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Essential Earth Wind & Fire albums... Okay, I just got That's The Way Of The World... am digging the funky ones and a few of the slow jams (vocals sound very Prince!).
Can anyone recommend me any other EWF titles? Also, I have a question - when did Al McKay join the group? | |
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The Promise is a good cd, I recommend it. Love all the tracks 
Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture! REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince "I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben |
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luv4u said: The Promise is a good cd, I recommend it. Love all the tracks
Me too! I give that one a spin every now and then. But I think it's out of print now and the only way you can purchase it is at their official site. Other Essential ones you want to start with (and it's mandatory too!) - All 'N' All (1977) - Spirit (1976) - I Am (1979) - Open Our Eyes (1974) - Head To The Sky (1973) - Last Days And Time (1972) - Graditude (1975) And if you really don't have the time to purchase all of these, The Eternal Dance box set is probably your best bet in getting a full overview of their evolution and versatility in music. It has 56 tracks that consists of hits, album cuts, live cuts, and some worthy rarities. It is missing some great cuts, but it's a great compilation. Check me out and add me on:
www.last.fm/user/brandosoul "Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." -Bob Marley | |
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I'd say between the core period from roughly '72 till '83 all EWF albums are essential.
as luv4u said "Promise" is great, true, probably their best post 83 release, awesome songs and classic old school sound and production. but it's lacking funky and uptempo tracks, so if that's the direction you're more interested in, the you should spare Pormise for later on. if you dig TTWOTW then I'd continue at that time slot, and next go for Spirit (1976) and All'N'All (1977). and after that get ALL of those: 1979 I Am 1980 Faces 1975 Gratitude 1981 Raise! 1983 Powerlight 1974 Open Our Eyes 1973 Head to the Sky 1972 Last Days and Time Vanglorious... this is protected by the red, the black, and the green. With a key... sissy! | |
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silverchild said: And if you really don't have the time to purchase all of these, The Eternal Dance box set is probably your best bet in getting a full overview of their evolution and versatility in music. It has 56 tracks that consists of hits, album cuts, live cuts, and some worthy rarities. It is missing some great cuts, but it's a great compilation.
good advice   Vanglorious... this is protected by the red, the black, and the green. With a key... sissy! | |
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 Vanglorious... this is protected by the red, the black, and the green. With a key... sissy! | |
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Dancelot said:
All 'N' All is probably their most definitive work. I consider it to be their own "Sgt Pepper's". There's no dud or filler track in the bunch. I think you should get that one next. Check me out and add me on:
www.last.fm/user/brandosoul "Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." -Bob Marley | |
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What's their funkiest? | |
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MattyJam said: What's their funkiest?
That's a hard choice because what they did from 1972-1979 was magic and groovalistic, but I would have to say Graditude. It has the funkiest live versions of songs from That's The Way Of The World, the classic studio tracks in the second half of the album, the jazzy funk of Sun Goddess (which they wrote and was recorded by jazz legend Ramsey Lewis), and the ambitious grooves of New World Symphony. It is one of their landmark recordings. Check me out and add me on:
www.last.fm/user/brandosoul "Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." -Bob Marley | |
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From their 1971 debut 'Earth, Wind & Fire' to 1979's 'I Am'.
Earth, Wind Fire 1971 The Need Of Love 1971 Last Days And Time 1972 Head To The Sky 1973 Open Our Eyes 1974 That's The Way Of The World 1975 Gratitude 1975 Spirit 1976 All 'N' All 1977 I Am 1979  It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
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MattyJam said: What's their funkiest?
