×
Uh-oh, it looks like your Internet Explorer is out of date.
For a better shopping experience, please upgrade now.
0075992686129

13.99
In Stock
Overview
The debut for the nine-member Earth, Wind & Fire was as assured as that of any rock band from the '60s and early '70s. Already fluent with the close harmonies of the classiest soul groups, the deep funk of James Brown, and the progressive social concerns and multiple vocal features of Sly & the Family Stone, the group added (courtesy of auteur Maurice White) a set of freewheeling arrangements, heavy on the horns, that made Earth Wind and Fire one of their finest albums -- the artistic equal of their later hits, if not on the same level commercially. Unlike the work of most early funk bands, the songwriting was as strong and focused as the musicianship; the record boasts a set of unerringly positive compositions, reflecting the influence of the civil rights movement with nearly every song urging love, community, and knowledge as alternatives to the increasing hopelessness plaguing American society. The stop-start opener "Help Somebody," the deep funk extravaganza "Moment of Truth," and the sweet ballad "Love Is Life" were unified in their pursuit of positivity, while even the potentially incendiary title "Fan the Fire" was revealed in a peaceful context: "The flame of love is about to die/Somebody fan the fire." And the instrumental closer, "Bad Tune," is hardly a cast-off; the furious kalimba work of Maurice White and wordless backing vocals combine to create an excellent piece of impressionist funk.
Product Details
Release Date: | 03/11/1997 |
---|---|
Label: | Warner Records |
UPC: | 0075992686129 |
catalogNumber: | 1905 |
Rank: | 9163 |
Tracks
Album Credits
Performance Credits
Earth, Wind & Fire Primary ArtistMaurice White Percussion,Drums,Vocals,Electric Kalimba
Leslie Drayton Trumpet
Wade Flemons Electric Piano,Vocals
Alexander Thomas Trombone
Verdine White Bass
Sherry Scott Vocals
Chet Washington Reeds
Don Whitehead Piano,Electric Piano,Vocals
Phillard Williams Percussion,Conga
Technical Credits
Earth, Wind & Fire ArrangerMaurice White Contributor
Joseph Wissert Producer
Ed Thrasher Art Direction
Kevin Tong Reissue Producer
Russ Smith Artwork
Customer Reviews
Related Searches
Explore More Items
All-female soul trio the Apollas (with changing personnel, though Leola Jiles was a constant as ...
All-female soul trio the Apollas (with changing personnel, though Leola Jiles was a constant as
lead singer) recorded quite a bit in the 1960s without making much commercial headway. This 25-track compilation has all of the singles they did from ...
Like Ike & Tina Turner, the Ikettes had a pretty confusing recording career, releasing numerous ...
Like Ike & Tina Turner, the Ikettes had a pretty confusing recording career, releasing numerous
discs for several labels and enduring several lineup changes. They did, however, settle at Modern for a while in the mid-'60s, releasing six singles and ...
Great Records of the Decade: '60s Hits -- Country, Vol. 1 is a budget-line collection ...
Great Records of the Decade: '60s Hits -- Country, Vol. 1 is a budget-line collection
that features 11 hits from the '60s, including Buck Owens' Love's Gonna Live Here, Glenn Campbell's Gentle on My Mind, Ferlin Husky's Wings of a ...
In the course of his short life, Detroit-by-way-of Buffalo, New York soulman Darrell Banks never ...
In the course of his short life, Detroit-by-way-of Buffalo, New York soulman Darrell Banks never
reached the complete potential suggested by his scant early 45s. In his four-year run between the 1966 release of his first and most popular single, ...
Undaunted by the criticism Around the World in a Day received, Prince continued to pursue ...
Undaunted by the criticism Around the World in a Day received, Prince continued to pursue
his psychedelic inclinations on Parade, which also functioned as the soundtrack to his second film, Under the Cherry Moon. Originally conceived as a double album, ...
Arthur Alexander was an artist whose importance and influence sadly outweighed his commercial success; while ...
Arthur Alexander was an artist whose importance and influence sadly outweighed his commercial success; while
his first hit, 1961's You Better Move On, immediately cemented his reputation as a major singer and songwriter in Southern soul-style, working with management who ...
With 1974's Lady Marmalade, LaBelle placed itself in a spotlight that would last until Patti ...
With 1974's Lady Marmalade, LaBelle placed itself in a spotlight that would last until Patti
LaBelle left the group for a solo career some two years later. A darling of New York's Apollo Theater, the group never compromised, delivering its ...
Eddy Giles was born Elbert Wiggins in 1938 near Shreveport, Louisiana and he remained in ...
Eddy Giles was born Elbert Wiggins in 1938 near Shreveport, Louisiana and he remained in
the Shreveport area all of his life, where he sang in local gospel groups. He wasn't by design a secular singer, but his soul, R&B, ...