Top 10 Firefall Songs

Photo: Atlantic Records / Public domain

Our Top 10 Firefall Songs list looks at a band that crossed the genres of pop, soft rock, and southern rock in a manner that proved commercially successful. Sounding somewhere between America, Poco, and at, times Crosby Stills & Nash, Firefall was defined by a penchant for writing memorable pop songs performed by a group of excellent musicians. The band’s original lineup consisted of Rick Roberts on vocals and guitars, Jock Bartley on lead guitars, Larry Burnett on rhythm guitars and vocals, Mark Andes on bass and Michael Clarke on drums. That lineup lasted for the band’s first five albums.

Their first album, Firefall, was released in 1976. The band followed up their debut album one year later, in 1977, with a record called Luna Sea. The following year, in 1978, Firefall released what we believe was the greatest album of their career, entitled Elan. Most of the band’s hits were released from those first three albums. However, the same lineup produced two more records, both in 1980, entitled Clouds Across the Sun and Undertow.

After the release of the Undertow album in 1980, Michael Clarke and Mark Andes left the band. It wasn’t long before Rick Roberts also left. The defections from the band’s original lineup would fuel a revolving door of musicians in Firefall for the rest of the band’s career. The group released six more albums with many different lineups over the next twenty years. The band never had another big hit. There were tours and reunions, but the glory years of Firefall ended in 1980.

Our Top 10 Firefall songs list centers mainly on the band’s first five albums, with most attention paid to the first three. The band’s first three albums were loaded with great songs. We highly recommend picking up the first three instead of the greatest hits, which still, though, is a pretty nice package. Firefall was a great band that was too harshly criticized at times for their sweet-sounding pop hits. Ultimately, these guys wrote great songs produced with beautiful vocal harmonies, excellent musicianship, and perfect productions. Just take a listen……….

# 10 – Sweet And Sour

We open our top 10 Firefall songs with this interesting track, “Sweet And Sour.” This great song was released on the Elan album. It was the second track on the album. It seemed to fit perfectly following the album’s lead-off track, “Strange Way.” We wouldn’t be surprised if some people who heard this song for the first time might think it was Crosby Stills, Nash & Young. It sounds just like them. Jock Bartley and Rick Roberts wrote the song.

# 9 – Love That Got Away

Continuing with our top 10 Firefall songs list, we turn to the band’s fifth album, Undertow. The song “Love That Got Away” was released as the album’s first single. It was the lowest charting single the band had released in the past four years. However, it succeeded as a top 10 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts in 1980, peaking at the number nine position. The Undertow album was the last great Firefall album to feature the band’s original lineup of musicians.

# 8 – Mexico

Firefall’s gritty song “Mexico” was released on the band’s debut album Firefall. The album was released in 1976. Rick Roberts wrote the song. The song was never released as a single but received substantial airplay on FM album-oriented rock. From the opening intro, which featured some great dueling guitars, you knew this one would be special. Indeed, as some superb guitar solos were in the middle of the song, wrapped around a smoking horn section. The songs showcased right away on the band’s first album that this group would not be satisfied with just sweet hit singles; they were a band intent on delivering deep album tracks just like this one.

# 7 – Clouds Across the Sun

The title track from the album Clouds Across the Sun takes the seventh spot on our top 10 Firefall songs list. This great song sounds like it could have been released on Elan. The song’s minor chord changes and melody define a great song that should have been a hit. What is even more remarkable is the guitar work on the song. The guitar solos are some of the best put down on tape by Firefall.

# 6 – Cinderella

Firefall shows some of its southern roots in this great song, “Cinderella.” Firefall’s fantastic guitar player, Larry Burnett, wrote this superb song. Listen to the guitar work he does in the introduction. It reminds us of Stephen Stills’s work with Crosby Stills, Nash & Young. Even the vocal harmonies on “Cinderella” are reminiscent of CSN&Y. It was issued on the band’s first album, Firefall, released in 1976. The song “Cinderella” was released as the third single from the album. The song did well, breaking the Billboard Top 40 in 1977.

# 5 – You Are The Woman

We look at the band’s biggest hits as we move into the second half of our top 10 Firefall songs list. While there are so many significant deep album cuts on the first five albums, we can’t ignore the hits if we make a top 10 list. Starting this section is Firefall’s big hit, “You Are The Woman.” The song was released on Firefall’s first album entitled Firefall. It was the album’s second single release. However, it was the biggest hit from the record as it reached the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart, making it Firefall’s only top 10 hit. This one always reminded me of the band America and the music style released in the early 1970s.

# 4 – Goodbye, I Love You

The song “Goodbye, I Love You” is one of our most loved Firefall songs. It was released as the second single from Firefall’s third album, Elan. The groove on this one is to die for. I played this one all the time back in 1979. That saxophone is haunting in the introduction, weaving in and out of the song through the recording. It brings back high school memories. What does it do for you?

# 3 – Livin’ Ain’t Livin’

“Livin’ Ain’t Livin'” was Firefall’s first single, released on their first album, Firefall, in 1976. Firefall’s music was split on many of their albums. There are sweet country folk-pop songs written in major keys that seem to celebrate love and happiness. Then there were the dark songs that used minor chords and focused on lost love and heartbreak while also tilting a little more towards the jazzier side of things. That is what this one was all about, and it was one of the band’s hallmarks of their sound and compositions.

# 2 – Just Remember I Love You

As we close in on the number one spot on this top 10 Firefall songs list, we present the band’s beautiful song “Just Remember I Love You.” This one is instantly captivating. The opening guitar strumming wraps around you like a warm blanket on a cool late summer beach night. The song was released on Firefall’s second album, entitled Luna Sea. The album and single were released in 1977. The song “Just Remember I Love You” was written by Rick Roberts. This is a sweet one!

# 1 – Strange Way

While this one may not be as sweet as “Just Remember I Love You,” it stands as our favorite Firefall song. It’s dark, heavy, melodic, passionate, and a great song. “Strange Way” was released on the Elan album in 1978. This one brings me back to the fall of 1978. Rick Roberts wrote the song. The song was a success for the band, as it just missed the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number eleven.