To the fans who felt like The Promise had too many slow songs/ballads and not enough uptempo jams,here's a tip..

Get the Japanese import version.It contains two uptempo songs that weren't included on the American release: "Soul" and "So Lucky".In addition,find the track "Whatever Happened",which appeared on the 'Undercover Brother' movie soundtrack.It's from this same era.

Compile your own CD,adding those three uptempo tracks and you have a more balanced album.

OK. Allow me to throw a hand grenade in the mix...

"Faces" is my least favorite album by Earth, Wind, & Fire. I'll go even further and say this album was turning point where their consistent artistry and musicianship began to hit and miss. There I said it. Read the rags during the time "Faces" was released and it was reported there had been some heighten tension among the bandmates about music and which way the band was heading.

"Faces" at best should have been one record album, not two. Most of the songs should have "hit" the proverbial editing floor and released in catalog setting such as this. (IMHO)

TD3 said:

OK. Allow me to throw a hand grenade in the mix...

"Faces" is my least favorite album by Earth, Wind, & Fire. I'll go even further and say this album was turning point where their consistent artistry and musicianship began to hit and miss. There I said it. Read the rags during the time "Faces" was released and it was reported there had been some heighten tension among the bandmates about music and which way the band was heading.

"Faces" at best should have been one record album, not two. Most of the songs should have "hit" the proverbial editing floor and released in catalog setting such as this. (IMHO)

I wont disagree with you as far as the turning point for their artistry was concerned....FACES was the tipping point for Al McKAy and why he left the group.....

However, I find it interesting, though, that while he was able to successfully craft a career touring under the EWF Experience moniker, and by all accounts, perform with excellence, I dont know how successful his writing was subsequent to leaving EWF....at least Maurice and crew turned out Let's Groove, Millenium, The Promise, etc...in the coming years....Probably speaks more to the synergy that was created with Al and Maurice bouncing ideas off one another and writing together though....

I still love that album, although I will agree that they were not as experimental in their approach to the songs and while I do like most of the material off it, I will also agree with you that they certainly could have condensed the best material to one disc.....

SoulAlive said:

TD3 said:

OK. Allow me to throw a hand grenade in the mix...

"Faces" is my least favorite album by Earth, Wind, & Fire. I'll go even further and say this album was turning point where their consistent artistry and musicianship began to hit and miss. There I said it. Read the rags during the time "Faces" was released and it was reported there had been some heighten tension among the bandmates about music and which way the band was heading.

"Faces" at best should have been one record album, not two. Most of the songs should have "hit" the proverbial editing floor and released in catalog setting such as this. (IMHO)

I feel like,if you're gonna do a 2-record set,it should be special.....adventurous.....experimental.....because you have more room to expand your sound,try new things,and take things to the next level.(think of Songs In The Key Of Life.for example).I think Faces is a good album,but for a 2-reord set,it's too "safe".

phunkdaddy said:

SoulAlive said:

Any love for Touch The World? This album is one of my favorites.I often say that Raise is their best album of the 80s,but this one would be a close second.When it was released in the fall of 1987,it was obvious that many people were missing EW&F.There was alot of momentum and enthusiasm with this record.It felt good to see the guys back together,doing their thing like only they can.The album is superb.I think the real gem on this album is "Here Today And Gone Tomorrow",a Philp Bailey-led Quiet Storm favorite.With its haunting arrangement and soaring vocals,this track truly sparkles!

It was good. For me the first side was fire but fizzled on the second side until the album closer Victim Of The Modern Heart. I have to check out that ballad you speak of again. I liked You And I a lot. Interestingly enough all four songs on the first side of the album were released as singles.

"You And I" is nice.I also like the pop ballad "Every Now And Then".I would have chosen that as one of the singles.Adult contemporary stations would have tuned that one into a hit.

SoulAlive said:

^^ I have that on CD.Oddly enough, I never saw the movie.

I haven't seen it either. I've heard there's a lot of sex in it, and that's not the kind of movie I wanna watch.

MickyDolenz said:

SoulAlive said:

^^ I have that on CD.Oddly enough, I never saw the movie.

I haven't seen it either. I've heard there's a lot of sex in it, and that's not the kind of movie I wanna watch.

I'll watch it for that very reason

Allnall said:

I still love the Faces album, although I will agree that they were not as experimental in their approach to the songs and while I do like most of the material off it, I will also agree with you that they certainly could have condensed the best material to one disc.....

let's have some fun here if Faces had to be one record,what would your tracklist look like? Heres mine...

Faces

and the three singles would have been "Pride","And Love Goes On" and "Sailaway"

I think the album would have sold more,if it had been one record.In 1980,the music business was going through a (temporary) recession and record sales had dropped off.

Thoughts on this album? Some fans consider this to be EW&F's first real masterpiece

SoulAlive said:

Allnall said:

I still love the Faces album, although I will agree that they were not as experimental in their approach to the songs and while I do like most of the material off it, I will also agree with you that they certainly could have condensed the best material to one disc.....

let's have some fun here if Faces had to be one record,what would your tracklist look like? Heres mine...

Side One---

Pride

Turn It Into Something Good

Song In My Heart

Back On The Road

Side Two---

And Love Goes On

Sailaway

Share Your Love

Faces

and the three singles would have been "Pride","And Love Goes On" and "Sailaway"

I think the album would have sold more,if it had been one record.In 1980,the music business was going through a (temporary) recession and record sales had dropped off.

well, that's tough.. down to one disc? okay, I'll play along...
on CD format.... playing time around 60 minutes roughly the length of regular albums today... let's see.... okay here's my version:

1. Let Me Talk

2. Turn It Into Something Good

3. Pride

4. You

5. Sparkle

6. Back On The Road

7. Song In My Heart

8. You Went Away

9. And Love Goes On

10. Sailaway

11. Take It To The Sky

12. Win Or Lose

13. Share Your Love

14. In Time

15. Faces

you edited out "Sparkle"

SoulAlive said:

I think the album would have sold more,if it had been one record.In 1980,the music business was going through a (temporary) recession and record sales had dropped off.

maybe. also a supporting tour could have helped


anyway, Maurice once called it maybe his fave EWF album. so I don't care about all the nay-sayers

Dancelot said:

you edited out "Sparkle"

yep,that's one song that I would take out Notice that I also removed "Let Me Talk",the first single from that album.I was never crazy about that one.

SoulAlive said:

Dancelot said:

you edited out "Sparkle"

yep,that's one song that I would take out Notice that I also removed "Let Me Talk",the first single from that album.I was never crazy about that one.

I would have gone with Share Your Love first, then You Went Away as the ballad follow-up as opposed to You, which rode the coattails of After the love is Gone too closely....at least You Went Away strayed somewhat from the previous EWF ballad types.....and so was a slight contrast to their usual stuff, albeit being a more Pop, less RnB single...always loved Phil's vocals on that one

SoulAlive said:

Thoughts on this album? Some fans consider this to be EW&F's first real masterpiece

^^"Clover",from this album,is pure musical heaven

kitbradley said:

...my favorite album by them is 1981's "Raise".

I the album Raise! too..