Frank Ifield
The Fire Still Burns

© 1997 Odyssey Records/ABC Country

	Forgettin' About You
	A Little Bit Of Push

Born in England to Australian parents, who returned to their homeland when he was just 9 years old, Frank Ifield is best known for his yodeling style and his mega hit, "I Remember You." Through the years, although Frank has incorporated various influences in his music, his biggest love has always been Country music and he has always struggled to keep a semblance of it in there, while all the time being steered in other directions by the people around him.

This album, "The Fire Still Burns" was released in 1997 and once again is a mix of various styles, giving it cross genre appeal.

For Country fans, there is an excellent version of Eddie Rabbitt's "Hearts On Fire" with a 'single' mix kicking off the album and a standard mix to close, and then there is the catchy, "A Little Bit Of Push" a story song in true country tradition, penned by Don Schultz, and with an intro that reminds me of Confederate Railroad's "When You Leave That Way." On one of Frank's visit's to Nashville, he recorded an 'unplugged' session at the studio's of (Cowboy) Jack Clements. The wonderful, "Forgettin' About You," a song penned by Allen Reynolds and Don Williams, is a track taken from that session, that also benefits from the added background vocals of Jack Clements himself. The partnership of Allen Reynolds and Don Williams also provide "Before I'm Fool Enough" a good, mid paced song that bobs along steadily to a Mandolin driven rhythm.

Frank also borrows from The Statler Brothers for "Who Am I To Say," with Peewee Wilson of Australian group The Delltones doing a grand job of reproducing the deep Bass vocals of the Staler's Harold Ried, while the tex-mex flavoured "Let Me Lay In Your Arms" is a very catchy tune, that should appeal to fans of The Mavericks with it's strong brass feel.

"Let Your Love Fall Back On Me" would sound good in a London pub with it's sing-a-long, honky tonk piano styling, while Frank gives a Reggae feel to Karla Bonoff's "Isn't It Always Love."

With the rest of the album made up mainly of pop ballads, there is something on here for everyone, as Frank sounds as good as he ever has, on this fine album that was released back in 1997. I have no hesitation in recommending you get your local record shop to order it for you and add it to your collection. These days, Frank spends his time promoting new, young talent in Australia, rather than recording himself, so this may turn out to be the last recording from one of music's true legends.