Musical Episode

Delia Gartrell “Fight Fire, With Fire” (Right-On Records, 1971)

(Click title to download)

Listen to this track in the Singles Mixer Volume Four Podcast

Anyone feel a great political malaise creeping in?  Is an overwhelming cynicism tainting your every thought?  Feeling helpless?  Well you just might be in the 70s!  Today’s record absolutely nails the prevailing sense of doom that came along with the end of a decade of upheaval, assassination and napalm.

The 45 on hand today, “Fight Fire, With Fire” by Delia Gartrell was recorded by the Mighty Hannibal and arranged by the same (under his given name of James Shaw).  This record has all the characteristics associated with the heavy come-down / hangover of the early 70’s so popularly and clearly articulated by the tone of Sly & The Family Stone’s “There’s A Riot Goin’ On.”

Delia Gartrell, like Hannibal, was a product of a vibrant, though often unheralded Atlanta scene.  Hannibal successfully courted Gartrell and the two were married both in the the eyes of the state and in their creative efforts.  The flip of today’s record is a reworking of Hannibal’s minor hit “Hymn #5” a track, appropriately, expressing disapproval of the Vietnam War.

“Fight Fire, With Fire” is a beautifully written piece of protest; it can be read as domestic strife portraying an unhappy, unfaithful relationship and without much effort can also be read as “The Fire Next Time” warning to the entire United States of America (particularly the government and elected officials).  An America that had just been through years of violent protest in the streets, riots and whole cities catching fire.

Hannibal’s history is pretty well documented so I won’t spend too much more time writing about him here and I do have a couple of 45’s I’d like to feature here so I’ll keep his biography to a minimum this time around.

Hope you enjoy today’s record and have a great weekend!

-George / Snack Attack