| Fantasy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Morris 'Butch' Stewart, Maurice White | |||
| Ramsey Lewis chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Fantasy is a studio album by Ramsey Lewis, released in 1985 on Columbia Records. The album reached No. 13 on the Cashbox Jazz Albums chart. [2]
Fantasy was produced by Morris Stewart and Maurice White. [3]
Chris Albertson of Stereo Review wrote: "With a little help from Maurice White, his former drummer who hit pop gold with Earth, Wind & Fire, the fifty-year-old pianist has armed himself with synthesizers and come up with a set of sounds that will have a much younger generation gyrating and bopping in the strobe lights." [4] Peter Sleight of the Sun Sentinel stated: "Fantasy, by keyboardist Ramsey Lewis, could be found in any department of the music store. It'll probably show up in jazz simply because of Lewis' long affiliation with jazz. But the recording is clearly non- denominational, drawing equally from jazz, rock, New Wave and R&B." Sleight added: "It succeeds because Lewis has found the secret to electronic instruments: They must be used judiciously, and for the purpose to which they are best suited. To avoid the one-note, one-rhythm pounding that flaws most android music, Lewis creates many layers of electronic tracks. The result is intricate, exotic and unremittingly funky, with Lewis' keyboard melody always rising above the din." [5]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "This Ain't No Fantasy" | Morris "Butch" Stewart, Patrick Leonard | 4:15 |
| 2. | "Ram Jam" | Laney Stewart, Morris "Butch" Stewart | 3:59 |
| 3. | "It's Gonna Change" | Lonnie Reaves, Morris "Butch" Stewart | 4:23 |
| 4. | "Les Clefs of Mon Coeur" | Laney Stewart, Morris "Butch" Stewart, Ramsey Lewis | 3:50 |
| 5. | "Victim of a Broken Heart" | Brenda Mitchell, Morris "Butch" Stewart | 4:06 |
| 6. | "Slow Dancin'" | Morris "Butch" Stewart, Ramsey Lewis | 4:14 |
| 7. | "Never Give Up" | Brenda Mitchell, Morris "Butch" Stewart | 4:57 |
| 8. | "Part of Me feat. Maurice White" | Brenda Mitchell, Morris "Butch" Stewart | 4:33 |
| 9. | "The Quest" | Morris "Butch" Stewart, Ramsey Lewis | 5:27 |
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band that has spanned the musical genres of R&B, soul, funk, jazz, disco, pop, dance, Latin, and Afro pop. They have been described as one of the most innovative and are among the most commercially successful acts of all time. Rolling Stone called them "innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing" and declared that the band "changed the sound of black pop". VH1 has also described EWF as "one of the greatest bands" ever.
Christiern Gunnar Albertson was a New York City-based jazz journalist, writer and record producer.
Maurice White was an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was the founder, leader, main songwriter, and producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, and served as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey. Described as a "visionary" by Vibe and a "mastermind" by Variety, White was nominated for a total of 22 Grammys, of which he won seven. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire, and was also inducted individually into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He additionally worked with artists such as Deniece Williams, Cher, the Emotions, Barbra Streisand, Ramsey Lewis, and Neil Diamond.
That's the Way of the World is the sixth studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire, released on March 15, 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.
Larry M. Dunn is an American keyboardist, musical director and one of the early members of the music group Earth, Wind & Fire. Dunn, along with other members of Earth, Wind & Fire, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995, Lifetime Achievement honors from ASCAP (Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, 2002, 4 American Music Awards, and are inductees of the Songwriter Hall of Fame. Dunn is a co-writer of the song "Shining Star", an Earth, Wind & Fire classic song that has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
"Fantasy" is a song by the band Earth, Wind & Fire which was issued as a single in 1978 by Columbia Records.
Sun Goddess is a jazz album by Ramsey Lewis, released on Columbia Records in 1974. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Sun Goddess has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Mother Nature's Son is a studio album recorded by Ramsey Lewis which was released on Cadet Records in 1968. The album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 10 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
Charles Stepney was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and musician. Stepney is noted for his work with artists such as The Dells, Ramsey Lewis, Rotary Connection and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Salongo is an album by the jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, released in 1976 by Columbia. The album rose to No. 7 on the Billboard magazine Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 17 on the Top Soul Albums chart.
Don't It Feel Good is a 1975 funk/jazz-funk album by Ramsey Lewis released on Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
Love Notes is a jazz album by Ramsey Lewis, recorded in 1976-77 and released in 1977 on Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 10 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 31 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums charts.
"Sun Goddess" is a single by jazz musician Ramsey Lewis featuring the band Earth, Wind & Fire issued in 1975 on Columbia Records. The song rose to No. 20 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.
"Sailaway" is a song by the American R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire, written by Maurice White, Eddie del Barrio, Philip Bailey and Roxanne Seeman. It was produced by White and recorded during the Faces sessions in Montserrat at George Martin's Air Studios and in Los Angeles at The Complex/ARC Studios 1980, engineered and mixed by George Massenburg.
"Touch" is a song by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as a single in January 1984 by Columbia Records. The song reached No. 23 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 36 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.
Come into Our World is a studio album by the girl group The Emotions issued in October 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 35 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 36 on the UK Blues & Soul British Soul Albums chart. Come into Our World was also produced by Maurice White who went on to be Grammy nominated in the category of Producer of the Year Non-Classical.
Keys to the City is a studio album by Ramsey Lewis, released in May 1987 on Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and No. 11 on the Cashbox Jazz Albums chart.
"You" is a song by the band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as a single in November 1980 on Columbia Records. The single reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Tequila Mockingbird is an album by the American jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, released in 1977 on Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
Routes is a studio album by Ramsey Lewis, released in 1980 on Columbia Records. The album reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.