Firehouse arrived at the tail end of the pop-metal explosion of the late '80s and early '90s, releasing their first album in 1991. Featuring the combined talents of vocalist C.J. Snare, Michael Foster, Bill Leverty, and Perry Richardson, the group's melodic, commercial hard rock had immediate chart success; their self-titled debut went platinum and featured two Top 20 singles, Don't Treat Me Bad and Love of a Lifetime. The following year, Firehouse released their second album, Hold Your Fire, which managed to go gold on the strength of When I Look Into Your Eyes (another Top Ten hit). The mainstream had begun embracing a noisier, grungier style of hard rock, however, and Firehouse's popularity waned as the decade progressed.

Three years passed before Firehouse released Firehouse 3, showcasing a softer, more MOR-oriented sound that found a home on adult contemporary radio. Good Acoustics followed a year later, and in 1999 Firehouse returned with Category 5 and the concert release Bring 'Em Out Live. The latter album captured a performance in Japan, where Firehouse continued to maintain their audience despite shifting trends back home. O2 appeared a year later, while Prime Time was issued in 2003. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi