Fire (The Jimi Hendrix Experience song)
| "Fire" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 German single picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience | ||||
| from the album Are You Experienced | ||||
| B-side | "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" | |||
| Released | November 14, 1969 (UK) | |||
| Format | 7-inch 45 rpm record | |||
| Recorded |
De Lane Lea Studios, London, January 11, 1967 Olympic Studios, London, February 8, 1967 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:34 | |||
| Label | Track (no. 604 033) | |||
| Writer(s) | Jimi Hendrix | |||
| Producer(s) | Chas Chandler | |||
| Experience British singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Fire" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience in early 1967. It has been described as "an exercise in soul, psychedelic rock, and polyrhythmic jazz-inspired drumming" by AllMusic critic Matthew Greenwald.[1] The song was remixed in stereo for the American release of the album. In 1969, it was released as a stereo single in the UK with the title "Let Me Light Your Fire". One of Hendrix's most popular songs, he frequently played it in concert. Several live recordings have been released and the original song is included on numerous Hendrix compilations, such as Smash Hits, Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix, Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection, and Fire: The Jimi Hendrix Collection.
Overview
Despite its sexual overtones, the song had an innocuous origin. Noel Redding, bass player for the Experience, invited Hendrix to his mother's house on a cold New Year's Eve in Folkestone, England, after a gig.[4] Hendrix asked Noel's mother if he could stand next to her fireplace to warm himself. She agreed, but her Great Dane was in the way, so Hendrix let out with, "Aw, move over, Rover, and let Jimi take over".[4] Hendrix later joked with the lyric: "Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard to find her poor dog a bone, but when she bent over Rover took over, 'cause Rover had a bone of his own! Shakespeare, page 35!"[5]
The Red Hot Chili Peppers covered it on their 1989 album, Mother's Milk, changing some of the lyrics such as "Move over, Rover, and let Jimi take over" to "Move over, Rover, and let Mr. Huckleberry take over" as a tribute to the late RHCP guitarist, Hillel Slovak (who was also known by his nickname, "Mr. Huckleberry"), who had died months before recording for the Mother's Milk album began. Kingston Wall covered it on their 1992 debut album I. In 1994, the accordion-based rock band Those Darn Accordions recorded a version for their 1994 album Squeeze This!, where it was sung by a then 79-year-old Clyde Forsman, one of the group's accordionists. Alice Cooper covered it on his 1995 compilation album Classicks. SSQ covered the song as a b-side to their single "Synthicide".
References
- 1 2 3 Greenwald, Matthew. "Jimi Hendrix/The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Fire – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
- ↑ Egan, Sean (2014). Jimi Hendrix and the Making of Are You Experienced: Updated and Expanded. Askill Publishing. p. 179. ISBN 978-0954575052.
- ↑ Henderson, David (2009). Scuse Me While I Kiss the Sky: Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child. Atria Books. p. 189. ISBN 978-0743274012.
- 1 2 Shapiro, Harry (1990). Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 176–177. ISBN 0-312-05861-6.
- ↑ Jimi Hendrix (1999). "Chapter 7". Band of Gypsys Live at the Fillmore East (DVD). Experience Hendrix / Legacy.
