In recent weeks,Earth Wind and Fire's first three albums of the 80s have been remastered.I just ordered these titles:

'Faces' (from Big Break Records)

'Raise' (from Iconoclassic Records

Track Listing:
1. Let's Groove
2. Lady Sun
3. My Love
4. Evolution Orange
5. Kalimba Tree
6. You Are A Winner
7. Wanna Be With You
8. The Changing Times

Bonus Tracks:
9. Let's Groove (Special Remixed Holiday Version)
10. Kalimba Tree (Long Version)
11. Let's Groove (Instrumental)

I noticed that another label has remastered 'Raise' and 'Powerlight',putting both albums on one CD.Did anyone get this? I was considering it,but someone on another forum said that the Iconoclassic remaster of 'Raise' is superior (plus it contains bonus tracks).And I was never really all that crazy about 'Powerlight' anyway.But if anyone has this,let me know how it is.Is it a quality remaster? How are the liner notes?

Earth Wind & Fire

Faces [Expanded Edition]
CDBBR0014

FACES features Earth, Wind & Fire at their creative and commercial zenith. The album was sandwiched between their mega-hits Boogie Wonderland and Let’s Groove and was originally released as a double LP In 1980.

The album features the top ten R&Bhits Let Me Talk, You and the top twenty hit And Love Goes On which went onto be a club classic. Exclusive UK hit single Back On The Road is also featured

Faces spent five weeks at number two on the R&B album chart and made the US and UK pop top ten, achieving gold status in the process. The rare 12" remix of Let Me Talk is feature here along with three other single versions. BBR introduce the first ever re-master of this album on CD.

Let Me Talk / Turn It Into Something Good / Pride / You / Sparkle / Back On The Road / Song In My Heart / You Went Away/ And Love Goes On / Sailaway. / Take It To The Sky / Win Or Lose / Share Your Love / In Time / Faces

Bonus Tracks- Let Me Talk (12 Remix) / You (Single Remix) / And Love Goes On (Single Remix)

SoulAlive said:

Earth, Wind & Fire Raise!
Raise! originally released by ARC/Columbia Records in 1981 marked the tenth anniversary of Earth, Wind & Fire and included the smash hit "Let's Groove," which returned the group to the top spot in the charts and sold a million copies in addition to winning a Grammy. The runaway success of "Let’s Groove" somewhat overshadowed some of the other outstanding tracks on the album. "Wanna Be With You" (the second single), "Evolution Orange" and the rousing album closer "The Changing Times" all deliver in a very Earth, Wind & Fire way while pointing the way to the future direction of the band. This Iconoclassic expanded edition of Raise! picks up the EWF reissue series and features a new mastering by Mark Wilder and Vic Anesini from the original tapes. This expanded edition adds extended 12" and instrumental mixes of "Let's Groove" in addition to the fan favorite full version of "Kalimba Tree." New liner notes by A. Scott Galloway feature new commentary by bandleader Maurice White and several of the contributing musicians and songwriters. Track Listing: 1. Let's Groove 2. Lady Sun 3. My Love 4. Evolution Orange 5. Kalimba Tree 6. You Are A Winner 7. Wanna Be With You 8. The Changing Times Bonus Tracks: 9. Let's Groove (Special Remixed Holiday Version) 10. Kalimba Tree (Long Version) 11. Let's Groove (Instrumental)

I can't believe you can buy it straight from the .org

I have Faces. In fact I have been buying almost the whole BBR catalog (all from 1-41 and then some ) I have to stop now. Not everything is that good.

I bought Raise! and Powerlight a couple years ago. Raise being a DSD Japanese remaster.

I'm not sure about Powerlight. I bought it from Japan too but it might be an American pressing.

Anyway they sound great to my ears. Unless someone I trusted told me the improvement is otherworldly. And then I'm a sucker for extra tracks

PANDURITO said:

SoulAlive said:

Earth, Wind & Fire Raise!
Raise! originally released by ARC/Columbia Records in 1981 marked the tenth anniversary of Earth, Wind & Fire and included the smash hit "Let's Groove," which returned the group to the top spot in the charts and sold a million copies in addition to winning a Grammy. The runaway success of "Let’s Groove" somewhat overshadowed some of the other outstanding tracks on the album. "Wanna Be With You" (the second single), "Evolution Orange" and the rousing album closer "The Changing Times" all deliver in a very Earth, Wind & Fire way while pointing the way to the future direction of the band. This Iconoclassic expanded edition of Raise! picks up the EWF reissue series and features a new mastering by Mark Wilder and Vic Anesini from the original tapes. This expanded edition adds extended 12" and instrumental mixes of "Let's Groove" in addition to the fan favorite full version of "Kalimba Tree." New liner notes by A. Scott Galloway feature new commentary by bandleader Maurice White and several of the contributing musicians and songwriters. Track Listing: 1. Let's Groove 2. Lady Sun 3. My Love 4. Evolution Orange 5. Kalimba Tree 6. You Are A Winner 7. Wanna Be With You 8. The Changing Times Bonus Tracks: 9. Let's Groove (Special Remixed Holiday Version) 10. Kalimba Tree (Long Version) 11. Let's Groove (Instrumental)

I can't believe you can buy it straight from the .org

I have Faces. In fact I have been buying almost the whole BBR catalog (all from 1-41 and then some ) I have to stop now. Not everything is that good.

I bought Raise! and Powerlight a couple years ago. Raise being a DSD Japanese remaster.

I'm not sure about Powerlight. I bought it from Japan too but it might be an American pressing.

Anyway they sound great to my ears. Unless someone I trusted told me the improvement is otherworldly. And then I'm a sucker for extra tracks

I too have been buying alot of those BBR remasters I have five CDs on the way right now,lol.

How is that 'Faces' remaster? Did BBR do a good job? There was a problem with the original CD,on the track "Song In My Heart".It annoyed me for years.Did BBR fix this problem?

SoulAlive said:

How is that 'Faces' remaster? Did BBR do a good job? There was a problem with the original CD,on the track "Song In My Heart".It annoyed me for years.Did BBR fix this problem?

If you mean the wrong speed synth towards the end, yes, that's fixed.

The sound overall is louder, mainly the bass. I think they exaggerate it a bit though you can always turn the volume down, can't you?

PANDURITO said:

SoulAlive said:

How is that 'Faces' remaster? Did BBR do a good job? There was a problem with the original CD,on the track "Song In My Heart".It annoyed me for years.Did BBR fix this problem?

If you mean the wrong speed synth towards the end, yes, that's fixed.

The sound overall is louder, mainly the bass. I think they exaggerate it a bit though you can always turn the volume down, can't you?

yep,that's what I meant.I'm glad they fixed it

Nice series

Now that all of the 70s albums have been remastered,as well as these three albums from the 80s,they need to do something with the remaining titles:

'Electric Universe'

'Touch The World'

'Heritage' (this one has been out of print for years)

phunkdaddy said:

Nice series

alot of care and attention has been paid to their catalog.