The
origins of Fire can be traced back to their formation in 1966, in
Hounslow, Middlesex, near the Heathrow Airport. The trio -- David
Lambert (vocals/keyboards/guitar), Dick Dufall (bass/vocals), and Bob
Voice (drums/vocals) -- originally were called Friday's Chyld, and
released one single before changing their name. Based on the promise of
their next batch of demos, they were offered a contract by Decca
Records, in 1967. Their managers also negotiated a publishing deal with
Mike Berry, head of Apple Records' publishing division. Fire's first
single -- "Father's Name Was Dad" -- was produced by Decca staff
producer Tony Clarke, but wasn't released until several months later, in
March 1968, before being withdrawn a week later. Apple's Paul McCartney
heard the track, however, and arranged for Fire to record it again,
this time with Lambert doubling his guitar parts (they were also brought
up an octave). Macca's improved mix was re-released, but it too failed
to chart.
The band's next batch of demos were rejected, but the band was persuaded to record "'Round the Gum Tree," which had been written by Apple's Berry. This didn't sit well with Fire, and they refused to play on it, although Lambert eventually agreed to provide the A-side's lead vocal. The single was released, with minor results, in November 1968, and Fire was dropped by Decca. Pye Records eventually signed a licensing agreement with the band's management. In January 1970, the band began recording The Magic Shoemaker, a whimsical concept album about a shoe cobbler named Mark and his pair of magic shoes. This time, Fire was assisted by the Strawbs' frontman Dave Cousins on banjo, and guitarist Paul Brett (of Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera). When it failed to perform, Fire disbanded.
Voice and Dufall joined Paul Brett's Sage in 1970, while Lambert did session work and recorded demos with the Strawbs' Rick Wakeman. He later provided soundtrack music for a Michael Caine movie, X, Y and Zee, before being recruited to join the King Earl Boogie Band (they had evolved from the chart-topping act Mungo Jerry). Shortly after the release of their Trouble at T'Mill album, Lambert accepted Cousins' invitation to join the Strawbs, who were moving in a more prog rock-glam direction. Lambert also guested on Cousins' solo album, Two Weeks Last Summer, and after the Strawbs broke up, recorded his own solo album, Framed, released in 1979. Today, Lambert works a ski instructor in Austria. Fire's "Father's Name With Dad" frequently appears on compilations of British psych-pop, including Nuggets II, and many others.
Artwork By [Sleeve Design] – Phil Smee
Bass, Backing Vocals – Dick Dufall
Drums, Backing Vocals – Bob Voice
Guitar – Paul Brett (tracks: 11, 13, 17, 19)
Liner Notes – David Wells (2)
Remastered By [Digitally] – Denis Blackham
Vocals [Lead], Backing Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Organ, Percussion – Dave Lambert (4)
Written-By – Lambert* (tracks: 1 to 15, 17 to 20)
All tracks recorded 1969 except 1, 2, 6, 14, 15 1967 and 3, 4, 20 1968.
1 Father's Name Is Dad #1
2 Treacle Toffee World
3 Happy Sound
4 Spare A Copper
5 Will I Find Love?
6 Man In The Teapot
7 Only A Dream
8 It's Just Love
9 Magic Shoes
10 I've Still Got Time
11 I Know You Inside Out
12 Reason For Everything
13 Alison Wonderland
14 I Just Can't Wait
15 I Didn't Know You
16 Can't Be So Bad
17 Green-Legged Auntie Sally
18 Mama
19 Oh Johnny
20 Father's Name Is Dad #2
**Enjoy**
The band's next batch of demos were rejected, but the band was persuaded to record "'Round the Gum Tree," which had been written by Apple's Berry. This didn't sit well with Fire, and they refused to play on it, although Lambert eventually agreed to provide the A-side's lead vocal. The single was released, with minor results, in November 1968, and Fire was dropped by Decca. Pye Records eventually signed a licensing agreement with the band's management. In January 1970, the band began recording The Magic Shoemaker, a whimsical concept album about a shoe cobbler named Mark and his pair of magic shoes. This time, Fire was assisted by the Strawbs' frontman Dave Cousins on banjo, and guitarist Paul Brett (of Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera). When it failed to perform, Fire disbanded.
Voice and Dufall joined Paul Brett's Sage in 1970, while Lambert did session work and recorded demos with the Strawbs' Rick Wakeman. He later provided soundtrack music for a Michael Caine movie, X, Y and Zee, before being recruited to join the King Earl Boogie Band (they had evolved from the chart-topping act Mungo Jerry). Shortly after the release of their Trouble at T'Mill album, Lambert accepted Cousins' invitation to join the Strawbs, who were moving in a more prog rock-glam direction. Lambert also guested on Cousins' solo album, Two Weeks Last Summer, and after the Strawbs broke up, recorded his own solo album, Framed, released in 1979. Today, Lambert works a ski instructor in Austria. Fire's "Father's Name With Dad" frequently appears on compilations of British psych-pop, including Nuggets II, and many others.
Artwork By [Sleeve Design] – Phil Smee
Bass, Backing Vocals – Dick Dufall
Drums, Backing Vocals – Bob Voice
Guitar – Paul Brett (tracks: 11, 13, 17, 19)
Liner Notes – David Wells (2)
Remastered By [Digitally] – Denis Blackham
Vocals [Lead], Backing Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Organ, Percussion – Dave Lambert (4)
Written-By – Lambert* (tracks: 1 to 15, 17 to 20)
All tracks recorded 1969 except 1, 2, 6, 14, 15 1967 and 3, 4, 20 1968.
1 Father's Name Is Dad #1
2 Treacle Toffee World
3 Happy Sound
4 Spare A Copper
5 Will I Find Love?
6 Man In The Teapot
7 Only A Dream
8 It's Just Love
9 Magic Shoes
10 I've Still Got Time
11 I Know You Inside Out
12 Reason For Everything
13 Alison Wonderland
14 I Just Can't Wait
15 I Didn't Know You
16 Can't Be So Bad
17 Green-Legged Auntie Sally
18 Mama
19 Oh Johnny
20 Father's Name Is Dad #2
**Enjoy**
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