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 Is 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by Decca staff producer Tony Clarke, but wasn't released until several months later, in March 1968, before being withdrawn a week later.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 and arranged for Fire to record it again, this time with Lambert doubling his guitar parts (they were also brought up an octave). "Father's Name is Dad", is Fire's best known song, which frequently appears on compilations of British psych-pop, including Nuggets II, and many others.
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 then termination the contracts with both Decca and Apple in order to sign with Hooray-Productions.
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 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.
Friday's Chyld - before changing their name to Fire
Fire!
Fire!
"THE MAGIC SHOEMAKER" - FIRE
Despite success, Fire disbanded when Dave felt he had reached creative stagnation and became disillusioned with the unfathomable workings of the music industry. However, in late 2007, Dave, Bob and Dick were delighted to perform together for the first time in 37 years! "The Magic Shoemaker" album, together with other Fire classics including "Father's Name is Dad" and "Treacle Toffee World", was performed for the first (and second!) time ever at THE WINDLESHAM THEATRE on 30th November and 1st December 2007.
The Magic Shoemaker Live!" is being released on 6th October 2008 on Angel Air Records. It includes "Father's Name is Dad" and "Treacle Toffee World". It is available for pre-order now from Angel Air Records:
During the concerts, Fire's earliest manager, RAY HAMMOND, kept the audience enthralled with narration of the fairytale which served to introduce each song (and had been cunningly rewritten by Dave to include "FATHER'S NAME IS DAD" and "TREACLE TOFFEE WORLD"). The standing ovations Fire received (many fans having travelled from overseas) confirmed the resounding success of the venture.
The catalyst for Fire to reunite occurred in late 2006 when Dave was shown a book entitled “THEN NOW AND RARE: BRITISH BEAT 1960-1969” by TERRY RAWLINGS, which features a full page Fire spread. Dave was recently further surprised to be shown another book featuring his career and the history of Fire; "THOSE WERE THE DAYS: AN UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE BEATLES' APPLE ORGANISATION 1967-2001" by STEFAN GRANADOS. Dave admits it feels strange now to be reading about events from so early in his career!
In April 2008 Dave discovered through chance conversation that the guitar riffs he wrote for "Father's Name is Dad" have been used by THE PET SHOP BOYS! Their 2004 CD entitled "FLAMBOYANT" featured a b-side entitled "I DIDN'T GET WHERE I AM TODAY" which prominently used Dave's riffs, with Dave credited as a co-writer. Dave was both delighted and stunned to hear the news for the first time!
FIRE PERFORMING "FATHER'S NAME IS DAD" AT THE WINDLESHAM REUNION CONCERTS - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007
A vinyl album entitled “UNDERGROUND AND OVERHEAD: THE ALTERNATE FIRE” containing tracks from “The Magic Shoemaker”, together with classics including “Father’s Name is Dad”, “Will I Find Love” and “Treacle Toffee World” was released in 1997 on the TENTH PLANET label. More recently, the album was re-released in CD format by WOODEN HILL and is currently available with six additional recordings, making a total of nineteen tracks.
~ Dave Lambert ~
Dave playing his Dean guitar at Cropredy
Guitar and Bass magazine - March 2008 Issue. Includes a lengthy interview with Dave Lambert and various photos.
Fire feature - interview with Dave Lambert - Dec. 07
Wokingham Times 26/9/07 photos
Record Collector Dec.07 interview with Dave Lambert
Wonderous Stories Fire article - Nov. 07 pt. 1
Wonderous Stories Fire article - Nov. 07 pt. 2
A Special Thank You!! To Lindsay Sorrell for supplying information for Dave Lambert and Fire
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