Ohio Players, Fire | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 169^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Fire” by beloved funk collective, Ohio Players.

“Cause when you’re hot, you’re hot, you really shoot your shot / You’re dynamite child, yeah.” Oh, snap 🫰! The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 169^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Fire”, performed by beloved funk collective, 🎙 Ohio Players.

“Fire 🔥 / Fire 🔥 / Fire 🔥 / Fire 🔥.” WOO! 🎵 “Fire” by 🎙 Ohio Players is a fiery 🔥 1970s funk classic, PERIOD.  Notably, this gem from 💿 Fire (1974) peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It marked the first of two no. 1 hits by the funk collective (the other was 🎵 “Love Rollercoaster”, released in 1975). The record was penned by 🎼✍ Clarence Satchell, James Williams, Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner, Marshall Jones, Marvin Pierce, Ralph Middlebrooks, and William Beck. Ohio Players produced this energetic joint which speaks for itself.

While “Fire” does speak for itself, what makes it utter fire 🔥 for Ohio Players? EVERYTHING! Leroy Sugarfoot Bonner serves up mean vocals filled with nuance and expression. He was a one of a kind vocalist, something “Fire” confirms.  Lyrically, the song is entertaining to the nth degree: “The way you walk and talk really sets me off / To a four-alarm 🚨, child, yes it does.” Ooh-wee! Bonner titillates when he sings, “When you shake what you got, and girl, you’ve got a lot 🍑 / You really somethin’, child, yes you are.”  Supporting Bonner’s lead and the ear-catching lyrics is a marvelous instrumental.  The groove cooks 🧑‍🍳 without a doubt.  The guitar 🎸 is rad, the bass line anchors, and the horns pack a serious bite.  50 years later, 🎵 “Fire” continues to burn, burn, burn, baby!

🎙 Ohio Players • 💿 Fire • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 🗓 1974

Ohio Players, Fire: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 169 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc.; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]