...

I still dig this tune!!








...

Love this cut. it has a classic EWF sound and feel to it, with the laid back guitar and silky vocals. The elements nailed this

This is my favorite cut from the album though

There was some serious funk laid down here.

This is probably the only cut from this particular album that I like

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Me 2. That album didn't live up to the hype. The Promise was a much better album.

daPrettyman said:

WOW, I THINK THAT THIS ALBUM IS ONE OF THEIR BEST IN YEARS! LOVES DANCE, PURE GOLD AND MAURICE SINGING I LIKE THE WAY YOU MOVE....


OK,

My favorite songs on that album...
"The One"
"This Is How I Feel"

Raphael is a great musician, but motherfucker can't sing with his weak reedy voice. Someone needs to tell that motherfucker.

debbiedean2 said:

I'm not saying the album was bad, but it paled in comparison to its predecessor, The Promise.

debbiedean2 said:

I liked pure gold, love's dance, lovely people, and show me the way
to your heart. The rest of the album was just so so.
I agree with pretty man about the promise album. That album was much
more the classic EWF sound although it was mostly a ballad album.
Illumination was just all over the place with outside producers and
guest artists. Jam and Lewis produced love's dance. They should have let
them cats give them a couple of more tunes.

phunkdaddy said:

I agree,'The Promise' feels more like a genuine EW&F album.The first single "All In The Way" sounds like it could have been recorded in 1979 or 1980 (during their prime).One song,"Where Do We Go From Here",actually was recorded back then (1978,to be exact).The latin-flavored "Never" is sorta like the new "Fantasy".The album sounds like pure EW&F.There's no hip-hop elements at all.The only real complaint is,there are too many ballads.I recommend that fans seek out the Japanese import version.It contains two bonus uptempo tracks: "Soul" and "So Lucky".These tunes liven up the tracklist and keep the album from becoming too Quiet Storm-ish.

I like 'Illumination' too.There are several standout tracks---"Show Me The Way","The One","This Is How I Feel","Show Me The Way"---and it's more uptempo than 'The Promise'.But it's filled with cameos and guest stars,as well as the occasional hip-hop element.

SoulAlive said:

What foolishness is this?!?

FuNkeNsteiN said:

1975-1980 was their heyday

SoulAlive said:

Hell, their biggest hit (Let's Groove" hadn't even been released in 80. I would say after Powerlight, their star started to fade, but they sold pretty well up until Heritage.

From Wikipedia:
Year Album U.S. U.S. R&B UK Additional information
1970 Earth, Wind & Fire 172 24 - debut album
1971 The Need of Love 89 35 -
1972 Last Days and Time 87 15 - debut album with Columbia Records
1973 Head to the Sky 27 2 - RIAA certification: Platinum. Also released in a quadraphonic mix.
1974 Open Our Eyes 15 1 - RIAA certification: Platinum. Also released in a quadraphonic mix. Maurice White makes his producing debut alongside Joe Wissert.
1975 That's the Way of the World 1 1 - RIAA certification: 3x Platinum. Reissued in 2005. Also released in a quadraphonic mix. Charles Stepney co-produced with Maurice White.
1976 Spirit 2 2 - RIAA certification: 2x Platinum. Also released in a quadraphonic mix. Last album to be co-produced by Charles Stepney. Stepney died at age 45 during recording sessions. Kalimba Productions was formed.
1977 All 'N All 3 1 13 RIAA certification: 3x Platinum
1979 I Am 3 1 5 RIAA certification: 2x Platinum. ARC (The American Recording Company) distributes the album for Columbia Records.
1980 Faces 10 2 10 RIAA certification: Gold. ARC (The American Recording Company) distributes the double LP for Columbia Records.
1981 Raise! 5 1 14 RIAA certification: Platinum. Last album to be distributed by ARC (The American Recording Company) for Columbia Records. ARC became defunct in 1982.
1983 Powerlight 12 4 22 RIAA certification: Gold
1983 Electric Universe 40 8 -
1987 Touch the World 33 3 - RIAA certification: Gold
1990 Heritage 70 - - Final album released with Columbia Records.
1993 Millennium 39 1 -
1997 In the Name of Love - 50 -
2003 The Promise 89 19 -
2005 Illumination 32 8 -
[Edited 8/18/08 6:58am]