This thread was inevitable With a new album (Now,Then And Forever) on the way,I think now would be a good time to discuss their amazing catalog.What albums are your favorites? What albums were you disappointed with? Did they do a good job of maintaining their "classic sound" throughout the 80s and beyond? Discuss....

I plan on purchasing the new album this week. This will be my purchase of a new album by the group since 1987's"Touch the World". But, my favorite album by them is 1981's "Raise".

Raise is a very strong album.Many fans consider it their best album of the 80s.There's not a bad song on it.My favorite songs are "Let's Groove","Wanna Be With You","I've Had Enough" and "The Changing Times".After Faces didn't do as well as they had hoped,they were under alot of pressure to come up with a hit.Raise delivered.

kitbradley said:

I plan on purchasing the new album this week. This will be my purchase of a new album by the group since 1987's"Touch the World".

You didn't buy Millenium? Trust me,you need to get that one.It's one of their finest albums.

My favorite album overall is:

"All 'n All"

[Edited 9/7/13 17:31pm]

For many years,I considered All N' All to be my favorite EW&F album.It's such a mesmerizing,inspired album."Fantasy" is one of the best songs they ever recorded.This album has it all: bristling funk ("Jupiter","Serpentine Fire".....smooth slow jams ("Love's Holiday","Be Ever Wonderful"....a jazzy funk workout ("Runnin")....a sparkling showcase for Philip Bailey's soaring vocals ("I'll Write A Song For You")....etc.This album is a true masterpiece and I know many fans who call this their favorite EW&F album.

It wasn't easy to decide,but after many years and much consideration,I think I Am is my favorite EW&F album.I love everything on that record.

SoulAlive said:

kitbradley said:

I plan on purchasing the new album this week. This will be my purchase of a new album by the group since 1987's"Touch the World".

You didn't buy Millenium? Trust me,you need to get that one.It's one of their finest albums.

I'll have to take a listen. I remember whatever album they did after "Touch the World", I can't remember the name of it but I know the first single sucked and I don't recall any follow-up singles. After that, I just kinda lost interest in any of their new products. I'm gonna go back and take a listen to all of those post 1987 albums though. The good thing about all of the crap music that's been released over the past 10 years, it has forced me to reach waaaay back and pick up on what I missed out on the first time around.

kitbradley said:

Okay, I tried to find some samples of that "Millennium" album and I couldn't find any. Maybe I'll have to search for some of the tracks on youtube. I read some history on the album and it seems this was an album they recorded for Warner Brothers and the label dropped them after the album flopped. So now, Im really curious to hear it.

The only EW&F that I've listened to all the way thru and didn't like was 1983's "Electric Universe". Anyone remember that one? That was another one that people didn't quite connect with.

"Electric Universe" is my least favorite as well. Followed by "Heritage." I love the title track though. I believe "Electric Universe" the album that Larry said he didn't feel was EW&F at all. He thought it had some great songs, but it is not Earth, Wind & Fire and didn't like the direction in which the band was going. In EW&F's Wax Poetics issue, Philip Bailey said that he thought "Faces" was the last of their great records and was disappointed in the way it sold.

kitbradley said:

SoulAlive said:

You didn't buy Millenium? Trust me,you need to get that one.It's one of their finest albums.

I'll have to take a listen. I remember whatever album they did after "Touch the World", I can't remember the name of it but I know the first single sucked and I don't recall any follow-up singles. After that, I just kinda lost interest in any of their new products. I'm gonna go back and take a listen to all of those post 1987 albums though. The good thing about all of the crap music that's been released over the past 10 years, it has forced me to reach waaaay back and pick up on what I missed out on the first time around.

Heritage was the album that came after Touch The World. The first single was the title track featuring The Boys who were hot at the time but yes that was probably the worst lead single they ever released. The followup single was For The Love Of You featuring MC Hammer one of two songs they did with him. They had a video for the other song they did with Hammer on the album Wanna Be The Man which was weak. It was basically EWF meets New Jack. That was the problem with this album they tried to release collaborations with the new generation on this album and New Jack it but the material just sucked as opposed to releasing the songs like Daydreamin, Anything You Want, or Welcome that were classic EWF material. It's not that Heritage was a bad album they just released the wrong singles trying to fit in with the times. So for those that didn't know EWF did sell out somewhat too like most artists that were trying to fit in a changing musical climate. I'll be back in a couple of days to discuss my favorite EWF albums. That could take all day.

OlSchool said:

In EW&F's Wax Poetics issue, Philip Bailey said that he thought "Faces" was the last of their great records and was disappointed in the way it sold.

