Light of the World are a British jazz-funk band.[1][2]
Light of the World | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Jazz-funk, Brit funk[1] |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | Ensign, EMI |
Biography edit
The band was formed in London in 1978.[3] They were originally a forerunner of the late 1970s/early 1980s British jazz-funk movement. The band's name is taken from the 1974 Kool and the Gang album, Light of Worlds.[1][4] The original line-up consisted of Jean-Paul Maunick, drummer Everton McCalla, bassist Paul Williams, guitarist Neville McKreith, percussionist Chris Etienne, keyboardist Peter Hinds, trumpet player Kenny Wellington and saxophonist David Baptiste.[3]
The band's debut single "Swingin'", peaked at No. 45 in the UK Singles Chart. This was later followed up by two top 40 hits: a cover of the Bob Marley and the Wailers song "I Shot the Sheriff" (#40), and the double A-side single "I'm So Happy" / "Time" (#35).[5][6] Their debut album was released in 1979 on Ensign Records. Their second album Round Trip was released in late 1980 and peaked at No. 73 in the UK Albums Chart.[5]
In 1981 Baptiste, Wellington, and McKreith left the group to form Beggar & Co.[3] In 1982, the band released a third album titled Check Us Out.[3] A greatest hits album was issued by Ensign Records in 1985.[3] In 1999 Light of the World briefly reunited and recorded an album titled Inner Voices with Richard Bull as producer and Kenny Wellington as co-producer.
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
| Year | Album | Label | UK [5][6] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Light of the World | Ensign | — |
| 1980 | Round Trip | 73 | |
| 1981 | Remixed | Mercury | — |
| 1982 | Check Us Out | EMI | — |
| 1999 | Inner Voices | Sanctuary | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
Compilation album edit
- The Best of Light of the World (Ensign, 1985)
Singles edit
| Year | Song | UK [5][6] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "Swingin'" | 45 | ||||
| "Midnight Groovin'" | 72 | |||||
| 1980 | "The Boys in Blue" | — | ||||
| "London Town" | 41 | |||||
| "I Shot the Sheriff" | 40 | |||||
| "I'm So Happy" / "Time" | 35 | |||||
| 1981 | "Ride the Love Train" | 49 | ||||
| 1982 | "Famous Faces" | — | ||||
| "Check Us Out" | — | |||||
| "I Can't Stop" | — | |||||
| "No. 1 Girl" | — | |||||
| 1983 | "Jealous Lover" | 80 | ||||
| 1990 | "One Destination" | — | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||
References edit
- ^ a b c Simpson, Dave (8 August 2009). "Music - The scenes that time forgot". The Guardian.
- ^ "Light of the World: Tour Dates". Ents 24. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Hogan, Ed. "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ Lester, Paul (5 February 2014). "10 of the best: Britfunk". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 321. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c "LIGHT OF THE WORLD - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
External links edit
- Light of the World discography at Discogs
