Lighting a Fire (That You Can't Put Out)

Lighting a Fire (That You Can't Put Out) was a hit for Hilltak Records recording artist Patti Hendrix in 1978. It made the Billboard, Cash Box and Record World charts.

"Lighting a Fire (That You Can't Put Out)"
Song by Patti Hendrix
B-side"We Can't Make it"
Released1978
Length3:17
LabelHilltak Records HT 7801
Songwriter(s)Martha K. Stubbs
Producer(s)Patti Hendrix & E. Gardner
Arranged by Brian Gregory and Tom Tom 84
Patti Hendrix singles chronology
"Men"
(1974)
"Lighting a Fire (That You Can't Put Out)"
(1978)

Background

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In June 1978, Hilltak Records had acquired the masters of Patti Hendrix's recordings and were to release the recording and follow up with an album.[1] Released on Hilltak Records HT 7801, the song was written by Martha Stubbs, and arranged by Brian Gregory and Tom Tom 84.[2] The song is about an older man's desire for younger women.

Cash Box had it in their "Singles To Watch" section on the Review page of the July 29 issue.[3] Dede Dabney of Record World had it in the "Wax to Watch" list of her Soul Truth feature on August 5.[4] The review from Record World was positive, calling it a "down home and funky r&b disc", with the reviewer noting that her vocal style was a bit reminiscent of Etta James. The prediction was that the record should get immediate r&b airplay.[5]

On the week of August 19, the single entered the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart at #90, just behind another new entry, Alicia Bridges' single "I Love the Nightlife".[6] It entered the Cash Box Top 100 R&B chart at #94 on August 26.[7] And it entered the Record World RW Black Oriented Singles chart at #66 on September 9.[8]

It was also the first single that the Hilltak label had released.[9]

Cash Box airplay

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August 26 to September 16

The single was getting airplay on Chris Turner's show at WGOK at Mobile, Alabama for the week ending August 26.[10] For the week ending September 9, 1978 she was getting a fair amount of airplay on Black radio stations with George White's show at WGPR Detroit, Chuck Merrit's show at WRBD - FT. Lauderdale, Jerry Rushian's show at WEDR Miami, Travis Smith's show at WYLD New Orleans and J.J. Jeffries show at KSOL San Francisco.[11] And for the week ending September 16, it was getting played on George White's show at WGPR Detroit and Jerry Rushian's show at WEDR Miami.[12]

Charts

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Chart (1979) Peak
position
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard) 65 [13][14][15]
US Top 100 R&B (Cash Box} 56 [16][17][18]
US RW Black Oriented Singles (Record World) 50 [19][20][21]

References

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  1. ^ Cash Box, June 10, 1978 - Page 7 CASH BOX NEWS, New Hilltak Label Formed; Atlantic Will Distribute
  2. ^ Copyright Encyclopedia - Lighting a fire (that you can't put out)
  3. ^ Cash Box, July 29, 1978 - REVIEWS SINGLES REVIEWS, SINGLES TO WATCH
  4. ^ Record World, August 5, 1978 - Page 54 SOUL TRUTH By DE DE DABNEY
  5. ^ Record World, August 5, 1978 - Page 1 HITS OF THE WEEK, SLEEPERS
  6. ^ Billboard, August 19, 1978 - Page 46 Billboard Hot Soul Singles
  7. ^ Cash Box, August 26, 1978 - Page 40 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B
  8. ^ Record World, September 9, 1978 - Page 33 RW BLACK ORIENTED SINGLES
  9. ^ Global Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Hilltak Records
  10. ^ Cash Box, August 26, 1978 - Page 41 R&B RADIO HIGHLIGHTS
  11. ^ Cash Box, September 9, 1978 - Page 50 BLACK RADIO HIGHLIGHTS
  12. ^ Cash Box, September 16, 1978 - Page 45 BLACK RADIO HIGHLIGHTS
  13. ^ Billboard, September 16, 1978 - Page 52 Billboard Hot Soul Singles {TW 67 LW 67 Wks 5)
  14. ^ Billboard, September 23, 1978 - Page 58 Billboard Hot Soul Singles (TW 65 LW 67 Wks 5)
  15. ^ Billboard, September 30, 1978 - Page 68 Billboard Hot Soul Singles (TW 67 LW 65 Wks 7)
  16. ^ Cash Box, August 26, 1978 - Page 40 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B
  17. ^ Cash Box, September 23, 1978 - Page 50 CASH BOX TOP 100
  18. ^ Cash Box, September 30, 1978 - Page 42 CASH BOX TOP 100
  19. ^ Record World, September 9, 1978 - Page 33 RW BLACK ORIENTED SINGLES
  20. ^ Record World, September 30, 1978 - Page 84 RW BLACK ORIENTED SINGLES
  21. ^ Record World, October 7, 1978 - Page 98 RW BLACK ORIENTED SINGLES
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