really.”

For Gerry Beckley, "Five Mile Road" marks a welcome new step in his journey, along with a collective connection to the past for us all.  “For those of us who grew up in the era of vinyl, the album listening experience has almost disappeared,” Beckley says.  “Fortunately, Blue Élan has allowed me to make an album like the old days, like I want to do.  I know how the tempo of all of our lives has adjusted over the past decade, so I’m honored anytime anybody spends the time to listen and I’m grateful to a record label that allows people like me to keep these creative areas alive.  I hope I’ve delivered my half of the bargain.”