Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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ENGLAND DAN and JOHN FORD COLEY

Songwriters, vocal and instrumental duo. Dan Wayland Seals (b 8 February 1948, McCamey TX; d 25 March 2009, Nashville TN) and John Edward Coley were both born in Texas, grew up in Dallas; Dan is the brother of Jim Seals of Seals and Crofts (it was Jim who gave him his nickname). Dan Seals and John Coley were a duo called Southwest (LP Smell Of Incense '68 on Hip), then made flop LPs on A&M '71-2 (Fables, I Hear The Music); they semi-retired, relaxed and mellowed, and came back with a soft-country style on Atlantic subsidiary Big Tree with hit singles: 'I'd Really Love To See You Tonight' (no. 2 USA '76), five more top 40 entries '76-9 (some were no. 1 on the easy-listening chart). They toured Japan with Three Dog Night '78. Albums included Nights Are Forever (no. 17 '76), Dowdy Ferry Road '77, Some Things Don't Come Easy '78, Dr Heckle And Mr Jive '79, Best Of '80, all on Big Tree; Just Tell Me You Love Me '80 on MCA.

Seals then went solo as a successful country star, produced by Kyle Lehning: Rebel Heart '83 was top 40 in the country album chart, San Antone '84 made the top 25, Won't Be Blue Anymore reached no. 1, On The Front Line '86 climbed to no. 12 by the end of the year, all on EMI labels. Hit country singles '84-6 incl. 'My Baby's Got Good Timing' (no. 2); 'Meet Me In Montana' (duet with Marie Osmond), 'Bop', 'Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold' and 'You Still Move Me', all no. 1. The Best '87 included all these; seven of eleven tracks were written or co-written by Seals. Further Dan Seals albums included Rage On '88 on Liberty, Walking The Wire '92 and Fired Up '94 on WB. 'I'd Really Love To See You Tonight' was transmogrified into a hit for Barry Manilow by Tony Moran '97.

At Dan's death he was just completing an album with his brother Jim.