Released in September 1976 around the same time as Stevie Wonder's 'Songs In The Key Of Life' album,this is one of my favorite Earth Wind and Fire albums.For some reason,it doesn't get the respect it deserves.Take a poll asking "what is Earth Wind and Fire's best album?" and most fans will choose albums like 'That's The Way Of The World','Gratitude','All N' All' or 'I Am'.The 'Spirit' album is hardly ever mentioned.I think the problem is,it was was sandwiched between 'Gratitude' and 'All N All',two classic albums that are considered to be their masterpieces (Stevie's 1974 album 'Fullfillingness First Finale' has that same "problem",lol).


But 'Spirit' has alot going for it.The opening track "Getaway" is one of EW&F's funk classics.The lush ballad "Imagination",with it's soaring Philip Bailey lead vocal,has become a Quiet Storm staple.My favorite song is "Earth Wind and Fire"(yes,a song titled after the band) with it's positive,uplifting message and lazy Saturday afternoon arrangement (call me crazy,but this song reminds me of a sunny Saturday afternoon in the 70s....at a picnic or something,lol)."On Your Face" is another highlight.Sadly,co-producer Charles Stepney passed away during the making of the album.One more sidenote: this album makes an appearance in Prince's "Musicology" video.


So funkateers,what do you think? What's the verdict on this album?

Earth Wind & Fire again? well people keep talking about this group quite a lot... I think I really have to check them out one day too




I love it that album course


I still own just the old vinyl and have no CD version yet, so it hits my stereo less often than other albums, but it's amongst my fave EWF albums. Fave songs are "On your face" and "Getaway", and "Saturday Nite" was one of the my very early EWF favorites, one I played to death back in the days

You really should get the CD version.It was remastered a few years ago with several interesting bonus tracks...

"Saturday Nite" (alternate mix)---features a hilarious spoken intro,and a few other minor differences
"Seraphim" (previously unreleased outtake)---a NICE instrumental in which keyboardist Larry Dunn really shines
"Imagination (Angels Mix)"---a very brief a capella version of this song
"Departure (The Traveler)"---this is the full-length version of the interlude known as "Departure"
"African Symphony"---basically,this is "Departure" Part Two

For me this is the album when they peaked.
Their sound had developed to find it's climax on this one,
much like "Songs in the key of life".
All the typical EWF ingredients are there.
It's a superalbum,tho' personally my favourite album of
theirs is "That's the way of the world"
But everything came together perfectly on "Spirit".
/peace Manki

Hi Manki!

DavidEye said:

I like this album a lot, mostly for Getaway. Funky ass song! I love the way the bridge to the chorus rumbles my speakers with that deep bass.

RipHer2Shreds said:

"Getaway" was THE JAM in the summer of '76

DavidEye said:

Excellent album....

Good review....

Me thinks DavidEye has great taste in music.

First album I bought with my own money. That's always been a very special album to me. The arrangements on that album blew me away. Listening to Getaway with my headphones was almost a life changing experience. EWF had this mystical aura around them that used to fascinate me as a kid. It used to seem like they were functioning in a different dimension or something. Like they were from some place where African culture was mixed with fantasy and the future. Props to David for given this great group and album shine.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

hell yeah, he does. good album. "Getaway" is the cut.

blackguitaristz said:

This cut definitely brings me back. My brother would rave and rant about seeing them in concert when he was in college in the 70's at Howard. EWF definitely have a deep spiritual vibe in thier music.

this album is the summer of 1976

Whew!! I'm showing my age here, but I remember radio (when the USED TO PLAY BANDS) played the SHIT out of this LP. This is one of the coolest R&B LP's ever made. Takes me back when you had to put a quarter on the arm of the record player so the needle wouldn't skip.

SPYZFAN1 said:

"Those Were The Days."

i think it was this album that came with a white label promo 7' single and it contained Free by Deniece williams.

SPYZFAN1 said:

OMG,I remember doing that many times,lol.I didn't know that other people did it too

cranshaw62 said:

I,ve been playing the shit out of this album lately! Especially for "On Your Face" and "Imagination". "Getaway" is a bad cut as well!
[Edited 7/29/05 7:04am]

cranshaw62 said:

Preach

Hotlegs said:

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

i couldnt've said it better

Great Lp i have this thing for Burnin' Bush, Biyo, Seraphim.
I use to think what if they'd made thier interludes into full song's.

cranshaw62 said:

Run your mouth!!!!