Faces is a good album overall,but I find a few problems with it.It's a 2-record set which gave them more room to stretch out and experiment a little,but there isn't much variety.Mant of the songs sound alike.But when it's good,it's really good: "Pride","Back On The Road",Win Or Lose","Sailaway","Share Your Love" and the title track are superb songs.There really isn't anything terrible on the record,but I don't think it's one of their stronger albums.

phunkdaddy said:

kitbradley said:

I'll have to take a listen. I remember whatever album they did after "Touch the World", I can't remember the name of it but I know the first single sucked and I don't recall any follow-up singles. After that, I just kinda lost interest in any of their new products. I'm gonna go back and take a listen to all of those post 1987 albums though. The good thing about all of the crap music that's been released over the past 10 years, it has forced me to reach waaaay back and pick up on what I missed out on the first time around.

Heritage was the album that came after Touch The World. The first single was the title track featuring The Boys who were hot at the time but yes that was probably the worst lead single they ever released. The followup single was For The Love Of You featuring MC Hammer one of two songs they did with him. They had a video for the other song they did with Hammer on the album Wanna Be The Man which was weak. It was basically EWF meets New Jack. That was the problem with this album they tried to release collaborations with the new generation on this album and New Jack it but the material just sucked as opposed to releasing the songs like Daydreamin, Anything You Want, or Welcome that were classic EWF material. It's not that Heritage was a bad album they just released the wrong singles trying to fit in with the times. So for those that didn't know EWF did sell out somewhat too like most artists that were trying to fit in a changing musical climate. I'll be back in a couple of days to discuss my favorite EWF albums. That could take all day.

I agree with your assessment of Heritage.If you remove the really commercial stuff (like the awful "Wanna Be The Man"),there's a good album there.I always skip over the MC Hammer raps...lol...he nearly ruins the otherwise decent "For The Love Of You".I still wonder why the excellent "Daydreamin" wasn't a single....it's a great tune!

OlSchool said:

"Electric Universe" is my least favorite as well.I believe "Electric Universe" is the album that Larry said he didn't feel was EW&F at all. He thought it had some great songs, but it is not Earth, Wind & Fire and didn't like the direction in which the band was going.

I think I'm one of the few fans who likes this album I think what happened was,after the previous album Powerlight didn't make much of an impact,Maurice probably assumed that it was time for some bold changes.I can understand the pressure they were going through.The other funk bands who were popular in the 70s (Cameo,Bar Kays,Kool & The Gang,etc) were changing their sound,too.The 80s was a tough time for funk/R&B bands.

Any thought on their 1996 album 'Avatar'? This album was released in Japan only.A year later,it was released in the US with a slightly different tracklist and a new title,In The Name Of Love.

The US version: In The Name Of Love

Although In the Name of Love was EWF's first album since Maurice' announced battle with Parkinsons, I would have to say it is my least favorite EWF album....put it this way, I didnt mind Magnetic, and I much preferred Touch to anything off In the Name of Love, so EU is prob my second least favorite EWF album.

Maybe it was because I resented them sharing lead vocals with Sheldon....who was singing Maurice's parts in concert.....and Maurice's voice was much morenoticeably weaker than on previous albums.....I dont play this one at all...

I Only liked the title track, Revolution was ok and Rock It.....as has been mentioned previously...

Since I have such a great affection for EWF,it is hard to single out one CD that I prefer, but if forced it would have to be All n All, because everything popped....interludes, instrumentals, singles....ballads, U name it, no weak track at all ....perfection in Production, no complaints at all....

I Am is great.....the only thing that makes meplace it slightly lower than All n All is the fact that the tracks are mostly pop oriented, which is not terrible at all....but, maybe musically, it isnt as versatile as All n All or TTWOTW which explored different genres of music all on one CD....funk, Jazz, Brazillian music, pop..RnB...but it sure is close.

Much love for FACES....agree on your points SoulAlive re: some sameness of tunes, but since I have listened so much to the CD, I now try and focus on the background music and vocals, and intrumentation and strings and bass everything that underpins the songs, and it is truly a study in Production skills and virtuosity, while at the same time tending towards a certain sameness in sound....Pride is great as U acknowledged....we agree on most tof the great songs off album...for me, I would also add Sparkle and Take it To the Sky...2 others that I play alot from that CD....

Raise is a great album too......EWF certainly changed direction with Changing Times....a great way to end that album, and I think that song is a nod to the skills of their part-time guitarist Roland Bautista.....You Are a Winner, Kalimba Tree, I've Had Enough, Wanna Be With You, Let's Groove......dont know if you've ever noticed this....many of the songs on the album start off with what sounds like handclaps...Lady Sun, My Love, Evolution Orange, Kalimba Tree, You Are a Winner, ,I've Had Enough...and then branch off.....I remember from way back noticing that after a newspaper reviewer mentioned that in his critique of the album...

