| "Fire" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Side A of the US single | ||||
| Single by Ohio Players | ||||
| from the album Fire | ||||
| B-side | "Together" | |||
| Released | November 1974 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:12 (Single version) 4:36 (Album version) | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Billy Beck, Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, Marshall "Rock" Jones, Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks, Marvin "Merv" Pierce, Clarence "Satch" Satchell, James "Diamond" Williams | |||
| Producer(s) | Ohio Players | |||
| Ohio Players singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Fire" is a song by R&B/funk band Ohio Players. The song was the opening track from the album of the same name and hit No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Soul Singles chart in early 1975.[2] It spent two weeks atop the soul chart. "Fire" was the Ohio Players' only entry on the new disco/dance chart, where it peaked at No. 10.[3] The song is considered to be the band's signature song along with "Love Rollercoaster".
Background
The song was recorded at Mercury Records' Chicago-based studio. While performing it in California, the band let Stevie Wonder hear the basic track for the song and he predicted that it would become a big hit. The song is noted for its sound of a siren recorded from a fire truck, heard at the beginning, as well as in the instrumental break in the middle. The edited version avoided much of the repetition of the music. The composer of Wild Cherry's hit song "Play That Funky Music" has indicated that "Fire" was the inspiration.
Chart positions
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 1 |
Cover versions
- A cover of the song was released by Canadian new wave band Platinum Blonde on their third album Contact in 1987.
- Also in 1987, Jamaican reggae duo Sly and Robbie covered the song for their album Rhythm Killers. It was released as a single and peaked at No. 60 on the UK Singles Chart.[4]
- Funk band Zapp recorded a cover on their 1989 album Zapp V.
- Industrial hip hop outfit Tackhead covered the song for their 2014 album For the Love of Money.[5]
Sampling
It was sampled in Da Lench Mob's "You and Your Heroes" from Guerillas in tha Mist.
References
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (June 26, 2019). "The Number Ones: Ohio Players' "Fire"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
Instead, it's a horny and unrelenting vamp, a funk attack of towering proportions.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 437.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 193.
- ↑ "SLY & ROBBIE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
- ↑ "Discography: For the Love of Money". tackhead.com. 2004. Archived from the original on September 19, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
External links