Album: The Best of England Dan and John Ford Coley (1979)

Charted: 45 10

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Comments: 14

• Lisa from North CarolinaThe voices you hear are Dan Seals and John Ford Coley, both of whom had delicious voices singing solo...
• Wm. Powell from 35226Who else sang on England Dan and John Ford Coley's version of "Love is the Answer?" I swear it sounds like Vince Gill and Rev. Al have cameos near the end of the song.
• Bruce from San Jose, Calif.I remember in 1978 or 79 when I was in high school, I attended their concert in San Carlos Calif., at the small Amphitheater that used to be there...a very nice intimate venue with a circular stage that slowly turned so everyone could easily see them perform.
  
  I too recall that they made an announcement at the end of their concert that they were of the Baha’i Faith at that time, and they invited the audience to meet later to discuss their faith...they had Baha’i literature in the lobby of the concert venue for anyone who was interested....
  
  As a Christian, I admired their willingness to freely share their Baha’i Faith with anyone who would listen, and if I recall correctly, this song , “Love is the Answer” was their ending song for their concert and a kind of open invitation/rallying cry to express love unconditionally to others, no matter what belief system you adhered to....it was a lovely gesture, and I respected them more for it...
• Chris from Minneapolis MnDan was and John is a friend of mine since the 70's...the first record I produced in Nashville in 1977 (Kiddog) was done with the same band that did I'd Really Love To See You Tonight. but I grew up in the Upeer Ohio Valley and also did music with members of Wild Cherry so that when Play That Funky Music was #1 and I'd Rally Love 2 c u tonite was #2 I knew all of the musicians involved in both records, then in 1990 moved to Minneapolis where I have produced and recorded with many of Prince's NPG and Revolution folks where I saw Prince do Play That Funky Music at the Target Center and laughed because I am one of the 9 Funky White Boys from Ohio... along with Joe Walsh of The James Gang & Eagles and Beep, Jaimie, Bobby Parisi, BE Taylor and various members of Wild Cherry.... life is strange.... but I love all these dudes...even Briefly met Todd after a Ringo Show here.... 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon is pretty funny when you get to my age...
• Glen from PaWhen Rundgren wrote this he was searching for answers that we have and he had concluded that the answer to everything is indeed love. The source for the love that he found was in the Gospels. He later sent this to ED&JFC who were looking for material for their next project. ED was a Christian and JFC did go through a time of searching various faith movements, however JFC does continue to record and tour. He has said in interviews through the years that it was only when he came to a fuller understanding of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ that he found true peace, love, and happiness. He now proudly proclaims that Gospel message to all who have ears to hear. Rundgren, while not as out front and vocal about his faith has stated that he, too, is a believer and follower of Jesus.
• Dale Byrum from Franklin, KyDougee, of San Bernardino, on the surface it may seem like a Christian song, but really is not. JFC at some point become a member of the Bahai faith, and before they sang this actual song, he stated that it reflected his values of their Bahai beliefs. In May of '79, when this song hit its peak, ED&JFC did a concert at my small private, Christian college in Nashville when I was a senior and I attended. He announced then they he was Bahai (can't remember if ED was or not), and that after the concert they were inviting anyone to the hotel where they were staying to have open discussion about the Bahai faith and spiritual things. I didn't attend at the hotel, as I was with a cute girl that I would not have left that evening, but they performed all their hits and more and it was great. A small auditorium that would seat only 2,100. It was actually toward the end of their time together as a musical duo and they really were at their best.
• Kelley from NyI just saw Todd Rundgren perform this last night with The All Starr Band and it really was a good choice.
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenI much preferred Rundgren's version to this one. Utopia's choir-like backup made it a truly beautiful creation. This one was "dumbed-down" for the radio.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 4th 1979, England Dan & John Ford Coley's covered version of "Love is the Answer" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #81; and eleven weeks later on May 20th, 1979 it peaked at #10 {for 2 weeks} and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100...
  And on April 29th, 1979 it reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
  Between 1976 and 1980 the duo had nine Top 100 records; with four making the Top 10, the other three were "Nights Are Forever Without You' {#10 in 1976}, "We'll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again" {#9 in 1978}, and "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" {#2* for two weeks in 1976}...
  Sadly, England Dan Seals passed away on March 25th, 2009 at the age of 61...
  May he R.I.P.
  * The two weeks that "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" was at #2, the #1 record for both those weeks was "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry.
• Ja'teya from Holly Hill, ScI love this song. I have heard Todd Rudgren's version of it and I ultimately like England Dan & John Ford Coley's version better!!! I can listen to this over and over again.
• Dave from Edmonton, AbThis is one of my favorite all time songs. I can just listen it over and over. I put it on my ipod when I'm running 1/2 and full marathons. It makes me think about life and how blessed I am
• David from Walla Walla Wa, WaI'd like to know why the one music organization pulled the original recording of Dan & John's version of love is the answer. It had no offensive lyrics on it, it sold a little more than Todd's version, yet it got singled out, along with versions of other songs by artists who sold a little more than their fair share, do these people not realize that the next generation wants to hear these songs as well!
• Dougee from San Bernardino, CaOh, I just had to say also - I was just looking at some of ED&JFC's songs on YouTube and learned that Dan Seals recently died from cancer. It's especially hurtful to have lost such a great vocalist (he made waves in the country scene as well as adult contemporary), and at a relatively young age. Yet another reminder that life is all too short sometimes, and we never know when our time will come, so we must make the most of each day. RIP, "England" Dan, and thanks for all the memories. Finely crafted music lives forever.
• Dougee from San Bernardino, CaPossibly my all-time favorite song (hard to say, because there are so many great songs out there!) Along with Orleans' "Love Takes Time," which came out around the same time, it brings back wonderful memories of a happier time. Also, the beauty of the melody and the strong message of peace in the song is inspiring. Like most of ED&JFC's hits, it hits home and features awesome harmonies. I have always regarded the song as borderline religious, as there are passing references to Jesus Christ ("light of the world" and "ask the man in your heart for the answers") - but it is not preachy and thus nonoffensive to us agnostics. More than embracing one faith, the song stresses our need to love one another in order to coexist peacefully as a global community. If all we do is wage war, we will indeed be a dying planet.

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