"...I went to school not to far from Dayton when this came out. Thankfully, it is one of those you can play all of from track one to the end. It ended up helping me through many a evening studying in the dorm room...the music, that is..although the cover didn't hurt none. I also remember those Friday night student union parties where they played the heck outta "Fire" and "Smoke" and slowgrind jams "Together" and "It's All Over". What can I say, but "throw some water on me"...call the firemen! After I graduated from the school and moved to Dayton, I lived in an apartment complex not too far from both Troutman labs and a one story storefront warehouse where they practiced when they were in town. Anyway, I got to meet Billy Beck, Diamond and Sugarfoot...they weren't all that impressed with me, but I thought they were great in their musicianlike moodiness...they sure could play that funky music. I miss having that kinda group around..."
A slam-bang, hard-to-deny funk-rock piece from 1975.
Nathan | Charlotte, N.C. United States | 07/05/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"'Fire', while not their masterpiece like some of these reviews have said, is definitely an unpredictable album from one of the best bands of the 70's. It boasts explosive horn-driven funk such as 'Smoke' and the wildly addictive title song. The Players were always best known for their hard-edged funk, but as I've always stressed, their ballads and slower material are without a doubt in my mind first-rate soul treasures. Just take a listen to 'I Want to Be Free,' the almost innocent 'Together' and the remorseful 'It's All Over' and tell me these brothas couldn't blow with the best of them. A must-have if you are a fan."
Fire fo sho nuff burning here
Sherance M. Brothers | Jasper, Alabama United States | 04/12/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"the ohio players came tight on this joint here if you like funk rock check out fire, and what the hell only funkadelic can funk harder than this. I want to be free is a all time classic. If you like the OP's add this to your collection."
I played this album over and over and...
MCB | Orange, CA | 05/17/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"...over as a 12-year old. And I remember this like it was yesterday. Sure I liked the single, "Fire". But it was already overplayed on the radio during those days. I REALLY got down with "Runnin' From the Devil" (tryin' to save my soul, he aint gonna catch me, cuz I'm never too slow), and "Smoke" which has one of the best guitar solos in Funk/R&B music. Even as a young teenager, I appreciated ballads and especially liked "Together", "I Want to Be Free", and "Its All Over". No doubt, I listen to this one and think about the easy times as a kid and junior high school. Sigh."
When you are a child of the 70's, you just gotta love this s
JoeyD | los gatos, ca | 10/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"FUNK! This band ladies and gentlemen, this is the pure, out and out, the dead-on definition of that freaky word. Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Herbie Hancock, "Parliament", "Earth, Wind, & Fire", etc... etc... are all right up there on the Mt. Rushmore of Funkadalia, but arguably the funkiest of them all were the "Ohio Players". That's not to say the above mentioned quintet takes a back seat in my opinion to this incredible funk/soul group, on the contrary, these players are more like 2nd ballot hall-of-famers compared to the five no-brainer first balloters mentioned above. Yet, in the mid-70's (1974 & 75 to be exact) almost no band of their ilk could touch them as they punched out three consecutive hit records - "Skin Tight", "Fire", & "Honey" in that order. All three are classics, and all three merit 5-stars in my opinion. However my personal favorite, if I had to choose one, has gotta be "Fire". Believe me it's a tough call, because at the end of the day all three recordings, as I stated before, are quite excellent.
Released in 1974 this was, in the group's eyes, their masterpiece - a crowning touch of the dynamic, very explosive bass-and-horn-heavy style that they had always been noted for. This one topped the pop charts, and every time I revisit it, I scratch my head and ask "why? Why can't they make music like this nowadays?" The whole album is smooth, steamy, sensuous, and sublime (a lot like their avant-garde album covers, whoa.... Nelly, don't get me started on those!). From their airy ballads (i.e. "It's All Over","Together", and "I Want To Be Free") to their most recognizable, powerfully addictive title track, and all the classic burners in between like "Running With The Devil" (which inspired Eddie Van Halen & Co.) it's one album that is too enjoyable to miss. Especially if you a fan of this type of soul music!
I really dig these cats. They were a progressive soul/funk group that wrote and produced all their songs. Their funky style and sound has influenced countless R&B and hip-hoppers even up to this present day. What I personally enjoy most about their music is that it makes you feel surreally blissful and yet bustling full of energy at the same time, almost like you are floating on a cloud going ninety miles an hour without a care in the world...
The band members include James "Diamond" Washington" (drums, chimes, percussion, lead & background vocals), Billy Beck (Fender Rhodes piano, clavinet, ARP synthesizer, lead & background vocals, and no he is not related to Minnie Riperton!), Mervin Pierce (trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone & background vocals), Robert "Rumba" Jones (Fender base), Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner (guitar, percussion, lead & background vocals), Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks (trumpet, trombone & background vocals), and Clarence "Satch" Satchell (baritone sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, percussion, lead & background vocals).
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
