Tin Man

America were British-American, sunny, and enormously successful — a trio formed in London by sons of American servicemen who somehow distilled California into music they'd never lived near. Their harmonies were luminous, their guitars acoustic and undemanding, and for a few years in the early 1970s they were unavoidable.

Tin Man, from 1974's Holiday, carries a slight tinge of melancholy beneath the characteristic warmth, the Wizard of Oz title reference lending gentle philosophical weight. Produced by George Martin, it has the tasteful spaciousness of his post-Beatles work.

America's reputation has risen slightly in recent decades as critics made peace with the softer end of 1970s California rock. The catalog rewards deeper listening.