Description
Dance a Little Light is a solo album by the American singer and songwriter Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poco fame, released on Asylum Records in 1978, a Warner Communications Company. The album was recorded by Eric Prestidge at Wally Heider Recording Studio, Davlen Sound Studios, and A&M Studios in Hollywood, California; with Jim Mason producing. Mixed at Producers Workshop in Hollywood. Strings and horns arranged by David Diggs.
Featuring Richie Furay on lead vocals and guitar backed by Gabriel Katona of Rare Earth fame on keyboards, Virgil Beckham on guitar, and a rhythm section consisting of Billy Batstone of Good News fame on bass and John Mehler of Love Song fame on drums. Also featuring Jim Coile and Jim Horn on saxophone, Chuck Findlay and Steve Madaio on trumpet, and Jack Redman on trombone.
Though recorded by what was technically a Christian rock group, the Richie Furay band’s ‘Dance a Little Light’ is a far cry from the heavy-handed, musically inept evangelizing often associated with the genre. Despite his then-recent born-again status, Furay was still the same guy who played a pivotal role in two of the most important and influential country-rock bands of all time, Poco and Buffalo Springfield. Consequently, this record is characterized by the same soaring, spot-on harmonies, easy-flowing feeling, and tight ensemble playing that characterized the best work of his former groups. In fact, many of the songs here could easily be outtakes from a classic Jackson Browne or Eagles album (and in fact, latter-day Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit guests on several tracks). Really, the only evidence of Furay’s newfound lifestyle is the overwhelmingly positive attitude of the songs and the occasional vague lyrical reference to a life-changing experience. The best track is the closer, «Stand Your Ground», which is perhaps the best Poco song Poco never recorded and includes great work from ex-bandmates Schmit and pedal steel genius Rusty Young. Other highlights include an exuberant southern California-ized version of Doc Pomus and Mort Schuman’s classic «This Magic Moment» and «Your Friends», which finds a wizened Furay singing what could be seen as an impetus for his personal transformation: “When you’re down and out/ There ain’t a friend in the world that’ll help you out/ But when you get on your feet again/ Everyone will want to be your friend.” Overall, Furay’s natural, joyous, and human approach to music-making throughout the album places ‘Dance a Little Light’ among his most convincing work. [Pemberton Roach, AMG]
Richie Furay was a founding member of Buffalo Springfield with Neil Young in the ‘60s, near enough invented country rock (ahead of the Eagles) in the ‘70s with his band Poco before becoming a Christian and releasing a number of solo albums. This one is from 1978 and typifies the country flavoured smooth pop rock that he’s famous for. Gifted with a distinctive voice and strong songwriting talents, Richie managed to take his new found faith and write mainstream albums that mixed love songs and faith songs and keep his audience. This welcome CD re-release shows that ‘Dance A Little Light’ isn’t as accomplished as the earlier ‘I’ve Got A Reason’ or as spiritually impacting as the later ‘Seasons Of Change’ but it has all the trademark production, songwriting and instrumental elements that Furay fans have come to expect. A workmanlike effort but it doesn’t set my heart on fire. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, January 2004]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/dance-a-little-light/1271393918)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “It’s Your Love” – 3:50
A2. “Your Friends” – 2:45
A3. “Ooh Dreamer” – 5:06
A4. “Yesterday’s Gone” – 3:13
A5. “Someone Who Cares” – 3:50
Side Two
B1. “Dance A Little Light” – 2:55
B2. “This Magic Moment” – 3:06
B3. “Bittersweet Love” – 3:45
B4. “You Better Believe It” – 2:55
B5. “Stand Your Guard” – 8:10
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Asylum Records. Re-issued on CD by Wounded Bird Records in 2003.
A full-page advertisement for Richie Furay’s Dance a Little Light was featured in the May 27, 1978 issue of CashBox Magazine.
Richie Furay – I’ve Got a Reason + Dance a Little Light + I Still Have Dreams, 2017 CD re-issue
Here’s a lovely re-issue that I have been waiting on for over twenty years!
Around 1980 I was a member of the Word Record Club. It was a Christian record club and I was drawn to the Richie Furay record I’ve Got A Reason. I was a Neil Young fan by then but not very aware Buffalo Springfield or Furay’s place rock history.
I got fascinated by Furay, a rock star who became a Church pastor. It took a few years but I eventually started investigating Furay’s career. I got my hands on the two Souther Hillman Furay Band records that he did with songwriter JD Souther and one of the founders of the Byrds, Chris Hillman. Then there was Poco, the band Furay formed after Buffalo Springfield. Then there was Buffalo Springfield itself!
Over the last twenty years Furay has come out of his Church pulpit to make a few records. There have been a few that have been very upfront in their Christian content. Then there are The Heartbeat Of Love and 2015’s Hand In Hand, Best of all 2007’s live record Alive blended his entire career in one stunning concert.
Of everything Richie Furay has done however, there is a trilogy of records that he recorded for David Geffen’s Asylum label in the late 70s – I’ve Got A Reason, Dance A Little Light and I Still Have Dreams – that I think are the best three records he was ever involved in.
Furay promised David Geffen that he would not preach in his music. He doesn’t. Yet, at least on the first two of these records there is a underlay of faith. The songs are strong and the arrangements creative. The songs are as good as Furay ever wrote.
Being Richie Furay these records are littered with big names, Al Perkins, Waddy Wachtel and two Eagles, who were formerly Poco, Randy Meisner and Timothy B Schmit. David Cassidy even does backing vocals!
Over the years I picked up the vinyl versions and was always astounded that an artist of Furay’s status had not had these records re-issued. Finally… I was a happy boy on Christmas Day when Santa delivered the Remastered two CD set that has all three of the Asylum records on. [Steve Stockman, Soul Surmise, 29/01/2018]
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