Dwight Twilley is an artist who has been exploring the magical in his music for over four decades. With his unique blend of rock, pop, and psychedelic influences, Twilley creates a sound that transports listeners to another world. One of the main themes in Twilley's music is the idea of escaping reality and delving into the fantastical. His songs often feature whimsical imagery and dreamlike narratives that invite listeners to let go of their everyday concerns and enter a world of enchantment. In many of his songs, Twilley expresses a deep sense of wonder and awe, as if he is tapping into a source of mystical energy. This is particularly evident in his lyrics, which are filled with references to magic, mystery, and the supernatural.
AD: So when in the sequence of things did you and Phil land on naming the band after yourself? It was originally called Oister, right?
The Beatles were pretty much the greatest power pop band of all time, so if you want to put me in the same category as them, I m fine with it, he laughs, speaking over the phone with Aquarium Drunkard. But sucked into the vortex of the collapse of Shelter Records, the band couldn t capitalize on I m on Fire, leading to internal tensions that ultimately led Seymour to leave Twilley behind.
This is particularly evident in his lyrics, which are filled with references to magic, mystery, and the supernatural. Through his music, Twilley encourages his audience to embrace their own sense of curiosity and to seek out the enchanting moments in life. Twilley's exploration of the magical extends beyond his lyrics and into the instrumentation and production of his music.
Listen of the Week – Dwight Twilley Band, Twilley Don’t Mind
This weeks Listen of the Week is going to be quite short and sweet. I don’t know too much about the Dwight Twilley Band only that they released two albums, Sincerely in 1976 and Twilley Don’t Mind in 1977 when they were still a band. Their other albums; The Great Lost Twilley Album which was recorded back in the 70’s but only released in 1993, was made up of previously unreleased songs and b-sides and the album Live from Agora was released in 2009/10.
The band were; Dwight Twilley who wrote the songs, played piano and guitar, and Phil Seymour who played drums and bass, both Dwight and Phil sang and harmonised. On lead guitar was Bill Pitcock and on occasions they had Tom Petty play guitar and contribute to backing vocals. In 1978 the band split with members exploring solo careers. How I came across them was through the film ‘You’re Next’ and my trusted phone app ‘Shazam‘ … the song Looking for the Magic that is played in the film worked it’s magic on me and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind.
I don’t have the album Twilley Don’t Mind yet but if and when I do get my hands on it, it’ll be the re-released 1990 version with bonus tracks. I have listened to the majority of the album on Youtube and my favourite songs so far are the aforementioned track two, Looking for the Magic and track 10, Fallin in Love, which was added to the 1990 re-released album, it’s a beaut. Enjoy!
Dwight Twilley: My partner Phil Seymour and I, when we were kids…we were kind of Simon and Garfunkel guys. We had these pretty little songs and pretty little harmonies. We lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the middle of the country. We had a little collection of tapes and we thought we should have somebody from a record company listen to these. Maybe somebody would like ‘em, you know? We couldn’t afford to go all the way to Los Angeles, that was out of the question, and we couldn’t afford to go to New York, but we had heard that they had recording studios and record companies in Memphis. That wasn’t too far away. So we got in my little ’58 station wagon and brought our cassette tape of songs and ended up in Memphis, Tennessee, just literally driving down the street looking for what might be a record company. Phil said, “That’s gotta be a record company,” and we just walked in the door and played our little cassette for some guy named “Phillips,” and it turned out he liked our music. It meant nothing to us at all that it happened to be Sun Records.
He often incorporates a wide variety of sounds and effects, creating a sonic landscape that feels otherworldly. From the ethereal chimes and swirling synths to the soaring guitar solos, Twilley's music is like a gateway to a realm of fantasy and imagination. Despite his focus on the magical, Twilley's music also carries a sense of warmth and nostalgia. There is a certain innocence and purity to his sound that harkens back to a simpler time. In this way, Twilley is able to combine the magical with the familiar, creating a musical experience that is both captivating and comforting. In summary, Dwight Twilley is an artist who has dedicated his career to exploring the magical. Through his music, he invites listeners to step into a world of enchantment, with whimsical lyrics, atmospheric instrumentation, and a sense of wonder and awe. By embracing the magical, Twilley reminds us to find the beauty and joy in life's everyday moments..
Reviews for "The Spellbinding Vocals of Dwight Twilley"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I was really excited to listen to "Dwight Twilley Exploring the Magical" as I had heard great things about the artist. However, I was disappointed with this album. The songs all felt repetitive and lacked the excitement or uniqueness that I was expecting. It felt like I was listening to the same song over and over again. On top of that, the lyrics were quite dull and uninspiring. Overall, I found the album to be underwhelming and it didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Mark - 1 star
I can honestly say that "Dwight Twilley Exploring the Magical" was a waste of my time. The entire album felt like a chaotic mess, with no clear direction or purpose. The production quality was subpar, and the vocals were often off-key. It's as if the artist just threw random sounds together without much thought. I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in this album and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I was truly disappointed by "Dwight Twilley Exploring the Magical". The songs lacked depth and originality, sounding like generic pop tunes that you would hear on the radio. The artist failed to bring anything new or exciting to the table, and it felt like a missed opportunity. The album left me feeling uninspired and I found myself quickly losing interest. While I understand that music taste is subjective, this album simply did not resonate with me and I would not listen to it again.