After The Fire were formed in the UK in 1972 by keyboard player Peter Banks, Andy Piercy (guitar, bass), Ivor Twidell (drums) and John Russell (guitar). The market was responsive to UK adult-orientated rock during the early 70s but the band's mixture of "pomp Christian pop" was slow to break through. They eventually secured a contract following the release of their debut album on their own label. CBS Records invested in them and they were rewarded with a UK Top 40 hit, "One Rule For You", in 1979. The accompanying album, although polished, sold only to the converted. The band's subsequent recordings were minor hits until the unexpected major success of "Der Kommissar". Originally recorded by Falco in his native Germany, After The Fire's version went on to sell over a million copies worldwide, and made the US Top 5. However, by the time it charted, the group had already broken up, frustrated by record company indecision and the Christian ethos that "made things worse, as we couldn't have a good old swearing and slanging match." Banks built his own studio before becoming managing director of Maldon Computer Company, a software and networking enterprise. Twidell released three Christian rock solo albums, Waiting For The Sun (1981), Secret Service (1981) and Duel (1983), after leaving the group following the debut album. He then became a member of the Bedfordshire police force. Russell was last sighted working in a hi-fi shop. Piercy retained the rights to the name, although it was now abbreviated to ATF. Still a practising Christian, after submitting an unreleased solo album for CBS he went on to do production work for the Truth, T'Pau (when they were known as Talking America) and Gary Numan. (Source : VH1)

Take Me Higher (Released 1979)

I am a minute and you are an hour
I am a room and you are a tower
I am a motion and you are the power, you are the power
I am a word and you are the line
I am a poem and you are the rhyme
I am a watch and you are the time you are time

You make my life worth living, you set this world on fire n just
when I think its over, you take me higher, you take me higher

I am an hour and you are a day
I am a step and you are the way
You are the words that I want to say, I want to say
I am a player and you are the game
I am a number and you are the name
I am a spark and you are the flame, you are The flame.

You make my life worth living, you set this world on fire n just
when I think its over, you take me higher, you take me higher
you know, you know you take me higher, you take me higher

I am a day you are a year
I am a breath and you are the air
You are the words that I want to hear, I want to hear
When you're beside me I will fear no ill
Your rod and staff my comfort still
The world can throw at me whatever it will, whatever it will

You make my life worth living, you set this world on fire n just
when I think its over, you take me higher, you take me higher

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