Wildfire was a household name in Tropical Island music circles due to their excellent albums and performances throughout Trinidad, Tobago, the Caribbean & US Virgin Islands and French Guadeloupe. In 1962 they started off as 'The Sparks' (a well-respected Calypso outfit who released a bunch of successful singles) but with the release of their hit single 'Come On Down' from 1975, they exploded into Wildfire. Wildfire had a very fruitful career and released four top full-length albums and a vast amount of singles before calling it quits. Led by bandleader Oliver Chapman (bass & guitar player, vocalist, arranger, producer and co-writer for the majority of the bands' songs) and comprised out of high talented musicians, Wildfire was out there with the big boys in the niche they carved out for themselves. On the album we are presenting you today (Time Is The Answer from 1980) you'll find the perfect mix of funk, soul and disco, basically the popular sounds of the day, and all tracks are originals. The album is FUNKY and the production quality can rival with any of their peers and records produced/recorded in the US. The performance of Wildfire on this album is beyond excellent. This release was also the first time the group took control over production and getting their album out in the world. Also included is the hit single 'Say A Little Prayer For The Children' which is just one of those songs that will be stuck in your head forever. Besides virtuoso Oliver Chapman: the talent that was featured on 'Time Is The Answer' is exceptional. Anstey Hamilton carries around a rich noticeable tenor voice. Arthur Byron who also did vocals on the album, has a beautiful rasping tone that can knock you out anytime he gets into his act. Fitzroy Isaac on keyboards and Donald Leid on drums are the guys that were responsible for keeping the groove tight. Clifford Wilson like Oliver had been with band since the start. He is calm in his approach, he played the bass guitar and sung background vocals, he also chipped in with Oliver whenever they wrote songs together. Finally we have Cyllan Charles, who was known as the Wildfire voice. Cyllan had been doing most of the lead vocals since he joined the group in 1972, he was the most experienced of all the members, and can really take you to higher heights anytime he gets into doing his thing both on stage and on wax. "Time is the Answer' by Wildfire is a scarce and increasingly sought-after LP. Filled with hit-bound songs it comes as no surprise that the album has now become a much-wanted item due to it's addictive and original-sounding nature. This is a must-have for any self-respecting record digger! Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the first ever reissue of this fantastic Island Funk-Soul classic (originally self-released in 1980 on Wild Fire Records) & this is also the first time the album is getting a release outside of Trinidad & Tobago. This rare record (original copies tend to go for large amounts on the secondary market) is now finally back available as a limited 180g vinyl edition (limited to 500 copies).
Release date:
July 14, 2023
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Cartridges - Top Picks
A selection of turnatble cartridges that provide great performance and sound quality
-
Vinyl Care - Top Picks
A selection of accesories to keep your turntable equipment & vinyl records in the best shape
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
keiyaA hooke's law
Xl Recordings
October 31, 2025 -
Hayley Williams Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party (Yellow) [2xLP]
Post Atlantic
November 7, 2025 -
Spite New World Killer (Black Marble)
Rise Records
November 21, 2025 -
James Nothing But Love: The Definitive Best Of [5xLP]
Universal UK
November 28, 2025 -
Runo Plum Patching (Green)
Winspear
November 14, 2025 -
Memphis May Fire Shapeshifter
Rise Records
October 31, 2025 -
AJR Living Room (Bone/Black Splatter)
Bmg
October 24, 2025 -
Florence + The Machine Everybody Scream
Republic Records
October 31, 2025 -
Elles Bailey Can't Take My Story Away (Bone)
Cooking Vinyl
January 16, 2026 -
Jenny on Holiday Quicksand Heart
Transgressive
January 9, 2026 -
Sydney Sprague Peak Experience
Many Hats Dist
October 31, 2025 -
Higher Power There's Love In This World If You Want It in sleeve
Nuclear Blast
October 24, 2025 -
Summer Walker Finally Over It (Translucent Light Blue) [2xLP]
Lvrn Records
November 14, 2025 -
Stephen Wilson Jr. Blankets EP
Big Loud Records
December 19, 2025