Written by Gary Wright

 

“I think Gary [Wright] saw the future… and, of course, ‘Dream Weaver’ sort of sounds like the future with all those fluttering synthesizers in the background. I swear, that record sounds as good today as it did almost 50 years ago.” David Foster recently made this statement to the Los Angeles Times right after Wright’s passing on September 4, 2023. “Dream Weaver” was a huge hit single in 1976. Foster makes a solid contribution to both the single and its parent album, The Dream Weaver. 

The soon-to-become Hitman met the late singer through their common association with the incomparable George Harrison (1943-2001). Foster went on to play keyboards alongside Wright on most of The Dream Weaver. The noted singer/songwriter crafted a musical scenario founded on various keyboards, synthesizer strings and moog bass. That combo had a huge impact on Foster’s music and his subsequent works.

The single, “Dream Weaver,” has already been reviewed on this page. For the present occasion, join a celebration of Wright’s talent and music with another track from his album, The Dream Weaver. This up-tempo tune is called “Can’t Find The Judge.”

The funky number presented a different side of Wright’s music compared to his trademark ballad hit single. “Can’t Find The Judge” moved more along the lines of Steve Winwood’s R&B-infused music. Wright’s voice resembled the successful British singer/songwriter of Traffic and Spencer Davis Group fame. Foster and up’n’coming talent, Bobby Lyle, supported Wright playing various synths, keyboards and fender rhodes. The rhythm foundation of this track and the rest of The Dream Weaver was left in the capable hands of session ace Andy Newmark and the legendary Jim Keltner. “Can’t Find The Judge” was an interesting moment on the album for its infectious beat along with the late artist’s noteworthy and soulful vocal performance. As The Hitman said, The Dream Weaver has aged well.  Please check it out.

• Lead Vocals, Moog Bass, Clavinet, Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes, Arp Strings, Moog Brass, Woodwinds & Special Effects: Gary Wright
• Fender Rhodes, Hammond Organ & Arp Strings: David Foster
• Clavinet & Fender Rhodes: Bobby Lyle
• Drums: Andy Newmark & Jim Keltner
• Background vocals : Lorna Wright, Betty Sweet, David Pomeranz & Gary Wright

• Produced by Gary Wright

Lyrics

I feel so helpless and did nothing wrong
They sent my woman off to a jail
She’s guilty of no crime
‘Cept for loving me
And the Justices’ they didn’t have no bail

I can’t find the judge
I can’t find no one to help me
No no no
I can’t find the judge
He put my woman away
I can’t find him nowhere
No no no no no

‘Til I find the judge
Can’t find no one to help me
No no
Somebody help me
I can’t find the judge

It’s such a crime to see her that way
She thought I cheated with another woman
But that woman was a friend
Now she’s lying dead
Is there any justice in misunderstanding

Gary Wright’s The Light Of Smiles was released in January 1977 as the follow-up to the mega-successful Dream Weaver. Like its predecessor, The Light Of Smiles had a catchy collection of pop-rock anthems written by Wright. The album delivered songs with Wright’s trademark sound based on state of the art keyboards and synthesizers. After their winning collaboration on Dream Weaver, Wright again enlisted the young keyboard wizard David Foster and drummer extraordinaire Jim Keltner to help him out on the new recording.

They were joined in the sessions by two talented members of Wright’s touring band, drummer Art Wood plus keyboardist and arranger Pete Reilich. The Light Of Smiles didn’t reach the mammoth sales of Dream Weaver, but still managed to perform nicely by peaking at #23 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The leadoff single from the album was the evocative tune, “Phantom Writer.” The song featured a remarkable performance by Foster on the acoustic piano that went from a soft, vocal-piano intro into a rocking refrain. “Phantom Writer” supports a great vocal take by Wright who additionally played the intricate synthesizers solos. Those innovative synth-lead atmospheres show how much Wright’s musical ideas influenced Foster’s subsequent playing and arrangement skills. “Phantom Writer” should have been huge on the charts, but, strangely enough, it was just a moderate hit reaching #43 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The single’s b-side was a rock ballad titled “Child Of Light” that also featured stellar work by Foster on the acoustic piano and various synthesizers.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Phantom-Writer-Remastered-Version.mp3|titles=Phantom Writer|artists=Gary Wright]

Lead & Background Vocals, Mini Moog Bass, Synthesizer Solos: Gary Wright
Grand Piano: David Foster
Synthesizer: Pete Reilich
Drums: Art Wood
Backing Vocals: Lorna Wright & Bettye Sweet

Strings Arrangement by Pete Reilich
Produced by Gary Wright

Lyrics

I opened my eyes this morning, looked through my window outside
Suddenly something took me away by surprise
Veil on the skyline, written in broad daylight
My own name was there, how it gave me a terrible fright

Yeah, yeah, phantom writer
My name’s in the sky
Yeah, yeah, phantom writer
Why? Why, oh, why?
Phantom writer
Tell me you’re real or are you alive?

Like a sunrise, eat my home bread sign
And all too soon, I can get to fade the lines
Coming hopes, as I felt my mood fading away
Now I’m somewhere, screaming out in the day

Yeah, yeah, phantom writer
My name’s in the sky
Yeah, yeah, phantom writer
Why? Why, oh, why?
Phantom writer
Know that you’re in, there’s love in your eyes

Yeah

Yeah, yeah, phantom writer
My name’s in the sky
Yeah, yeah, phantom writer
Why? Why, oh, why?

