I was sorry to learn yesterday that Dash Crofts, half of the singer-songwriter duo Seals & Crofts, passed away. In his memory, here are two Seals & Crofts album tracks and six of their hits that appeal most to me:
- Dance By The Light Of The Moon (It puzzles me that this wasn't a hit. With such mass appeal sentiments and a hook so upbeat, it's immediately radio-friendly. Despite this, I've only heard one commercial station, WFXB, play it during its AAA-format days as "The Fox.")
- Desert People (This is a comforting way to envision a utopia where "even the desert will bloom.")
- Diamond Girl ("Diamond Girl" contains one of the most memorable, distinctive hooks of any '70s soft rock hit.)
- Hummingbird ("Hummingbird" has a somewhat unusual structure for a pop tune, but that's part of its appeal. Its chorus, "Hummingbird, don't fly away, fly away," often comes to mind at unexpected moments.)
- I'll Play For You (Lyrically, this is a sunny, inviting way to start a concert and a smart way to get the audience on your side.)
- Summer Breeze (Lyrically, vocally, and instrumentally, "Summer Breeze" has held up strongly since 1972. The relaxing images it evokes hold up in any era, accounting for its omnipresent place on oldies and soft rock station playlists. Bob Baldwin, Bobby Broom, and The Isley Brothers have all recorded good covers of it.)
- We May Never Pass This Way Again-Seals & Crofts (This is my favorite Seals & Crofts song, as it's one of the best tunes about appreciating the best parts of life when they happen. I've thought of it often when leaving homes, jobs, and schools. Its lyrical sentimentality is appropriate in any era.)
- You're The Love (This isn't usually played on the radio these days, and that's a shame; with its breezy hook, it's as accessible and easy on the ears as many of the duo's other hits.)