'Open Our Eyes' (1974) is a funky record 
contains jams like "Tee Nine Chee Bit","Mighty Mighty" and "Kalimba Story" | |
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silverchild said: All 'N' All is probably their most definitive work. I consider it to be their own "Sgt Pepper's". There's no dud or filler track in the bunch. I think you should get that one next.[/quote] For many years,this was my favorite EW&F album.In recent years,I changed my mind and decided that 'I Am' is my favorite.Nowadays,I go back and forth  It's hard to decide! | |
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ALL 'N ALL
definitely I have the included poster up on my wall I love that album so much because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." | |
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silverchild said: luv4u said: The Promise is a good cd, I recommend it. Love all the tracks
Me too! I give that one a spin every now and then. But I think it's out of print now and the only way you can purchase it is at their official site. Other Essential ones you want to start with (and it's mandatory too!) - All 'N' All (1977) - Spirit (1976) - I Am (1979) - Open Our Eyes (1974) - Head To The Sky (1973) - Last Days And Time (1972) - Graditude (1975) And if you really don't have the time to purchase all of these, The Eternal Dance box set is probably your best bet in getting a full overview of their evolution and versatility in music. It has 56 tracks that consists of hits, album cuts, live cuts, and some worthy rarities. It is missing some great cuts, but it's a great compilation. What he said. **--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••-
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DirtyChris said: ALL 'N ALL
definitely I have the included poster up on my wall I love that album so much that poster was up on the wall in my room from 1977 til around 1990  I didn't put it up again in the new flat yet, so for the time it remains with the vinyl in my EWF shrine
. [Edited 8/9/07 12:14pm] Vanglorious... this is protected by the red, the black, and the green. With a key... sissy! | |
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FuNkeNsteiN said: From their 1971 debut 'Earth, Wind & Fire' to 1979's 'I Am'.
Earth, Wind Fire 1971 The Need Of Love 1971 Last Days And Time 1972 Head To The Sky 1973 Open Our Eyes 1974 That's The Way Of The World 1975 Gratitude 1975 Spirit 1976 All 'N' All 1977 I Am 1979 you definitely have to add "Faces" to that list, generally a highly underrated album. the final appearance of Al McKay... it somehow marks the end of an era . [Edited 8/9/07 12:24pm] Vanglorious... this is protected by the red, the black, and the green. With a key... sissy! | |
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Dancelot said: DirtyChris said: ALL 'N ALL
definitely I have the included poster up on my wall I love that album so much that poster was up on the wall in my room from 1977 til around 1990 I didn't put it up again in the new flat yet, so for the time it remains with the vinyl in my EWF shrine 
Spirit is a favorite too and I love I Am as well I gotta get the rest of their stuff because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." | |
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Dancelot said: FuNkeNsteiN said: From their 1971 debut 'Earth, Wind & Fire' to 1979's 'I Am'.
Earth, Wind Fire 1971 The Need Of Love 1971 Last Days And Time 1972 Head To The Sky 1973 Open Our Eyes 1974 That's The Way Of The World 1975 Gratitude 1975 Spirit 1976 All 'N' All 1977 I Am 1979 you definitely have to add "Faces" to that list, generally a highly underrated album. the final appearance of Al McKay... it somehow marks the end of an era 'Faces' is an album that I have mixed feelings about  It's a 2-record set so they had alot of room to stretch out and try some new things,but most of the songs sound alike.It woulda been cool if the first record was the commercial stuff,and the second record contained jazzy,more experimental stuff. | |
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I never really cared for Faces. I have listened to this cd probably three times. It is just not that great. It was very experimental. It contains a lot of David Foster work. David also wrote a lot of good stuff on I Am and Raise. **--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••-
U 'gon make me shake my doo loose! http://www.twitter.com/nivlekbrad | |
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daPrettyman said: I never really cared for Faces. I have listened to this cd probably three times. It is just not that great. It was very experimental. It contains a lot of David Foster work. David also wrote a lot of good stuff on I Am and Raise.
actually there is just one Foster song ("You") on there, quite nice, typical singalong Foster ballad. some say there were simply more filler tracks on Faces than on previous EWF albums... probably true, but the same is said about many double albums from other artists as well... and except for the long title track I can't see much of experimental sounds on it, but rather quite enough excellent uplifting sometimes even extremely catchy songs and melodies to make it worthwile. three listens is maybe not enough? I think you should give it another try Sparkle, And Love goes On, Let Me Talk, Turn It Into Something Good, Back on the road, Win or loose, Take it to the sky, In Time ... actualyl this inspired me to put the CD in an I have it playin right now  Vanglorious... this is protected by the red, the black, and the green. With a key... sissy! | |
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daPrettyman said: I never really cared for Faces. I have listened to this cd probably three times. It is just not that great. It was very experimental. It contains a lot of David Foster work. David also wrote a lot of good stuff on I Am and Raise.
