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Gerry Beckley, founding member and co-lead singer of America, spoke with Kyle Meredith about his new solo album, MERCIFUL, and the creative flood that’s followed his retirement from touring. After decades of life measured in hotel rooms, backstage doors, and 200 travel days a year, Beckley now splits his time between Venice, California, and Sydney, Australia, with twin studios keeping the songs moving. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
“The biggest plus has been that now that I am not getting off a plane every other day of my life,” Beckley says, “I used to have to fit all of that creative half into the gaps.” That open space shows up all over MERCIFUL, a record that bends from pop hooks to melancholy glow to an unexpected Beatles cover. On writing, Beckley adds, “I come from the school that you’ve got to write 10 to get two.”
Beckley also digs into revisiting 1978’s “Monster,” why sequencing albums still matters, and how Graham Nash ended up lending harmonies to “Norwegian Wood.” “He wrote right back within like half an hour,” Beckley says of Nash. “All of a sudden I had Graham singing this beautiful harmony on this incredible song.” And while Beckley jokes about not wanting to wear people out with all the new music, there’s plenty more waiting: “There’s a lot in the vault.”
Listen to Gerry Beckley talk about MERCIFUL pre-order on vinyl and CD here(available for ), America, Graham Nash, and more in the new episode above or by watching the video below. Keep up on all the latest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favorite podcast platform; plus, check out all the series on the Consequence Podcast Network.
Though Beckley has retired from the touring band, America is still very much on the road, and you can get tickets to their upcoming shows here. The band will release a new best-of collection, Halcyon Days, on July 13th, and you can pre-order it here.
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