Fire Lake
Encyclopedia
"Fire Lake" is the title of a song written and recorded by American
musical artist Bob Seger
. Seger planned to release "Fire Lake" for his 1975 album Beautiful Loser
, but the track did not make the final cut. In fact, the song had been partly written years before, in 1971. It was finished in 1979 and finally released in 1980 on Seger's album Against the Wind
and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
, Don Henley
and Timothy B. Schmit
. Seger's recording engineer David Cole makes reference to the song on his website when he talks of his history with Seger: "I was there when the Eagles sang 'Who wants to go to Fire Lake?' and many other great moments during the Stranger in Town [sic; the song was actually on Against the Wind, not Stranger in Town] album".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical artist Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
. Seger planned to release "Fire Lake" for his 1975 album Beautiful Loser
Beautiful Loser
Beautiful Loser is the eighth album by American rock singer/songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1975 .The album relied mostly on session musicians from the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, but the Silver Bullet Band members were used separately on some songs and together on "Nutbush City Limits," a...
, but the track did not make the final cut. In fact, the song had been partly written years before, in 1971. It was finished in 1979 and finally released in 1980 on Seger's album Against the Wind
Against the Wind (album)
Against the Wind is the 11th album by American rock singer Bob Seger and his third with The Silver Bullet Band. It was released in 1980 . It is Seger's only Number 1 album to date, spending six weeks atop the Billboard 200, and knocking Pink Floyd's massive-selling The Wall from the top spot...
and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Background and writing
Seger and colleagues decided to make "Fire Lake" the first single from Against the Wind because it was "totally and unequivocally unlike anything I'd ever done before."- "The lyric is very ... different ... and very kind of unique. It's about taking risks. About risking love, chucking it all and just heading off with a bunch of wild people, whatever.
- "It is one of my favorite lyrics down through the years, and the track is very unusual. It's sort of an R&B meets country kind of thing.
- "I really wanted it to be the first single but I never thought CapitolCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
would agree to it, and I believe it was Punch who talked them into it. What I liked about it was that it broke new ground for us. It really showed that we were unafraid to push the envelope of what we were doing before, which was basically pretty hot rock and roll, you know, with a few ballads thrown in."
Production
Three of the Eagles provided the backing vocals for this track: Glenn FreyGlenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
, Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
and Timothy B. Schmit
Timothy B. Schmit
Timothy Bruce Schmit is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as bass guitar player and singer for Poco and the Eagles. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist.-Early career:Raised in Sacramento, Schmit began playing in the folk music group...
. Seger's recording engineer David Cole makes reference to the song on his website when he talks of his history with Seger: "I was there when the Eagles sang 'Who wants to go to Fire Lake?' and many other great moments during the Stranger in Town [sic; the song was actually on Against the Wind, not Stranger in Town] album".
Chart performance
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report | 57 |
| Belgian VRT Top 30 | 21 |
| Canadian RPM Top 100 | 3 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 4 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 26 |
| French Singles Chart | 41 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 18 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 31 |