that's encouraging. I actually like 1987's "System of Survival."
― A deeper shade of lol (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 5 June 2013 18:11 (ten years ago) link
YOU'RE MYYOU'RE MYLADY SUN
― first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 31 July 2013 20:11 (ten years ago) link
EW&F are my reason for living.And they light up my day.
― Boven is het stil (Eric H.), Wednesday, 31 July 2013 20:14 (ten years ago) link
After Charles Stepney died in 1976, Maurice took over the reins of producing the Emotions and it was with this combo that the album Rejoice was released in 1977. Rejoice peaked at number 7 and number 1 on the pop and R&B charts and spawned the singles "Best of My Love" and "Don't Ask My Neighbors" which reached number 1 on the Pop and R&B charts and number 7 on the R&B charts respectively.Best of My Love won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals, and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. "Best Of My Love" was also the third biggest pop single of 1977, and has been certified platinum. Rejoice was also the third biggest R&B album of 1977 has been certified platinum.In 1978, The Emotions released their third Columbia album, Sunbeam in 1978. Sunbeam reached number 12 on the top R&B album charts and spawned the number 6 R&B single "Smile". Sunbeam has been certified gold by the RIAA... Maurice produced two more albums for the Emotions until they departed Columbia to record under Motown.
After Charles Stepney died in 1976, Maurice took over the reins of producing the Emotions and it was with this combo that the album Rejoice was released in 1977. Rejoice peaked at number 7 and number 1 on the pop and R&B charts and spawned the singles "Best of My Love" and "Don't Ask My Neighbors" which reached number 1 on the Pop and R&B charts and number 7 on the R&B charts respectively.
Best of My Love won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals, and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. "Best Of My Love" was also the third biggest pop single of 1977, and has been certified platinum. Rejoice was also the third biggest R&B album of 1977 has been certified platinum.
In 1978, The Emotions released their third Columbia album, Sunbeam in 1978. Sunbeam reached number 12 on the top R&B album charts and spawned the number 6 R&B single "Smile". Sunbeam has been certified gold by the RIAA... Maurice produced two more albums for the Emotions until they departed Columbia to record under Motown.
loved "Best of My Love" so much as a child, but never looked further into the group -- now I need to hear it all, they got three albums out of Maurice White when he was totally in the pocket!
― The Complainte of Ray Tabano, Saturday, 20 December 2014 18:03 (nine years ago) link
Listening to Powerlight, I could swear M. White had studied his ABBA, what with the crazy harmonies, butter-light beat, and expert horns ("Freedom of Choice"). But for all the lightness there's a hysterical streak too.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 20 December 2014 19:48 (nine years ago) link
i was working on a taping for PSAs the other day and Maurice, Verdine and Philip came in and it was cool to see them work together on a non-musical thing, just the way they took turns with lines and then did things in perfect unison and the way their speaking voices sounded right together, exactly like you'd expect with guys who've been singing together for 40 years.
― some dude, Saturday, 20 December 2014 21:09 (nine years ago) link
wow! Good to know they're still civil.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 20 December 2014 21:24 (nine years ago) link
man that story has made my day
― The Complainte of Ray Tabano, Sunday, 21 December 2014 00:42 (nine years ago) link
GODDAMMIT
https://twitter.com/AP/status/695374050168733696
RIP Maurice White
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 February 2016 22:37 (eight years ago) link
The crap year continues. RIP Maurice. Incredible singer from one of the most underrated groups ever.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 4 February 2016 22:44 (eight years ago) link
Oh no. RIP Maurice. This year sucks.
― The Robustness of Captchas (Tom D.), Thursday, 4 February 2016 22:46 (eight years ago) link
sad stuff. rip.
who doesn't like some EW&F.
― Spottie, Thursday, 4 February 2016 22:47 (eight years ago) link
:((((((((((((
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Thursday, 4 February 2016 22:49 (eight years ago) link
Aw. This band was on-point. I always thought they were like the black Steely Dan, making really hard stuff sound super smooth.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 4 February 2016 22:59 (eight years ago) link
Goddamn if you haven't seen this live in Oakland show from the end of the year in 1981 -- remember seeing it a few months later on HBO, IIRC -- you haven't lived. If you have an hour, take the time.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2e14xh_earth-wind-fire-in-concert-live-oakland-coliseum-1981_people
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 February 2016 23:08 (eight years ago) link
A quick and simple muttering.
http://nedraggett.tumblr.com/post/138693940327/back-in-2010-scott-woods-was-kind-enough-to
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 February 2016 23:24 (eight years ago) link
RIP - so much music that lifted so many spirits. you can't really stay in a bad mood when earth wind and fire comes on the radio.
― tylerw, Thursday, 4 February 2016 23:25 (eight years ago) link
David Stubbs on fb: "To listen to EWF anytime is to be temporarily levitated."
otm.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 4 February 2016 23:35 (eight years ago) link
any EW&F comp you own is among the greatest albums in pop history
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 4 February 2016 23:41 (eight years ago) link
Damn right re Stubbs. The full quote is even better:
Robert Wyatt once talked about how he was complimented backstage by some student types after one of his gigs, the geezer complaining that the previous week they'd had to endure Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band and their comparatively non-cerebral music, and how good it was to have experienced something more elevated. Wyatt, alive to this sort of bollocks as he creditably ever was, responded that dear God, if they could have moved a crowd a tenth of a degree Geno could, they'd have been more than happy. Critics privilege the morbid, the broody, the gloomy, over the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire; dumb critics, that is. It's fucking hard to create the sort of popular joy they serially did, the physical, spiritual uplift, the perennial high. Many try and fail desperately, counterproductively. A great deal of other worthy culture weighs us down. To listen to EWF anytime is to be temporarily levitated. My god, 2016 can fuck off with its scythe.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 February 2016 23:42 (eight years ago) link
EW&F are ripe RIPE for a Deep Album Cuts-type reappraisal.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 4 February 2016 23:43 (eight years ago) link
he did some great work w/ ramsey lewis too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUgNGJj7O_U
― tylerw, Thursday, 4 February 2016 23:49 (eight years ago) link
RIP
Don't all y'all forget all the great Checker/Cadet/Chess sides he drummed on in the '60s ("Rescue Me", "Soulful Dress" etc.)!
