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

and the harp!

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.

My iPod played "Fantasy," "September," "Let's Groove," and "Fall in Love With Me." I'm going to delete the rest of the content and just play these four songs in a loop.

You need "Can't Hide Love" in there.
fumf fumf FUMF FUMF

oh man every day is a good day to think about the righteousness of EWF

Other severely underrated '80s EWF jams: "Wanna Be With You," "Lady Sun," "Side By Side," "Win or Lose."

Was your ipod on shuffle? Those are the exact four best EWF songs. "Serpentine Fire" is almost as good.

Also cosign with Eric above me: Raise (the whole album) is fucking slept on. I have half a dozen late 70s/early eighties EWF albums, and none of them is less than very good. Taken together, they're a pretty good argument for not fucking with a good formula. Which is not to say they're all the same, not hardly. Some of the canniest pop of its era - Michael J and Quincy J certainly took a lesson or two from Maurice White's playbook when they were concocting Thriller.

Why has no one done a supercut of Maurice White going Yeowwww?

I was a fool for letting Mom get rid of her near-mind copy of Raise!

I like the early stuff ok. Got bits of the s/t popping up on my walkman from time to time.
Meant to get all that pre-disco stuff, maybe need to check out some of the later stuff?

Didn't see any mention of their appearance behind Melvin van Peebles on Sweet Sweetback's Sweetback song. You used to be able to get the s/track with the book with the script/film history in. Not sure if you still can.

Need to find the 2cd of his solo stuff too, RAted X By AN All White Jury. Has some great stuff on it with an unfortunately uncredited band shining in most places. Not sure who that is on the 1st 3 lps , don't think it's EW&F members after the s/trk.

picked up raise and powerlight a month or so ago and was surprised how damn great the both of them actually are
xpost

"Spread Your Love" is awesome. "Lady Sun" is awesome. God I love these guys.

I think the first album is probably my favourite album of theirs these days, just ahead of That's The Way of The World. Such a great band.

I keep thinking I need this box.

Other severely underrated '80s EWF jams: "Wanna Be With You," "Lady Sun," "Side By Side," "Win or Lose."
― dor Dumbeddownball (Eric H.), Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:57 PM (9 months ago)

Not just severely underrated. They are all among their very best songs, too.

listening to their 1990 album heritage right now and it's maurice white doing an impeccable jam/lewis approximation and i am basically loving it

that's encouraging. I actually like 1987's "System of Survival."

YOU'RE MY
YOU'RE MY
LADY SUN

EW&F are my reason for living.
And they light up my day.

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!

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.

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.

wow! Good to know they're still civil.

man that story has made my day

GODDAMMIT

https://twitter.com/AP/status/695374050168733696

RIP Maurice White

The crap year continues. RIP Maurice. Incredible singer from one of the most underrated groups ever.

Oh no. RIP Maurice. This year sucks.

sad stuff. rip.

who doesn't like some EW&F.

:((((((((((((

Aw. This band was on-point. I always thought they were like the black Steely Dan, making really hard stuff sound super smooth.

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

A quick and simple muttering.

http://nedraggett.tumblr.com/post/138693940327/back-in-2010-scott-woods-was-kind-enough-to

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.

David Stubbs on fb: "To listen to EWF anytime is to be temporarily levitated."

otm.

any EW&F comp you own is among the greatest albums in pop history

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.

EW&F are ripe RIPE for a Deep Album Cuts-type reappraisal.

he did some great work w/ ramsey lewis too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUgNGJj7O_U

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.)!

ha didn't know he was drumming on "rescue me", that is awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0w8YcyLPmE

RIP

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.

Didn't make that connection -- true!

Dave Marsh says something to that effect in his singles book, describing EWF as an R & B equivalent to Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86YiGNGCxvI

They were mostly a hit singles band for me, but After The Love is Gone is in my all time songs pantheon, so good.

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.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C59DUe0G3Gc/VW6XBGKi7dI/AAAAAAAAnyQ/_NXN4tLe4xA/s1600/p422_p_v7_aa.jpg

RIP. Blared "September" on the way home from class tonight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VjgGIS4yo4&list=PLrrWWJCP6a4h5o0EkGTCC0GlTLU27_wtJ&index=4

Did George Clinton really hate them (per the op)? I find that hard to believe.

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.

danced in the kitchen to Boogie Wonderland, such a great jam

prob my fave from them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoI1XPqXQ90

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

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.

Someone outside is singing Boogie Wonderland. Wasn't quite what I had in mind when I was thinking of listening to them today.

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.

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/

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!

I've never seen them before but they're touring this summer and through the fall. Two of the original members are still with them including Philip Bailey - it would have been three but unfortunately bassist Verdine White is sitting this one out as he's recuperating from a medical procedure. At least the spectacle alone looks pretty amazing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6ZXq3D7VFQ

Should be good

i've seen them twice, they're a must-see live band

hapy birthday, Philip Bailey!

I spent Sunday morning blasting their late '70s albums through Raise! and lemme tell ya, who needs church?

Preach, Alfred! Yeah everything up to Raise! is an insanely great run of albums. Actually, I'll rep for the first half of Powerlight as well. Ain't no downers when EWF is playing.

hell, check out this Electric Universe jam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8CqSlbDa54

Oh wow, that's been awhile. I don't remember a lot of Electric Universe but that cut was a great one