Concert in Central Park

A spectacular register of Elton John's mega-concert at the Central Park NY, recorded on September 13, 1980. The great artist presents his greatest hits from the 1970's and his performance, viewed by one of the largest crowds ever, is captured by several cameras and angles, including aerial shots from a helicopter…

A light folk-rock act of the early '70s, America had several Top Ten hits, including the number ones "A Horse with No Name" and "Sister Golden Hair." Vocalists/guitarists Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek, and Gerry Beckley met while they were still in high school in the late '60s; all three were sons of U.S. Air Force officers who were stationed in the U.K. After they completed school in 1970, they formed an acoustic folk-rock quartet called Daze in London, which was soon pared down to the trio of Bunnell, Peek, and Beckley. Adopting the name America, the group landed a contract with Jeff Dexter, a promoter for the Roundhouse concert venue.

Disc 1 is an incomplete Philadelphia concert, one month into the USA Pump Tour, taken from West wood One "Superstar Concert Series" broadcast May 1990. Disc 2 is the 10 songs an incomplete version of Central Park 1975 concert taken from King Biscuit Flour Hour FM Broadcast (This track order is from the January 1991 re-broadcast). It has an excellent raw sound with numbers from their new Toys in the Attic album including their new single, Walk This Way which had been released in the USA the day before.

Disc 1 is an incomplete Philadelphia concert, one month into the USA Pump Tour, taken from West wood One "Superstar Concert Series" broadcast May 1990. Disc 2 is the 10 songs an incomplete version of Central Park 1975 concert taken from King Biscuit Flour Hour FM Broadcast …

Most concerts in Central Park are an event, and Sheryl Crow designed hers to be an event with a capital "E," performing duets with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, Sarah McLachlan, and the Dixie Chicks. Such a combination of superstar power and prestigious venue should have generated sparks, and perhaps it did in person, but as the record Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live in Central Park, it falls surprisingly flat. The set list is fine, boasting all the hits, good selections from The Globe Sessions, and several crowd-pleasing covers.