To me,'Faces' isn't experimental enough.Since it's a 2-record set,they had alot of room to stetch out,experiment and try new sounds.Most of the songs follow the same formula and sound alike.The only two songs that dare to go in a different direction are "Back On The Road" (more rock-flavored than the other tracks) and the cool,jazzy title track. The album has a handful of good moments ("Sailaway","Share Your Love","Song In My Heart","Win Or Lose") but it's not the big,important double-album that it could have been.This could have been their 'SITKOL'...their 'SOTT'....but instead,it's just a mediocre collection of songs.EW&F is better than that. | |
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SoulAlive said: EW&F is better than that.
Was better than that. tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: SoulAlive said: EW&F is better than that.
Was better than that. waht's your opinion of 'Faces'?  | |
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SoulAlive said: what's your opinion of 'Faces'? As you've stated, it was a major disappointment considering their past recording history. But you already know that I Am is the cutoff point for me.
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: SoulAlive said: EW&F is better than that.
Was better than that. tA For Old School Fans Of EWF like myself, we all know there was certain level of perfection that was reached back in the day, that can never be repeated with Maurice White and Phillip Baley at the their peak. [Edited 8/11/07 13:55pm] | |
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MsLegs said: theAudience said: Was better than that. tA For Old School Fans Of EWF like myself, we all know there was certain level of perfection that was reached back in the day, that can never be repeated with Maurice White and Phillip Baley at the their peak.
[Edited 8/11/07 13:55pm] After Way OF The World, EWF arranger Charles Stepney passed and the band's focus. They tended towards the sweetened over-produced ballads with string sections overdubbed ad nauseum. There are many master strokes on ALL N ALL, which proved Maurice had a good eye for new musical voices like Eddie del Barrio. except he picked up some less that stellar collaborators upon the final dissolution. I like FACES, but could cut a good portion of the fourth side away. Somebody tell me how you can call MOR pablum from David Foster "experimental"? I AM was the last great stand of the guitar wizardy of Al McKay and Johnny Graham, but I haven't forgiven the wretched pandering of "Boogie Wonderland", no matter how they much they dress it up as salsa. There's a lot good Stepney work available in the old Chess catalog. Especially in the Rotary Connection records featuring Minnie Riperton. [Edited 8/11/07 15:37pm] test | |
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MattyJam said: Okay, I just got That's The Way Of The World... am digging the funky ones and a few of the slow jams (vocals sound very Prince!).
Can anyone recommend me any other EWF titles? Also, I have a question - when did Al McKay join the group? A track on their album called BE EVER WONDERFUL will put you in another place, space and time. It is one of the best songs ever made, ever written to me. Once you hear, listen to and understand it you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Gosh! To me, EARTH WIND AND FIRE is the greatest band ever! Verdine White, Maurice White, and Phillip Bailey will send you into orbit! My, my, my they are rediculously underrated!  | |
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PFunkjazz said: MsLegs said: For Old School Fans Of EWF like myself, we all know there was certain level of perfection that was reached back in the day, that can never be repeated with Maurice White and Phillip Baley at the their peak.
[Edited 8/11/07 13:55pm] After Way OF The World, EWF arranger Charles Stepney passed and the band's focus. They tended towards the sweetened over-produced ballads with string sections overdubbed ad nauseum. There are many master strokes on ALL N ALL, which proved Maurice had a good eye for new musical voices like Eddie del Barrio. except he picked up some less that stellar collaborators upon the final dissolution. I like FACES, but could cut a good portion of the fourth side away. Somebody tell me how you can call MOR pablum from David Foster "experimental"? I AM was the last great stand of the guitar wizardy of Al McKay and Johnny Graham, but I haven't forgiven the wretched pandering of "Boogie Wonderland", no matter how they much they dress it up as salsa. There's a lot good Stepney work available in the old Chess catalog. Especially in the Rotary Connection records featuring Minnie Riperton. [Edited 8/11/07 15:37pm] | |
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