from IT WILL BE ALRIGHT/BIX (single)
Written by David Foster, Jay Graydon & Allee Willis
To round off 2021, here’s a review of Airplay’s “It Will Be Alright.”
Airplay was the pop/rock group that David Foster and pal Jay Graydon formed at the end of the seventies with singer Tommy Funderburk. As most Foster fans already know, Airplay’s seminal 1980 self-titled album is considered one of the milestones of the West Coast music scene of those years.
“It Will Be Alright” is a beautiful love song co-written by Foster and Graydon with supreme lyricist Allee Willis (1947-2019). Foster and Willis first crossed paths in 1978 working on Earth, Wind & Fire’s masterpiece, I Am. Willis is remembered for co-writing “September” and “Boogie Wonderful,” huge hits for EWF plus other chart toppers including The Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There For You,” “Lead Me On” by Maxine Nightingale, “Neutron Dance” by The Pointer Sisters and Pet Shop Boys’ “What Have I Done To Deserve This.” “It Will Be Alright” belonged to a string of gorgeous ballads that Foster and Graydon crafted during those glory days. Some became all-time classics including EWF’s “After The Love Has Gone” or Manhattan Transfer’s “Smile Again.” Others, like “It Will Be Alright,” never got the recognition their quality deserved.
Airplay’s “It Will Be Alright” was released as a single. It didn’t chart although a version of the song by the R&B act Odyssey became a 1981 minor UK chart hit by reaching #43. The original Airplay version is pure ear candy with a gorgeous melody, smart chord progression and the catchy refrain. Funderburk’s lead vocal and harmonies were top-notch. The song featured Foster and Graydon at the top of their game as they delivered a fantastic arrangement. The Hitman’s keyboards and synths were all over the track while Graydon’s guitars and his glorious solo were spot-on.
Look in the archives if you want to read about Odyssey’s aforementioned cover plus another little-known rendition by the late Dan Seals (1948-2009).
Listen
- Lead & Backing Vocals: Tommy Funderburk
- Guitars & Backing Vocals: Jay Graydon
- Keyboards & Backing Vocals: David Foster
- Drums: Mike Baird
- Bass: David Hungate
- Produced & Arranged by Jay Graydon & David Foster
Lyrics
“I’m not in love with you…” you said to me
“…You’ll always be my friend
but that’s where my story ends…”
So I think that no one can love me
I swear to keep to myself and never need anyone else oh, no
and now you want to be loved by me again
I know love can come and go, one day it’s “yes” then one day “no”
I know second chances don’t fall from the sky
“But I love you, stay with me tonight, and it will be alright”
Indecision sure can drive you wild
my heart’s staring me in the face pain can never be erased
it scares me into running like a child
now I can hear your eyes – they say you have lied
now I want to be loved by you again
I know love can come and go, one day it’s “yes” then one day “no”
I know second chances don’t fall from the sky
“But I love you, stay with me tonight, and it will be alright”
“Stay with me tonight… stay with me and it will be alright…”
come and go, come and go
first it’s “yes” and then it’s “no”
Do you want me?
if you don’t want me let me know
I know love can come and go, one day it’s “yes” then one day “no”
I know second chances don’t fall from the sky
“But I love you, stay with me tonight, and it will be alright”