I Need You/A Horse with No Name - America (1972) 8/13/21

Gerry Beckley was a 16-year-old Air Force brat living with his family in England when he wrote a break-up song for his group, "Daze," which also included fellow "brats" Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peak.

If those names sound familiar, it's probably because the trio later formed a NEW band called...America.

The song Gerry wrote was destined to become a "Great Song of 1972:" "I Need You.

But first, a detour of sorts. "I Need You" was slated to be released as the first single from America's debut album, but at the last minute, they substituted a different song: the lyrically challenged mega-hit: "A Horse with No Name."

"I Need You" became the follow-up hit, and did quite well on the charts, reaching #7 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart and #9 on the Hot 100.

Note: "A Horse with No Name" went to #1 in the US, Canada and Finland (of all places)---but was not only critically panned, but literally mocked for it's horrible grammar and nonsensical (and possibly drug-influenced) lyrics. It has been called one of the "WORST Songs of the '70s" and it proves that not all HIT songs are GREAT songs. I have it linked below in case you want to check it out.

But, with "I Need You," Gerry Beckley and America gave us a song that has stood the test of time--and a "Great Song of '72!" Not bad for a 16-year-old songwriter.

"I Need You:"

"A Horse with No Name:"