| Earth, Wind & Fire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 1971 | |||
| Recorded | 1970 | |||
| Studio | Sunset Sound Studios, Hollywood | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 28:08 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | Joe Wissert | |||
| Earth, Wind & Fire chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Earth, Wind & Fire | ||||
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Earth, Wind & Fire is the debut studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in March 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. [3] The album peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. [4]
The album was produced by Joe Wissert. Hip hop artist Ludacris has also named this LP as one of his five favorite records which he considers forerunners of hip-hop. [3] [5]
The track "Love Is Life" reached No. 43 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. [6] [7]
"Moment of Truth" was sampled by LL Cool J on the track "Murdergram", Kid N Play on the track "Energy" and The Jungle Brothers on "Good News Comin' and What You Waiting For". "Bad Tune" was sampled by Brand Nubian on "Dance to My Ministry", Diamond D on "Feel the Vibe", DJ Shadow on "In/Flux" and by Lupe Fiasco on "Carrerra Lu". "Fan the Fire" was also sampled by Michie Mee on "Jamaican Funk". [8] [9]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [10] |
| Village Voice | (C+) [11] |
| Rolling Stone | (favourable) [12] |
| Chicago Daily News | (favourable) [13] |
| Detroit Free Press | (favourable) [14] |
| Jazz Journal |  [15] |
Lester Bangs of Rolling Stone noted a "heavy Sly influence" and the "smooth harmonies" of The Fifth Dimension on the LP. [12] The Village Voice s Robert Christgau was ambivalent towards the album's various musical "cross-references", including "the expert vocal harmonies [that] neither fit the concept nor assert any personality of their own", and said that even its successful songs have "a way of slipping away unnoticed once the record is over". [11] John Bush of AllMusic gave the album four-and-a-half out of five stars and complimented the song's' "freewheeling arrangements". Bush found "the songwriting was as strong and focused as the musicianship" and praised the LP's social context, noting "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". [10] Al Rudis of the Chicago Daily News found "Earth, Wind and Fire brings to mind Bossa nova, Sly and the Family Stone, Ray Conniff, Afro-Cuban music and The 5th Dimension". [13] Bob Talbert of the Detroit Free Press also wrote "I'm not sure what to call this group. Afro-gospel-jazz-blues-rock? Must there be a label?". [14]
Isaac Hayes called Earth, Wind & Fire one of the band's five essential recordings. [16]
All songs written by Wade Flemons, Maurice White, and Don Whitehead, unless otherwise noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Help Somebody" | 3:34 |
| 2. | "Moment of Truth" | 3:05 |
| 3. | "Love Is Life" | 5:04 |
| 4. | "Fan the Fire" | 5:11 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "C'mon Children" | Michael Beal, Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Verdine White, Don Whitehead | 3:08 |
| 6. | "This World Today" | 3:28 | |
| 7. | "Bad Tune" | Beal, Flemons, M. White, V. White, Whitehead | 4:38 |
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Billboard Top Soul Albums | 24 |
| Billboard 200 | 172 |
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American music band formed in 1969. Their music spans the multiple genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.
The Emotions are an American soul/R&B vocal group from Chicago. The group started out in gospel music but transitioned into R&B and disco music. The Emotions were named by VH1 as one of the 18 most influential girl groups of all time.
Maurice White was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.
That's the Way of the World is the sixth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on March 3, 1975, by Columbia Records. It was also the soundtrack for a 1975 motion picture of the same name. The album rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts. That's the Way of the World has also been certified Triple Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA. In 2002, the band released live version of the album, recorded in 1975 – That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75.
Philip James Bailey is an American singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his four-octave vocal range and distinctive falsetto register, Bailey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire. Bailey was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work with the band.
Gratitude is a double live album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, issued in November 1975 by Columbia Records. The album spent six weeks atop the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and three weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart. Gratitude has also been certified Triple Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
Wade Herbert Flemons was an American soul singer. He was a founding member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire.
Spirit is the seventh studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 28, 1976, by Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts. Spirit has also been certified Double Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
Open Our Eyes is the fifth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in March 1974 on Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 15 on the Top Pop Albums chart. Open Our Eyes has been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
Faces is the tenth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released on October 14, 1980, on ARC/Columbia Records. The album reached number 10 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, number 2 on the Billboard Top Soul albums chart and number 10 on the UK Albums Chart. Faces was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
The Need of Love is the second studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. The album reached No. 35 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. The Need of Love would be the band's final album for Warner Bros. until 1993's Millennium on Reprise Records.
Last Days and Time is the third studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in October 1972 on Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 15 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 9 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.
Head to the Sky is the fourth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in May 1973 on Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 27 on the Billboard 200 chart. Head to the Sky has also been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
Powerlight is the twelfth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in February 1983 by Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. Powerlight was also certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
"Mighty Mighty" is a song by R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as a single in 1974 on Columbia Records. The single reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Evil" is a single by the band Earth, Wind & Fire which was issued in June 1973 by Columbia Records. The song peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and No. 25 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.
Another Time is the first compilation album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in September 1974 on Warner Bros. Records. It reached No. 29 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
"Keep Your Head to the Sky" is a song recorded by American R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire for their 1973 album, Head to the Sky. It was released as a single by Columbia Records, peaking at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.
"Devotion" is a single by R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire released in 1974 on Columbia Records. "Devotion" peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"I Think About Lovin' You" is a song by the band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in January 1972 by Warner Bros. Records. The song peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.
