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In 1963 he began writing his own material, and in 1966 Dave formed FRIDAY'S CHYLD together with BOB VOICE (a friend from Dave's Boys' Brigade days), and DICK DUFALL. The following year the band's name was changed to FIRE, and Dave wrote "FATHER'S NAME IS DAD" which was recorded and released to much acclaim.

FIRE: (l-r) Dick Dufall, Dave Lambert, Bob Voice.

Dave turned fully professional on 1st January 1968 and whilst writing a new stage act for Fire he broke new ground by penning a very early concept album; a musical fairytale entitled "THE MAGIC SHOEMAKER". The album, now a much sought-after collectors' item, was released in 1970 on the Pye label and included contributions from DAVE COUSINS (who Dave Lambert had first met at an early STRAWBS concert) on banjo, and PAUL BRETT on electric guitar. The concept format was adopted by other artistes, and “THE MAGIC SHOEMAKER” subsequently became a rare collectors’ item and remains so to this day.

Dave’s initial idea did not involve a central character of a magic shoemaker, but rather a whole series of cameo character studies. However, the shoemaker came to prominence, and those familiar with "The Magic Shoemaker" will know that the shoemaker's name is “Mark”, rather a rather strange choice given the story’s fairytale content. Dave has never been quite sure why he chose the name, however, during recent investigations into his family tree, Dave revealed he discovered several “Mark Lamberts”. Born in 1815 was one such "Mark Lambert", whose profession was slightly spookily listed as “shoemaker”!

The original recording, which gave the impression of being made on a coach, actually occurred at a house in Walton-on-Thames (the engine sounds came from a music library and were overdubbed) where a party was thrown for several children who were close relatives of the record producers. Dave had the task of attempting to entertain them with his story, which he had “cobbled” together the previous evening.

Dave found the lengthy process of writing and recording "The Magic Shoemaker" draining and even now listening to the album evokes vivid memories of the intensity involved. He spent approximately a year writing the album, followed by a month working all through each night recording demos, a confusing and disorientating experience which he considers robbed him of his musical objectivity at the time. For two weeks after finishing recording Dave could not even bring himself to listen to the final mixes, eventually hearing them only when Ray Hammond brought them to his house in Hounslow. The album was released on the Pye label, however, despite their success, Fire disbanded when Dave felt he had reached a point of creative stagnation and had also become disillusioned with the unfathomable workings of the music industry.

A vinyl album entitled “Underground and Overhead: The Alternate Fire” containing tracks from “The Magic Shoemaker”, together with classics including “Father’s Name is Dad”, “Will I Find Love” and “Treacle Toffee World” was released in 1997 on the Tenth Planet label. More recently, the album was re-released, in CD format by Wooden Hill and is currently available with six additional recordings, making a total of nineteen tracks.

"UNDERGROUND AND OVERHEAD: THE ALTERNATE FIRE" - (CD)

TRACK LISTING

1. Father's Name Is Dad 1 (Lambert) 2. Treacle Toffee World (Lambert) 3. Happy Sound (Lambert) 4. Spare A Copper (Lambert) 5. Will I Find Love (Lambert) 6. Man In The Teapot (Freedman) 7. Only A Dream (Lambert) 8. Magic Shoes (Lambert) 9. I've Still Got Time (Lambert) 10. I Know You Inside Out (Lambert) 11. Reason For Everything (Lambert) 12. Alison Wonderland (Lambert) 13. * I Just Can't Wait (Lambert) 14. * I Didn't Know You (Lambert) 15. * Can't Be So Bad (Miller) 16. * Green-Legged Auntie Sally (Lambert) 17. * Mama (Lambert) 18. * Oh Johnny (Lambert) 19. Father's Name Is Dad 2 (Lambert)

* = CD only tracks

However, despite feeling Fire had run its course many years before, Dave was filled with enthusiasm in late 2006 when the idea of Fire reuniting to stage “The Magic Shoemaker” first began to evolve. This resulted from Dave being shown a book by a young guy in Upstate NY entitled “THEN NOW AND RARE: BRITISH BEAT 1960-1969” by TERRY RAWLINGS. Dave looked for Fire and was pleasantly surprised to find a full page photo and spread. Upon hearing of his embryonic plans to stage the album, the musicians involved in the original recording jumped at the idea of being part of the recreation of Fire, much to Dave’s astonishment and delight!

"THEN NOW AND RARE: BRITISH BEAT 1960 - 1969"

Another book, written in 2002 by Stefan Granados, dedicates a couple of pages to Dave's career and the history of Fire. "THOSE WERE THE DAYS: AN UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE BEATLES' APPLE ORGANIZATION 1967-2001" was published by Cherry Red books. In April 2008 Dave was interviewed by Stefan for an updated version of the book due to be released in the USA.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS: AN UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE BEATLES' APPLE ORGANISATION 1967-2001

The hard work and dedication involved in preparing for the shows was considerable; rehearsals involving the rhythm section, with Bob using an electric drum-kit, took place approximately once a month from the inception of the idea of reforming, with rehearsals intensifying greatly in the final weeks before the shows.

Finally, two amazing and unforgettable theatrical concerts took place at The Windlesham Club and Theatre on 30th November and 1st December 2007, during which "The Magic Shoemaker" album was played in its entirety as had been planned all those years ago, but had never before come to fruition.

RAY HAMMOND, Fire's earliest manager, kept the audience enthralled with narration of "The Magic Shoemaker" fairytale which served to introduce each song (and had been cunningly rewritten by Dave to include "Father's Name is Dad" and "TREACLE TOFFEE WORLD").

FIRE REHEARSING....

Not only did the band members play superbly despite the thirty-seven year break, but the shows involved theatrics, with psychedelic and strobe lighting, a smoke machine, a projector screen and other stage props.

.....AND FIRE IN FULL FLIGHT

Despite his intensive schedule with Strawbs (electric and acoustic formats), Dave somehow found time to write out each individual’s part for the performances, and also completely rewrote the script for Ray to narrate, which he did beautifully throughout.

RAY HAMMOND NARRATING "THE MAGIC SHOEMAKER"

Fire classics "Father's Name is Dad" and "Treacle Toffee World" were cunningly woven into the story by Dave, who not only sang lead vocals and played guitars during the concerts but also played keyboards and harmonica.

DAVE PERFORMED A KEYBOARD SOLO....

....FOLLOWED BY A GUITAR SOLO

Each of the shows gave twenty-first century audiences a rare opportunity to experience classic sounds from the psychedelic '60s performed by their original creators, and finished with well-deserved standing ovations for the outstanding performances of all involved. The audiences consisted of fans of psychedelic music of all generations, many having travelled from overseas.

Dave, Bob, Dick and Ray were delighted to meet up with Fire fans old and new, some of whom had travelled long distances to be there, including fans known to have come from Hungary and Italy.

l-r: BOB, DICK AND DAVE RELAXING IN THE WINDLESHAM THEATRE BAR AFTER THE SHOWS

Grateful thanks for photos to: P. Bradley, A. Brown, L. Cotton, D. Greener, S. Holton and K. West. Apologies if I have omitted to thank any contributors - if so, please let me know!

Site created and maintained by Lindsay Sorrell.