Open Our Eyes

Last updated
Open Our Eyes
Earth, Wind & Fire - Open Our Eyes.jpg
Studio album by
Earth, Wind & Fire
ReleasedMarch 25, 1974
RecordedAugust 1973, Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado, U.S.
Genre Progressive soul, funk, jazz
Length39:52
Label Columbia/Legacy
Producer Maurice White, Joe Wissert
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
Head to the Sky
(1973)		Open Our Eyes
(1974)		 Another Time
(1974)
Singles from Open Your Eyes
  1. "Mighty Mighty"
    Released: February 1, 1974
  2. "Kalimba Story"
    Released: June 14, 1974
  3. "Devotion"
    Released: September 7, 1974

Open Our Eyes is the fifth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on March 25, 1974 on Columbia Records. [1] The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 15 on the Top Pop Albums chart. [2] [3] Open Our Eyes has been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA. [4]

Contents

Overview

Open Our Eyes was produced by Maurice White and Joe Wissert and recorded at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado, US. During 2001, Open Our Eyes was reissued with four bonus tracks. [1]

Singles

The track, "Mighty Mighty", peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. [5] [6] "Kalimba Story" reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. [7] Another single, "Devotion", peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. [8] [9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Billboard (favourable) [11]
Buffalo News (favourable) [12]
PopMatters (favourable) [13]
Rolling Stone (favorable) [14]
Village Voice (A–) [15]
Vibe Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [16]
The Times (favourable) [17]
Tom Hull – on the Web B+ ( Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg ) [18]

Rolling Stone called Open Our Eyes "a pleasant miscellany of Africana, Latin rhythms, well-mannered funk, smooth jazz, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder and the Fifth Dimension". [14] Dale Anderson of the Buffalo News declared "Open Our Eyes is worthy of the attention of progressive music fans everywhere". [12] The Village Voice's Robert Christgau also described Side 1 as "A very pleasant surprise" and Side 2 as a complete "tour de force". [14] [15]

Music journalist Vince Aletti named Open Our Eyes in his ballot for The Village Voice's 1974 Pazz & Jop critics poll. [19]

Track listing

Original release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mighty Mighty" Maurice White, Verdine White 3:01
2."Devotion"M. White, Philip Bailey 4:50
3."Fair But So Uncool"Rick Giles, Charles Stepney 3:39
4."Feelin' Blue"Kenny Altman4:28
5."Kalimba Story"M. White, V. White4:03
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Drum Song"M. White5:10
7."Tee Nine Chee Bit"M. White, C. Stepney, P. Bailey3:45
8."Spasmodic Movements" Eddie Harris 1:50
9."Rabbit Seed"M. White0:31
10."Caribou"C. Stepney, R. Giles3:25
11."Open Our Eyes"Leon Lumpkins5:06

[20]

2001 Reissue

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mighty Mighty" Maurice White, Verdine White 3:03
2."Devotion"M. White, Philip Bailey 4:50
3."Fair But So Uncool"M. White, Rick Giles, Charles Stepney 3:39
4."Feelin' Blue"Kenny Altman4:28
5."Kalimba Story"M. White, V. White4:03
6."Drum Song"M. White5:10
7."Tee Nine Chee Bit"M. White, C. Stepney, P. Bailey3:45
8."Spasmodic Movements" Eddie Harris 1:50
9."Rabbit Seed"M. White0:31
10."Caribou"C. Stepney, R. Giles3:25
11."Open Our Eyes"Leon Lumpkins5:06
12."Ain't No Harm To Moan (Slave Song)"M. White, Larry Dunn5:21
13."Fair But So Uncool (Walkin' In N'Awlins Mix)"C. Stepney, R. Giles, M. White3:37
14."Step's Tune"M. White, C. Stepney2:33
15."Dreams"M. White, C. Stepney, L. Dunn3:23

[21]

Personnel

Production

Charts and Certifications

Singles
YearSingleChartPosition
1974"Devotion" Billboard Hot Soul Songs 23
Billboard Hot 100 33
"Kalimba Story" Billboard Hot Soul Songs 6
Billboard Hot 100 55
"Mighty Mighty" Billboard Hot Soul Songs 4
Billboard Hot 100 29

Certifications

CountryAward
US (RIAA) Platinum [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earth, Wind & Fire</span> American band

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American musical group. Their style and sound span over various music genres such as jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.

