Fire (Arthur Brown song)

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"Fire"

Single by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
Released	July 1968
Format	7" single
Recorded	London, 1968
Genre	Psychedelic rock
Length	2:54
Label	Polydor/Track Track 604022
Producer(s)	Kit Lambert
Chart positions
#1 (UK) #2 (US)
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown singles chronology
"Devil's Grip" (1967)	"Fire" (1968)	"Nightmare" (1968)

"Fire" is a 1968 song by Arthur Brown, Vincent Crane, Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker. Performed by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, it was released as a single and on the band's debut album, also called The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. The single made #2 in the US Billboard charts and #1 in the UK in August 1968.

The song is an example of the psychedelic rock of the period, though its lack of guitars distinguished it from many of its contemporaries. The lead instrument in this case was Vincent Crane's Hammond electronic organ, augmented by an orchestral section featuring prominent brass. The singer's opening proclamation of himself as "the god of hellfire" became a lasting epithet.

During live performances and in the black and white promotional television clip, Brown performed the song wearing a burning helmet. The helmet was improvised with a leather skull cap onto which was bolted a metal dish that held lighter fluid or petrol. As the cap was not insulated, the heat from the burning fuel quickly conducted through the fixing bolt to the top of Brown's head, causing him considerable pain.

Two studio versions of "Fire" have been officially released, one in stereo and one in mono. Both versions are included on the CD reissue of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. The single B-side, "Rest Cure", was another track from the album.

Credit for the composition of "Fire" on the original vinyl single was to Arthur Brown and Vincent Crane only, however Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker successfully sued for co-credit and royalties based on melodic similarities to their song "Baby, You're a Long Way Behind".^[1]