Earth Wind and Fire - Classic or Dud? [UPDATE Feb 2016: RIP Maurice White]

This is really sad, maybe the biggest loss in popular music since MJ. White was a brilliant producer and songwriter (and even though he wasn't a bad singer, I'm glad he left most of the EWF singing duties to Philip Bailey, because Philip Bailey is phenomenal), you just need to listen to something like "Fantasy" for proof. That tune has like three different catchy melodies, they could've had three different hit singles with it but they put them all into one tune! And the production and the arrangement on it is so lovely and impeccable, but also so full of life.

And yes, EWF was more than just a great singles band, they had a lot of awesome album cuts (Zanzibar, Happy Feelin', Drum Song, Open Our Eyes, Spirit, Magic Mind, I'll Write a Song for You, Evolution Orange, Lady Sun, Side by Side, etc). Pretty much all of heir albums up to Powerlight have some quality grooves, though obviously not all of them can be loaded from front to back with heavenly music like That's the Way of the World and All 'n All.

And then of course there's Maurice White's drumming... Besides those 60s sould hits, his work as Ramsey Lewis' sideman was also full of great moments. Did you know the RLT accompanied Minnie Riperton on Come to My Garden? Yes, that's him on the drums on "Les Fleur"! And the mid-70s albums that produced and co-wrote for Ramsey, like Sun Goddess and Salongo, are also some jazz-funk gems. Definitely worth checking out if you dig the jazzier side of EWF.

Glad you mentioned "Magic Mind," Tuomoas, for I was about to post the link.

"Lady Sun" is one of my favorites too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsTKFakujM0

And StillAdvance is right that they were an awesome live band, at least judging by the recordings they left behind. Alive in ´75 is my favourite live album of all time.

(xpost)

shame they are basically, in the uk at least, seen as pure cheese purveyors cos of boogie wonderland

Says who?

FOr a start, who has ever described Boogie Wonderland as 'pure cheese'?

RIP :(

was he still touring with them? they're supposed to come through my area in a few weeks.

I think there's a touring version of the band that has no original members. White himself hadn't been touring with them for years, because he had Parkinson's.

And apparently Parkinson's was also the cause of his death.

cmon, most popular tv shows would mention EWF with a kind of smirk as they rolled a video of BW. thats what the majority of the population knows them for. you think they know the earlier 70s stuff? seriously doubt it. youd be hard pressed even to get mojo reading types to know much about EWF beyond the big crossover hits.

shame they are basically, in the uk at least, seen as pure cheese purveyors cos of boogie wonderland

I don't think this is true at all. As Mark S pointed out when Alfred said the same thing on Facebook, EWF had 12 hit singles in the UK, the highest of which was September.

Boogie Wonderland is a disco classic, the only people who think it's cheese are the ones who think disco was cheese in general.

Yeah, also, as Tuomas says, BW is ACE

well that is the problem. anything disco or associated with it is seen as pure cheese.

i love BW. never said it wasnt ace.

half expecting someone to come in and tell me disco ISNT seen as cheese

Sorry but you're just wrong there, EWF were very well respected as something more than a 'disco band, I mean, they were virtually a prog rock band! Concept albums (sort of), complex music, virtuoso musicianship, extravagant stageshows and Phil Collins!

judging everything by what ignorant people think it is is a losing game, StillAdvance!

hey, look, i have almost all their albums, im not dismissing them so lightly. you dont have to tell me about their greatness. and sure, perhaps i should give up trying to gauge how they are perceived by the greater (british) public, but honestly, when it comes to 70s funk bands, the only ones you really see covered seriously in the music press are those beginning with p and f. i dont see how this is news to anyone, sorry guys.

a late period song of theirs i love -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyIm2rWrGZQ

just went on to spotify to see what their most popular songs are and whaddyaknow?! its september, lets groove, and boogie wonderland.

And why not, after all!

The current lineup includes Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson, and then a bunch of other dudes, the most veteran of whom joined in 1996 - all the others are from 2001 or later, but one of them is Bailey's son.

I don't think this is true at all. As Mark S pointed out when Alfred said the same thing on Facebook, EWF had 12 hit singles in the UK, the highest of which was September.

― Brian of Morbius (stevie)

Stupid of me. Don't know where I got that idea other than my not thinking much of "Boogiw Wonderland."

I think we've been over this before. Clinton's jibes at Earth Wind and Fire apparently originated in some sort of tour-related conflict between the two bands, but it was never a serious beef. He clowns on every 70s funk band on "Let's Take It to the Stage," not just EWF. I think the perception that EWF were his mortal enemies originates in that same Dave Marsh singles book, because Marsh projects all the time and thinks everybody else views the world as antagonistically as he does.

