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Timeless Sophistication
Light and Salt's Second Album
『Don't Leave Me』
1. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter was not Kim Hyun-sik's backing band.
The words 'salt' and 'light' that appear in Matthew 5 of the Bible are significant in Christianity. Light and Salt, named after these two words, is a band led by Jang Ki-ho and Park Seong-sik, who have been friends since childhood. They attended the same elementary school, started music in high school, and served in the Navy's promotional band together. Jang Ki-ho began his music career in the early 1980s at Café Chaplin in Bangbae-dong. At that time, notable figures in the Korean music scene, such as Kim Jong-jin, Jeon Tae-gwan, Jung Won-young, Han Sang-won, and Kim Kwang-min, frequented Chaplin. After a brief stint with Kim Soo-cheol's band, Little Giant, he teamed up with Kim Hyun-sik after being discharged from the military in 1986 while living in Dongbu Ichon-dong. Kim Hyun-sik, who became friends with Jang Ki-ho while living in the same neighborhood, wanted a new band to create music instead of his popular band, Dolgae Baram, which was performing in nightclubs. Kim Hyun-sik was satisfied with the members Jang Ki-ho recruited. The lineup of the five-member band was finalized with the introduction of Kim Jong-jin and Jeon Tae-gwan, who decided to join at a café in Jongno, along with Yoo Jae-ha, and they began performing at the live club "Red Zeppelin" in Sinchon. Their repertoire included songs like "Easy Lover" by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins and "Just The Two Of Us" by Grover Washington Jr. The band name was decided as 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' during a vacation in Daecheon.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter has often been known as 'Kim Hyun-sik's backing band.' This is due to the title and cover of their only album released in December 1986, 'Kim Hyun-sik III,' which features a photo of Kim Hyun-sik playing harmonica and the notation on the back stating 'Kim Hyun-sik and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.' Jang Ki-ho insists that this is not the case. Initially, the five members were active as the band Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, with Kim Hyun-sik as the band's vocalist. However, Kim Young, the president of Dong-A Planning, wanted it to be released as Kim Hyun-sik's solo album, and the band learned of this later. If the album had been released under the band's name and "Like Music Like Rain" had become a hit under the name "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter," a part of music history might have changed significantly.
Before the album recording, there was a change in the lineup. Yoo Jae-ha suddenly left the band just before they were scheduled to record at Seoul Studio. It is widely believed that Yoo Jae-ha left because the band did not actively adopt his songs, but Jang Ki-ho testifies that he was likely encouraged by a certain album planner. He believed he could achieve sufficient success as a solo artist rather than as a band member and soon began working on a solo album. The band had to quickly find a keyboard player to meet the upcoming recording schedule. Eventually, Park Seong-sik, who was about to be discharged, joined Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Park Seong-sik's song "Like Music Like Rain" not only became the album's biggest hit but also remains representative of Kim Hyun-sik to this day. In fact, this song was first recorded by vocalist Moon Kwan-cheol from the group Sinabro, which won the performance award at the 'National Youth Song Festival 1981.' (Moon Kwan-cheol's debut album, released in early 1987, included this song along with "Opera," which was later sung by Kim Jang-hoon, and "Forever With You," a song by Yoo Jae-ha sung by Lee Moon-sae.)
2. Light and Salt originated from the meeting of Jang Ki-ho and Han Kyung-hoon.
After the band disbanded, Kim Jong-jin and Jeon Tae-gwan formed a new Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, while Jang Ki-ho and Park Seong-sik joined "Love and Peace" and participated in the fourth album released in 1989. More than half of the songs included were theirs, and Jang Ki-ho's song of the same name was used as the theme song for MBC TV's bestseller theater and gained attention. Jang Ki-ho and Park Seong-sik, who wanted to pursue their own music, left Love and Peace. In fact, the two had quite different musical tastes; Jang Ki-ho liked jazz and pop, while Park Seong-sik preferred classical and gospel, so they never planned to form a band together. The beginning of Light and Salt came from the meeting of Jang Ki-ho and guitarist Han Kyung-hoon. At that time, "Han Kyung-hoon" was DJing at Café Eve in Itaewon. One day, while listening to music at the café, Jang Ki-ho was surprised to find that the DJ's selections matched his taste perfectly, and they naturally grew closer while discussing music. Planning to study abroad in the U.S., Jang Ki-ho wanted to release an album before leaving and formed a new group with Han Kyung-hoon, signing a contract with Dong-A Planning. With the addition of Park Seong-sik, who was needed for keyboards, the trio lineup was completed. Jang Ki-ho decided on the band name with the intention of creating music like the salt and light of the world.
