Song of the Day: Friend and Lover, “Reach Out Of The Darkness”

Song of the Day 1 Minute

Singer Jim Post, one-half (with wife Cathy) of the ’60’s folk group Friend and Lover, died this past Wednesday after a long illness. He was 82. I remember the song because it was on the air all the time back in ’68, and because Friend and Lover played between games of a twilight doubleheader at White Sox Park and they did this song. Jim and Cathy divorced, and Jim stayed in Chicago and became part of the folk scene. I saw him at Amazingrace (a concert venue that used to be on the Northwestern University campus) in the mid-’70’s. I remember he had a great voice and told hilarious stories between songs. “Reach Out Of The Darkness” (which is repeatedly sung as “reach out in the darkness”) was recorded in Nashville, with Ray Stevens playing piano and arranging the strings and Joe South and Bill Lowery producing; the album of the same name was recorded in Atlanta with Buddy Buie (former Classics IV) producing. It reached #10 on the Hot 100.

Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

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11 thoughts on “Song of the Day: Friend and Lover, “Reach Out Of The Darkness””

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  2. This song came out when I was in high school and I liked it as soon as I first heard it. Later my mother bought a compilation album of hits and this song was on it. I was glad she had gotten that album and I’m sure I listened to it more than she did.

    I seem to recall the song used later in a commercial for a telephone company or something like that, but I can’t remember what company used it.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. I couldn’t find any information about where it might have been used as a commercial, but I’m sure the Posts were happy they used it in one. Chicago was big on folk music in the ’70’s and Jim Post was a big piece of it. Always wondered what happened to him, now I guess I know…

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    1. I really didn’t know muh about Friend & Lover, and certainly never would have connected Jim Post, who I knew as a solo artist, with them. Like I always say, the things you learn in this job…

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