Mary Isaacs takes on Fire
Mary Isaacs remembers rocking to The Pointer Sisters’ Fire while living in New York City in the late 1970s. Written by Bruce Springsteen, the song was a massive pop hit for the rhythm and blues trio.
Isaacs has covered the sultry track for Issachar Muzik, a Los Angeles-based label which she has collaborated with in recent years. Her reggae version is produced by Delroy “Phatta” Pottinger.
“In keeping with the love themes of my past works, I chose Fire. Its message: When it comes to love you often go against the ‘words’ you say because you are unable to control what the heart feels,” she said.
Springsteen was a rising figure in rock music at the time he wrote Fire. ‘The Pointers’ recorded the song in 1978 and it peaked at 2 on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 chart in early 1979.
One of that year’s biggest hits, among its millions of fans was the Kingston-born Isaacs, who migrated to the United States in the late 1960s.
“I was drawn to its catchy, repetitive lyrics which I’ve been singing along to since the 1970s,” she said.
Fire is Isaacs’s latest recording for Issachar Muzik which is owned by Jamaican Lloyd Shaw.
I’m Happy, Tell Me, and a cover of Gregory Isaacs’ Tune In are some of their previous productions.
— Howard Campbell