First Light (band)

{{Short description|English funk musical group}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use British English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = First Light | image = | caption = | image_size = | origin = London, England | genre = Post-disco, electro, jazz-funk, soul | years_active = 1982–1984, 1989–1990 | label = Oval, London, Sgt. Peppers | past_members = Paul Hardcastle Derek Green Kevin Henry | website = }}

'''First Light''' was an English funk project of Paul Hardcastle.

==Overview== Paul Hardcastle and Derek Green were originally members of the Brit funk band Direct Drive,<ref>{{cite web |title=Top of the Pops 2: Where Are They Now? – Paul Hardcastle|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/artists/h/hardcastle_paul/located/page1.shtml|publisher=BBC|accessdate=23 September 2020}}</ref> however at the end of 1982, they decided to leave the band and become a duo.<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|last1=Collar|first1=Matt|title=Paul Hardcastle – Artist Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-hardcastle-mn0000018513/biography|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=23 September 2020}}</ref> Following their formation, they released the single "Don't Be Mistaken". In early 1983, they released their eponymous debut album which featured the song "Explain the Reasons". It reached No. 65 in the UK Singles Chart the same year.<ref name="British Hit Singles">{{cite book|last1=McAleer|first1=Dave|last2=Gregory|first2=Andy|last3=White|first3=Matthew|title=The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles, Volume 2|date=15 November 2010|publisher=Random House|page=177|isbn=9780753522455|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VJdluttJgn4C&q=first+light|accessdate=23 September 2020}}</ref> The follow-up single was "Wish You Were Here"; which peaked at No. 71 on the same chart.<ref name="British Hit Singles"/>

After the release of their second and last album ''Daybreak'' in 1984, Hardcastle and Green parted ways. Green moved to other projects and Hardcastle pursued a solo career.<ref name="Allmusic"/>

In 1989, Hardcastle resumed working on First Light. This time he worked with Kevin Henry who had previously provided vocals on his solo work.<ref>{{cite book|title=Blues & Soul, Issues 552-563|date=1990|publisher=Napfield Limited|page=14|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sCdLAAAAYAAJ|accessdate=23 September 2020}}</ref> Produced and arranged entirely by Hardcastle, the new album ''You Had It All'' was issued on the Sgt. Peppers record label. Four subsequent singles from the album were released.

In 2010, Hardcastle released a jazz album under the name First Light called ''East to West''.

==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''First Light'' (1983) * ''Daybreak'' (1984) * ''You Had It All'' (1989) * ''East to West'' (2010)

===Compilations=== * ''Time Machine – The Best of Direct Drive & First Light 1981–82'' (2001)

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Song ! style="width:45px;"|UK <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/20496/first-light/|title=FIRST LIGHT – full Official Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=22 February 2020}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2"| 1982 | "Don't Be Mistaken" | align=center | — |- | "16 Minutes of 1st Light" | align=center | — |- |rowspan="1"| 1983 | "Explain the Reasons" | align=center | 65 |- |rowspan="1"| 1984 | "Wish You Were Here" | align=center | 71 |- |rowspan="2"| 1989 | "Loving You" | align=center | — |- | "You Had It All" | align=center | — |- |rowspan="2"| 1990 | "So Easy" | align=center | — |- | "Right or Wrong" | align=center | ― |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.discogs.com/artist/First+Light+%283%29 First Light Discography] at Discogs.

Category:Musical groups established in 1982 Category:English musical duos Category:English funk musical groups Category:British soul musical groups Category:English boogie musicians Category:English electro musicians Category:British post-disco music groups Category:1982 establishments in England