Top 10 Edison Lighthouse Songs

Feature Photo: Majalah Aktuil, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

London’s vibrant music scene in 1969 served as the breeding ground for a group that would define the sunny, infectious sound of British bubblegum pop under the name Edison Lighthouse. Before adopting this moniker, which was inspired by the Eddystone Lighthouse off the coast of Devon, the musicians were known on the home counties circuit as a soft rock outfit called Greenfield Hammer. Their transition into the professional spotlight was orchestrated by songwriter and producer Tony Macaulay, who owned the rights to the band name and sought a vessel for his melodic compositions. The original lineup featured the prolific session vocalist Tony Burrows alongside lead guitarist Stuart Edwards, bass player David Taylor, drummer George Weyman, and guitarist Ray Dorey.

The group’s entry into the business was marked by immediate, staggering success that few acts ever achieve with a debut. In late 1969, they recorded “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes),” a track that would become an enduring staple of 1970s pop culture. Upon its release in early 1970, the single rocketed to the top of the UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for five weeks and sold a quarter of a million copies in the United Kingdom alone. The success was mirrored across the Atlantic, where the song reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning the band a gold disc from the RIAA by April 1970 after selling over one million copies in the United States. This signature hit remains their most significant contribution to music history; it effectively established them as a household name during the dawn of the decade.

Despite the massive success of their debut, Edison Lighthouse’s discography is relatively lean in terms of full-length studio projects, as the group essentially functioned as a singles-oriented vehicle. They have released two primary studio albums: Already, released in 1971 through Bell Records in Sweden, and the self-titled Love Grows, released in 1977. Their chart history beyond the initial explosion included “She Works in a Woman’s Way,” which reached number 3 in New Zealand, and the UK top 50 entry “It’s Up to You, Petula” in 1971. Other notable singles that kept the band active through various lineup changes included “What’s Happening,” “Take a Little Time,” and “Find Mr. Zebedee.”

The recognition for Edison Lighthouse is anchored primarily in their commercial achievements and their unique place in chart history rather than a long list of formal industry trophies. Their primary honors include the RIAA gold certification for their million-selling single and the distinction of having a number 1 record in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand simultaneously. Tony Burrows, the original voice of the group, earned a unique place in the record books by appearing on Top of the Pops with three different groups in a single episode. The band is so loved in the music business because they represent the pinnacle of the “studio group” era; they delivered high-quality, feel-good craftsmanship that captured the optimism of the transition from the late 1960s into the 1970s.

Outside of the recording studio and the concert stage, members of the group have engaged in specific projects that showcase their versatility and commitment to the broader arts community. Brian Huggins, who took over the band’s leadership in 1973 and eventually acquired the legal rights to the name, has been instrumental in maintaining the group’s legacy through decades of international touring. The band has dedicated time to specific regional initiatives, such as the BBC Cornwall “Uncovered” project, which sought to highlight the history of the local community and the return of classic musical acts. Furthermore, individual members, like David Kerr-Clemenson, branched out into other significant musical ventures, forming the band Fast Buck and recording for Jet Records while supporting major acts like Electric Light Orchestra on global tours.

The enduring nature of Edison Lighthouse is further evidenced by their continued activity into the modern era, demonstrating a rare longevity for a group often categorized as a one-hit wonder. In 2024, the current iteration of the band released a cover of the Beach Boys classic “Fun, Fun, Fun”, which successfully debuted on the Heritage Chart. This recent work was bolstered by the addition of Alan Warner from The Foundations, showing a continued collaboration among veterans of the 1960s and 1970s pop eras. They remain active participants in the nostalgia circuit, ensuring that the bright, melodic spirit of their origins continues to reach new audiences through live performances and digital compilations like The Dave Cash Collection: Light My House.

# 10 – Find Mr. Zebedee!

We open up our list with a very interesting one. The arrangement almost sounds a bit ahead of its time. It’s very theatrical, a sound that the band was not really known for, so this is virtually an outlier in their catalog.

# 9 – Don’t You Know

This is a really good one. It’s not as syrupy as many of the other ones, which I don’t mind; the sugar is what made people love their songs in the first place. Yet the groove in this one is a little more sophisticated, a little more swinging. It’s probably why they opened up side two with this one. I really dig this one baby.

# 8 – Melanie Make Me Smile

Released in 1970 and written by Barry Mason and Tony Macaulay, this one is as sweet as it gets. Get out the pimple cream for this one.

# 7 – She Works In A Woman’s Way

This is a very interesting song, as one can hear that this one just may have been the inspiration for Billy Joel’s “She’s Always A Woman.” It’s just a guess on my part, but listen to the lyrics and make your own decsions.

# 6 – Todays Are Tomorrow

Released on the Love Grows album in 1977.

# 5 – It’s Gonna Be a Lonely Summer

The piano opening on this one and the vocal melody remind me of Gilbert O’Sullivan. I guess it’s just the sound of the very early 1970s. A time I remember vividly

# 4 – Take Me In Your Arms

The song “Take Me In Your Arms” was released on the band’s debut album, Already. Geoff Morrow and Tony Macaulay composed the song.

# 3 – Every Little Move She Makes

This is one of my favorites. It definitely has that “Love Grows” melody and groove vibe.

# 2 – It’s Up to You Petula

Edison Lighthouse followed their massive 1970 breakthrough with “It’s Up to You Petula,” released as a non-album single before finding inclusion on the group’s 1971 debut album Already. The single achieved modest international traction in the year of its release. It reached number 49 on the UK Singles Chart and proved stronger in New Zealand, where it climbed to number 18. The track peaked at 53 in Australia, 35 in Canada, and 48 on the Cash Box chart in the United States. While the song gained ground in select territories, it represented a significant step down from the commercial dominance of “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes),” which had dominated charts across multiple countries just months earlier.

# 1 -“Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”

Sitting firmly at the top of the list is the band’s debut masterpiece, a song that defined the start of the 1970s by spending five weeks at number 1 in the UK and selling over a million copies in the US. The track is famous for its opening guitar riff and the iconic description of “Rosemary”, a girl who “ain’t got no money” but possesses a magical spell over the narrator. Its enduring popularity was recently proven when it became a massive viral sensation on TikTok, introducing a new generation to the timeless, euphoric joy of Edison Lighthouse.

Written by Tony Macaulay and Barry Mason, “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” arrived as the debut single for Edison Lighthouse on January 9, 1970 in the UK and February 1970 in the US. Tony Burrows provided vocals on the recording, which was first cut by Geoff Turton under the title “Jefferson” but shelved for years. The track entered the UK top 40 at No. 12 on January 24, 1970, then shot to No. 1 just one week later on January 31, making it the first new UK chart-topper of the decade. The song held the top spot for five consecutive weeks before dropping to No. 4, replaced by Lee Marvin’s “Wand’rin’ Star,” and completed a 12-week UK run before exiting the top 40 on April 18.

Burrows had initially sought a release under his own name but was rejected by Macaulay, who controlled the publishing. When the record became a hit, a group called Greenfield Hammer was assembled to perform as Edison Lighthouse on Top of the Pops, with Burrows lip-syncing across four appearances in January and February 1970 while also miming vocals for Brotherhood of Man and White Plains during the same period. In the US, the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 on February 28, 1970 at No. 68 and climbed to No. 5 on March 28, where it remained for two weeks before exiting the top 40 after a 12-week chart run on May 23.