<i>Earth, Wind & Fire</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire is the debut studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in February 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. The album got to No. 24 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and was certified Gold in France by the SNEP.

<i>All n All</i> 1977 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

All 'n All is the eighth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1977 by Columbia Records. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. All 'n All has also been certified Triple Platinum in the US by the RIAA, Gold in Canada by Music Canada and Silver in the UK by the BPI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice White</span> American musician (1941–2016), founder of Earth, Wind & Fire

Maurice White was an American singer, band leader, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was best known as 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verdine White</span> American musician (born 1951)

Verdine Adams White is an American musician, best known as a founding member and bassist for the band Earth, Wind & Fire. White was placed at No. 19 on Rolling Stone's list of The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time.

<i>Thats the Way of the World</i> 1975 soundtrack album / Studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

That's the Way of the World is the sixth studio album by American band 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. In 2002, the band released live version of the album, recorded in 1975 – That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75.

<i>Gratitude</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1975 live album by Earth, Wind & Fire

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.

<i>Spirit</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1976 studio album by 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.

<i>I Am</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1979 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

I Am is the ninth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released in June 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records. The LP rose to number 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. I Am has been certified Double Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA, Platinum in the UK by the BPI and Platinum in Canada by Music Canada.

<i>The Need of Love</i> 1971 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

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.

<i>Last Days and Time</i> 1972 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

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.

<i>Head to the Sky</i> 1973 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

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.

<i>Powerlight</i> 1983 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

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.

<i>The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1</i> 1978 greatest hits album by Earth, Wind & Fire

The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 is the first greatest hits album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire issued in 1978 by Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 3 & 6 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums and Billboard 200 charts respectively. The album has been certified Quintuple Platinum in the US by the RIAA, as well as Platinum in the UK and Canada, by the BPI and Music Canada, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mighty Mighty (song)</span> 1974 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"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.

<i>Another Time</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1974 compilation album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Another Time is the first compilation album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 7, 1974 on Warner Bros. Records. It reached No. 29 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.

<i>Heritage</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1990 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Heritage is the fifteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in February 1990 on Columbia Records, and was their final release of new music for the label. The album reached No. 19 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No.18 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart. Heritage also got to No. 39 on the German Pop Albums chart and No. 31 on the Japanese Oricon Albums 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnetic (Earth, Wind & Fire song)</span> 1983 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Magnetic" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1983 on Columbia Records as the first single from their thirteenth studio album, Electric Universe (1983). It reached No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 36 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart and No. 23 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Singles chart. "Magnetic" also reached No. 16 on the Belgian Pop Singles chart and No. 18 on the Dutch Pop Singles chart.

"Kalimba Story" is a song by R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in 1974 on Columbia Records.

References

  1. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes". 45worlds.com.
  2. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  3. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes (Top Pop Albums)". billboard.com.
  4. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes". riaa.com. RIAA.
  5. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Mighty Mighty (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  6. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Mighty Mighty (Hot 100)". Billboard.com.
  7. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Kalimba Story (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com. Billboard.
  8. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion (Hot 100)". billboard.com.
  9. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  10. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  11. ↑ Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes. Billboard Magazine. March 16, 1974. p. 48.
  12. 1 2 Anderson, Dale (April 6, 1974). "Steely Dan Geared for Jazz-Rock Fusion". newspapers.com. Buffalo News. p. 77.
  13. ↑ Warner, Simon. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes/Spirit". popmatters.com. PopMatters.
  14. 1 2 3 Emerson, Ken (May 9, 1974). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
  15. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes". robertchristgau.com. The Village Voice.
  16. ↑ Werner, Craig (March 2001). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes, Spirit". Vol. 9, no. 3. Vibe Magazine. p. 200.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  17. ↑ "Crucial Cuts". gale.com. The Times. August 16, 1998. p. 191.
  18. ↑ Hull, Tom (April 26, 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  19. ↑ Our Own Critics' Poll. robertchristgau.com. The Village Voice. January 20, 1975.
  20. 1 2 3 Earth, Wind & Fire. “Open Our Eyes”. Columbia. 1974.
  21. 1 2 3 Earth, Wind & Fire. “Open Our Eyes” (Remastered). Legacy’s Rhythm Soul Series. Columbia / Legacy. 2001.
  22. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1974". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1974". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.