Nowhere Fast
Encyclopedia
"Nowhere Fast" is a song
, first performed by Fire Inc.
in 1984 for the rock movie Streets of Fire
. A cover of the song was later recorded by Meat Loaf
. The song was entirely written by Jim Steinman
. Laurie Sargent performed the lead vocals. Holly Sherwood
and Rory Dodd
performed the background vocals.
track "Sorcerer", also from the Streets of Fire soundtrack.
7" single
Both B-sides were recorded during Meat Loaf's sessions for the The Rocky Horror Picture Show
soundtrack, and remained unreleased until this single.
There were four different versions of the 7" single, including a shaped picture disc, a pop-up cover and a gatefold sleeve.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, first performed by Fire Inc.
Fire Inc.
Fire Inc. was a Wagnerian rock band that released two songs for the rock and roll film Streets of Fire in 1984. The two songs never had any real commercial success. In the film Ellen Aim and the Attackers performed "Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young" with Face to Face playing the part of the...
in 1984 for the rock movie Streets of Fire
Streets of Fire
Streets of Fire is a 1984 film directed by Walter Hill and co-written by Hill and Larry Gross. It was described in previews, trailers, and posters as "A Rock & Roll Fable." It is an unusual mix of musical, action, drama, and comedy with elements both of retro-1950s and 1980s...
. A cover of the song was later recorded by Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
. The song was entirely written by Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
. Laurie Sargent performed the lead vocals. Holly Sherwood
Holly Sherwood
Holly Sherwood is an American rock vocalist, best known for her work with Jim Steinman, providing both lead and backing vocals.-Acting Career:...
and Rory Dodd
Rory Dodd
Rory Dodd is a Canadian rock vocalist who has performed many songs written by Jim Steinman. He is probably best known for singing the "Turn around, bright eyes" lyrics on Bonnie Tyler's version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart."...
performed the background vocals.
Fire Inc. single
The "Nowhere Fast" single contains an edit (edited down to 4:11 from the 6:02 album version) and is backed with the Marilyn MartinMarilyn Martin
Marilyn Martin is an American singer best known for her 1985 hit duet with Phil Collins, "Separate Lives."Born in Tennessee but raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Martin gained notice as a back-up singer for such artists as Stevie Nicks, Joe Walsh, Don Henley, Tom Petty and Kenny Loggins, touring...
track "Sorcerer", also from the Streets of Fire soundtrack.
Personnel
- Music and Lyrics: Jim Steinman
- Lead Vocals: Laurie Sargent
- Background Vocals: Rory Dodd, Holly Sherwood and Eric TroyerEric TroyerEric Lee Troyer is an American keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and occasional guitarist, best known as a member of ELO Part II and its successor, popular live band, The Orchestra. Troyer was a founding member of ELO Part II, having been recruited by band leader Bev Bevan in 1989.-Life and...
- Piano: Roy BittanRoy BittanRoy Bittan is an American keyboardist, best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, which he joined on August 23, 1974...
- Guitars: Dave Johnstone and Mike Landau
- Bass: Steve Buslowe
- Synthesizer: Larry Fast
- Drums: Max WeinbergMax WeinbergMax Weinberg is an American drummer and television personality, most widely known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and as the bandleader for Conan O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.Weinberg grew up in suburban New Jersey...
and Jim Bralower - Drum Programming: Jim Bralower
- Additional Keyboards: Jim Steinman
Meat Loaf single
The Meat Loaf version, compared to the Fire Inc. original, has partly different music and a partly different lyric, as well as a different production style. Meat Loaf performed it live during the Bad Attitude tour.Single versions
12" maxi single- "Nowhere Fast" (6:05) (Jim Steinman)
- "Stand by Me" (3:45) (Ben E. KingBen E. KingBenjamin Earl King , better known as Ben E. King, is an American soul singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a U.S...
) - "Clap Your Hands" (2:23) (Richard HartleyRichard HartleyRichard Hartley is a British composer.His work is extensive and varied, including musical arrangement for theatre and many scores for television and film. In the 1970s he began a long association with Richard O'Brien. Hartley was originally part of the four-piece band for the Rocky Horror Show. ...
/Brian Thompson)
7" single
- "Nowhere Fast" (4:00) (Jim Steinman)
- "Clap Your Hands" (2:23) (Richard HartleyRichard HartleyRichard Hartley is a British composer.His work is extensive and varied, including musical arrangement for theatre and many scores for television and film. In the 1970s he began a long association with Richard O'Brien. Hartley was originally part of the four-piece band for the Rocky Horror Show. ...
/Brian Thompson)
Both B-sides were recorded during Meat Loaf's sessions for the The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
soundtrack, and remained unreleased until this single.
There were four different versions of the 7" single, including a shaped picture disc, a pop-up cover and a gatefold sleeve.
Personnel
- Lead Vocals: Meat LoafMeat LoafMichael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
- Guitars: Bob KulickBob KulickBob Kulick is an American guitarist and Grammy Award-winning record producer, best known for his studio work with Kiss. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is the older brother of former Kiss lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, whom he suggested Kiss hire....
- Bass: John Siegler
- Piano & Keyboards, Background Vocals: Paul JacobsPaul Jacobs (musician)Paul Ross Jacobs is an American Emmy award winning composer and musician.-Biography:Jacobs was born in New York City. He attended the Juilliard School and as a child, played at Carnegie Hall, on television and for Radio Free Europe. After watching The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, he started...
- Drums, Background Vocals: Wells Kelly
- Percussion: Frank RicottiFrank RicottiFrank Ricotti is an English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist.Ricotti played in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra while a teenager, then attended Trinity College of Music...
- Background Vocals: Clare Torry, Stephanie de SykesStephanie de SykesStephanie de Sykes is a British singer, and was once a girlfriend of Angus Deayton.-Biography:She attended Brays Grove School in Harlow, Essex; she returned to the school for a final reunion in June 2008 as guest of honour. She had a hit in 1974 with the Simon May penned "Born With a Smile on My...
- Produced by Meat Loaf, Paul Jacobs and Mack