I’d Really Love To See You Tonight – England Dan & John Ford Coley | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#2) & Adult Contemporary (#1) ; 1976

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

All over the South, the psychedelic pop sounds of Dallas-based Southwest F.O.B., featuring the voices of Dan Seals and John Colley, filled the 1968 airwaves with a Smell Of Incense. The tune was originally recorded by the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, yet, Dan and John themselves penned many of Southwest’s material and even opened for the full band as an acoustic duo. They soon went out on their own – as Colley and Wayland – before Dan’s brother Jim (of Seals & Crofts) suggested a name change. Dan became “England Dan,” after his early obsession with The Beatles, and John added “Ford,” and dropped an “l” from his last name. They recorded two albums and scored a #1 hit in Japan. Then four years passed before opportunity knocked once again. This time ED&JFC scored with I’d Really Love To See You Tonight, the biggest hit of their career together.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

• Kyle Lehning

Lyrics Written by:

• Parker McGee

Award(s):

• Received an RIAA Gold Sales Award for the biggest single of the pop duo