Radioactive (The Firm song)

"Radioactive" is a song by English rock band The Firm. It was the first single released from their eponymous début album The Firm, where it was the fifth track. It was written by Paul Rodgers.

"Radioactive"
Single by The Firm
from the album The Firm
B-side"Together"
Released1985
Recorded1984
GenreRock
Length2:49
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Paul Rodgers
Producer(s)Paul Rodgers, Jimmy Page
The Firm singles chronology
"Radioactive"
(1985)		 "Satisfaction Guaranteed"
(1985)

A compact and straightforward rock song from the 1980s, structured with Tony Franklin's fretless bass hook at the beginning, combined with Jimmy Page's guitar scratch on the third line in the verse, Rodgers' reverbed vocal, and followed by a wah pedal inflected guitar solo. Chris Slade plays a steady drum beat throughout. On live performances, the song was introduced with a drum solo from Slade, leading into Franklin's opening bass line.[1] Page utilized his brown 1960s Fender Telecaster guitar featuring a Parsons and White B-string bender on tour with this song.

Their self-titled album, appearing on Atlantic Records, cracked the Billboard Top 20 on the strength of this single. Jimmy Page broke with the past and participated in the recording for the music video and single, the first time he had done both since the late 1960s.[2] Page can be seen miming to the recording with his famous red doubleneck 1971 Gibson EDS-1275 guitar. In March 1985, MTV began heavily promoting the video, although the track was a modest seller, reaching #28 in America and topping the Top Rock Tracks chart for one week. "Radioactive" was also released as a 12" single and limited edition picture disc.

Paul Rodgers still performs this song during his solo sets and it appears on the 2007 Paul Rodgers: Live In Glasgow DVD.

Formats and track listings

1985 7" single (US: Atlantic 7-89586, UK: Atlantic A-9586)

  • A. "Radioactive" (Rodgers) 2:49
  • B. "Together" (Page, Rodgers) 3:54

1985 12" special mix edition (US: Atlantic 86896, UK: Atlantic A-9586T)

  • A. "Radioactive (Special Mix)" (Rodgers) 5:49
  • B1. "City Sirens (Live)" (Page, Edwards) 2:01
  • B2. "Live in Peace (Live)" (Rodgers) 5:05

1985 12" single (UK: Atlantic A-9586TE)

  • A1. "Radioactive" (Rodgers) 2:49
  • A2. "Together" (Page, Rodgers) 3:54
  • B1. "City Sirens (Live)" (Page, Edwards) 2:01
  • B2. "Live in Peace (Live)" (Rodgers) 5:05

1986 7" single reissue (US: Atlantic Oldies Series 7-84966)

  • A. "Radioactive" (Rodgers) 2:49
  • B. "All the King's Horses" (Rodgers) 3:16

Chart positions
Chart (1985) Peak
position
Canadian RPM Top 100[3] 75
UK Singles Chart[4] 76
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 28
US Billboard Top Rock Tracks[6] 1
US Radio & Records Top 40 Singles[7] 27
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[8] 28

Personnel

See also

References
  1. Mattfeld, Jens. "The Firm: The New Band of 1984". jens-mattfeld.de. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  2. Welch, Chris. "Page Onstage '85: The Jimmy Page interview Part 1". brandyzep. Archived from the original on 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  3. "RPM Singles Chart - 13 April 1985". RPM. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  4. "Top 100 Singles - 23 February 1985". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  5. "Hot 100 Chart - 13 April 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  6. "Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks - 16 March 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 21, 2016. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  7. "Top 40 Singles - 5 April 1985". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  8. "Top 100 Singles - 13 April 1985". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
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