Folk Rock Band America Performs “Tin Man” In 1975, And It’s All Heart

Musikladen, 1975

In 1975, America took their brand of acoustic folk rock to Germany’s Musikladen where they performed ‘Tin Man’ before an eager audience, and it’s about a close to a perfect example of great musicianship and perfect harmonies as a band could get in a live setting – really! Taking the lead on vocals that night was Dewey Bunnell, supported by bandmates Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley, and while it’s rare for a band to deliver a live performance that equals or even surpasses their studio performance, it’s pretty clear that it’s an art that America mastered.

Fun Fact: ‘Tin Man’ was produced by George Martin, famous for his work with The Beatles.

Inspired by the Tin Man made famous in L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard Of Oz, America’s hit ‘Tin Man’ was featured on the band’s 1974 album Holiday and met with critical acclaim for its unique poetic license, cultural references and themes that reach far beyond the movie. Despite having far deeper themes than just a Tin Man looking for the heart he already had, there’s something really magical about ‘Tin Man’ and America’s performance that night – maybe it’s the fact that it appeals to the legends and tales we heard as children as much as it does the adult trying to navigate the world, but whatever the case may be, America absolutely hit it out of the park when they wrote this one!