Now, Then & Forever | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 10, 2013 | |||
Recorded | 2012–2013 | |||
Studio | NuVintage Recording Studio A (Tarzana, California)
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Genre | R&B, funk | |||
Length | 43:21 | |||
Label | Legacy | |||
Producer |
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Earth, Wind & Fire chronology | ||||
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Singles from Now, Then and Forever | ||||
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Now, Then & Forever is the twentieth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 10, 2013, by Legacy Recordings/Sony Music. [1] The album reached No. 11 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [2] [3]
This is the first Earth, Wind & Fire album without musical input from founder Maurice White, although he supplied a note in the album's liner notes: [1]
As we see today’s technology uniting the world wide web, sometimes it seems that the hearts of men are growing more distant from each other. It is my hope that this music will continue to tie past to future, reminding us of the love that united us to our ancestors, and to our descendants, and to each other. Peace,
— Maurice White
Larry Dunn, a former Earth, Wind & Fire bandmember, features as a keyboardist on the album. [4] A deluxe edition came coupled with a compilation album. [5]
The track "Guiding Lights" rose to No. 16 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. [6] [7] Another single, "My Promise", reached No. 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart. [8] [9]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [10] |
Exclaim | (8/10) [11] |
Popmatters | (favourable) [12] |
People | (favourable) [13] |
Daily Record | (3/5) [14] |
RTÉ | (4/5) [15] |
Daily Mirror | [16] |
Record Collector | [17] |
Blues & Soul | (9/10) [18] |
Matt Bauer of Exclaim gave the album an eight out of ten rating, noting that "Now, Then & Forever is a more than worthy addition to the Earth Wind & Fire catalogue." [11] With a four out of five rating, Harry Guerin of RTÉ called Now, Then & Forever "One of the surprises of the year." [15] Elias Leight of Popmatters wrote "Now, Then & Forever has all the old colors and grooves, an impeccable rhythm section, prominent guitars, and indomitable horns that trace and re-trace motifs, dancing rings around everything." [12] With a three out of five stars rating, Gavin Martin of the Daily Mirror exclaimed "Elements of greatness remain but the songs aren't classics." [16] Daryl Easlea of Record Collector gave a four out of five stars rating and found that "Now, Then And Forever, is a splendid diversion that recalls – in spirit alone, of course – Rick Rubin’s recent work with Black Sabbath. It also sounds like a lost album that should have come out after 1979’s I Am: a very shrewd approximation of the EWF we know and love, it’s crammed with sophisticated R&B, gossamer-light jazz and powerful, soulful vocals with a positive message. [17] Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave a three out of five stars rating saying "Now, Then & Forever demonstrates the lasting value of the band's classic sound." [10] With a three out of five rating the Daily Record called Now, Then & Forever "a worthy effort, and EWF are clearly using old glories as inspiration for the future." [14]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Sign On" (Feat. Daniel McClain) | Philip D. Bailey, Sharlotte Gibson, Austin Jacobs, Daniel McClain, Neal H. Pogue, Darrin Simpson | 4:17 |
2. | "Love Is Law" | Allen Bundy, Lee Hutson, Jr., Jairus Lemuel-Jada Mozee, Ric'key Pageot, Eric Rousseau, Meg Todd | 4:20 |
3. | "My Promise" | Siedah Garrett, Austin Jacobs, Darrin Simpson | 3:22 |
4. | "Guiding Lights" | Philip D. Bailey, Austin Jacobs, Daniel McClain, Darrin Simpson | 6:24 |
5. | "Got to Be Love" | Philip D. Bailey, Philip J. Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Myron McKinley | 3:41 |
6. | "Belo Horizonte" | Raymond Crossley, Frederick A. Johnson, Ralph Johnson, Morris O'Connor | 1:50 |
7. | "Dance Floor" | Philip D. Bailey, Sondria Bailey, Justin Panariello | 4:59 |
8. | "Splashes" | Philip D. Bailey, Justin Panariello | 5:21 |
9. | "Night of My Life" | Philip D. Bailey, Jevon McGlory, Justin Panariello | 4:00 |
10. | "The Rush" | Philip J. Bailey, Larry Dunn, Allee Willis | 5:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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11. | "Hero As He Rose" | Philip D. Bailey, Jevon McGlory, Justin Panariello | 4:00 |
12. | "Whirlwind" | 5:37 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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11. | "Can't Hide Love (Masters at Work Remix)" | Skip Scarborough | |
12. | "Shining Star (DJ Jin Asakusa Samba Remix)" | Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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11. | "My Promise" (featuring Omar Sy) | Siedah Garrett, Austin Jacobs, Darrin Simpson | 3:25 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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11. | "Boogie Wonderland" (featuring The Emotions) | Jon Lind, Allee Willis | |
12. | "Sing a Song" | Al McKay, Maurice White | |
13. | "September" | Al McKay, Maurice White, Allee Willis | |
14. | "Let's Groove" | Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White | |
15. | "Got to Get You into My Life" | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | |
16. | "After the Love Has Gone" | David Foster, Jay Graydon, Bill Champlin |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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13. | "Can't Let Go" | Bill Meyers, Maurice White, Allee Willis | |
14. | "Runnin'" | Maurice, White, Larry Dunn, Eddie DelBarrio | |
15. | "Shining Star" | Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White | |
16. | "Turn It Into Something Good" | Valerie Carter, James Newton Howard, Maurice White | |
17. | "Power" | Maurice White, Earth, Wind & Fire | |
18. | "You And I" | Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster | |
19. | "Fantasy" | Maurice White, Verdine White, Eddie DelBarrio |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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13. | "Can't Let Go" | Bill Meyers, Maurice White, Allee Willis | |
14. | "Runnin’" | Maurice, White, Larry Dunn, Eddie DelBarrio | |
15. | "Shining Star" | Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White | |
16. | "Turn It Into Something Good" | Valerie Carter, James Newton Howard, Maurice White | |
17. | "Power" | Maurice White, Earth, Wind & Fire | |
18. | "You And I" | Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster | |
19. | "Fantasy" | Maurice White, Verdine White, Eddie DelBarrio | |
20. | "Can't Hide Love" | Skip Scarborough | |
21. | "September" | Al McKay, Maurice White, Allee Willis | |
22. | "September (DJ KOMORI Remix)" | Al McKay, Maurice White, Allee Willis | |
23. | "Let's Groove (TJO & YUSUKE from BLU-SWING Remix)" | Maurice White, Wayne Vaughn |
Adapted from the album's text. [1]
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Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Singles - Billboard (US)
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
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2012 | "Guiding Lights" | US Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs [7] | 16 |
US Billboard Adult R&B Songs [6] | 30 | ||
2013 | "My Promise" | US Billboard Adult R&B Songs [8] | 28 |
US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs [9] | 30 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI) [39] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band whose music spans the genres of 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.
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