24-05-2025, 19:24
FIREFALL ~ Friends & Family 2
![[Image: unnamed-2-15.jpg?resize=750%2C750&ssl=1]](https://i0.wp.com/wildfiremusic.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/unnamed-2-15.jpg?resize=750%2C750&ssl=1)
Somehow or other, I missed marque 1 which was simply Friends & Family and was released in 2023. How remiss!
The idea behind both albums is to honour some of the great songs and bands of the late 60’s and 70’s – mostly. Firefall played alongside, or toured with, or opened for some of the bands whose songs they cover on this series of albums, and one or two of them might even have been in said band at some point, the biz being the convoluted creature that it is, in terms of genealogy. Mark Andes, for example, was with Spirit as well as Firefall, and Rick Roberts had been a Flying Burrito Brother, obviously not at the same time.
I am astonished that 50+ years later, lead vocalist and guitarist Jock Bartley is still holding his own. At this stage, he’s pretty much the only remaining original member but still seems to be in mighty fine voice. I’m not enamoured of all the songs that comprise this paean to a bygone, much loved, and never to be repeated era of intense creativity, but I’d say that the majority hit the mark. And importantly, they are faithful in their rendition.
Track listing:
Brave to do this one but they pull it off, IMHO ... Wynona Judd here and Richie Furay, I believe ...
And then I went and listened to the first Friends & Family which led me to a perfect song for my week!
![[Image: unnamed-2-15.jpg?resize=750%2C750&ssl=1]](https://i0.wp.com/wildfiremusic.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/unnamed-2-15.jpg?resize=750%2C750&ssl=1)
Somehow or other, I missed marque 1 which was simply Friends & Family and was released in 2023. How remiss!
The idea behind both albums is to honour some of the great songs and bands of the late 60’s and 70’s – mostly. Firefall played alongside, or toured with, or opened for some of the bands whose songs they cover on this series of albums, and one or two of them might even have been in said band at some point, the biz being the convoluted creature that it is, in terms of genealogy. Mark Andes, for example, was with Spirit as well as Firefall, and Rick Roberts had been a Flying Burrito Brother, obviously not at the same time.
I am astonished that 50+ years later, lead vocalist and guitarist Jock Bartley is still holding his own. At this stage, he’s pretty much the only remaining original member but still seems to be in mighty fine voice. I’m not enamoured of all the songs that comprise this paean to a bygone, much loved, and never to be repeated era of intense creativity, but I’d say that the majority hit the mark. And importantly, they are faithful in their rendition.
Track listing:
- Love The One You’re With (Stephen Stills)
- Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac)
- Mr. Soul (Buffalo Springfield)
- Longer (Dan Fogelberg)
- Shakin’ (Eddie Money)
- I’m Alright (Kenny Loggins)
- I Need You (America)
- So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star (The Byrds)
- Let Me Love You Tonight (Pure Prairie League)
- Sail On Sailor (The Beach Boys)
- Christine’s Tune (Flying Burrito Brothers)
- Cool Change (Little River Band)
Brave to do this one but they pull it off, IMHO ... Wynona Judd here and Richie Furay, I believe ...
And then I went and listened to the first Friends & Family which led me to a perfect song for my week!
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson