Love Is Alive – Gary Wright | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#2); 1976
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
In 1976, Gary Wright became “King of the #2’s” when two of his singles accounted for 20 percent of the total number of runner-ups for that year. The second of those two – Love Is Alive – was initially slated to be his lead-off solo single, however, that honor went to Dream Weaver.
Dream Weaver embodied a minimalist approach: one that had no place in the more stylized musings of the group he co-founded in 1967, Spooky Tooth. In 1970, Wright departed. He formed Wonderwheel and played with George Harrison on All Things Must Pass before reviving Spooky Tooth in 1973.
This incarnation of the band lasted a year, after which Wright released Dream Weaver. Unlike the blues-rock sound of Spooky Tooth’s efforts, Wright’s solo album utilized just keyboards, synthesizers, and drums.
In March of 1976, Wright achieved what Spooky Tooth had not: a hit single. Four months after Dream Weaver reached #2, Love Is Alive did likewise: a feast which won Gary the Don Kirshner award for Best Vocalist of 1976.
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:
- Gary Wright
Lyrics Written by:
- Gary Wright
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).