Fastway - All Fired Up

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of All Fired Up, the second studio album from Fastway. This 1984 sophomore effort featured a slight roster change (Charlie McCracken of the band Taste came on board on bass). The record spent fourteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 59.


Side one opens with the title track. “All Fired Up”, the second single, mixes automotive imagery with that of a revving love machine.

“Misunderstood” is next, followed by “Steal the Show”. Both are good tracks with strong rocking rhythms.

“Station” sounds like a lost track from Led Zeppelin, right down to Dave King’s vocals.

“Non-Stop Love” has a solid blue-rocks grind to it. The rhythm changes up about halfway through.

“Hurtin’ Me” was the B-side to the first and second singles. This slow strutting number is full of pain and heartache.

Side two begins with the rock-boogie rhythms of “Tell Me”, a plea to a girlfriend to make her desires known.

“Hung Up on Love” is up next. The lyrics do not really set the world on fire, but the music is upbeat and engaging.

Things slow down a bit with the next track. “The Stranger” was released as the first single.

“Telephone” goes back to the blues-rock well for this strutting song about a girlfriend who keeps calling.

The album then closes with the mid-tempo “If You Could See”.

As I mentioned last year when I reviewed their debut album (click here for that review), I was very impressed with Fastway - so much so that I immediately purchased it for my digital library. With All Fired Up, I liked it well enough and will consider picking it up at some point in the future.