― "Damn the Taquitos" (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 4 February 2016 23:53 (eight years ago) link
ha didn't know he was drumming on "rescue me", that is awesome.
― tylerw, Friday, 5 February 2016 00:01 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0w8YcyLPmE
― mom, Friday, 5 February 2016 00:17 (eight years ago) link
Aw, RIP.
EWF was one of those bands I heard many times without really knowing while I was growing up. A singles band for many, but their best albums listen as well as any comp. They all follow a distinct formula, but what a formula it was. And they set the template for a decade or so of LA pop - just for starters, Off the Wall or Thriller don't exist without Maurice White and EWF's efforts.
― Futuristic Bow Wow (thewufs), Friday, 5 February 2016 00:26 (eight years ago) link
Didn't make that connection -- true!
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 5 February 2016 00:26 (eight years ago) link
Dave Marsh says something to that effect in his singles book, describing EWF as an R & B equivalent to Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan.
― "Damn the Taquitos" (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 5 February 2016 00:35 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86YiGNGCxvI
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 5 February 2016 00:46 (eight years ago) link
They were mostly a hit singles band for me, but After The Love is Gone is in my all time songs pantheon, so good.
― on entre O.K. on sort K.O. (man alive), Friday, 5 February 2016 02:03 (eight years ago) link
Anybody else ever see the "That's The Way of The World" movie? A fun mix of '70s cheese and grit, with some fantastic live EWF footage.
― "Damn the Taquitos" (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 5 February 2016 02:10 (eight years ago) link
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C59DUe0G3Gc/VW6XBGKi7dI/AAAAAAAAnyQ/_NXN4tLe4xA/s1600/p422_p_v7_aa.jpg
― "Damn the Taquitos" (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 5 February 2016 02:12 (eight years ago) link
RIP. Blared "September" on the way home from class tonight.
― pitchforkian at best (cryptosicko), Friday, 5 February 2016 04:05 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VjgGIS4yo4&list=PLrrWWJCP6a4h5o0EkGTCC0GlTLU27_wtJ&index=4
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 5 February 2016 04:17 (eight years ago) link
Did George Clinton really hate them (per the op)? I find that hard to believe.
― Οὖτις, Friday, 5 February 2016 04:20 (eight years ago) link
man, MW played on, wrote, and produced a hell of a lot of good music
always impressed by how goddam busy those EWF hits are. there's a lot going on. busy, but not cluttered.
― wizzz! (amateurist), Friday, 5 February 2016 04:27 (eight years ago) link
danced in the kitchen to Boogie Wonderland, such a great jam
― Flamenco Drop (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 5 February 2016 04:30 (eight years ago) link
prob my fave from them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoI1XPqXQ90
― wizzz! (amateurist), Friday, 5 February 2016 04:43 (eight years ago) link
Did George Clinton really hate them (per the op)? I find that hard to believe.― Οὖτις, Thursday, February 4, 2016 9:20 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Οὖτις, Thursday, February 4, 2016 9:20 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
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, 5 February 2016 06:51 (eight years ago) link
Someone outside is singing Boogie Wonderland. Wasn't quite what I had in mind when I was thinking of listening to them today.
― ledge, Friday, 5 February 2016 09:21 (eight years ago) link
RIP. terrible loss. songs like cant hide love were really important to me. i dont think they were an albums band or a singles band, but they had so many great songs, and they were one of the best live bands of the 70s. shame they are basically, in the uk at least, seen as pure cheese purveyors cos of boogie wonderland (which i actually love, but its not their greatest song). the clinton thing is that p-funk, ewf, and the commodores were basically the main 3 rivals in terms of their shows.
― StillAdvance, Friday, 5 February 2016 10:39 (eight years ago) link
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.
― Tuomas, Friday, 5 February 2016 11:45 (eight years ago) link
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
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 5 February 2016 11:47 (eight years ago) link
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)
― Tuomas, Friday, 5 February 2016 11:48 (eight years ago) link
shame they are basically, in the uk at least, seen as pure cheese purveyors cos of boogie wonderland
Says who?
― The Robustness of Captchas (Tom D.), Friday, 5 February 2016 12:08 (eight years ago) link
FOr a start, who has ever described Boogie Wonderland as 'pure cheese'?
― The Robustness of Captchas (Tom D.), Friday, 5 February 2016 12:09 (eight years ago) link
RIP :(
― The Dave Grohl of ILX (Turrican), Friday, 5 February 2016 12:14 (eight years ago) link
was he still touring with them? they're supposed to come through my area in a few weeks.
― billstevejim, Friday, 5 February 2016 12:32 (eight years ago) link
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.
― Tuomas, Friday, 5 February 2016 12:34 (eight years ago) link
And apparently Parkinson's was also the cause of his death.
― Tuomas, Friday, 5 February 2016 12:36 (eight years ago) link