Christening themselves after their standing ovation performance of the Jerry Lee Lewis classic “Great Balls Of Fire” at a New Mexico talent show, the Fireballs caught the ear of Buddy Holly producer Norman Petty, who would let the group record in his history-rich studio. Led by the clean guitar lines of George Tomsco, the band would string together a few Top 40 hits from 1959 to 1961, including “Torquay” (#39 in 1959), “Bulldog” (#24 in 1960) and “Quite A Party” (#27 in 1961), likely inspiring troves of to-be surf guitarists along the way.
In 1963, instead of capitalizing on the surf music craze that saw Fireball-esque bands such as the Chantays, Surfaris, and Pyramids all receive serious airtime for their reverb-drenched, wild guitar-oriented arrangements, the group teamed up with Petty Studio regular Jimmy Gilmer on vox and, billed as Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs, released the pop single “Sugar Shack”, which dominated the Hot 100, staying at #1 for five weeks while also going to the top of the R&B chart as well.
Likely coasting off of the success of “Sugar Shack”, another Jimmy Gilmer collab, “Daisy Petal Picking” also peeked at #15 in early 1964. During the singles’ lifespan in the Top 40, Liverpool-based pop group the Beatles entered the lower trenches of the Hot 100 with “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, a song that, upon its eventual claim of the top spot, would usher in the British Invasion of US radio, a phenomenon that would become the demise of many American bands like the Fireballs that once consistently entered the Top 40.
While English groups quickly reshaped the rock scene and American outfits slowly faded from the charts for a short period of time, the Fireballs continued to contribute to R&R history, albeit in a much less glorious fashion. The band spent much of the ‘60s overdubbing numerous demos recorded by the late Buddy Holly. While a few of these efforts breached the Hot 100, the overdubbings are largely panned by diehard Holly fans for their alleged bastardization of the singer’s work.
As the decade waged on the Fireballs picky guitar instrumentation progressively became blasé. The band had a somewhat random return to the Top 10 when, billed simply as “The Fireballs” despite Gilmer still being present in the group, the Sugar Shack-like “Bottle of Wine” peeked at #9 in 1967. Several follow up singles failed to recapture the lightning in the bottle however, and once their song “Long Green” exited the Hot 100 after a brief appearance, the band would never again re-enter the chart.
Blind Date
The Fireballs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He said something that got me low
He said, I'm gonna get you a date tonight
It'll be a blind date
It scares me to death just to think of it
I wonder if I'm gonna make a hit
I won't know it till I pick her up
'cause it's a blind date
Well, I wonder if she'll really be mine
She'll be mine for at least tonight
Well, I hope everything turns out right
Got my shoes a real good shine
Shined my car for a real good time
Now I think that I'll go and see my blind date
Talked to my friend just a while ago
He said something that got me low
He said, I'm gonna get you a date tonight
It'll be a blind date
Well, I wonder if she'll have a good time
Well, I wonder if she'll really be mine
She'll be mine for at least tonight
Well, I hope everything turns out right
Got my shoes a real good shine
Shined my car for a real good time
Now I think that I'll go and see my blind date
My blind date, oh-oh-oh blind date
Ah-ah blind date
The Fireballs's song Blind Date is a classic rock and roll tune that tells the story of a guy who is set up on a blind date by his friend. The guy is nervous about the date and wonders if he will make a good impression on his date. He shines his shoes and car in preparation for the date and hopes that everything turns out right. The lyrics are simple, but they convey a relatable story of nervousness and anticipation that anyone who has been on a blind date can relate to.
The song was released in 1961 and became a hit for The Fireballs. It was written by Jimmy Gilmer and George Tomsco, who co-founded the band. The song was recorded in 1960 and released by the band's record label, Top Rank Records. Blind Date was the band's second hit single, following their debut hit, "Sugar Shack." The song's catchy melody and upbeat tempo made it a popular dance tune in the early 1960s.
In addition to its success on the charts, Blind Date has been covered by a number of artists over the years, including The Ventures, The Beach Boys, and The Shadows. It has also been featured in several movies and TV shows, including The Brady Bunch and American Graffiti.
Overall, Blind Date is a classic rock and roll tune that captures the excitement and nervousness of going on a blind date. Its catchy melody and relatable lyrics have made it a timeless hit, and it continues to be popular among fans of 1960s rock and roll.
Line by Line Meaning
Talked to my friend just a while ago
I recently spoke to a friend
He said something that got me low
My friend said something that made me feel down
He said, I'm gonna get you a date tonight
My friend has set up a date for me tonight
It'll be a blind date
I won't know who my date is until I meet them
It scares me to death just to think of it
The thought of this blind date is frightening
I wonder if I'm gonna make a hit
I'm unsure if the date will go well
I won't know it till I pick her up
I won't know how the date is going until I meet my date
'cause it's a blind date
Because I don't know who my date is
Well, I wonder if she'll have a good time
I'm curious if my date will enjoy themselves
Well, I wonder if she'll really be mine
I'm curious if we'll hit it off and continue to see each other
She'll be mine for at least tonight
We will be spending time together tonight but it's uncertain if it will continue
Well, I hope everything turns out right
I'm hoping for a positive outcome
Got my shoes a real good shine
I made sure my shoes were cleaned and polished for the date
Shined my car for a real good time
I cleaned my car in preparation for the date
Now I think that I'll go and see my blind date
I'm planning on meeting my date now
My blind date, oh-oh-oh blind date
This is a song about a blind date
Ah-ah blind date
A repetition of the phrase 'blind date'
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind