England Dan And John Ford Coley Play Saratoga
by John Drzewiczewski, Rutland Daily Herald, July 31, 1977
With names like England Dan and John Ford Coley, one would normally expect a pair of young British lads with Cockney accents and Beatle-like hair. If they were really “in” to being British, they might even adorn the stage at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center with a Union Jack or two.
Dan Seals (brother of Jimmy Seals of the recording act Seals & Crofts) and John Ford Coley are native Texans who, in the past 18 months, have filled the Top-40 airwaves with three gigantic hit records. Beginning last summer with “Id Really Love to See You Tonight,” the Texas duo has vaulted to the top of the pop music scene with its distinct blend of mellow harmonies.
Labelled as an “easy listening” group, the Texas musicians have tried almost every form of contemporary music in their 13 years together.
While the group has had its major successes with slow-moving numbers, England Dan and John consider themselves to be a basic rock and roll band.
The majority of material presented by the band in its short, one-hour and 10-minute concert at Saratoga July 24 fell into the rock-soft rock mold.
“We’re moving more into rock and roll,” England Dan said. “I would say that that is a natural progression, considering the types of music we’ve played in the last 13 years.”
“There was a time when we played nothing but acid rock. Then there was a time when we played nothing but black
music, what they call soul music. And for about two-and-a- half years, we were on the Beatles kick.”
During the “Beatle fling,” Dan Seals became England Dan.
“He (Dan) developed this funny English accent, and this had something to do with the nickname,” Coley said. “But the big thing was we needed a stage name. With Dan’s brother Jimmy around, we couldn’t be Seals and Coley. And England Dan and John Ford Coley has this kind of rhythm to it.”
After brief flings with acid rock, soul music and Beatlemania, the group moved to a softer form of rock. Abandoning hopes of making it as hard rock performers, the duo toured as opening acts for Chicago, Seals & Crofts, Elton John, Neil Sedaka and Carly Simon.
“When people like Carole King and James Taylor began making it with soft songs, we really felt we had a chance,” England Dan said. “But that chance didn’t come until we hit with ‘I’d Really Love to See You Tonight.’ That really proved that you need that hit single to establish yourself. It sold well over one million copies and was the number two single in the nation, and that’s what we needed.”
England Dan and John Ford Coley saved their initial hit record for the finale of their program (a device commonly used by recording groups in concert). By that time, the receptive audience was primed for a partial sing-along, ending the regular program.
The well-presented version of “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” precipitated a standing ovation complete with a lit match salute a la Madison Square Garden and Bob Dylan and the Band. A two-number encore — “All we have left in our act is rock and roll,” they said – appeased the cheering crowd and a large number of won-over fans returned home.
Introducing the tune, “Holocaust,” from the Dowdy Ferry Road album as “something different for us,” the group used the dramatic number as an opportunity to briefly discuss their affiliation with the Bahai faith.
A stirring drum solo introduction prepares the listener for England Dan and John Ford Coley’s interpretation of Baha’U’Llah’s (the Bahai sect’s founder’s) theories on atomic power.
“This song is about a man who lived 134 years ago,” England Dan told the crowd. “He said that someday things would come from the ground that he would not understand. That thing from the ground he was talking about is atomic power, and if man doesn’t control it, it will destroy him.”
After completing “Holocaust,” England Dan invited members of the audience to a Bahai meeting later that evening. Since the cult does not have ministers or missionaries, it is up to the members to inform the world of the existence of the religion.
The Bahai faith emphasizes the spiritual unity of mankind and advocates world peace, universal education and equality of men and women.
Several pop musicians, including Seals and Crofts, Dizzy Gillespie, Vic Damone and the members of the group Archie
Bell and the Drells, are followers of the Bahai cult.
“I think the faith and its appeal to world unity and world peace is appealing to people who are into the arts and science, especially musicians,” Coley added.
Though they help the local Bahai organizations by attending meetings, England Dan and John Ford Coley do not see themselves as ambassadors of the faith.
“I don’t think that we’re ambassadors as such,” England Dan contended. “It is forbidden to proselytize anyone. We can only tell someone about the sect or refer him to the writings of Baha U’Llah. Then it is up to that person to make his own decision.”
Coley has been a member of the religion for about six years and joined only after a long, searching process.
“I spent about two years denying it,” Coley noted. “I had a strong Christian background, which made it hard. The one beautiful thing about it is that it doesn’t put anyone down.”
Though religion is a major part of their lives, it has not affected the content of their music. The only songs that the group has written about their faith are “Prisoner” and “Holocaust.”
“It has helped us spiritually, but not technically. The technical part (the me) will always be there, ” England Dan said.
Both England Dan and John Ford Coley met the crowd and signed autographs after the concert. Low-key and unassuming, both performers spent considerable time with the press after accommodating the signature-seekers, a rarity among established recording stars.
England Dan and John Ford Coley: a different, but refreshing act in the all-too-plastic world of pop music.
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