Sunday, June 21, 2020

Sunday Music: Wildfire



Michael Martin Murphey's one-hit wonder signature opus from 1975. He had plenty of albums, but nothing charted for him like this song. But lest you think this was a fluke, or it had no legs, check out him performing it 32 years later on Letterman as well as he ever did in the '70s; or belting it out in a duet with Amy Grant over 40 years later. And at the end, he almost tiptoes offstage, with just a shy wave of the hat. That horse has given him one heck of a ride.

13 comments:

ASM826 said...

Back in the days of vinyl and diamond needles on direct drive turntables, I had this album. I didn't even need to play the link to hear it in my head.

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

I have never heard this before Aesop. Very enjoyable. Thank you.

RandyGC said...

I understand why you picked this one, but I burned out on listening to this song about 45 years ago.

That summer the local stations played it at least twice an hour. If you channel hopped by tuning to another station (and there weren't that many I could get in those days, all AM) here it came again. Pop 40, easy listening, Country and Western, all same same. (I told you, limited selection in SE Iowa in 1975)

Nice song the first 100 times or so in a week; have exceeded my lifetime quota for listening to it.

Aesop said...

I feel your pain, Randy, but as prior comments point out, for a host of people who grew up after choices became unlimited, this is virtually a new song, 45 years later.

But I promise you won't see Starland Vocal Band's Afternoon Delight on this list.

To get that experience in full and do it proper justice, you'd have to watch PCU for the Dean's dinner party scene.

Cougfan said...

Have that original album, and having introduced the kids to vinyl while they were in single digits, they also have copies, and by-God vintage equipment to enjoy it on. Along with most of the Beatles catalog, The Clash, Supremes...many dozens of others.

Great song. Thanks for the reminder.

Robert said...

Great, now "star rockets in flight, etc" is stuck in my head. Dammit.
OTOH, Hadta google PCU, so that's one less thing stuffed in my noggin.

RandyGC said...

Aesop,

Oh, I understand. In fact you've pointed me to some gems that didn't make the mid-west AM pop-40 playlists back in the day. I fully realize it's my issue, not the song's.

The other played to death song that I liked at first was You Light Up My Life, but by then I was in range of an FM (mostly) rock station and had a tape player in the car so I didn't get quite as burned out on that one.

Knightsofnee said...

Don't go breaking my heart.

horsewithnonick said...

I'm partial to Geronimo's Cadillac, personally, but Wildfire is a hell of a tune, too...

Bon M said...

Ah, Wildfire. I loved this song back in the 1970s when I was a teen, and I still love it today.

Bear Claw Chris Lapp said...

OT 2 weeks and no woodpile report. Page is still up anyone heard anything? Would not blame him if he just fades away but would leave a big hole in my education future. God Speed.

jackalope said...

At the beginning of this week's episode of "Yellowstone," there is a bucking horse sequence. The piano intro to this song matches up perfectly. My wife and I laughed ourselves silly.

Velocity Institute said...

There are nights I only feel right with Carolina in the pines.