which is your fav. era of legendary group, Earth, Wind & Fire???

Back in the hey day with Maurice White singing lead on most of the songs...




or the current group with Philip Bailey singing lead on most of the songs....

Come on! Do you think anyone's gonna answer that the current incarnation is better than classic EWF?

RipHer2Shreds said:

hey some people love the current EWF. I prefer the old but hey i just love good music.
[Edited 10/17/05 17:57pm]

How bout an intellegent post. The original band was great! This is nothing more than a cover band with an original bassist left and vocalist.

this thread needs an enema..

the new EWF kicks the old ones ass








































































NOT!

Thumparello said:

Verr true.Don't get me wrong,I like the current band and I do enjoy seeing them in concert.But they're not the "real" EW&F.

missfee said:

_____

" These days Maurice is retired from the road but continues to do
production work for Earth Wind and Fire and other artists under his record company. He appeared with the group to be inducted this year into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. As he took the stage, he was greeted with a standing ovation by his peers, and spoke of how it was "a long road, but a beautiful road" and it was an emotional moment. He recently made the public aware that he is stricken with Parkinson’s disease. He stated that it was hard to do because he has been in denial about it for some time and has never been ill in his life. He also stated "time has a way of healing you and your thoughts. My music has been a great revelation and teacher for me on the level of truth and understanding. In living my own truth, I realize there's hope." He sponsors a support group called "Courage Under Fire" for those stricken with Parkinson’s or related ailments, and fans can leave a message to him there at the site (www.adoctorinyourhouse.com) Many celebrities have left touching messages there as well including producer David Foster, Brenda Russell, and Chick Corea. Maurice’ brother Verdine has stated that Maurice truly doesn't realize how much he is loved. Hopefully the support he receives from fans and friends will be a testament to that."


http://www.soulmusic.com/...uriceW.htm

_____

Check recent tracks which are sung by Maurice :

- Pure Gold
- Let Me Love You
- All In The Way
- All About Love

Yeah , still laying his soul into it despite his health .
Music has THAT power .

Besides , Maurice and Philip always varied in lead-vocals .
A classic moment i remember is when i was on front of the stage in 1990 when they sang both " That's The Way Of The World " .... unforgettable .

Check also " Where Do We Go From Here " on " The Promise " album .
A gem which was written in the stone and kept in the vault for more then two century's .

Maurice has several major projects in the works.He's producing a new CD by the Emotions....he's planning a solo album....and he's working on a coffee-table book about Earth Wind and Fire,containing alot of photos and stories.

100MPH said:

gosh, I didn't know they recorded back in 1800 already





but seriously, I love the song, the whole Promise album is a gem, and more vintage EWF than Illumination (which is still very good)

Thumparello said:

HELLO !!!!!

Are we gonna forget RALPH JOHNSON ?????!!!!!
Brother was there from scratch ( drums , percussion , vocals , composing , producing his own material like the recent AUDIO CAVIAR-project )

And ofcourse it's not anymore as the heydays . You expect from them to have the same energy after AGES of touring and stuff ?!

BUT they still deliver solid live-jams , and those can't be compared to quite another era .

Dancelot said:

rite

silly of me

ehhh ........ 2 milleniums

"Where Do We Go From Here" is a true gem...my favorite song on 'The Promise'.But I would love to hear the original 1978 version.The version that appears on 'The Promise' has been slightly updated to sound modern (except for Philip's lead vocal,which was left intact).


I was hoping that the original demo version would appear on the 'I Am' remaster,but no such luck
[Edited 10/18/05 3:40am]

On 1990's "dated as fuck" album "heritage", maurice (luckily) still did all of the leads. I prefer maurice over phil by far

some of you act as if i'm asking a stupid question or something, but most don't realize how some people have told me how they love the new EWF and that they sound better than ever...but i differed, which is why i posted this thread in the first place, so there it is

Like i said before, the new EWF doesn't compare to the old with Maurice being the frontman even though Philip Bailey was a major vocalist then. Just making a point people....

DavidEye said:

I thought that The Promise was a great album, even though it didn't sound like EW&F (with the exception of Philip Bailey's smooth vocals). At that time, people didn't want to hear (and still doesn't want to hear) a straight foward neo-soul recording from one of the all-time best groups of the 70's. That's why so many people turned their backs on the album. With their new album, Illumination, they have truly updated their sound and attract both new and old fans with today's most popular artists.

Old School EW&F!

