Tuesday Tunes 266: Some More Light

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If you were with me for last week’s episode of this never-ending story you’ll know that I promised you a second set of tunes with light in their title. Ever true to my word, here we go again, and as last time these all just use light for their title, no plurals or derivatives (they may come later!). These are my usual unlikely mix of songs that I like, which you may or may not know: I’m betting that at least one will be new to most of you.

So let’s get going with a song from one of the best albums ever made:

I couldn’t find a video of  The Traveling Wilburys playing that one live, so I’m afraid it’s the ‘official visualiser,’ whatever that is. They formed out of a range of collaborations and friendships, going right back to 1970 when George Harrison covered Bob Dylan’s song If Not For You for his wonderful triple album All Things Must Pass, which prompted them to get together and co-write I’d Have You Any Time, which became the opening track on that album. The Wilburys, who comprised those two plus Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison, with Jim Keltner on drums, released two albums, Travelin Wilburys Vol.1 in October 1988, and Travelin Wilburys Vol.3 in October 1990 (that really is its title, it isn’t a typo on my part!). Heading For The Light was one of the tracks on that first album, which was, unsurprisingly, very successful, reaching #3 in the US, #1 in Canada and Australia, though only #16 here in the UK. The album won a Grammy in 1990 for best rock performance by a duo or group, and was nominated for best album, but didn’t win that one. If you don’t know it then you really should: as I have said before, I defy anyone to listen to it and not feel happy and uplifted afterwards. The saxophone, by the way, is played by the appropriately named Jim Horn.

I’d forgotten about this next one until I was reminded in last week’s comments (thank you, Willow). But we could all use a bit of weird, psychedelic Rolling Stones in our lives, couldn’t we:

2000 Light Years From Home was a track on the Rolling Stones’ sixth album, Their Satanic Majesties Request, which was released in December 1967, peaking at #3 in the UK and #2 in the US, though it did make #1 in Australia. This track was released that same month as part of a double A-side single with She’s A Rainbow, which reached #25 in the US but didn’t make the UK charts, though it has since gone on the receive a Silver Disc here for 200,000 sales. Weird how that happens, sometimes, but I guess it was a fit for the album!

I’m bringing us much more up to date with this next one, from someone making his debut here:

That was Tom Walker, with Leave A Light On, which I think is brilliant – both the video and the song. Tom is a British singer-songwriter, born in Scotland but living most of his life in England. This was his breakout single, which reached #7 in the UK in June 2018. It also topped the UK Download and Singles Sales charts, and has gone 4x Platinum for 2.4m sales. It was a huge success across Europe but didn’t do much in the US, creeping in at #20 on their Adult Pop Airplay chart which, as the name suggests, is based on radio plays not sales. It also sold a further 2m copies across Europe and received loads of Platinum, Gold and Silver Disc awards. It was a sleeper hit, having been released as a single in October 2017 in digital format only, and was subsequently included on his debut album, What A Time To Be Alive, which came out in March 2019 and made #1 in the UK, going Platinum for 300,000 sales. To date he has released just one more album, I Am, which came out in September 2024 and made #4 in the UK. I’m waiting for the States to catch up with him – his voice is remarkable and I would have thought he was made for their market. His other claim to fame is that he appeared in the December 2021 edition of the televised show Royal Carols: Together at Christmas, playing his song For Those Who Can’t Be Here with Catherine, Princess of Wales (at the time titled the Duchess of Cambridge) accompanying him on piano. That one was a #6 on the UK Downloads chart but wasn’t on either of his albums, which feels strange to me!

From one that you probably didnt know I’m going to another that I’d be amazed if you knew. This is an absolute beauty of a song. It’s audio only but trust me, it’s worth it:

As the clip shows, this is from an album titled Leftover Feelings, a collaboration between John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas. This was recorded in just four days in October 2020, due to pandemic restrictions, and was released in May 2021. It didn’t make mainstream charts but did well in the specialist listings on both sides of the pond: #3 in both the UK Americana and Jazz & Blues charts, #13 in our Independent Albums list, #1 in the US Top Bluegrass Albums, #8 in US Folk Albums and #43 in their Independent Albums rankings. Light of the Burning Sun was written by John Hiatt about the suicide of his older brother, Michael, when he was 21 and John was 11. It took him 56 years to be able to put his feelings into this song, and it is truly heartbreaking. For me it is the standout track on an excellent album, which I recommend highly.

After that, I think I should close with something uplifting. This one fits the bill, one of those ‘joy in music’ moments that I love so much:

Mumford and Sons released Guiding Light in September 2018 ahead of its inclusion on their fourth album, Delta, which came out that November. It didn’t do especially well as a single, peaking at #40 in the UK and #106 in the US, but the album was a big success – it got to #2 in the UK and #1 in the US and Canada. Proving that UK record buyers have wide ranging tastes, the album that kept it off the top here was by Michael Bublé! This video, which was filmed outside the Tate Modern, in London, is a great example of the way people can enjoy music collectively at a performance, and the positive message in the lyrics feels like a good place to end this set.

I hope you have a good week and listen to lots of music – where would we be without it? I’ll see you again in a couple of days, so until then, take care 👍

 

46 thoughts on “Tuesday Tunes 266: Some More Light”

  1. Pingback: My August | Take It Easy

  3. Clive,

    The only song in your line up that I knew was The Traveling Wilbury’s. Incidentally, if it hadn’t been for blogging I wonder if their music would’ve ever reached my ears. I’m not sure how it escaped me the first go-around. Please don’t throw stones at me, but I’m not a Rolling Stone’s fan which may explain why I didn’t know that song. As for the last three, I quite liked them, especially John Hiatt’s. Have a wonderful day!

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    • The Wilburys were fantastic – two great albums!

      Not everyone likes The Stones, I get that, and this is a long way from being their best known song.

      I’m pleased you liked the others – the John Hiatt one is a gem.

      You have a lovely day too 👍

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  5. The Hiatt song must have been a hard write for him, even given the time. There is still a lot of hurt and pain in the lyrics. Writing it out does help erase some, but the faded scars still remain, ready to resurface. One persons way out rips right through others lives too, unfortunately.

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  7. You scored well with me today, Clive. I would listen to all of these again. The first two were the only ones I’d heard before. I probably would give my highest marks to one of the new ones, Leave a Light On.

    I don’t know why I didn’t think of this one last week (funny how the brain works that way), but the group Journey, a San Francisco-based group, has a song simply entitled “Lights” from an early album that I like. Not sure if it will be pleasing to your ears.

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    • Thanks, Pete, that’s a good result! I’m pleased you liked the Tom Walker one – I really like it too!

      Thanks for the video. I didn’t know the song but on first hearing it’s good. I’ve kept these so far to songs with just ‘light’ in their title but am thinking of going for a third week and extending the range, so that is very helpful.

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  13. Great start with the Wilburys and the Stones and I’m happy to say every other number after that was exceptional. John Hiatt & Jerry Douglas and Tom Walker were totally new to me; I’m familiar with Mumford but not this song. I was greatly taken by Tom Walker; I loved his song and the tone of his voice has a power I didn’t expect. Great set today, Clive; all winners! 🌟

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    • Thank you, Nancy, I’m very pleased that you enjoyed these so much.

      Tom Walker does have a great voice but I think he has been overshadowed a bit by the rise of Lewis Capaldi. This is still a great song, though.

      John Hiatt has been making superb albums for around forty years, while Jerry Douglas has a similar career span, either solo, with his band, or as part of Union Station ( remember O Brother?) Both highly recommended.

      This isn’t one of the Mumfords’ better known songs, but I like it and it was right for the theme 👍

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