Long Days and Strong Nights

they must have shot this cover on the ventura highway

Ventura Highway by America, the opening track from their 1972 album 'Homecoming' might be a perfect song. I don’t really know how I'm going to back this up as I write this, but I know deep down that – whether you agree or not – it is.

The music

The track opens with its cute little lilting acoustic guitar lick which persists throughout the whole song. In fact the entire thing mostly consists of fast-paced guitar, bass, and drums. The first verse of the song before the groove really kicks in – and man does it kick! – is done so well, with just dual guitar and drums. The first time we hear the chorus is SO GOOD when all the instruments come together into one of the greatest choruses constructed in the world of modern music. The rhythm it’s played and sung, and the way the same musical phrases are repeated over again is so infectious. I have no more to say here. I’m distracted by the music

The Vocals

Three-part harmonies on a folk-rock song? Sign me up! It’s perfect. The way they sing the final “in the air” gives me goosebumps every time. I don’t even know what they’re doing because they’re not getting louder and they’re not holding it longer than normal. I guess America just decided to lock in and construct the most perfect and beautiful song ever put to tape.

The Lyrics

I genuinely can’t even explain this song anymore. The whole thing, particularly the imagery of the words somehow transport me to a car driving a desert highway during sunset in an idealized version of California where it’s all badlands with big mesas and buttes around. Maybe even some random cacti and stray tumbleweeds too. Just go listen to the song and you’ll understand.

I beg you to go listen to this right now. I routinely break the immersion of my listening just to listen to this one singular track again. If the world was ending in 3 minutes and 31 seconds, I'd have enough time to listen to it just one more time. What’s crazy is It’s not even one of my top 10 favorite songs, well, now it probably is. It's just so masterfully crafted and produced.
It’s 1:23 AM as I write this, and I need to go to bed.