The reasons should be blatantly obvious.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Reasons, the reasons that we hear
The reasons that we fear
Our feelings won’t disappear

RipHer2Shreds said:

And oh, after the love has gone
How could you lead me on
And not let me stay around
Oh, oh, oh, after the love has gone
What used to be right is wrong
Can love that's lost be found





tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Same with any other group when it comes to "old vs. new".....old wins every time.

silverchild said:

Wow,you don't think 'The Promise' sounds like EW&F? I think it sounds completely like an Earth Wind and Fire album.Songs like "All In The Way","Never","Where Do We Go From Here" and "Dirty" all have that unmistakable EW&F sound.In fact,the latter two tracks are outtakes from the 'I Am' album,and I suspect that "All In The Way" was pulled from the vaults as well.

DavidEye said:

Agreed. I would even say it's more close to the vintage EWF sound than anything we got since the "departure" of that classic era with "Electric Universe", and that was quite some time ago

.
[Edited 10/19/05 0:40am]

DavidEye said:

That's rite David .

_____


There were some neo-soul songs on the Promise . And there we go , people tend to state their opinion on just those new added compositions , while there is so much vintage sound on that album .

To be openminded for new stuff is the biggest obstacle for people . Prince has done it for years and it is accepted . Do we hear him play his vintage style from the 70's or 80's ?
To be innovative = to grow musically , although everyone has it's personal faves .
>
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>
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[Edited 10/19/05 3:00am]

I forgot to mention the track "All About Love" from 'The Promise'.That song is vintage EW&F

Not at all , i just wanted to report Maurice's current situation and that despite of that , he and his brothers still produce material that will "be ever wonderful "



I do realise it , in fact if you visit the official site www.elementsvipclub.com , you will see nothing but praise concerning their new joint . It gets much airplay at soulminded quality radiostations .



Absolutely , each period has it's strong points , like also times and music have changed . For that reason i have from every era my fave's .

As for the mentioned Heritage-album : check the filmed live-DVD from that album-tour ( Live In Japan 1990 ) .The visual effcts in the beginning are surprising . There might have been lesser songs on that one , but the concerts still kicked @$$ !
[Edited 10/19/05 2:48am]

Problems with EWF post-FACES. bland songwriting and lack of afro-Caribbean jazz.

Problems with EWF post-POWERLIGHT too much techno in post-production tend to be lacking in soul plus only a single guitar and rap guest spots.

Problems with EWF post-IN THE NAME OF LOVE guitars replaced with keyboard emulation, e-drums dominate final tracks, vocal performance inconsistent between live and recorded (Maurice not present). All these problems show up on ILLUMINATION and even though it's a good record it still bores me. Kinda like MUSICOLOGY.

Biggest Problem: Newer material probably sounds better live, but I've seen them three times since MILLENNIUM and they've stuck to all the old hits. They're great to see at the County Fair where you can get the whole family in on the cheap, but I avoid the concert gigs. Prolly should have seen the joint Chicago tour, but that's formerly another cool band that's got problems with their contemporary sound.


I've seen DEVOTED SPIRITS and like them much much more (I got their cd somwehere around here) , so I'm keeping an eye out for their LA gigs. I also want to see Al McKay's group. Somehow, I keep missing them.

PFunkjazz said:

same here, they were playing close to my place this summer but I missed the gig.. a cousin of mine was there and enjoyed them very much... hope they'll come around again soon

As a live unit,the "new" Earth Wind and Fire were superb throughout the 90s.They had percussionist David Romero in the band,allowing them to add some Afro/Latin sounds into the mix.They also had guitarist Sheldon Reynolds in the band,and he was just great.He was able to handle Maurice's vocal parts with ease,and he is a wonderful guitarist with alot of stage presence.To get an idea of how great this line-up was,just check out the "Live At Montreux" DVD,which was taped in 1997.

Last month,I saw EW&F in concert with Chicago and while it was an enjoyable show,there are some elements that are missing.For one thing,they no longer have a superb male vocalist to handle Maurice's parts.Sheldon is sorely missed.These days,Philip has to carry most of the weight.Percussionist/vocalist David B.Whitmore is a talented guy,and Ralph Johnson does a good job on vocals,but I really think the band needs Sheldon.They have a new guitarist,a guy from Russia,but I wasn't too impressed with him.And with David Romero gone,they no longer have that cool Afro/Latin sound.Still a good show,though.

PFunkjazz said:

RAISE-album :

- BE MY LOVE / WANNA BE WITH YOU - bland songwriting ?
- KALIMBA STORY - The very afro-Caribbean instrumental , used as intro forvthe group to enter the stage on the Worldwide RAISE-Tour
- EVOLUTION ORANGE - fierce breaks with horns and rhythm section which clearly are influenced by jazz

DavidEye said:

got it, seen it and was bored shitless

PFunkjazz said:

And dont forget these :

- YOU AND I
- SPEND THE NIGHT
Which actually were well examples of great arranged ballads

But most of all : SUNDAY MORNING !
One powerful package topped with tight horns ... along the end of the song it goes even higher and higher .... MASTERPIECE .