Free the Fire
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- Bill Schnee Studios, Los Angeles, California
- The Bunny Hop, Los Angeles, CA
- 41B Studios, Westlake Village, California
- O'Henry Sound Studios, Burbank, California
| Free the Fire | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:19 | |||
| Label | Myrrh/Word Records | |||
| Producer | Bill Schnee | |||
| The Imperials chronology | ||||
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Free the Fire is the 33rd studio album by Christian music vocal group The Imperials released in 1988. This is their third and final album on the Myrrh label and after more than 10 years, their final album overall on Word Records.[1] The Imperials would switch over to Star Song Records for their next album Love's Still Changing Hearts (1990). It is also the last time for the lineup of Jimmie Lee Sloas, Ron Hemby, David Will and Armond Morales from their previous album This Year's Model (1987) as Sloas left the group in 1989 to focus more behind the scenes as a bass guitar player, producer and songwriter and would go on to form the Christian Rock band Dogs of Peace with former Whiteheart guitarist and vocalist Gordon Kennedy. It was a reunion of sorts as the Imperials reunited with Bill Schnee who produced their 1982 album Stand by the Power and the husband and wife team of Michael and Stormie Omartian (One More Song for You, Priority) with music and lyrics on the title song. Baritone singer David Will sings lead on the Cliff Richard track "Better Than I Know Myself" from Richard's 1981 album Wired for Sound. Free the Fire debuted and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.[2]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Free the Fire in Me" | Michael Omartian, Stormie Omartian | 5:11 |
| 2. | "Wild Geese" | Jon Sweet, Rod Trott | 4:08 |
| 3. | "City in the Sky" | Bill Schnee, Jimmie Lee Sloas, David Martin | 4:56 |
| 4. | "You" | J. Lee Sloas, Robbie Buchanan, Randy Goodrum | 4:55 |
| 5. | "The Boss" | J. Lee Sloas | 5:17 |
| 6. | "Higher Things" | Tommy Sims, Chris Rodriguez | 5:11 |
| 7. | "Rest in Your Arms" | Ron Hemby, Tom Hemby | 4:16 |
| 8. | "Let It Go" | J. Lee Sloas, D. Martin | 4:15 |
| 9. | "Better Than I Know Myself" | Dave Cooke, Judy MacKenzie | 4:08 |
| 10. | "Touchin' Me" | J. Lee Sloas, R. Hemby | 4:03 |
| 11. | "I Just Came to Praise the Lord" | Wayne Romero | 1:59 |
Personnel
The Imperials
- Jimmie Lee Sloas – tenor (lead vocals on tracks 3, 5, 8–10)
- Ron Hemby – tenor (lead vocals on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
- David Will – baritone (lead vocals on track 9)
- Armond Morales – bass, vocals
Musicians
- Michael Omartian – grand piano (1, 5, 11), synthesizers (1)
- Robbie Buchanan – organ (1), keyboards (2–10)
- Dann Huff – guitars (1–10)
- David Lindley – slide guitar (3)
- Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (1–10)
- Paul Leim – drums (1–10)
- Lenny Castro – percussion (1–10)
- Brandon Fields – saxophone (2, 4, 8)
Production
- Bill Schnee – producer, engineer
- Wade Jaynes – assistant engineer
- Bart Stevens – assistant engineer
- Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
- Lynn Nichols – A&R direction
- Mark Maxwell – A&R direction
- Dee Dee Jaynes – A&R assistant
- Deborah Klein – production assistant
- Roland Young – art direction, design
- Howard Rosenberg – photography
- Darin Walter – stylist
