1st. Light

1st. Light - I Don't Care What People Say (1982)

Following the breakup of Direct Drive, Paul Hardcastle joined forces with vocalist Derek Green to form the funk band 1st. Light in 1982. Signing with London Records, First Light quickly produced two hit singles. Both "Explain The Reason" and "Wish You Were Here" cracked the Top 20 on the U.K. dance charts. In spite of this success, Hardcastle grew frustrated with his lack of control over his projects. Of his experience with London Records, he recalled that "it was a total disaster. It was a constant battle of 'do this, do that,'" according to a 1985 Billboard magazine article. Hardcastle's solution to the control problem was to start his own label, appropriately named Total Control. His partner in this endeavor was the popular club DJ Steve Walsh.