Merl Saunders Fire Up + CD

As seems to be the case with many of the Fantasy Records' CD reissues of the various Merl Saunders (keyboards/vocals) and Jerry Garcia (guitar/vocals) collaborations from the 1970s, FIRE UP + (1992) is a pastiche of several different long-players. Contained within the dozen tracks is the entirety of the HEAVY TURBULENCE (1972) project and another half-dozen selections from LIGHT UP (1973). Although both LPs were issued under Saunders' name, the featured musicians centered on significant contributions from Garcia, Tom Fogerty (guitar/vocals), and other friends, including John Kahn (bass) and Bill Vitt (drums). Saunders' arrangements--particularly with the Tower of Power brass on "Man Child" and "Soul Roach"--reveal a hidden talent for the keyboardist. Saunders alternates between the rubbery funk of "Expressway (To Your Heart)" and a comparably leaner sound on J.J. Cale's "After Midnight." Lead vocals are split between Saunders and Garcia, with the latter taking several of these songs with him into the Jerry Garcia Band. Most prominently, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "After Midnight," and the laid-back remake of the Doc Pomus R&B classic "Lonely Avenue."

Recorded between 1971 and 1973.

Personnel: Merl Saunders (vocals, electric piano, Clavinet, organ, keyboards, ARP synthesizer, background vocals); Jerry Garcia (vocals, guitar); Tom Fogerty (guitar, background vocals); Chuck Rainey, Michael Howell (guitar); John Kahn (electric piano, bass guitar); Eddie Moore (drums, musical saw); Chris Parker , Bill Vitt, Bill Kruetzman (drums); Gaylord Birch (congas); Kenneth Nash (percussion); Hawkins Singers, Edwin Hawkins, Freddie Hawkins, Carole Hawkins, Lynette Hawkins-Stephens, Tramaine Hawkins, Walter Hawkins (background vocals).

Audio Remasterer: Phil DeLancie.

Photographer: Tony Lane.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Hawkins Singers; Tower of Power Horn Section; Tower of Power; Bill Kreutzmann.

Personnel: Merl Saunders, John Kahn, Bill Vitt, The Hawkins Singers.