Keep the Fire Burnin' (Dan Hartman song)


Keep the Fire Burnin' is a song by American musician-singer-songwriter Dan Hartman starring Loleatta Holloway, released as the lead single in 1994 from his posthumous album Keep The Fire Burnin'. The album largely featured remixes of Hartman's previous hits.

Background

One of Hartman's final compositions, "Keep the Fire Burnin'" was written and produced by Hartman. Following the release of his 1989 instrumental album New Green Clear Blue, Hartman turned once again to producing and writing, mainly for others. By 1993, Hartman began to record a new album of contemporary pop and dance music. While in the studio during 1993, he noted that "So many things have changed in terms of social and political issues, as well as the need for love and personal relationships. All of these things are the reasons why writing and recording new material is most meaningful to me." In the end, a total of two songs were completed; "Keep the Fire Burnin'" and "The Love in Your Eyes". The single was released posthumously after Hartman's death on March 22, 1994, from an AIDS-related brain tumor. Released in Europe, the single was not initially successful, but in April 1995 it managed to peak at #49 in the UK, lasting within the Top 100 for a single week.
"Keep the Fire Burnin'" starred Loleatta Holloway. The song uses samples from Hartman's song "Relight My Fire" which was originally released in 1979 as the follow-up to "Instant Replay". "Relight My Fire" topped the United States dance charts for six weeks, and Holloway featured as vocalist on some versions of the record, singing the "strong enough to walk on through the night" refrain. After working together on "Relight My Fire", Hartman would write and produce the title track of Holloway's fourth and final album for Gold Mind, "Love Sensation". The song, which was one of her biggest hits, was another US Dance chart topper.
During the recording sessions of 1993, Hartman and Holloway teamed up again for "Keep the Fire Burnin'". Plans for a music video were laid out, however Hartman died before it could be filmed. In an interview with disco-disco.com, Holloway later recalled the song when speaking of her 1992 single "Strong Enough". She said "Strong Enough" was a good song. We put a lot of energy and feelings into that song and really it was Yvonne Turner's idea... I had told her; 'Everybody's always sampling my voice and everything.' And I was like; 'Maybe we should sample something of mine?'. She said; 'No, just take something from the song', and she was saying; 'Just like, you know, certain parts of it that's like 'Strong Enough'.' And I got the same idea to Dan Hartman with a song called "Keep the Fire Burnin'". But he passed away before we did the video. We were getting ready to do the video and that was my idea."

Release

The single was released in Europe and the UK only, including France and the Netherlands. It was released on 12" vinyl and CD via Columbia Records.
The main 12" vinyl release featured six remixes of the song. The first three songs "Tee's Mix," "Tee's Dub," and "Tee's Freeze Mix", as well as the "" remix was remixed by pioneering American house producer & DJ Todd Terry. The "Classic Throwback Mix" was remixed by American DJ and record producer Frankie Knuckles. The "LP Mix" was remixed by Michael H. Brauer.
The UK CD single featured the same track-listing. However the French CD single would feature different remixes. The main track was the "7inch Mix" which was exclusive to this issue of the single - it was remixed by Brauer. The "Classic Throwback Mix" was included, as well as "Tee's Mix" and "That SFB Feeling Bonus Beats" - the latter which was remixed by Knuckles.
In 1995, the UK and Netherlands had a double 12" vinyl set released as a promotional issue only, aimed at dance clubs. Eight remixes were included; "Classic Throwback Mix," "LP Version," "SFB Feeling," "SFB Feeling Bonus Beats," "Tee's Mix," "Tee's Dub," "That Roxy Mix" and Tee's Freeze". Knuckles and Terry worked together on the remixes of the first two tracks. Knuckles remixed the two SFB remixes and "That Roxy Mix", whilst Terry remixed the remaining three "Tee" tracks.
All version of the single featured full colour artwork, except the 1995 double 12" vinyl promo release. The front cover featured close-up photographs of Hartman and Holloway, with Holloway upside down, to merge with Hartman's photo above. The double 12" vinyl promo release featured a coloured sleeve of red and orange patterned squares.
On the Keep the Fire Burnin' album, aside from the title track being used as the album's opening track, another remix of the song would be included as the album's closing track. This was the "That SFB Feeling Mix". The song would also appear on Hartman's 2003 Columbia compilation Superhits.
The song also circulated on numerous various artists compilation albums in 1995. For the American Direct Hit - Volume 13 release from Direct Hit Remix Service, a remix of the song by Paul Buijsman was included. The song was also included on the DMC UK releases The Mixes 148 and CD Collection 148, and the Greek compilation Top of the Pops from Chart Records, In 1995, the "7inch Mix" appeared on two German CDs; the Columbia Records compilation Body & Soul - The Best Of Black Music - Vol. 3 and the Dance Pool compilation Dance Now! 10. In 2002 it appeared on the German Sony Music compilation Party Kult Hits - Disco Classics and the following year in Germany it appeared on the Sony Music compilation Body & Soul / Best Of.

Track listing

;12" Single
  1. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:00
  2. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:00
  3. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:18
  4. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:05
  5. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:57
  6. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:56
;12" Single
  1. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:05
  2. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:56
  3. "Keep the Fire Burnin' "
  4. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:29
  5. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:00
  6. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:00
  7. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " -
  8. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:18
;CD Single
  1. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:00
  2. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:00
  3. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:18
  4. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:05
  5. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:57
  6. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:56
;CD Single
  1. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 4:24
  2. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 6:05
  3. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:29
  4. "Keep the Fire Burnin' " - 5:59

    Critical reception

In The Courant of February 9, 1995, Courant staff writer Greg Morago reviewed the album and stated "Dan Hartman's flame is kept alive with "Keep the Fire Burnin'", a collection of the late singer-songwriter's greatest hits laced with a few unreleased tracks. Hartman, who died last March, enjoyed a two-decade career that embraced rock, disco, jazz and New Age. Hartman was preparing to reconquer the '90s dance floor with a pop-dance collection at the time of his death. From that effort, the title song, "Keep the Fire Burnin," is Hartman at his best. Aggressive, bouncy and up-front, the track - with additional smokin' vocals by diva Loleatta Holloway of "Love Sensation" fame - proves he never lost his touch."
In the Buffalo News of January 13, 1995, a review of the album by news critic Anthony Violanti stated "Dan Hartman doesn't waste time kicking out the jams on his new album. "Keep the Fire Burnin'," the opening track, is a scorching, gospel-style duet with Loleatta Holloway."
In a December 1995 issue of Billboard magazine, "Keep the Fire Burnin'" was mentioned in "The Critics' Choice" section, where the magazine's editors and writers chose their top 10 records, videos and live concerts of the year. Chuck Taylor, a radio editor for the magazine, listed the song as one five songs tied at tenth place on his list.
In the liner notes of the booklet of the Keep the Fire Burnin' album, writer Larry Flick stated "While in the studio during 1993, he noted that "So many things have changed in terms of social and political issues, as well as the need for love and personal relationships. All of these things are the reasons why writing and recording new material is most meaningful to me." Those words resonate during the two new tunes on this retrospective, "Keep the Fire Burnin' " and "The Love in Your Eyes." The former reunites Dan with Loleatta Holloway, the diva who fronted his much-sampled classic composition "Love Sensation." That latter showcases Dan's evocative tenor range, as well as his ability to transform simple love prose into a profound statement."

Chart performance

Personnel