Gary Wright Albums (11)
'Down This Road'
Release Date 10/13/2004
Tracks 14
Label Gary Wright & Leah Weiss
See Album Tracklist and Review
'First Signs of Life'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 10
Label Worldly/Triloka
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What The Critics Say
Some might recall musician Gary Wright from his several hit songs of the '70s and '80s, including the classic "Dream Weaver." His distinctive vocals and visionary use of keyboards to create a mood were definitive trademarks of his sound. For the '90s, Wright has embellished that sound with the addition of invigorating guitar with African and Brazilian influences. The musicianship here is impressive, supplied by Wright again on keyboards and vocals, and guest musicians Terry Bozzio on drums, Ricardo Silveria on guitar, and even George Harrison on backup vocals. The newly composed original material blends Brazilian percussion with African choral music to create an infectious worldbeat hybrid, and the musicians' performances radiate sincerity and joy. ~ MusD, All Music Guide
'The Dream Weaver'
Release Date 9/22/1987
Tracks 9
Label Warner Bros.
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What The Critics Say
No one expected the success of Dream Weaver when it was released, but it sailed to the top of the charts, and with good reason. Backed with only drums and a wide assortment of keyboards, Gary Wright crafted instantly recognizable tunes such as the title cut and "Love Is Alive," which caught on and remain staples of classic rock stations around the U.S. All very revolutionary and new at the time, Dream Weaver hasn't lost any of its magic over time. ~ James Chrispell, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Like Peter Frampton's Breaking All the Rules, this is a solid album by "the Dreamweaver," former Spooky Tooth member Gary Wright. "I'm the One Who'll Be by Your Side" has a solid hook, but like the aforementioned Frampton disc, it breaks no new ground. "My dreams were shattered" he sings in "Follow Next to You," which is "Dreamweaver" redux, but not as much as "Moonbeams," which is an absolute sequel to "Dreamweaver" in melody and in sound. The album is a consistent clone of previous work with one exception: "Love Is Why," a melodic, together, perfect pop tune with simple, bouncy rhythms and keyboard providing a dancing Gary Wright lead solo. It is the brightest light on Headin' Home, which is quite entertaining despite the repetition. Transplanted from New Jersey to Great Britain, he sounds very much like Denny Laine on "Keep Love in Your Soul," not only vocally, but in the songwriting, if you strip away the heavy keyboards. "Love is alive within your back doors" he sings, referring to past work. The mystery of how radio and records hit or miss is inherent in this album, as Wright would reach the Top 20 in 1981, while this and albums that came before it were part of a Top 40 dry spell, a void spanning five years. Though not extraordinary, "Keep Love in Your Soul" is at least as good as "Love Is Alive" and would have been a nice addition to the airwaves in 1979. Rare acoustic guitars open "Love's Awake Inside," and it boasts a great chorus. Wright's voice is perfect on this outing, an album seemingly driven by a serious relationship in crisis. As Bobby Hebb poured his first divorce into the Epic album Lovegames, Wright makes it clear to his significant other "You Don't Own Me": "Give me room" he says, to "discover who I really am inside." The sentiment is quite different from Lesley Gore's hit of the same name, and the album appears to be an exploration of various themes of love. With David Crosby, Graham Nash, Hugh McCracken, Steve Lukather, Wright's sister Lorna Wright (a.k.a. Lorna Doone), Michael MacDonald, and so many others, this fine album should have had a good run on the charts. Maybe the problem is that Wright's production keeps his guests in the background. With a different producer, the same songs and performances could have possibly had much greater success -- the magic is there, it just sounds too immersed in previous efforts. Nonetheless, Headin' Home has much merit, and for fans of Gary Wright, it is very enjoyable. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Following a year after his first solo release, Gary Wright put out this superstar-filled record, boasting amongst the credits one George O'Hara, also known as George Harrison. Harrison lent his slide guitar stylings to several of the tracks, most notably "Two-Faced Man," which he also performed with Wright on the Dick Cavett Show. A much stronger effort, it still failed to set the charts on fire. That's a shame, because there's some fine music to be found here. If you get a chance, check out Footprint for yourself. ~ James Chrispell, All Music Guide
