Description
Free the Fire is an album by the American pop quartet The Imperials, released on Myrrh Records in 1988, a division of Word. Also manufactured and distributed by A&M Records. The album was produced by Bill Schnee.
The faint strains of «I Just Came to Praise the Lord» which open this new Imperials album serve as a reminder that contemporary Christian music’s most durable group has a past. But when the title track kicks in, there’s no doubt that the Imperials have a future, too.
Of course, much the same thing could have been said of last year’s album, ‘This Year’s Model‘, but on that album the Imps seemed overly intent on establishing the presence of new members Ron Hemby and Jimmie Lee. The aggressive, high-tech production gave us an Imperial sound that was not only new, but also unrecognizable.
Intent on maintaining high production values and on regaining some of the magic of the ‘One More Song for You‘ and ‘Priority‘ era, the Imperials have turned to Bill Schnee (‘Stand by the Power‘) for production and to Michael Omartian (who produced and wrote most of ‘…Song…’ and ‘Priority’) for a song and some keyboard work. The result is an album which is very much this year’s model but also very much the Imperials we have known and loved.
Schnee has pulled in top L.A. session players like Robbie Buchanan (keyboards), Dann Huff (guitars), Paul Leim (drums) and Lenny Castro (percussion). In addition, the sax work of Brandon Fields adds a tasty touch to several of thet tunes, as does David Lindley’s slide guitar on «City in the Sky».
In selecting songs, the Imperials have gone back to what they know will work: «Free the Fire in Me» was written by Michael and Stormie Omartian; «Wild Geese» by Trott and Sweet (who wrote «Medals» and much of Sheila Walsh‘s material); David Martin (writer of «Let the Wind Blow», a #1 song for the Imps); and Randy Goodrum (writer of Anne Murray’s «You Needed Me»).
Defining the new Imperials sound is the vocal work of Ron Hemby and Jimmie Lee. One or the other of them performs every lead vocal on the album with the exception of one verse of «Better Than I Know Myself», which Dave Will sings. Without taking anything away from the others, clearly Ron Hemby is one of the hottest vocalists in Christian music today.
While fans of ‘This Year’s Model’ will probably like ‘Free the Fire’, it may also appeal to the Imperials older fans who were turned off by ‘This Year’s Model’. Hopefully, the group will succeed in freeing the fire in their fans, rather than feeling the fire from theme. [John W. Styll, CCM, October 1988]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/free-the-fire/1165980878)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Free The Fire” – 5:09
A2. “Wild Geese” – 4:05
A3. “City In The Sky” – 4:55
A4. “You” – 4:53
A5. “The Boss” – 5:15
Side Two
B1. “Higher Things” – 5:07
B2. “Rest In Your Arms” – 4:24
B3. “Let It Go” – 4:23
B4. “Better Than I Know Myself” – 4:05
B5. “Touchin’ Me” – 4:02
B6. “I Just Came To Praise The Lord” – 1:57
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Myrrh Records.
A double-page advertisement for The Imperials’ album Free The Fire was featured in the October 1988 issue of CCM Magazine.
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