OK, What's the story with this album ? Now I'm hearing that it's been pushed back til February 2005, some sites are still listing October, and yesterday, A DJ said it was coming out tomorrow! Anybody know the real release date?

oh, and to whoever answers this, please include the European release date as well, thank you

According to Maurice White,the CD won't be released until February 15 2005.A recent interview was posted on his official site ( www.startalk.org ) in which he talks about the new album.The interview was conducted by Alex,the moderator of the site.


Q & A with Maurice White on 9/29/04---

Alex: So I understand you're leaving for Japan tomorrow?
Maurice: Yeah,I'm going to perform with Earth,Wind and Fire while we're there
Alex: That's great! How long will you be gone?
Maurice: Oh,about two weeks
Alex: Wow,I wish i was going!
Maurice: (chuckling)
Alex: I don't know if you know it but a number of our StarTalk members have been asking about the new Earth,Wind & Fire album 'Elevated'.So rather than go through each one individually---and have you answer the same question more than once---I thought I'd condense all the questions into a mini interview,if that's all right with you?
Maurice: Yeah,that'd be fine
Alex: Let me start by asking what can you tell me about the new album?
Maurice: Well,we're working with alot of current producers,a lot of well-known producers,a lot of young producers that will make the album a little more mainstream.We're working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis,and we're working with Raphael Saadiq,and Will Adams,one of the producers for Black-Eyed Peas.
Alex: This album is unlike your previously released albums because,one,it's reported to have only seven tracks on it and you're the king of filling a disc.Is this correct?
Maurice: Well,we've cut about seven or eight songs already with two more to go.So hopefully,by the time we get back from Japan,they'll have finished mixing the songs and then we've got two more tracks to cut.The album will probably have ten songs on it.
Alex: Also,a number of websites---CDUNIVERSE,for example---has listed 'Elevated' in the rap category.
Maurice: Yeah,that's because the group Floetry,who we did Elevated with,is a rap group---a female rap group.
Alex: Does that mean that 'Elevated' is an entirely rap album?
Maurice: No,it's only got a limited amount of rap.I think Big Boi's on one song and that's about it.So it's gonna have a very limited amount of rap on it.
Alex: Also,CDUNIVERSE is listing one of the tracks on 'Elevated' as "Let Me Love You".And that song shares the same title as a track on the 'Promise' album.Is this the same song with a different treatment or are these two different songs with the same title?
Maurice: "Let Me Love You"? I don't know about that.
Alex: Really?
Maurice: There's a song called "Let Me Love You"?
Alex: Yeah,CDUNIVERSE is listing "Let Me Love You" as track number four and the 'Promise' has "Let Me Love You" as track sixteen.
Maurice: Really? (laughing) Well,all I can say is that they don't have the final tracklist.We'll probably turn the album in to be pressed in October and it won't be released until next year---actually the release date is February 15th.
Alex: Is that right?
Maurice: Yeah.
Alex: Because some of these websites are telling us that the album is going to be released in late September,early October.
Maurice: That's what they're trying to push for but it didn't work out
Alex: Oh,okay.Cause now CDUNIVERSE is reporting October 5th
Maurice: No.There's alot of rumors going around that the album is going to be released at a certain time.For instance,the later part of September,then it changed to October 5th,then it changed to October 20th.But it takes three months to do all the production on it.So it'll be a little longer than what you're hearing.
Alex: Okay.Now one of the original rumors we heard is that Beyonce is gonna sing with you.Is that going to happen?
Maurice: That's up for grabs.We have one song that could be a possibility for her to sing on.But we're also considering Alicia Keyes.
Alex: I've listened to the song "Love Together" from the 'Unity' Olympics 2004 album---and I have to agree with some of the reviews I've heard---your voice sounds like it did back in the 80s! In fact,I thought that this might have been a song that was pulled from the vaults and updated.
Maurice: Yeah,I know (chuckling) I sound like a teenager.It's the energy of the song.It's like character,you know.You have to select a character,you have to go into character.
Alex: Well,that's all I've got for right now.I know you're busy so I want to take the time to thank you for spending some time with us.
Maurice: You're welcome,man.It was my pleasure

This is the partial tracklist that was posted on CDUNIVERSE,but the information has since been removed...

"Love Together" featuring Raphael Saadiq
"Show Me"
"Elevated" featuring Floetry
"Let Me Love You"
"Autumn"
"Happiness"
"Illumination"


Maurice has already confirmed that there is no track called "Let Me Love You",so it's possible that some of those other titles are fakes too.I don't think the tracklist has been finalized yet.

Radio stations have been playing the song, " Show Me"(with Raphael Saadiq) on the radio...(Great track, BTW!!)

paligap said:

I haven't heard it yet,but I suppose that's the first single.Is it a ballad,a midtempo slow jam,or a funky uptempo track?

DavidEye said:

I'd call it a midtempo slow jam, with Raphael and Maurice on vocals...

paligap said:

Now I'm dying to hear it!! What stations are playing it? Maybe I can find a way to hear it on-line:lol:

DavidEye said:

Their playing it here in Detroit--WGPR 107.5. Good song!