Music / Ice on Fire

Ten of your tin soldiers in a row
With eyes that looked like ice on fire

There are ladies, illegal X's
Mona Lisas, well connected
They may be shady, English roses
Blue blooded, turned up noses

Money talks, see what it catches
Postage paid, no strings attached
She's a honey, she's a tramp
Roaring twenties, molls and vamps

"Wrap Her Up"

Ice on Fire is the nineteenth studio album recorded by English pop musician Elton John. It was released through Rocket Records in the United Kingdom, and Geffen Records in the United States, on 4 November 1985.

This album was recorded as Elton was warming up to participate in the English staging for Live Aid. But a big problem for the next two albums was going to be increasing cocaine use. And he was beginning to get saturated in the market, as sales would prove.

Rolling Stone didn't even bother to rate the album. AllMusic rates it only 2.5 out of 5 stars. It went Platinum in the United Kingdom, reaching #4 on the Official Charts Company album chart. It went Gold in the United States, but only hit #48 on the Billboard 200 album chart

The album spawned three singles: "Nikita", "Wrap Her Up", and "Cry to Heaven". The first two were hits in the US and UK, with "Nikita" reaching #3 in the UK, and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album was reissued by MCA Records for release in North America in 1992. The reissue added the CD-exclusive track "Act of War" to the other versions. It was reissued again by Mercury Records in 1999 with three added live tracks and a new song, as well as an extended mix of the song "Satellite", though it excised "Act of War" again.

Tracklist

Side One

1. "This Town" (3:56)
2. "Cry to Heaven" (4:16)
3. "Soul Glove" (3:31)
4. "Nikita" (5:43)
5. "Too Young" (5:12)

Side Two

6. "Wrap Her Up" (6:21)
7. "Satellite" (3:57*)
8. "Tell Me What the Papers Say" (3:40)
9. "Candy by the Pound" (3:56)
10. "Shoot Down the Moon" (5:09)
11. "Act of War" (4:43)**

* = "Satellite" was extended to 4:37 in the 1999 reissue
** = "Act of War" was a CD-exclusive track

"But the kids just watch the tropes:"

• Album Title Drop: Comes in "Nikita", with a line stating "With eyes that looked like ice on fire".
• Epic Rocking: "Wrap Her Up" is the sole song on the album above six minutes.
• Gender-Blender Name: It is well-known by now that Nikita is actually a gender-neutral Russian name, though the music video for "Nikita" presents the eponymous affection as a woman. Elton would later clarify that Nikita is supposed to be a man.