Love's On Fire Poster

A visual poster of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' "Love's On Fire." Inspired by Music On the Wall.

Love's On Fire - American Music Awards

A mini- essay from Audio Rumble: 

It's been 25 years since Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers made their appearance on ABC's American Music Awards. (Sometime back in the 00's, the AMAs moved their televised event from late January every year to late November.)

A young DJ Caterina was watching television in Texas, unaware that her favorite band would be playing that night, Monday, January 30, 1989.

And when the announcer said “Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers” at the beginning of the show as one of the list of performers, I literally jumped out of my skin! My favorite band was performing!

To hear the cheering of the crowd when Tommy went down into the audience at the guitar solo of "Love's On Fire" was so amazing! At the time, I didn't know why he did it...I mean, it was a cool move, but I guess at the time, I just didn’t get it. 

But I never forgot it! 

TCYR's performance on the American Music Awards would be the first (and last) time that I would ever see the band perform live until the early 2000s. DJ Caterina has been catching up ever since... 

1989. Done right. 

Originally posted on Audio Rumble's Facebook page.

Tommy Conwell - Tribute to Robert Hazard

On this day in 2008, Philadelphia musician and songwriter Robert Hazard died. [August 21, 1948 – August 5, 2008]

Here's video of Tommy Conwell paying tribute to him that same year at Tacony with a song they co-wrote, "Love's on Fire.

Conwell Rocks IUP - May 6, 1989

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers performed May 6, 1989, at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Fisher Auditorium. Included in this post is audio of the band's intro and "Love's on Fire" - and a news article and concert review from IUP's school newspaper.

Jett, Conwell Rock IUP

Tommy Conwell and his Young Rumblers admittedly came to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to “get down and party,” and party they did on May 6 in Fisher Auditorium to a small but feverishly enthusiastic audience.

     The Young Rumblers played tunes from Rumble, their second album (but first national release), and also played songs from their first album, Walkin’ on the Water. After clearing it with the audience, the band played two songs that will appear on their third, as yet untitled album.
     Local band D.A. Rehmi opened for the Philadelphia rockers, playing well-received songs from their usual repertoire. Rehmi then play a cover of Conwell’s “I’m Not Your Man” as Conwell himself ran onstage to do the vocals.
     Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers delivered exactly what they promised – good old rock and roll – Philadelphia style.

American Music Awards 1989 - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Tommy and the Young Rumblers perform "Love's On Fire."

The following is a recreation of many similar conversations DJ Caterina has had in reference to a certain video performance clip. Names are fictitious to protect the innocent, except for DJ Caterina. Because if you don't know me by now, you will never never never know me...
 
John Doe: Hi, DJ Caterina! Do you have a copy of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers performance of "Love's On Fire" at the American Music Awards in January of 1989? Can you post it?

DJ Caterina: Hi! Thanks for asking! Great question and a highly popular request around awards season. Yes, I own a copy. No, I can't post it.

John Doe: What?!!

DJ Caterina: Well, "John" -- if you must know -- here's the story. Video of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' performance of "Love's On Fire" has been posted to YouTube several times by many others - but not by me, DJ Caterina. And each time the video makes an appearance, it has been forcibly taken down by those who own the copyright. 

In summary, you will not find an embedded post of this video on Audio Rumble.

John Doe: Ah, man. I really was hoping to see that. 

DJ Caterina: Yeah, sorry to disappoint you. It's an awesome video. Quite a shame, really.

Dick Clark [1929-2012]

From Philadelphia Inquirer:

Dick Clark, who brought rock music into America's living rooms every afternoon, shaping tastes and making careers, died of a massive heart attack this morning.

"The world's oldest teenager" was 82.

Tommy Conwell talks about Dick Clark getting him to crowd walk at the 1989 American Music Awards.

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers On Japanese TV

This is epic! Two performances from Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers promoting "Rumble" on Japanese TV - "Love's On Fire" and "I'm Not Your Man" - plus interview with Japanese translators!

   

Thanks to our friend Yuki [@y2joohgal on Twitter] in Osaka, Japan for the videos.

Tommy Conwell's WYSP Acoustic Performance

 

So you can't get into tonight's sold out Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers show in Philly? Well, here's your consolation prize...

Tommy Conwell promotes his appearance on WYSP's Loud and Local performing "Love's On Fire."

Love's On Fire - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers (45 single)

Tommy Conwell on the cover for Love's On Fire; b-side is Tell Me What You Want Me To Be. Purchased from Holland.

Robert Hazard [1948-2008]

Robert Hazard, Philly rocker, dies at 59

Click image to see Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers perform Love's On Fire. (Inset: Robert Hazard, 70's-era)

Robert Hazard, Philadelphia musician and composer of Cyndi Lauper's #1 song "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," died Aug. 5, 2008.

In a Billboard magazine article (10/28/1995), author Dan Delvea discusses a bit of Philly's past in "Diverse Acts, Indie Labels Discover Freedom in Philly"

"....the Hooters, Robert Hazard and Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers made [Philadelphia] a mainstream rock outpost in the '80s."

Robert Hazard and Tommy Conwell collaborated on two songs for the Young Rumblers: Love's On Fire and Everything They Say Is True.

Both songs were featured on two releases by Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers: the 1986 indie-album, Walkin' On the Water, and the band's 1988 national major label debut on Columbia Records, Rumble.

Love's On Fire - Philadelphia television, 1986

A performance of Love's On Fire by Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers on local Philadelphia television, 1986.

Love's On Fire | Million Pretty Girls, Rare 3-Track promotional CD

A 1989 rare 3-Track promotional CD from Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers. Released to radio stations in support of the Young Rumblers' debut album on a national label, "Rumble."

Tracks:

1. Love's On Fire - The song comes in at 3 minutes and 52 seconds. It is the radio-ready version. Tommy's guitar solo at the beginning is missing.

2. Love's On Fire - This is the unedited album version from "Rumble." Tommy's solo at the beginning is intact.

3. Million Pretty Girls - A live version of a Young Rumblers classic.