I can't decide
Just about every album they released is a masterpiece!!!

Here are some of my fav. songs -

Way of the World.....Live.

That can change from day to day or depending what type of mood
you're in or whether you're a first generation, second generation,
or third generation EWF fan. I consider myself to be a second generation
fan so i grew up on the All n All, I Am, Raise, Powerlight albums. First
generation fans may prefer Open our Eyes, Head to the Sky, Last days in time,
That's the way of the world, and Gratitude albums. These guys have had
so many good albums it's really hard to say which one is the best.
From 1974-1983, Faces is the only album i would dismiss as a must have
album although it's not a bad album but not anything memorable that you
would run back and play over and over.

The "Best" thing again.

Here are a few that I like.





Now, I can tell you the worst.


tA

Tribal Disorder

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

For many years,I had decided that 'All N All' is my favorite EW&F album.Awhile back,I reconsidered and decided that 'I Am' is my favorite.In recent months,I've been enjoying 'Spirit' and 'Touch The World'.So yeah...it's hard to pick a favorite! They have a long line of outstanding albums.

so where's a good place to start for the funky jams?

I'd like 45 minutes of 'September' if that's possible.

abigail05 said:

Funk? There weren't 2 strong on funk.

Graycap23 said:

( sorray bboy87 )

Graycap23 said:

EW&F define funk

midiscover said:

lol.....don't think so.

Well, I don't think EW&F fits into one genre they're like a mash of funk, R&B and soul

And no dissin "Faces" either lol ... How can these jams be neglected ?




Seriously overlooked classics imo. Maurice once stated during an interview that "Turn It Into Something Good" is one of his most favorite songs.

U got that right Shango.

FACES is very underrated....I think that the sounds of what was "making it" on the charts was changing and so altho EWF was still near the top of their game, the public was probably looking for something different.....and altho I love FACES I think that other than the title track, most of the material was "similar" to what they had done before.....and so, they kinda were treading familiar ground....regardless of how much I love the album.....as a REAL fan I have to be honest.

I have to say that my favorite is probably AllnAll....simply because every song has a snap and force to it....the rhythm section is crazy on Magic Mind and Runnin, which were both album cuts...and the masterpiece of music that is Fantasy is probably as polished and accomplished a pop track as you will find anywhere.

But yeah, there was not one major genre that Maurice did not explore in one way or another.....a True Genius at the controls.

'Faces' isn't terrible but it's not one of their best albums.Considering that it's a 2-record set which gave them alot of room to branch out and experiment,the album is surprisingly predictable and tedious at times.Too many of the songs sound alike and follow the same formula.The funky,jazzy title track is an exception.The album needed more songs like this! Songs where they step out of their comfort zone and experiment a little.That's how you make a 2-record set interesting.


Having said that,I do enjoy many of the songs."Back On The Road","Song In My Heart","Win Or Love","And Love Goes On" and "Sailaway" are top-notch songs.

Everything that was produced by Charles Stepney

Graycap23 said:

You need some Yearnin Learnin,Kalimba Story, and Mighty Mighty in your life.
Remember our boys MC covered EWF's runnin during their in studio
jam session online a while back.
[Edited 6/15/09 21:04pm]

i am

powerlight

all n all

badujunkie said:

Yes another Powerlight fan.

phunkdaddy said:

lets add the the list

evil
drum song
serpentine fire
runnin
jupiter...

...countless others...please



if EWF don't define funk then who did/does?

Brothers Johnson?
Gap Band?
Cameo?
Funkadelic?
Brick?
Slave?
K & G?
ZAPP?!?!

phunkdaddy said:

Are you kidding? LOVE that record. Contains their must underrated quiet storm ballad, Straight from the Heart, and the criminally underheard 'Speed of Love' plus their answer to Zapp and Roger with "Spread Your Love"

of course, "Fall in Love With me" is the jam, as is "Side by Side."

badujunkie said:

Wow . . . memories. . .

Out of ALL the FANTASTIC songs EW&F have put out "That's the Way of the World" is still my favorite. That song still kinda gets me by the boo boo if you know what I mean.

badujunkie said:

I think 'Powerlight' is mediocre at best.The two singles are very good ("Fall In Love With Me" and "Side By Side") but the other tracks are decent but not extraoridinary.Like many other 70s R&B/funk bands,they were trying to keep with the new sounds of the day,while also maintaining elements of their "classic" sound.On 'Powerlight',I'm not sure if they totally succeeded.

Oddly enough,I like their next album 'Electric Universe',which many longtime fans hated,lol.On this album,they totally "went 80s",abandoning their classic sound altogether,in favor of cold synths and drum machines.Although this strategy backfired (sales-wise),I find this album much more energized and focused than 'Powerlight'.

phunkdaddy said:

and don't forget "Tee Nine Chee Bit" One could easily make the argument that 'Open Our Eyes' is their funkiest album.

abigail05 said:

Start here...

Their first album is still my favorite ...



C'mon Children

That's The Way Of The World.

Every song is a winner and flows into each other well.

It's also The album that springboarded me into lovin their music so much .

The Promise



I love this from beginning to end.

badujunkie said:

Funny you mention it. I was playing this cd friday and saturday. You're
right about straight from the heart. I love it. One of my favorite ballads
by them. You're also right about Speed of Love. I play those two songs
along with Something Special to death. The synths and the horns on the
Speed of Love is crazy. I think this album went under the radar because it
had to follow Let's Groove on the Raise album.
[Edited 6/16/09 19:38pm]
I love that funky interlude after Straight from the heart with
Maurice playing Kalimba. Too damn short.
[Edited 6/16/09 21:11pm]

This one is a tough call, but I would have to say 1977's All 'N' All is their magnum opus. It seemed that with this particular release, they finally came into their own sound and image and both sonically and spiritually, they were on a different level from the rest of their contemporaries at that time. I mean, how can you beat songs like "Sepertine Fire," "Fantasy," "Jupiter," "I'll Write A Song For You," "Love's Holiday" and my personal favorite "Be Ever Wonderful?"

Their whole 1970's output (specifically their 1972-1979 period) was brilliant. As a matter of fact, one album I've been listening to alot lately is their I Am album from 1979. That is another killer album...

But I have one question: I'm trying to get into their 1980's output a little more and I don't really know where to start. Any recommendations?