America

"Hat Trick" is the third studio album, released in October 1973, by the folk-rock band America. Following the major success of their first two albums - "America" (1971) and "Homecoming" (1972) - "Hat Trick" represented both a continuation and a subtle evolution of their sound. While the band stayed true to their signature style of melodic folk-pop and soft rock, this album saw them experiment more boldly with richer arrangements and a broader musical approach. Produced by the band themselves, with engineering assistance from Geoff Emerick (famed for his work with The Beatles), "Hat Trick" features a more polished and elaborate production compared to their earlier, more straightforward acoustic sound. The album includes the hit "Muskrat Love," a whimsical song that would later gain even greater fame through a cover by Captain & Tennille. Musically, "Hat Trick" still highlights America's strengths - warm vocal harmonies, bright acoustic textures, and reflective songwriting - while introducing occasional orchestral pop elements that marked a new direction for the trio. Lyrically, the album continues to explore familiar themes of love, escapism, and introspection.