All Fired Up

Album: Wide Awake In Dreamland (1988)
Charted: 19 19
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written and originally recorded by the Australian band Rattling Sabres. Kerryn Tolhurst, who was the band's guitarist, told us how this song came together: "I was in Melbourne, Australia in 1988 where I had a band called Rattling Sabres. I bought myself a new amp - a vintage Marshall combo - and when I got it home I plugged in my beloved Gretsch Nashville and out came this riff and chord progression. I had some lyrics kicking around with a working title "Working Against The Clock"... they fit perfectly.

    It stayed that way for a few weeks but I felt there was more to be done with the song. One day sitting in traffic it came to me and when I inserted 'All Fired Up' in the chorus it all came together. The band then recorded the song and it came out as a single on the Mighty Boy label. On a trip to LA someone from Mighty Boy was playing the song to an A&R person at Chrysalis Records when Pat Benatar's manager happened to pass by. She needed a single for her new album and after changing some lyrics to suit her female point of view it was recorded and released. I still like my original version better." (Kerryn Tolhurst was a member of Country Radio and The Dingoes. A notable songwriter and session musician, he's also produced albums for Bruce Henderson, Jimmy Norman and Russell Crowe.)

Comments: 2

  • Michael from London, United KingdomFantastic song - her last major hit in the US and the UK, and a return to harder edged rock.
  • Jesus Herrera from Mexico, MexicoThis one was the opener in the Houston concert of the 2009 tour, Call Me Invincible, in which Benatar and Blondie (along with charming The Donnas) shared credits. It immediately set the place on fire!!!
    Jesus Herrera
    Mexico City
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