Fire Up (album) explained

Fire Up
Artist:	Merl Saunders
Cover:	Merl-Saunders-Fire-Up.jpg
Alt:	Merl Saunders
Type:	studio
Released:	May 1973
Length:	39:42
Label:	Fantasy
Producer:	Merl Saunders
Prev Title:	Heavy Turbulence
Prev Year:	1972
Year:	1973
Next Title:	Live at Keystone
Next Year:	1973

Fire Up is an album by Merl Saunders. It was released in May 1973 through Fantasy Records. The self-produced album features many high-profile collaborators, including Grateful Dead members Jerry Garcia and Bill Kreutzmann alongside Creedence Clearwater Revival guitarist Tom Fogerty.^{[1] [2]} It peaked at number 197 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.^[3]

Six of the album's eight tracks were included on the compilation Fire Up Plus in 1992.

Background

Despite meeting resistance from his label over the album's lyrical content, Garcia encouraged Saunders to write the way he wanted:

Reception

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Eugene Chadbourne stated the album "emphasizes [Saunders'] clever songwriting", listing "Soul Roach" and "Chock-Lite Pudding" as highlights.^[4]

Personnel

• Merl Saunders – electric piano, organ, ARP (flute), ARP (band), clavinet
• Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals
• Tom Fogerty – rhythm guitar
• John Kahn – bass
• Bill Vitt – drums
• Gaylord Birch – congas, drums, tambourine
• Chuck Rainey – bass
• Walter Hawkins and sisters (Tramaine, Lynette, and Freddie) – background vocals
• Mike Howell – guitar, rhythm guitar
• Ken Nash – percussion
• Christopher Parker – drums
• Bill Somers – percussion
• Bill Kreutzmann – drums

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fire Up – Merl Saunders . Grateful Dead Family Discography . March 28, 2023.
2. Web site: Fire Up . Jerry Garcia . April 6, 2023.
3. Billboard 200 – Week of June 2, 1973 . Billboard . May 28, 2023.
4. Web site: Merl Saunders – Fire Up . AllMusic . Chadbourne . Eugene . March 28, 2023.