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

I wonder why George Clinton hates them?

Their late 80s material ("System Of Survival" was the actual title of that song, wasn't it?) was really, really, really awful though.

-- Daniel_Rf

Does he, really? Or was Kenny just referring to "Let's Take It To The Stage" (in which GC good-naturedly disses "Earth, Hot Air & No Fire" along with "Fool & The Gang", "Slick And The Family Brick", etc.)?

Anyways, obviously classic. Even Geir likes 'em! (I wonder what he thought about their "Got To Get You Into My Life" cover.) The only band to place two LPs in my own personal Top 10 of 1975. (Never cared much for "Boogie Wonderland" but that's an anomaly.)

Love that "R&B version of Yes" description!

That song was never my favourite Beatles song anyway.

i need copies of the first two albums and *head to the sky*. i think i'm good with everything else. TO THIS DAY, i have never heard the first album. i've heard *the need of love* which is the 2nd album. and i've heard *head to the sky*. sold my copies :(

anyway, listening to *last days and time* right now. so great. *open our eyes* might be my fave album though.

They were pure mimicry in the '80s, though: What was "Let's Groove" if not "Fantastic Voyage" on a bigger budget?

???

I was going to say...

Two other unmentioned classics "Misled" (which I've actually made an edit for which takes out the half speed parts), and of course the wonderful wonderful "Brazilian Rhyme".

Remember when they had that HBO special in the early 80s? Boy did they look cool in that.

From 1971-75, they ruled.

I'm no disco fan, so I won't comment on anything since, although I do retain a soft spot for "Serpentine Fire."

Keep Your Head to the Sky

there is a version of that song on which in which they push the falsetto to weird glass-shattering heights. you can hear their vocal chords shredding; check it out, man

classic

Dude I work with came back from his lunch break the other day with a whole bag full of mint condition EWF LPs he'd found in a charity shop. I was very jealous.

I love EWF's disco stuff more than their earlier funk. Their particular sound works so great for the sort of disco grooves of pure, unadulterated joy. Everyone should check out Raise!, it's one of the best disco LPs ever (and "Let's Groove" is one of my favourite songs ever). It's better than I Am, in my opinion, which (despite containing "Boogie Wonderland") is less energetic and joyful.

OTM re: Raise! > I Am but to quibble a bit I wouldn't call either "disco" though both were played in discos.

I think Raise! is maybe at some junction point between disco and electro-funk (especially "Let's Groove"), but I think the way the strings and the horns are arranged and the fact that almost every tune is based on a steady 4/4 groove makes it pretty much a disco LP, despite the fact that disco was almost dead by 1981. Then again, like I said I think EWF's sweet and clean funk sound has always been pretty close to disco, tunes like "Fantasy" are already disco in my opinion.

"Can't Hide Love." Guys.

This song never doesn't do it for me.

I spent months trying to figure out what it was, asking everyone I knew, "Hey do you know that one '70s R&B song that goes 'dun dun DUN DUN!' and then ends with this epic harmony battle?" Of course no one knew what I was talking abt but I got a feeling it was EW&F and that best of was SO good an investment.

in the stone!

Their live album, Gratitude, is fucking fantastic, and there's nothing from it on the 2CD Essential Earth, Wind & Fire, which is a crime.

I got the box set @ a garage sale for $15.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1kDmnHyOBg

hell yes

anyway, first six albums are definitely classic. hell, spirit is pretty classic as well. i have copies of "all n all" and "i am" somewhere but don't think i ever listened to em more than one

I often these days think, to myself, when listening to Earth, Wind & Fire: "this was the best fucking band in the world"

just saw them live tonite XD

aww yeah! report!

in the stone!

― or something, Monday, 7 September 2009 18:40 (9 months ago) Bookmark

Certainly when their comp is playing it seems like they're the greatest band in the world.

They have DC and Baltimore shows coming up shortly. I wonder how the current version of the band is...

just continuing the love here. hope everyone is having a nice day. if not, this might help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XOY7lsBVpo

I need to break out some EWF on my radio show this week.

