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THROUGH THE FIRE

from THROUGH THE FIRE

Written by David Foster, Tom Keane & Cynthia Weil

Robert Peapo “Peabo” Bryson was one of the kings of the soul/quiet storm genre from the second half of the seventies up to the nineties. His velvety and powerful tenor graced the charts and international airwaves with hits including “Reaching For The Sky,” “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Roberta Flack, “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again,” “Can You Stop The Rain,” “Beauty And The Beast” with Celine Dion and “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle.

In June 1994, Bryson released a new album titled Through The Fire. A few key tracks of that record were produced by David Foster who had just teamed up with the singer for the song “By The Time This Night Is Over,” a duet with saxman Kenny G. that became a solid, multi-format hit off the mega-successful soundtrack of the movie, The Bodyguard. The title-track of the album was a reworking of the classic 1985 Chaka Khan hit that Foster co-produced with the wonderful Arif Mardin (1932-2006) and co-wrote with his friends Tom Keane and Cynthia Weil. Bryson’s cover of “Through The Fire” sounds a tad dated today with its heavy programmed drums, but it was very enjoyable, nonetheless, for the superior quality of the singer’s performance and the top-notch level of the Hitman’s production. Bryson’s vocals are sheer proof that he was one of the few male singers that could do this song justice and could have almost almost rivalled Chaka’s spectacular original with a fully-played rhythm section. Foster’s arrangement and keyboards still gave the usual ear-candy with support from studio legends including keyboardist Robbie Buchanan, Dave Boruff on sax and Michael Thompson plucking his guitar. 

The Hitman kindly sent a few thoughts about Bryson and “Through The Fire:”

“I really loved Peabo Bryson’s singing and I still do today. He was so easy to work with and absolutely well prepared. A total treat. I gotta admit that our version of ‘Through The Fire’ sounds dated. About Chaka’s original I remember I recorded the track in Los Angeles and then sent it to Arif Mardin in New York so he could do Chaka’s vocals. The first vocal he sent back didn’t match my vision at all so I immediately gave him a few suggestions and they recorded it again and it was absolutely spectacular.”


Listen

 

  • Lead Vocals: Peabo Bryson
  • Keyboards: David Foster
  • Synthesizer Programming & Additional Keyboards: Robbie Buchanan
  • Drum Loop Master: Jeff Lorber
  • Guitars: Michael Thompson
  • Saxophone: Dave Boruff
  • Backing Vocals: Katrina Perkins, Alex Brown, Yvonne Williams, Regina Troupe, September Gray & Peabo Bryson
  • Strings Arranged by Jeremy Lubbock
  • Produced & Arranged by David Foster
  • Additional Production by Peabo Bryson

Lyrics

I look in your eyes and I can see
Your love’s so plain to see
You’re not trusting your heart to anyone
You tell me you’re gonna play it smart
We’re through before we start
But I believe we’ve only just begun

When it’s this good there’s no saying no
I want you so I’m ready to go

Through the fire to the limit to the wall
For a chance to be with you I’d gladly risk it all
Through the fire, through what ever come what may
For the chance of loving you I’d take it all the way
Right down to the wire even through the fire

I know your afraid of what you feel
You still need time to heal
I can help if you only let me try
You touched me and something in me knew
What I could have with you
Now I’m not ready to kiss that dream goodbye

When it’s this sweet there’s no saying no
I want you so I’m ready to go

Through the fire to the limit to the wall
For a chance to be with you I’d gladly risk it all
Through the fire, through what ever come what may
For the chance of loving you I’d take it all the way
Right down to the wire even through the fire

Through the test of time
Through the test of time
I’m willing to go

Through the fire to the limit to the wall
For a chance to be with you I’d gladly risk it all
Through the fire, through what ever come what may
For the chance of loving you I’d take it all the way
Right down to the wire even through the fire