Firefall - Greatest Hits

Sharing a light, lush airiness with bands like Poco, America, and Air Supply, Firefall sang fluffy love songs that were weak in lyrical nutrients but abundant with softened chords and harmonies. When radio was saturated with light rock in the mid- to late-'70s, they were right in the heart of it, reaching number nine on Billboard's Top 40 with the gentle "You Are the Woman," which remained on the charts for a startling 15 weeks. Firefall's greatest hits collects all of their mellow rock favorites in one place, presenting some thin but not unlistenable soft rock tunes. Lead singer Rick Roberts pours his heart out but still manages to stir up a decent tempo with "Just Remember I Love You," their second biggest single. The blue of the Colorado skyline, the band's home state, is visioned on the soothing flow of "Break of Dawn," and a slight attractiveness is felt throughout "Strange Way," another chart single in 1978. Roberts, who replaced Gram Parsons in the Flying Burrito Brothers, and drummer Michael Clarke, a onetime Byrds member, did give Firefall a talented history within its lineup, but the music being produced contained ample amounts of schlock that soon faded as radio became tired of this shallow drivel. Sometimes harboring a country feel a la Michael Martin Murphy best heard in songs like "Someday Soon" and "It Doesn't Matter," it was evident that the band had only one direction, which was that of a folk-rock sound. Since their material never strayed from this subtle easiness, Firefall's greatest hits is their most worthwhile offering. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alain Salvatik Keyboards Alan Estes Percussion Alex Kazanegras Engineer Allen Jacobi Executive Producer, Compilation Andy Katz Photography Arnold Paseiro Bass Bill Hopkins Bass, Group Member, Vocals Bill Inglot Remastering Bill Payne Organ Bill Schnee Engineer Billy Payne Organ Bob Gaffney Vocals, Group Member, Bass Cary E. Mansfield Compilation Chris Clarke Research Chuck Kirkpatrick Vocals, Engineer, Group Member, Guitar (Electric) Daniel Evans Clawson Saxophone, Flute, Keyboards, Harmonica David Bianco Engineer David Gahr Photography, Cover Photo David McLees Project Coordinator David Muse Saxophone, Group Member, Flute, Keyboards, Harmonica David Sanborn Sax (Alto) Dennis Dreith String Arrangements, Conductor Don Gehman Engineer Duane Scott Engineer Ed Kaufman Engineer Eric Prestidge Engineer Geoff Gans Art Direction George Hawkins Group Member, Vocals, Bass Greg Overton Bass, Vocals, Group Member Howard Albert Producer Jim Keltner Drums Jim Mason Producer Jock Bartley Slide Guitar, Producer, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Group Member, Vocals Joe Galdo Drum Programming, ?, Drums Joe Lala Percussion John Sambataro Keyboards, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, Group Member Karl Richardson Engineer Ken Perry Remastering Kenneth Faulk Trumpet Kim Stone Group Member, Vocals, Bass Kip Kuepper Bass (Electric) Kyle Lehning Producer, Engineer Larry Burnett Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, Group Member, Guitar (Electric) Lisa Nemzo Vocals Mark Andes Bass, Vocals, Group Member Mark Oblinger Vocals (Background), Vocals, Group Member, Guitar Michael Clarke Drums, Group Member Michael Mazzarella Research Michael Stone Engineer Mike Lewis Conductor, String Arrangements Paul "Blind Man" Harris Piano (Electric) Paul Crosta Bass Paul Harris Piano (Electric) Rachel Gutek Design Richie Goldman Bass Rick Roberts Vocals, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic) Ron Albert Engineer, Producer Sandy Ficca Group Member, Drums Scott Kirkpatrick Percussion, Vocals, Drums, Group Member, Vocals (Background) Stephen K. Peeples Liner Notes Stephen Stills Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals Steve Forman Percussion Steve Hadjoupolos Group Member, Flute, Keyboards, Saxophone Timothy B. Schmit Vocals, Vocals (Background) Tom Dowd Producer Tris Imboden Group Member, Percussion, Drums