Jay Ferguson (1976) To The Island

From Jay Ferguson's first solo album after the twin successes of Spirit and JoJo Gunne, while his ultimate solo success would be with the title track of his second solo album, 1978's Thunder Island, this similarly titled track is a virtual precursor to that hit. Lacking Thunder Island's propulsive hook or swell of emotion in the bridge this features an identical mix of a loud acoustic strum front and centre with some Carribean flavoured organ and percussion and even some tacky ocean sounds, but the laidback vocal may not draw you in as his powerful vocal turn on the 1978 smash hit single it is a short melodic tune with unabashed commercial appeal recorded in the same year after Loggins and Messina broke up, leaving a gap in the market for well orchestrated, Caribbean toned soft rock. It would of course be the first of a trilogy of Island-based, tropical tunes for Jay Ferguson, as after Thunder Island he would try a follow up with the synth heavy Shakedown Cruise, lyrically reminiscent of Loggins' and Messina's Vahevala. He certainly cornered the market in this style, though admittedly the superior Thunder Island has more rock in the sort rock equation with Joe Walsh's slide guitar and prominent doo wop vocals.