Point of Light
"Point of Light" is a song written by Don Schlitz and Thom Schuyler, and recorded by American country music artist Randy Travis. It was released in May 1991 as the lead-off single from his album High Lonesome. It was his twenty-first single overall. It charted at #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks and hit #1 on the Canadian RPM country Tracks chart.
"Point of Light" | ||||
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Single by Randy Travis | ||||
from the album High Lonesome | ||||
B-side | "Waiting on the Light to Change" | |||
Released | May 9, 1991[1] | |||
Recorded | The Nightingale, Nashville, 1990 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:34 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. Nashville 19283 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Don Schlitz & Thom Schuyler | |||
Producer(s) | Kyle Lehning | |||
Randy Travis singles chronology | ||||
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Content
This song has a moral message to do the right thing and become a "point of light". The song goes on to praise social workers and teachers as points of light. Don Schlitz and Thom Schuyler were commissioned to write the song in response to then-United States President George H. W. Bush's "Thousand points of light" program.[2]
Musicians
As listed in liner notes.[3]
- Dennis Burnside - piano
- Larry Byrom - acoustic guitar
- Mark Casstevens - acoustic guitar
- Steve Gibson - electric guitar
- Doyle Grisham - steel guitar
- David Hungate - bass guitar
- Larrie Londin - drums
- Terry McMillan - percussion, harmonica
- Mark O'Connor - fiddle
- Randy Travis - lead vocals
- John Willis - electric guitar
Background vocals
- Carol Chase
- Cindy Richardson-Walker
- John Wesley Ryles
- Lisa Silver
- Dennis Wilson
- Curtis Young
Chart performance
"Point of Light" spent two weeks at number 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] | 1 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] | 3 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1991) | Position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] | 3 |
US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 31 |
References
- AOL Music profile for "Point of Light"
- Brennan, Sandra. "allmusic ((( Don Schlitz > Biography )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- High Lonesome (CD). Randy Travis. Warner Bros. Records. 1991. 26661.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1574." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 20, 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- "Randy Travis Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1991". RPM. December 21, 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- "Best of 1991: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.