They have DC and Baltimore shows coming up shortly. I wonder how the current version of the band is...

― curmudgeon, Monday, June 7, 2010 8:03 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

how 'current'? its the 3 surviving members... although when i went, one of them had to fly back to LA to take care of his mother who is sick. :(

philip bailey, fwiw, sounds INCREDIBLE. the band is unbelievably tight & plays stuff pretty much as close to the recordings as can be imagined (in a good way)

hmm i dont know why i thought one of them had passed away. never mind me. anyway yes it was three of them touring, maurice white wasnt there

how 'current'? its the 3 surviving members...

I thought Maurice White doesn't gig with EWF anymore?

Whoops, sorry, didn't notice your second post!

There's also a "fake" (though apparently officially approved) band touring called "Earth, Wind & Fire Experience" or something like that, the only original member it has is their 70s guitarist.

If you do not LOVE the song "Reasons", you have no soul.

I often these days think, to myself, when listening to Earth, Wind & Fire: "this was the best fucking band in the world"

OTMFM

also "See the Light" pwns u

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUEM1eqc_X4

This is pretty nice; it's a recent remix, but it's made in the classic disco mix style, i.e. using only elements from the original song.

Also, I think the way the vocals sound on "Fantasy" is better than on any other song made by anyone. They're just so immaculately beautiful!

I distrust any man who doubts the buoyancy of "Fantasy" and "Serpentine Fire."

My ex's dad was demoing a bass guitar on this makeshift stage at NAAM several years ago. Some guy walks up and starts playing drums behind him. Then a keyboardist comes up, then a guitarist. Ex's dad looks up and oh shit it's EWF on stage with him. At this point he goes "you guys are too good for me" and takes off the bass but they implore him to go on. I probably would've freaked out too, honestly.

so so so so CALSSIC!!!!!
I always smile when I hear those bad ass jams..

anybody who can't get down w/EWF is straight up my enemy

that is just the deal with me & EWF

Is "Gratitude" the best one live/one studio double LP? It's certainly my favourite.

fun fact: these dudes went to my high-school and played us a song during an assembly. or at least a couple of the members did - i was at least 16 and had no idea at the time.

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/

I tried giving Chicago another chance recently, specifically the first five years of recording activity - couldn't get into it for a lot of reasons. It's not a band I'll ever find appealing. While reading up on them, I came across a few dismissals that urged the curious to try the first Blood, Sweat & Tears album (with Al Kooper) or Earth, Wind and Fire instead, both of which I already knew and loved.

With saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk's recent passing, I decided to set aside the Chicago stuff and put on EWF. That switch really made me appreciate EWF a hell of a lot more - they're just so much better at melding horns with their music. Also better melodies, better songs, better singing, better sounding production - much, MUCH better across the board.

I'm thinking their mid/late '80s is almost as solid as their '70s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux6MLIjJT_4

You and Xgau:

I should mention that because I prefer their slick early-'80s decline to their soulful late-'70s ascendancy (not to mention their fusoid early-'70s launch), my tastes in this matter are unorthodox if not crackpot.

I'll split the difference between mid/late '80s and '70s by enjoying "Let's Groove" from 1981:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrle0x_DHBM

Ha! I'd no idea. He "prefers" while I say "almost as solid."

"Let's Groove" is one of the greatest singles ever recorded.

Hook after hook!

disagree vehemently that 80s ewf is as as good as (or better than!?) 70s, but also curious - what about maurice white's one solo album from 1984?

i admit to attempting to listen a decade or so ago and being really disappointed.

okay listening to the maurice white album now — it's very mor. meh. sounds like swing out sister or some other 80s plastic popsoul iteration. i don't hate it, but it's not especially engaging and the "stand by me" cover is just. . . no.

SOS album is better.

sadlol not wrong

I had no idea there was an unrelated group called Earth and Fire. For a second, I thought it could be EWF minus some crucial member(s).

song of the marching children is a cool album!