The result of their work done in 'a shabby underground monthly rent room in Bangbae-dong' was released in April 1990. The three members showcased their talents throughout the album, taking on roles in composition, singing, keyboard, and programming in addition to their basic positions. The sound, based on jazz fusion, encompassing pop and gospel, distinguished itself from existing popular music, and their debut album 'Light and Salt Vol. 1' became a gem in the Korean popular music scene. "Fairy of Shampoo" was reinterpreted and became a huge hit, and Jang Ki-ho's ballad "After You Left" was also frequently played on the radio. The following year, they released a second album with the same lineup, but Han Kyung-hoon soon left for the U.S. where his family lived, reducing the group to a duo. Light and Salt left behind several wonderful songs, including "Don't Leave Me," "A Letter to You," and "Old Friends," until Jang Ki-ho went to study in the U.S. in 1995. The group took a long break after the 1996 release of 'Light and Salt 5th,' which contained the results of Jang Ki-ho's work while studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
The representative song of Light and Salt is indeed "Fairy of Shampoo," and many recall the debut album containing this song when they hear the name Light and Salt. This is because the song itself is excellent and has received great public love. The fact that the first album is always mentioned in lists like '100 Greatest Korean Popular Music Albums' also contributes to this. However, it is regrettable to think that Light and Salt's debut work is all there is to their music. It is rare for an artist's entire discography to be excellent, but Light and Salt's works fall into that category. While there may be variations in quality among the band's albums or songs, all possess a level of completeness above the basic standard. If Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter popularized jazz fusion by adding pop and rock to the harmony of jazz in Korea, Light and Salt refined it and elevated its level. While Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter was characterized by bold sounds, dynamic rhythms, and a splendid brass section, Light and Salt's music was more delicate yet solid, smooth, and emotional. The positions of the members from the two groups—Kim Jong-jin (guitar) and Jeon Tae-gwan (drums), Jang Ki-ho (bass) and Park Seong-sik (keyboard)—also provide an interesting element.
3. Light and Salt's second album is a collection of works with timeless charm.
Following the unexpected success of their debut album, Light and Salt gained a significant status as skilled session musicians. Jang Ki-ho, Park Seong-sik, and Han Kyung-hoon participated as performers, composers, and arrangers in albums by various musicians with distinct musical colors, such as Park Hak-ki, Yoo Ju-hee, Ko Byeong-hee, Jang Pil-soon, Travel Sketch, and Lee Seung-hwan, until the release of their second album 'Light and Salt 2: Don't Leave Me' in August 1991. By this time, the keywords 'fusion' or 'smooth jazz,' which had already established themselves in the 1980s pop scene, were no longer unfamiliar in Korea, and the diversity that emerged during the wave of new creation and experimentation enriched the popular music scene. It meant that a solid market was forming like never before. However, this environment did not mean that all 'quality music' gained popularity. Commercial success often arises unexpectedly and unintentionally, but considering and keeping this in mind in music is always a double-edged sword. Light and Salt did not complicate their calculations or worries. They simply wanted to make the music they wanted and create good music.
While they did not receive explosive love like their debut hit, Light and Salt's second album includes the ballad "Don't Leave Me," which has been consistently loved and sung over the years, along with outstanding tracks that showcase the three members' superior capabilities. Unlike their debut album, which featured drum sounds through programming, this album showcased drummer Lee Geon-tae, who had worked with Black Butterfly and Songgolmae, providing rhythm arrangements along with drum and percussion performances, with Ko Pil-soon and Yoo Ju-hee from the group Maronie participating in the chorus. The songs, rich in various colors, overflowing with elements of jazz fusion, pop ballads, soft rock, and AOR, are all exceptional enough to captivate listeners. This album proves to be a flawless masterpiece that stands shoulder to shoulder with their debut work. Some images appearing on the album cover are quite intriguing. The front features the logo of the Military Information and Public Relations Agency under the French Ministry of Defense, while the back includes a poster for the 1989 international conference in Paris for the prohibition of chemical weapons, evoking the atmosphere of the backpacking boom and aspirations that arose during the period of travel liberalization.
As in their debut work, Jang Ki-ho, Park Seong-sik, and Han Kyung-hoon each played their chosen roles, with Han Kyung-hoon's contributions particularly standing out. The three songs he wrote and sang added prominent lyricism to the album's color. The title track "Don't Leave Me," which is often loved as the representative song of this album, unfolds in a beautiful typical pop ballad format led by the piano instead of fusion elements. Han Kyung-hoon's voice, carrying poignant lyrics pleading to the woman who left amidst deep loneliness and regret, appears seemingly indifferent and calm yet possesses a profound appeal. The ballad "Now We Are," which lazily sings of resignation after a breakup, is similar. The soft jazz fusion "Alone Feeling," which sings of hope in love, distinctly showcases Light and Salt's identity, but its clean and elegant atmosphere contains their unique lyricism. Park Seong-sik's composition, a bossa nova piece centered on piano that reveals the romance implied in the title along with the sound of rain, is utterly charming! Jang Ki-ho's "Precious Things Are Not Easily Obtained," containing religious insights, stands out with its easily memorable melody and comfortable acoustic guitar performance.
Of course, the solid structure and balance of these sounds provide an unchanging thrill. For example, through "T.V TALENT (Fairy of Shampoo II)," which features Jang Ki-ho's unique palsetto technique, powerful bass, and clear keyboard backing and solos, one can feel the vibrant energy of Light and Salt's jazz fusion. In the instrumental track "Motorcycle," composed by Han Kyung-hoon, his guitar navigates the song freely, while the dynamic interplay of a funky bass and unique keyboard sounds creates an enjoyable experience. "Dream," written and sung by Park Seong-sik, is a cool and stylish song that closely resembles today's 'city pop sensibility,' drawing listeners in with each listen. Park Seong-sik's husky voice is set against a beautifully melodious typical popular music style, while Lee Jeong-sik's saxophone solo, ringing refreshingly amidst the pleasantly racing rhythm, seems to punctuate the ideal harmony. An album that provides new inspiration even after repeated listens, a sophisticated album where the gap of 30 years feels nonexistent, an incredibly captivating collection of works.
Written by/Kim Kyung-jin
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