Hat Trick (album)

Hat Trick is the third studio album by the American folk rock trio America, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1973. It was a modest hit in the US, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard album chart, although it failed to go gold, whereas the group's first two releases had platinum sales. The album produced one minor hit single, "Muskrat Love" which reached number 67 on the Billboard singles chart and number 11 on the adult contemporary chart. That song would become a bigger hit for Captain & Tennille three years later. The title track is the only song written by all three members of America.

Reception
In his Allmusic review music critic Mike DeGagne wrote that the album faltered "mainly because the songs lacked the cordial folk-rock melodies and mindful songwriting that prevailed on the earlier releases. "She's Gonna Let You Down" and "Rainbow Song" are the album's best cuts, but banal offerings such as "Green Monkey," "Willow Tree Lullaby," and "Molten Love" have Bunnell and Peek straying off course, sounding stale and musically feeble."

Performance

 * Gerry Beckley - Guitars, Keyboard, Lead and Backing vocals
 * Dewey Bunnell - Guitars, Lead and Backing vocals
 * Dan Peek - Guitars, Keyboard, Lead and Backing vocals
 * Hal Blaine – drums, percussion (except "Muskrat Love")
 * David Dickey – bass guitar
 * Henry Diltz – banjo ("Submarine Ladies")
 * Billy Hinsche – backing vocals ("Hat Trick")
 * Bruce Johnston – backing vocals ("Hat Trick")
 * Lee Keifer – harmonica ("Submarine Ladies")
 * Robert Margoliffe – synthesizer
 * Chester McCracken – congas
 * Jim Ed Norman – arrangements, piano ("She's Gonna Let You Down")
 * Tom Scott – saxophone ("Rainbow")
 * Joe Walsh – guitar ("Green Monkey")
 * Carl Wilson – backing vocals ("Hat Trick")
 * Lorene Yarnell – taps ("Hat Trick")

Production

 * Gerry Beckley – production
 * Dewey Bunnell – production
 * Gary Burden – art direction
 * Henry Diltz – photography
 * Lee Keifer – assistant engineer
 * Dan Peek – production
 * Mike D. Stone – Record Plant engineer

Chart positions
Album Singles