Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the release of Holiday, the first-ever holidayalbum from the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire on Tuesday, October 21. Available for pre-order at:http://smarturl.it/EWF_HOL_amzn.

Holiday is a spirited celebration of the holidayseason, bringing together brand new recordings of seasonal standards ("Winter Wonderland," "The Little Drummer Boy," "Sleigh Ride," "Jingle Bell Rock"), beloved carols ("Joy to the World," "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," "What Child Is This?," "Away in a Manger," "The First Noel"), a traditional Japanese winter song ("Snow"), a modern day Christmas song ("Every Day Is Like Christmas") and future Earth, Wind & Fire classics: "Happy Seasons" (inspired by "Happy Feelin'), and "December" (inspired by "September") featuring original vocals from Maurice White.

Lead vocalist and Earth, Wind & Fire co-founder Philip Bailey says, "This album is the band's first and only holiday music project. We are very proud to offer it as a labor of love to all of our fans and soon to be. Enjoy and happy holidays from our families to all of yours."

"The Holiday album was a joy to record, it is a celebration of tradition, love and spirituality, some of the elements of Earth, Wind & Fire. From our families to yours, we wish you a happy holiday," said EWF's co-founder Verdine White.

Produced by Philip Bailey and Myron McKinley (the band's Musical Director), Holiday is Earth, Wind & Fire's 21st studio album and second for Legacy Recordings. Now, Then & Forever, the group's first new album for the label and first new studio material since 2005, debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200 upon its release in September 2013, marking the band's highest-charting album since Raise! hit #5 in 1981.

Earth, Wind & Fire
Holiday

1. Joy to the World
2. Happy Seasons
3. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
4. Winter Wonderland
5. What Child Is This?
6. Away In a Manger
7. The Little Drummer Boy
8. Every Day Is Like Christmas
9. The First Noel
10. Sleigh Ride
11. Snow
12. Jingle Bell Rock
13. December

the posted this on facebook yesterday, yeah... count me in!

I'm willing to give it a listen. Should be pretty cool. I just wish Maurice was a part of it.

They should have done this decades ago when Phillip could still hit those high notes and Maurice was still with the group.

missfee said:

I'm willing to give it a listen. Should be pretty cool. I just wish Maurice was a part of it.

"December" (inspired by "September") featuring original vocals from Maurice White.

kitbradley said:

They should have done this decades ago when Phillip could still hit those high notes and Maurice was still with the group.

Phillip can still hit those high notes, I went to an EWF concert this past July and saw them perform and I was so impressed that Phillip could still hit those high notes! I mean he really got up there

As for this Christmas album, I am so here for this!

NaughtyKitty said:

kitbradley said:

They should have done this decades ago when Phillip could still hit those high notes and Maurice was still with the group.

Phillip can still hit those high notes, I went to an EWF concert this past July and saw them perform and I was so impressed that Phillip could still hit those high notes! I mean he really got up there

As for this Christmas album, I am so here for this!

Yes, he can. I went to see them recently and almost fell over when I heard Philip hit the falsetto notes. He knows when he can and wen he can't.

NaughtyKitty said:

kitbradley said:

They should have done this decades ago when Phillip could still hit those high notes and Maurice was still with the group.

Phillip can still hit those high notes, I went to an EWF concert this past July and saw them perform and I was so impressed that Phillip could still hit those high notes! I mean he really got up there

As for this Christmas album, I am so here for this!

He must have been having some bad days when they recorded that last album because the high notes were not there like they used to be.

Empress said:

No thanks - not a fan of christmas albums.

Yeah, I'd rather hear new or unreleased music. When artists start releasing Christmas albums with the same old songs, that's a sign that they're getting up there in years...

kitbradley said:

They should have done this decades ago when Phillip could still hit those high notes and Maurice was still with the group.

I agree.

purplethunder3121 said:

kitbradley said:

NaughtyKitty said:

Phillip can still hit those high notes, I went to an EWF concert this past July and saw them perform and I was so impressed that Phillip could still hit those high notes! I mean he really got up there

As for this Christmas album, I am so here for this!

He must have been having some bad days when they recorded that last album because the high notes were not there like they used to be.

Hmm, that's interesting. I havent heard their last album, was it like he was struggling to hit the high notes?

purplethunder3121 said:

NaughtyKitty said:

Phillip can still hit those high notes, I went to an EWF concert this past July and saw them perform and I was so impressed that Phillip could still hit those high notes! I mean he really got up there

As for this Christmas album, I am so here for this!

Yes, he can. I went to see them recently and almost fell over when I heard Philip hit the falsetto notes. He knows when he can and wen he can't.

Yeah I was highly impressed! I think even Mariah Carey would be a bit envious of those notes he was hitting

Thanks Soul for the hook-up.

I love Christmas music so EWF album will fit well with the collection.

Streaming this on Spotify right now Lovin it so far, classic EWF!

Got my copy yesterday very pleased with this album....it's joyful,funky and has that classic EW&F sound.I like it!

I bought the album and have been listening to it over the past few days.

Am not a typical Christmas album buyer....my one and only album being the 1970s Salsoul Orchestra Christmas album...but being an EWF fan I had to get it.

What struck me throughout was the clean, clear production values....Phil and Myron did a great job in preserving the polish and precision of the Maurice style that we know so well from the 70s and 80s.

Lots and lots of horns.....Joy to the World which starts off the album is a great example of the EWF style we know and love.....funky and crisp...

Throughout the album they make nods to many EWF songs we are familiar with....Fantasy in What Child is this...Sing a Song in Sleigh Ride, Be Ever Wonderful in Away in a Manger, etc.....

In some respects this is a true and better representation of the EWF style than was their last studio album Now, Then and Forever....albeit as captured in Christmas songs.....very nice.

Allnall said:

In some respects this is a true and better representation of the EWF style than was their last studio album Now, Then and Forever....albeit as captured in Christmas songs.....

I agree! I enjoy this album more than Now,Then And Forever! It seems to have more energy and spirit.

Allnall said:

I bought the album and have been listening to it over the past few days.

Am not a typical Christmas album buyer....my one and only album being the 1970s Salsoul Orchestra Christmas album...but being an EWF fan I had to get it.

What struck me throughout was the clean, clear production values....Phil and Myron did a great job in preserving the polish and precision of the Maurice style that we know so well from the 70s and 80s.

Lots and lots of horns.....Joy to the World which starts off the album is a great example of the EWF style we know and love.....funky and crisp...

Throughout the album they make nods to many EWF songs we are familiar with....Fantasy in What Child is this...Sing a Song in Sleigh Ride, Be Ever Wonderful in Away in a Manger, etc.....

In some respects this is a true and better representation of the EWF style than was their last studio album Now, Then and Forever....albeit as captured in Christmas songs.....very nice.

sounds promising! can't wait!! costs 21 EUR (27 USD) over here so it better be good
Amazon Germany says it will be released Oct 31st so I won't get it before next week

but it's also an AutoRip, so at least I can download & listen the very moment they send the package and and don't have to wait for the snail mail

[Edited 10/29/14 2:58am]

The last track,"December", is alot of fun.They took their classic jam "September",kept Maurice's original vocals,added new vocals (and a few new lyrics) from Philip,and came up with a "new",fun,holiday jam They should release this song as a single.It'll be popular at holiday parties.