Release: 1977
Genre: Synth-pop, Progressive Rock
Format: LP
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Catalog# WB 56278
Prijs: €10,00
The Light of Smiles is the fourth album by American rock musician Gary Wright. It was released in January 1977 on Warner Bros. Records as the follow-up to his commercial breakthrough, The Dream Weaver. The album was produced by Wright and recorded in Los Angeles in 1976. Aside from drums and orchestral strings, the music was created entirely on synthesizers and other keyboard instruments. The lyrics reflect Wright's preoccupation with spirituality, particularly the teachings of Indian yogi Paramahansa Yogananda.
Although the album failed to match the commercial impact of its predecessor, The Light of Smiles was moderately successful and received a favorable response from some music critics. In the United States, it peaked at number 23 on Billboard's albums chart, while the single "Phantom Writer" reached number 43 on the Hot 100.
Gary Wright began writing songs for The Light of Smiles while on tour in 1976, having become a popular concert draw with the success of The Dream Weaver. Recording started in Los Angeles during the summer, with Wright using members of his tour band, including keyboardist Peter Reilich and drummer Art Wood, and session musicians David Foster and Jim Keltner, both of whom had contributed to The Dream Weaver. In early June, Chris Charlesworth of Melody Maker reported that the new album would be "a logical development" of its predecessor and focus solely on sounds generated through keyboard instruments, particularly synthesizers. Played mainly by Wright, Foster and Reilich, the range of keyboard instruments includes clavinet, organ, and Moog, Oberheim and ARP synthesizers. Foster also provided arrangements for orchestral strings on some of the songs, such as the title track, "Time Machine", "I Am the Sky" and "Who Am I".
On "I Am the Sky", Wright gave a songwriting credit to the late Indian guru and Kriya Yoga teacher, Paramahansa Yogananda.
The latter's poem "The Light of Smiles", taken from his book Metaphysical Meditations, appeared on the LP's inner sleeve. During the recording sessions, Wright and Foster also contributed to George Harrison's first album for Warner Bros. Records, Thirty Three & 1/3, with Wright playing synthesizer on "See Yourself", one of the album's two Yogananda-inspired tracks. Having been introduced to Yogananda's book Autobiography of a Yogi by Harrison in the early 1970s, Wright subsequently acknowledged the guru as a lifelong influence. The front cover of The Light of Smiles includes a portrait of Wright painted by John Silletto
Side A
A1. Water Sign (4:32)
A2. Time Machine (3:40)
A3. I Am The Sky (Paramahansa Yogananda) (0:40)
A4. Who I Am (3:15)
A5. Silent Fury (4:20)
A6. Phantom Writer (3:29)
Side B
B1. The Light Of Smiles (3:26)
B2. I’m Alright (3:35)
B3. Empty Inside (3:30)
B4. Are You Weepin’ (4:02)
B5. Child Of Light (4:56)
Vinyl: Goed
Hoes: Goed
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