second day in a row I heard it on the radio, I know I heard it back in tha day, a lot of jazzy, minor key synthesizer. I’ve tried googling lyrics, got squat. “You can still hang onto your dreams but don’t get lost in the gleam…of the lights (of the lights!)” more noodling synthesizer…“of the lights!”… it sounds 70’, definitely.
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I am pretty good with (at least early) 70’s and come up blank.
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Moving thread from General Questions to Cafe Society.
The “of the lights” bit makes me think of Fantasy by Aldo Nova, but the rest doesn’t really match up (it’s also from the 80s no the 70s).
Most radio stations list online what they played and when…seems like you might be able to go to their website for this.
Male singer? Female? Group?
This reminds me of “shine the light” lines repeated in ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ by Elton John, but I don’t think that’s the song you seek…
It’s a group, definitely. I thought it was 70’s. I may be wrong and it’s 80’s. Very frustrating! Funny that googling the line of lyrics doesn’t bring up anything.
Is it Jah Wobble? Hold on to your Dreams actual lyrics start around 4:10. Yes, really.
I don’t know about jazzy, minor-key synthesizer, but it might be Hold on Tight to Your Dream by ELO.
Also, jazzy 70’s groups remind me of Steely Dan (probably not), Starbuck and Gerry Rafferty.
The song you are describing is called “Of the Lites.” It was recorded by a 1970’s era local Syracuse, NY band, CRAC, and didn’t get national airplay. It’s on YouTube here: c.r.a.c. - of the lites.wmv - YouTube
Good job, Answerman!
Are you from upstate NY?
It was written by Rick Cua, who is now a prominent contemporary Christian artist, and prior to that was in the Outlaws, the band that did “Green Grass and High Tides Forever”.
It’s a good song, too! I wonder how it ended up on the radio there and now.
Snowboarder Bo - Yes, I’m a Syracusan. Don’t think anyone else would’ve gotten the answer to this but a CNY’er!
No way anyone not from the area was gonna know that one. I was just surprised that anyone had answered before me… I’m from Elmira but I lived in Camillus briefly back in '73 & '74.
Camillus, the best part about visiting the grandparents in Syracuse as a tween in the 80s. Other than Harrison Bakery of course.
You guys gotta check out the young Syracuse band “Sophistifunk.”
Oh, I didn’t know that, and I am from that area! CRAC was quite locally famous back in the day. Thank you so much!
“I am from that area!”
Kinda figured you had to be! You listen to “The Dinosaur” at 95.3FM, don’t you? That’s where I routinely hear this these days… and there’s probably no where else on the dial you WOULD hear it.