[Edited 9/8/13 6:35am]

[Edited 9/8/13 6:36am]

1. Earth, Wind & Fire (their 1971 debut album)
2. That's The Way Of The World
3. All N' All
4. Spirit
5. Gratitude

These are my top 5 albums.... I look forward to the next album release. I actually listen because I completely ignored their 2003 album, Promise. and it was pretty good.

we do this every year or so but what the heck

this is soooo tuff, but if forced at gunpoint I'd pick "All'N'all as my favourite, probably follwod by "I Am"


and pushing against the flow, "Faces" probably comes in third for me, I must say it's almost a flawless album. and 4 sides long!

SoulAlive said:

Any thought on their 1996 album 'Avatar'? This album was released in Japan only.A year later,it was released in the US with a slightly different tracklist and a new title,In The Name Of Love.

fuckit, back in tha days I paid a fucking fortune for it, only to find out that there was the re-edited/renamed version available at normal price a few weeks later

...

For what it's worth, I liked the Japanese Avatar album much better than US -released In the Name of Love----I loved the two instrumental pieces from the Japanese pressing, the title track, Avatar, and Bahia...unfortunately they removed those tracks, along with Change your Mind and Take you to Heaven...

But since the initial release, I've heard that the 2006 Kalimba reissue returned all of the tracks (14 total)....

anyway, I also really dug Cruising, Revolution (Just Evolution) and the updated version of Love Is Life....

...

....oh, Yeah, I forgot...my all-time favorite album is 'All n' All'.....second might be 'Spirit' and third, maybe ' Last Days and Time'......

...

[Edited 9/9/13 13:46pm]

"Keep It Real" is my favorite song from the Avatar/In The Name Of Love album I'm a huge fan of Sheldon Reynolds...he's a good vocalist who worked well with Philip.I wish he was still in the band.Great guitarist,too.

Allnall said:

Although In the Name of Love was EWF's first album since Maurice' announced battle with Parkinsons, I would have to say it is my least favorite EWF album....put it this way, I didnt mind Magnetic, and I much preferred Touch to anything off In the Name of Love, so EU is prob my second least favorite EWF album.

Maybe it was because I resented them sharing lead vocals with Sheldon....who was singing Maurice's parts in concert.....and Maurice's voice was much morenoticeably weaker than on previous albums.....I dont play this one at all...

I Only liked the title track, Revolution was ok and Rock It.....as has been mentioned previously...

I think Sheldon is great.I saw a few EW&F concerts in the late 90s when Sheldon was a member,and I think he did a good job singing Maurice's parts.Ever since he left the band,their live shows haven't been as good.There's no one who can effectively handle Maurice's parts,the way Sheldon did with ease.

when Maurice first formed the band,they were originally called The Salty Peppers.In 1969,they released their first three singles....

"La La La" (Part 1)" by The Salty Peppers (1969)

"Uh Ha Yeah" by The Salty Peppers (1969)

"Your Love Is Life" by The Salty Peppers (1969)

Not only is cataog is so interesting, but their side projects with Denience Williams, Emotions & Ramsey Lewis are as interesting.

Its a tie between "Thats The Way of The World" & "All 'N All" for me. The orchestration arrangments are so lush & gorgeous, and they complimented the singing very nicely as they weren't mixed all the way in the background & at the same time weren't intrusive to the band's performance.

Such a complex and well rounded body of work to be described as just a "disco band" by so-called music journalists. Their music never fail to put me in such a good mood whenever I have long & mundane work to do.

HMD82 said:

Such a complex and well rounded body of work to be described as just a "disco band" by so-called music journalists. Their music never fail to put me in such a good mood whenever I have long & mundane work to do.

then those same idiots would probably call Blondie a HipHop/Rap group. ignorant dumbfucks

[Edited 9/10/13 4:22am]

Dancelot said:

HMD82 said:

Such a complex and well rounded body of work to be described as just a "disco band" by so-called music journalists. Their music never fail to put me in such a good mood whenever I have long & mundane work to do.

then those same idiots would probably call Blondie a HipHop/Rap group. ignorant dumbfucks

[Edited 9/10/13 4:22am]

Indeed

Let me point out that I have no problem with disco, I love it actually. But their music covers a wide spectrum of styles. To call it just disco, or even just R&B, is plain lazy and shows that these journalists didn't have much attention span to begin with.

Yep...the lazy journalists make the leap that because the music is has layers of rhythm, is uplifting and at the same time has a good beat it must be disco or simply dance music...

They dont try to afford it any other elevated review because of all the categories of music they do include in their repertoire....Jazz, rock, Gospel, Soul, etc.........

I Havent yet figured out what that is all about......they seem to be able to write reams of stuff about many other artists whose music is not as diverse, dont have as much influence, but, maybe have more "celebrity" or shock status, so of course, they must pay those artists some homage.....EWF...not so much.....

In this order:

All n All

FACES

I Am

TTWOTW

Gratitude

Raise

Millenium/The Promise (cant separate)

Spirit