"Touch the Fire" by Icehouse

Song#:  4061

Date:  10/07/1989

Debut:  93

Peak:  84

Weeks:  4

Genre:  Rock

Pop Bits:  After a few modest selling albums, this Australian band broke through in a bigger way with their '87 album Man of Colours (#43). It would boast a pair of Pop Top 20 hits including the #7 "Electric Blue." Following that success, the band's label thought it was a good time to have folks get more acquainted with the band's previous material and opted to assemble the compilation album Great Southern Land. In addition to their previous releases, the LP would include a pair of new tracks including this first single. Unfortunately, it wouldn't make much of an impression and would only spend a month near the bottom of the Pop chart. The second single, "Jimmy Dean," would fail to chart. With those results, the compilation came and went to little notice. That would wrap up things for Icehouse in the US.

ReduxReview:  This song isn't as catchy or memorable as their two Top 20 hits, but it is a well-done track. The break through they had could have been a lead-in to something even better, but unfortunately this song brought a halt to their momentum, which is too bad. The song should have done much better on the chart. Its follow up "Jimmy Dean" wasn't really single worthy, but again, it was another good song from the band. If you like good, solid pop/rock that is well-written and nicely arranged/produced, then check out one of the band's compilations. I think they were a bit underrated in the US.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Icehouse lead singer and main songwriter Iva Davies would continue on with the band with two more studio albums that found favor in Australia. In 1995, Davies and his Icehouse band would record cover tunes for the Sydney Dance Company's production of Berlin. Icehouse would perform live during the performances. A soundtrack album, The Berlin Tapes, would be released. Since that time, Davies has teased a few new Icehouse songs, but a new album has yet to materialize. He continues on collaborating with other artists and performing with Icehouse. He has also worked on a few film scores including co-writing music for the 2003 Russell Crowe epic war drama Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

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