Relight My Fire

Dan Hartman original version

Originally released in 1979 as the follow-up to "Instant Replay", "Relight My Fire" topped the United States dance charts for six weeks from December 12, 1979 to February 16, 1980; it was less successful in the UK, however, where it failed to chart. Loleatta Holloway is credited as a featured vocalist on some versions of the record, singing the "strong enough to walk on through the night" refrain. The song's strings and horns were played by MFSB and conducted by longtime MFSB member Don Renaldo. The 12" version includes a 4½-minute intro called "Vertigo", often used in discos as a floor-filler before the song begins; this 11:22 version is available on Hartman's 1994 hits package titled Keep the Fire Burnin'. The title track from this album was a new recording between Hartman and Holloway, featuring some samples from "Relight My Fire".

Versions

In the media

Café Society version

South African disco group Café Society recorded this song in 1984. It was the third and last hit from the group.

Take That version

"Relight My Fire" was covered in 1993 by English boy band Take That and featured guest vocals from Lulu, reprising the Holloway role. The second of the band's eleven number-one hits, it topped the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in October 1993. It was the first UK number-one single for Lulu and at the time broke the record between an act's chart debut and their reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart, happening 29 years 148 days after her debut with "Shout" in 1964.

The band performed the Dan Hartman version when on the Nobody Else Tour, with each member introduced at different parts of the intro.

In 1999, Love to Infinity remixed Take That's cover and issued it on a "12" vinyl" pressing "3.0 Hitmixes". In 2005, the track was remixed for their reunion compilation, known as the 'Element Remix'. However, only a 3 track CD single featuring the new remix was issued to DJs while the commercial CD single pressing was withdrawn.

The song has received a silver disc certification and sold over 360,000 copies in the UK.

The band appeared on Mooi! Weer de Leeuw in the Netherlands on the 14 March 2009 to perform "The Garden". They also ended up performing "Back For Good" and "Relight My Fire" due to popular demand from the host and audience the next day.

Music video

The music video depicts the band and singer Lulu dancing and partying in a club atmosphere.

Personnel

Track listings

1. "Relight My Fire" (radio version) – 3:59
2. "Meaning of Love" – 11:17
3. "Relight My Fire" (Late Night Mix) – 6:47
4. "If This Is Love" (All Night Mix) – 6:58
5. "Relight My Fire" (Night Beats) – 5:20

1. "Relight My Fire" (album version) – 4:11
2. "Why Can't I Wake Up with You?" (live version) – 5:13
3. "Motown Medley" (live version) – 10:14
4. "Take That and Party" (live version) – 2:49

1. "Relight My Fire" (radio version) – 3:59
2. "Why Can't I Wake Up with You?" (live version) – 5:13

1. "Relight My Fire" (radio version) – 3:59
2. "Why Can't I Wake Up with You?" (live version) – 5:13
3. "Relight My Fire" (Late Night Mix) – 6:47

1. "Relight My Fire" (radio version) – 3:59
2. "Why Can't I Wake Up with You?" (live version) – 5:13

1. "Relight My Fire" (radio version) – 3:59
2. "Why Can't I Wake Up with You?" (live version) – 5:13

1. "Relight My Fire" (radio version) – 3:59
2. "Why Can't I Wake Up with You?" (live version) – 5:13

1. "Relight My Fire" (full-length version) – 11:17
2. "Relight My Fire" (All Night Mix) – 6:58
3. "Relight My Fire" (Late Night Mix) – 6:47
4. "Relight My Fire" (Percacapella) – 2:11
5. "Relight My Fire" (Night Beats) – 5:20

1. "Relight My Fire" (Element Remix) – 3:46
2. "Relight My Fire" (original version) – 4:11
3. "Relight My Fire" (video) – 4:12

1. "Relight My Fire" (Element Remix) – 3:46
2. "Relight My Fire" (Joey Negro Club Mix) – 6:43
3. "Relight My Fire" (Joey Negro Vocal Mix) – 7:05

The medley contains versions of "Just My Imagination", "My Girl", "Reach Out (I'll Be There)", "Get Ready", "Treat Her Like a Lady" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)"

Official Take That versions

Ricky Martin version

Ricky Martin covered "Relight My Fire" in 2003. In late January 2003, Billboard reported that Grammy Award-winnig remixer Hex Hector recently spent time in the studio with Martin and Anastacia. The trio, with Hector in the producer's seat, completed a cover of Dan Hartman's disco classic "Relight My Fire." Billboard added that Anastacia reprised Loleatta Holloway's performance from the original, and the song should appear on Martin's forthcoming album. However, the single released in March 2003 included Holloway's original vocals, and the song did not appeared on any of Martin's albums. "Relight My Fire" is credited to "Martin featuring Loleatta Holloway."

Chart performance

On the Billboard issue dated April 19, 2003, "Relight My Fire" appeared on the Hot Dance Breakouts chart, and on May 3, 2003, it entered the Dance Club Songs at number thirty-eight. The song peaked at number five on June 21, 2003 and spent twelve weeks on the Dance Club Songs chart.

Formats and track listings

US promotional CD single

1. "Relight My Fire" (Hex Hector/Mac Quayle Club Vocal Mix) (Edited) – 8:52
2. "Relight My Fire" (Hex Hector/Mac Quayle Dub Mix) – 8:28
3. "Relight My Fire" (Hex Hector/Mac Quayle Club Mix) (Full Version) – 9:08
4. "Relight My Fire" (Hex Hector/Mac Quayle Radio Vocal Mix) – 4:17
5. "Relight My Fire" (Hex Hector/Mac Quayle Club Instrumental) – 9:09
6. "Relight My Fire" (Hex Hector/Mac Quayle Club A Cappella) – 4:17

José Galisteo version

In 2007, José Galisteo, a contestant on Spain's Operación Triunfo, recorded it on his debut disc, Remember.

Lulu version

On Friday 5 June 2015 as part of BBC Music Day. Lulu did her own solo version of the Take That version from 1993 where she covered all of the vocals for the verses and her backing band stood in for Take That on the choruses. The whole song was performed live from The Quay in Glasgow on the BBC Red Button as part of The One Show Extra.