Group that has managed to come up with one top ten hit after another over the past several years showcase their first greatest hits LP. Progression of the trio from the pure acoustic sound they began with to a more varied musical approach shows well throughout the set. Not a great deal one can say about a greatest hits effort, except that in this case the group certainly merits one if chart activity is to be the judge. Lyrics also included on the inner sleeve. Best cuts: "A Horse With No Name," "Sandman," "Ventura Highway," "Tin Man," "Lonely People," "Sister Golden Hair," "Woman Tonight" (their current single).

- Billboard, 1975.

Randy Newman once described "A Horse With No Name" as "this song about a kid who thinks he's taken acid," and at least back then they were domesticating CSNY instead of CSN. More tuneful than Seals & Crofts but with less to say, which they've managed to conceal by establishing meaningless high-school verse as a pop staple, they might be remembered as the '70s' answer to the Association if they could come up with one song half as lively as "Windy" or "Along Comes Mary." C-

- Robert Christgau, Christgau's Record Guide, 1981.

A nice roundup of their peak years (1971-1975), it includes tracks like "A Horse with No Name" (#1), "I Need You" (#9), "Ventura Highway" (#8), "Tin Man" (#4), "Lonely People" (#5), "Sister Golden Hair" (#1), and more. * * * *

- Dan Heilman, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.

History: America's Greatest Hits has everything you'd want -- and need -- from the group's peak period. * * * 1/2

- Gary Graff, Musichound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, 1996.

Born in the UK to U.S. parents, this trio's gift to the colonists is a time capsule of folk rock bursting with great arrangements, many provided by Beatles' top dog George Martin. A fun sing-along ('70s cheese never sounded so sweet), it includes "Sister Golden Hair," maybe the best song George Harrison never wrote, and favorite "Horse With No Name." With a cover designed by Phil Hartman in his pre-comic days, it's a must-have. * * * *

- Zagat Survey Music Guide - 1,000 Top Albums of All Time, 2003.

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