Released in July 1975, “Love Is Alive” was the first single from Gary Wright’s seminal album, The Dream Weaver. Although very interesting musically and fueled with a catchy melody, the song and album didn’t immediately click with American audiences so Wright and his record company, Warner Brothers, decided to go with the title-track as the second single.

The rest, as they say, is history. “Dream Weaver” became a smash hit and paved the way for the album’s platinum success. Wright tells an interesting story in his autobiography about how “Dream Weaver” ended up on the album. It was the final song selected after Foster and drummer Jim Keltner gave it thumbs up on a ballot with another composition. Wright added that, in his mind, Foster had rearranged the feel of “Dream Weaver.” The triumph of the title track brought a re-release of “Love Is Alive.” Finally, that ear-candy pop/rock anthem climbed the charts to a deserved #2 and was a minor hit on the R&B chart.

“Love Is Alive” delivered an enthralling rhythm with the great use of a funky moog bass and clavinet by Wright. Foster added his ARP string synthesizer while Andy Newmark’s drums cemented the song’s rock foundation. Wright also gave an intense and gritty vocal performance. Interesting to note: this catchy number didn’t have a guitar player on it yet never lost an ounce of its power and appeal as a rock piece. Foster fans will hear the first seeds of the Hitman’s trademark moog bass sound on “Love Is Alive” that will blossom on later masterpieces like Chicago 17. “Love Is Alive” was also covered by various artists including Chaka Khan, the late Joe Cocker (May 20, 1944 to December 22, 2014), Anastacia and Joan Osborne.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Gary-Wright-Love-Is-Alive.mp3|titles=Love Is Alive|artists=Gary Wright]

Lead Vocals, Moog Bass & Clavinet: Gary Wright
Arp Strings: David Foster
Drums: Andy Newmark
Backing Vocals: Lorna Wright, Bettye Sweet & David Pomeranz

Produced by Gary Wright

Lyrics

Well I think it’s time to get ready
To realize just what I have found
I have lived only half of what I am
It’s all clear to me now

My heart is on fire
My soul’s like a wheel that’s turnin’
My love is alive, my love is alive, yeah, yeah, yeah

There’s something inside
That’s making me crazy
I’ll try to keep it together
‘Cause what I say may not happen the same way
Now could be forever

My heart is on fire
My soul’s like a wheel that’s turnin’
My love is alive, my love is alive, yeah, yeah, yeah

There’s a mirror moving inside my mind
Reflecting the love that you shine on me
Hold on now to that feeling
Let it flow, let it grow, yeah, yeah

My heart is on fire
My soul’s like a wheel that’s turnin’
My love is alive, my love is alive, yeah, yeah, yeah

There is an interesting tale about how “Dream Weaver” was included at the last minute on Gary Wright’s album of the same name. A ballot was created with another composition, “Empty Inside,” and it was David Foster’s decisive vote that included it on the album. If that’s the truth, Wright should thank Foster’s ear because “Dream Weaver,” a profound song about spiritual matters, became a Billboard #2 smash at the beginning of 1976. It was the first success in a string of hits for the musician. Its parent album went on to sell over two million copies in the US alone and spawned another big hit, the danceable “Love Is Alive.”

Wright was a founding member of the famous UK band Spooky Tooth as well as a keyboard player for George Harrison. The friendship with Harrison put him in touch with David Foster. Foster was just starting his career as a session player and “The Dream Weaver” was one of the first big hits he played on. “The Dream Weaver” was a musically innovative album, almost revolutionary, all based on keyboards. Every song is performed with synthesizers, piano and electric piano. Quite a formative experience for the young Foster, this is how he remembers it:

“It was Gary`s concept for sure, but basically that whole album was him, me, and a drummer. During the session, Gary took me over to this machine and said, “Press a note.” It was an ARP String Ensemble. I just couldn`t believe what I was hearing. That was my introduction to the new brand of synthesizers… so we did that whole Dream Weaver album, and it was a huge success. I guess a lot of people would have to credit Gary with being one of the first to do an all-synth album. We had a little Roland drum machine on every tune, plus a real drummer. That great Moog bass was on every cut, plus a Rhodes, an ARP String Ensemble, and a couple of other goodies.”

After the success of “Dream Weaver,” Foster appeared on Wright’s follow-up, “Light Of Smiles” and played on the single “Phantom Writer.”

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/dream_weaver.mp3|titles=Dream weaver|artists=Gary Wright]

Lead and Background Vocals: Gary Wright
Synthesizer, Bass, Strings, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond), Sound Effects, Special Effects, Clavinet, Brass, Woodwind, Fender Rhodes: Gary Wright
Synthesizer, Strings, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond), Fender Rhodes: David Foster
Drums: Jim Keltner
Produced by Gary Wright

Lyrics

I’ve just closed my eyes again
Climbed aboard the dream weaver train
Driver take away my worries of today
And leave tomorrow behind

Chorus:
Dream weaver I believe you can get me trough the night
Dream weaver I believe we can reach the morning light

Fly me high through the starry skies
Maybe to an astral plane
Cross the highways of fantasy
Help me to forget today’s pain

Chorus:

Though the dawn may be coming soon
There still may be some time
Fly me away to the bright side of the moon
And meet me on the other side

Chorus: . . . . .