FORGOTTEN HITS: READER REVIEW: Lighthouse

Monday, June 19, 2023

READER REVIEW: Lighthouse

Hi Kent,

We had a great time in the Great White North. Stops at the Motown Museum, crossing the border and to Windsor the first day. The second in Toronto seeing the city on the hop on / hop off tour bus. The third day Lighthouse and the fourth and final day Niagara Falls Ontario!!

And now for the concert!

It was everything I could have wanted and more. Lighthouse has not skipped a beat since I fell in love with “One Fine Morning.” The lead singing has been handled by Dan Clancy. He is one hell of a singer and more then capable of filling the shoes of the late great Bob McBride. And the moves ... wow! Mick Jagger does not have anything on Dan!

The band is a force of nature! Marc Ganetakos has taken over the guitar slinging duties. Ralph Cole retired at the end of 2022, but during his tenure with Lighthouse did not EVER miss a performance. The great Paul Hoffert is one of the co-founders of the band, playing organ and vibes. You could tell how much he loves the music and uses his hands to help express the meaning of the lyrics. Paul is backed up by Don Paulton and on bass we have Doug Moore. And on the horn section, we have youngster and original member Russ Little, who is only 81 (Trombone.) Russ was recalling me with his tales in Chicago with the Woody Herman Band! Rounding out the horn section is Simon Wallis (Baritone Sax), Chris Howells (Trumpet) and Michael Stuart (Sax). All are superb musicians!

During the intermission I mentioned to the photographer that we came all the way from Chicago for the concert and asked if the band would be signing autographs after the concert? She took my CD and said I will have all of them sign it. She asked my name and who are you with? I mentioned I was with my girlfriend, Laura. Much to my surprise, after intermission Dan mentioned we have visitors from all the way from Chicago, Mike and Laura. How cool is that?!!!? After the show we stayed and chatted and took pics with the band members. We had a wonderful time!!

I know Lighthouse only had one major hit One Fine Morning and two minor hits here ... Sunny Days and Pretty Lady. But if you would delved into their albums, you would find excellent compositions. Of course, all three were played at the concert . Also featured were 1849 (a song about the gold rush), Remember The Times (nostalgic tale of being a youngster), Rockin' Chair (an old lady grooving to her wireless) and many more.

If you like Chicago, The Ides of March in concert, Chase and Blood, Sweat and Tears, I strongly urge you to check them out. Their videos are on You Tube and we witnessed a splendid 50 years of Sunny Days and Lighthouse reunion at Ontario Place,Toronto.

Check them out!!! Pics and videos are attached.

Mike and Laura

As you mentioned, Lighthouse had THREE hits that made the US National Top 40 (plus another that just missed) ... but you've got to look beyond the Billboard Charts to find them.

"One Fine Morning" peaked at #13 in Record World in 1971 (#16 in Cash Box but only #24 in Billboard.)

"Take It Slow (Out In The Country)" had an even bigger spread, hitting #41 in Record World but only peaking at #64 in Billboard.

"Sunny Days" was a #29 Record World hit (and reached #34 in Billboard)

And "Pretty Lady" (which gets more airplay NOW than it did when it was first released in 1973) went to #31 in Cash Box but only climbed to #53 in Billboard. (I totally don't get that one, since it also reached #33 in Record World. And, it's a GREAT song!!!)

On the Canadian Charts, CHUM credited them with five Top 40 Hits:

"If Ever There Was A Time" (#24, 1969); "Hats Off (To The Stranger)," #27, 1971; "One Fine Morning" (#13, 1971); "Sunny Days" (#10, 1972) and their biggest hit, "Pretty Lady" (6, 1973)

Mike sent us pictures of himself with Dan Clancy, Paul Hoffert and Russ Little ... and a few really cool videos as well.