― Futuristic Bow Wow (thewufs), Friday, February 5, 2016 1:51 AM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

The Funk episode of the 1995 PBS Rock & Roll series ("Dancing In The Street" in the UK) took a swipe at EW&F for "selling out"/"softening" their sound to get on white radio. The episode centered around Clinton, and the strong implication was that EW&F were the lesser band for crossing over.

I don't think Maurice White had toured with EWF for quite a few years, but the group has remained very popular on touring circuit in US. I know they played a Superbowl pregame and the White House both in the past few years.

The tune by them I seem to find used all the time in incidental ways is Serpantine Fire. You will hear that bass groove used as bumper music quite a bit.

Never understood why this wasn't a smash hit, being the first single to the follow-up to the mega selling I Am. Steve Lukather on guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO5RSVAghgs

RIP Maurice

George Clinton was on the radio news here tonight paying tribute so hey maybe beef was exaggerated

yeah idk all the lines in Let's Take it to the Stage are obvious goofs, dunno how anyone could take those as serious attacks

yeah idk all the lines in Let's Take it to the Stage are obvious goofs, dunno how anyone could take those as serious attacks

Many people think rappers are who they portray themselves as being in their lyrics, too, I hear.

its weird to think if they had broken up after their first five albums they would probably just be remembered by cratedigging soulfunk weirdos. kinda like the first five kool & the gang albums.

How well does the band fit into the Afro-Futurist pantheon? All their costumes and iconography, was that all there was to it, or was there a philosophy, too?

I had no idea these guys were so well-loved tbh

by critics, you mean. They're one of the best-selling acts in the world. Al Green and Stevie Wonder are the only other two acts I can think of about whom no one has an unkind word.

no really I just mean in general! I don't have any unkind words, I m/l don't think about them at all. (There's a bit in the Nelson George doc about how there's this kind of divide in funk fandom between EWF and P-Funk fans and I am def in the latter camp while not really caring about the former)

not trying to be a dick or anything just advertising that I live in a vacuum apparently

I rescreened the TTWoTW movie last night (found the DVD for $2.50 at a truck stop last year). In terms of period and downbeatness, the only comparison I can think of is Slade In Flame, providing a yin to the latter's yang. After dynamite opening credits sequence showing EWF (as "The Group") recording the title song, they take a backseat to story about wonderkid producer Buckmaster (Harvey Keitel) getting pressured by his label to record new signees The Pages, a "family" easy listening trio (led by Bert Parks and featuring the willowy Cynthia Bostick, who's kinda hot in a '70s gingham way). Aside from the EWF performance footage (including a knockout sequence w/Keitel & Bostick taking in their show at a huge roller disco), the best part is a long sequence that works as sort of a love letter to the art of production, showing Keitel work--through overdubbing, re-arranging etc.--The Pages' innocuous "Joy Joy Joy" ditty into a believable piece of AM Gold.

I don't hear a divide...? I love them both.

I can't think of a week when I don't an EW&F chestnut on R&B radio, CVS, or the mall. Everyone I know who's younger than 60 owns at least one comp.

I forget who brings it up in the doc but it does feel like something of an artificial construct - it was like they wanted to get the interview subjects (D'Angelo, Shock G, etc.) to pick sides (and they happily do)

(everybody picks P-Funk btw)

Which doc is this?

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/nelson-george-finding-the-funk-doc-premiere-vh1-video.html

i used to go to a bar years ago that was ALWAYS playing the EWF greatest hits album and boy did it get tiresome. but, you know, i will always love them. i do listen to that first album a ton. those first two albums were new to me in the 90's. but all the 70's stuff is solid.

It was a treat when I learned years ago that the they-were-a-singles-band claim was as poorly informed as when applied to Elton.

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/nelson-george-finding-the-funk-doc-premiere-vh1-video.html

Cool, thanks!

it is great

coming out in September (naturally):
http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Your-Head-Sky-Earth/dp/0062329154

Lot of interesting EWF anecdotes in David Foster's autobio, Maurice sounds like he was a stand-up guy in addition to his tremendous musical talents, RIP

The kindly older black gentleman that sold me my first electric guitar told me that after his shift he was going to see EWF live, "see if I can get me some Tang, hold the water."

It's that day.

https://t.co/Kh6Aq2kIds pic.twitter.com/Y9kJsaRuEq

— demi adejuyigbe (@electrolemon) September 21, 2019

that is wonderful

Aw shit they were playing EWF in the local book shop today!

It's the day

https://t.co/FRHZXzd9xe • https://t.co/ztznLId5fl pic.twitter.com/z2d4Mv6szm

— demi adejuyigbe (@electrolemon) September 21, 2021

https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/september-21stthats-today-by-demi-adejuyigbe/