diff --git a/stepmania/src/Model.cpp b/stepmania/src/Model.cpp
index 0578e665e4..483ecc14b3 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Model.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/Model.cpp
@@ -539,41 +539,27 @@ void Model::DrawPrimitives()
 			const RageCompiledGeometry* TempGeometry = m_pTempGeometry ? m_pTempGeometry : m_pGeometry->m_pGeometry;
 
 			// apply material
+			RageColor emissive = m_pTempState->glow;
+			RageColor ambient = RageColor(0,0,0,0);
+			RageColor diffuse = RageColor(0,0,0,0);
+			RageColor specular = RageColor(0,0,0,0);
+			float shininess = 1;
+
+			DISPLAY->SetMaterial( 
+				emissive,
+				ambient,
+				diffuse,
+				specular,
+				shininess );
+			DISPLAY->ClearAllTextures();
+
 			if( pMesh->nMaterialIndex != -1 )
 			{
 				msMaterial& mat = m_Materials[ pMesh->nMaterialIndex ];
-
-				RageColor Emissive = mat.Emissive;
-				RageColor Ambient = mat.Ambient;
-				RageColor Diffuse = mat.Diffuse;
-				
-				Emissive = m_pTempState->glow;
-				Ambient = m_pTempState->glow;
-				Diffuse = m_pTempState->glow;
-
-				DISPLAY->SetMaterial( 
-					Emissive,
-					Ambient,
-					Diffuse,
-					mat.Specular,
-					mat.fShininess );
-				DISPLAY->ClearAllTextures();
 				DISPLAY->SetTexture( 0, mat.diffuse.ani.GetCurrentTexture() );
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				RageColor emissive = m_pTempState->glow;
-				RageColor ambient = m_pTempState->glow;
-				RageColor diffuse = m_pTempState->glow;
-				RageColor specular = m_pTempState->glow;
-				float shininess = 1;
-				DISPLAY->SetMaterial(
-					emissive,
-					ambient,
-					diffuse,
-					specular,
-					shininess );
-				DISPLAY->ClearAllTextures();
 			}
 
 			// apply mesh-specific bone (if any)
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.cpp b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.cpp
index eeb79bc466..f33d10f69c 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.cpp
@@ -981,7 +981,6 @@ public:
 		glVertexPointer(3, GL_FLOAT, 0, &m_vPosition[0]);
 
 		glDisableClientState(GL_COLOR_ARRAY);
-		glColor4f(1,1,1,1);
 
 		glEnableClientState(GL_TEXTURE_COORD_ARRAY);
 		glTexCoordPointer(2, GL_FLOAT, 0, &m_vTexture[0]);
@@ -1189,7 +1188,6 @@ void RageCompiledGeometryHWOGL::Draw( int iMeshIndex ) const
 	AssertNoGLError();
 
 	glDisableClientState(GL_COLOR_ARRAY);
-	glColor4f(1,1,1,1);
 
 	glEnableClientState(GL_TEXTURE_COORD_ARRAY);
 	GLExt::glBindBufferARB( GL_ARRAY_BUFFER_ARB, m_nTextureCoords );
@@ -1535,11 +1533,26 @@ void RageDisplay_OGL::SetMaterial(
 	float shininess
 	)
 {
-	glMaterialfv( GL_FRONT, GL_EMISSION, emissive );
-	glMaterialfv( GL_FRONT, GL_AMBIENT, ambient );
-	glMaterialfv( GL_FRONT, GL_DIFFUSE, diffuse );
-	glMaterialfv( GL_FRONT, GL_SPECULAR, specular );
-	glMaterialf( GL_FRONT, GL_SHININESS, shininess );
+	// TRICKY:  If lighting is off, then setting the material 
+	// will have no effect.  Even if lighting is off, we still
+	// want Models to have basic color and transparency.
+	// We can do this fake lighting by setting the vertex color.
+
+	GLboolean bLighting;
+	glGetBooleanv( GL_LIGHTING, &bLighting );
+
+	if( bLighting )
+	{
+		glMaterialfv( GL_FRONT, GL_EMISSION, emissive );
+		glMaterialfv( GL_FRONT, GL_AMBIENT, ambient );
+		glMaterialfv( GL_FRONT, GL_DIFFUSE, diffuse );
+		glMaterialfv( GL_FRONT, GL_SPECULAR, specular );
+		glMaterialf( GL_FRONT, GL_SHININESS, shininess );
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		glColor4fv( emissive + ambient + diffuse );
+	}
 }
 
 void RageDisplay_OGL::SetLighting( bool b )