by Richard Skelly » Sun Sep 30, 2018 12:55 am
Lighthouse was huge in Canada but way less successful stateside. Take It Slow (Out In The Country) was their fourth highest Billboard charter, peaking at #64. Only two singles--One Fine Morning (#24) and Sunny Days (#34)--were Top 40.
My theory is that they suffered from a tie-in with a smaller U.S. label called Evolution. It, in turn was a subsidiary of Stereo Dimension, a unit of the Longines Symphonettes Society. So, Lighthouse was linked up the line to Swiss watch conglomerate Longines!
Did a frustrated Lighthouse member ever crack a joke about "does anybody really know what time it is?" Lighthouse was, after all, a brief rival to fellow "rockin' big band" Chicago. Blood, Sweat & Tears, too. Both those bands were on the much bigger and better financed Columbia. Also produced and managed by wily James William Guercio.
For its part, Lighthouse was produced by Jimmy Ienner who, with brother Dan, were aspiring Guercios. They also published group songs through C.A.M. Ienner prospered more from subsequent signings like The Raspberries and Bay City Rollers. The dough rolled in when he executive produced the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Alas, no Lighthouse songs on that multi-million seller. (Although Canadian Alfie Zappacosta got his Overload selected.)
The Evolution catalogue was sold to Pooydor in 1973. That Evolution catalogue included Lighthouse singer Bob McBride, fellow Canadian bands Steel River and Gainsborough Gallery, Gloria Loring (American-born fiancée/soon wife of then-Canuck Alan Thicke), Richard Sarstadt (aka Eden Kane) and Bloontz.
Despite the deaths of drummer-founder/co-lead singer Skip Prokop and star crossed ex-singer McBride, Lighthouse still performs with some original members like Paul Hoffert.