Tag: Toronto

I had another Jeff Healey song already written up called Angel Eyes. I still have it ready to go but then my friend Deke blew those plans all to hell (thanks Deke). He sent me this song by Healey on the Johnny Carson show. I knew Healey was a great guitar player and I say that in my Angel Eyes post that you will see one day…but I never knew he was THIS.

I sent the Carson clip to my friend Ronald. He is a guitar player that I have played with most of my life. He was as blown away as I was. He would be hard to copy because of the way he played. 

I’ve heard some of his songs off and on but never really dived into his catalog. This song is the title track from Jeff Healey’s debut album, See the Light, released in 1988. The album broke him through internationally with help of the hit Angel Eyes. The album peaked at #25 in Canada, #22 in the Billboard Album Charts, #17 in New Zealand, and #58 in the UK in 1988. 

He lost his sight to retain retinoblastoma as an infant, he was a self-taught guitar player who developed a totally different way of playing the guitar. He used a lap-style approach that allowed him to bend notes in ways few others could. He had so much leverage in fretting the guitar like he did. 

Healey was adopted and raised in Toronto, where he developed a passion for music. He formed The Jeff Healey Band in 1985 with Joe Rockman and Tom Stephen. The band gained recognition in Toronto’s blues scene before being discovered by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins. He would release 5 albums with The Jeff Healey Band and also played with the Jazz Wizards. 

See The Light

Can you see the light,
Can you see the light of need shinin’ in my eye?
Can you see the light,
Can you see the light of need shinin’ in my eye?

Well, you know I need you baby,
And I sure ain’t gonna tell you no lie

Can you see the light,
Can you see the light of want shinin’ on my face?
Can you see the light,
Can you see the light of want shinin’ on my face? hey

Well, you know I want you, mama,
Come on, we’ll get from this place, now
Look out!, yeah!

Can you see the light,
Can you see the light of love shinin’ from my heart?
Can you see the light,
Can you see the light of love shinin’ from my heart?
Yeah

Well, you know I love you, baby,
An’ I sure want to give this thing a start, Lord!
Can you see the light?
Can you see the light?
Can you see the light?, say!
Can you see the light, yeah?

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