RJOrion said:

SoulAlive said:

Gratitude has got to be one of the greatest 'live' albums of all time.....just incredible!

it is...and the new studio tracks at the end, "Sunshine", "SingASong", "Celebrate", "Gratitude", "Cant Hide Love"...i wore them 2 lps out..."Celebrate" still sounds amazing...

"Sunshine" is heavenly

1981's Raise is another great album,filled with top-notch songs like "I've Had Enough","The Changing Times","Wanna Be With You" and of course,the monster hit single "Let's Groove".

RJOrion said:

SoulAlive said:

I love the April 6,1974 California Jam performance.This was a year before their 1975 breakthrough....they were on their way.

word...theres a video of them playing "Keep Your Head To The Sky", from the same show and Philip Bailey is just killin it...better than the record...LOL at Johnny Graham in that damn shiny Pimp Santa Claus suit in April...

kitbradley said:

Not trying to start debate here, because it's like apples and oranges. But go to Maurice book and read page 125. He knew exactly what time it was. He had no desire to morph into a funk band.

mrwiggles said:

That's what makes EWF special
Funk, Latin rhythms, Jazz
African rhythms...Gospel..Rock...Soul...R&B..Pop
They are not just relegated to one category....
Parliament are what they are...
A sci Fi comic book funk band..I love em tho!
Especially their 1974-80 era with side groups Bootsy,Parlet..
Brides of Funkenstein... Horny Horns... Sweat Band
Mothership Connection is their crowning achievement...
Which is my favorite album of theirs
Everything just worked on that album..
Now Parliament are definitely on a level by themselves...
But definitely not on EWF's
Only Kool and the Gang comes close
..
Now both EWF and Kools body of works are comparable
1970-87...
but EWF did make very good music after 87 staying true to themselves for the most part
and Kool was never the same
[Edited 3/13/18 23:27pm]

"On Your Face" (1976)

SoulAlive said:

this is the joint that took me from fan, to damn near idol worship... Al McKay's rhythm guitar playing on this is iconic... thats also my favorite album cover of all time, by anyone...

I Am is such a sensational album....one of those albums where every song could have been a single.My favorites are "In The Stone","Let Your Feelings Show","You And I" and "Can't Let Go".And then you have the two MASSIVE hit singles "Boogie Wonderland" and "After The Love Is Gone"! In 1979,EW&F were at the top of their game,crossing over big time.

"In The Stone"

40 GREATEST EARTH WIND & FIRE SONGS (ALBUM IN CAPS)

(in no specific order)

On Your Face (SPIRIT)

Cant Let Go (I AM)

Turn It Into Something Good (FACES)

Jupiter (ALL N ALL)

Loves Holiday (ALL N ALL)

September (BEST OF EWF Vol 1)

Getaway (SPIRIT)

Celebrate (GRATITUDE)

Mighty Mighty (OPEN OUR EYES)

I'd Rather Have You (LAST DAYS & TIME)

Sing A Song (GRATITUDE)

Sun Goddess (GRATITUDE)

Serpentine Fire (ALL N ALL)

Imagination (SPIRIT)

Thats The Way Of The World (TTWOTW)

Shining Star (TTWOTW)

See The Light (TTWOTW)

Fair But So Uncool (OPEN OUR EYES)

Fantasy (ALL N ALL)

Side By Side (POWERLIGHT)

Keep Your Head To The Sky (HEAD TO THE SKY)

Let Me Talk (FACES)

Time Is On Your Side (LAST DAYS AND TIME)

Drum Song (OPEN OUR EYES)

Song In My Heart (FACES)

In The Stone (I AM)

Sunshine (GRATITUDE)

Let Your Feelings Show (I AM)

Runnin (ALL N ALL)

Boogie Wonderland (I AM)

Ive Had Enough (RAISE)

Touch (ELECTRIC UNIVERSE)

All About Love (TTWOTW)

Wait (I AM)

You & I (I AM)

Pure Gold (ILLUMINATION)

Show Me The Way (ILLUMINATION)

My Promise (NOW THEN & FOREVER)

Earth Wind & Fire (SPIRIT)

Burnin Bush (SPIRIT)

[Edited 3/14/18 15:15pm]

SoulAlive said:

RJOrion said:

it broke my heart to buy albums like "Electric Universe", and "Heritage", and "Powerlight"

I actually like alot of their 80s work I think Powerlight was a weak album overall,but at least it had two great singles ("Fall In Love With Me" and "Side By Side").

I even like Electric Universe it was a bold new sound for EW&F,which I think they needed at that point.In his book,Maurice said "By 1983,I was getting bored with R&B".He mentions a few songs by other artists that he liked at the time (Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science" was one of them).I can understand the need to branch out and try something new.Songs like "Magnetic","Touch",and the ballads "We're Living In Our Own Time" and "Could It Be Right" are top-notch,imo.

I was also very impressed with their 1987 comeback album Touch The World.There's not a bad song on it.Their classic sound is updated nicely on this album.If only they had used this same formula for Heritage instead of jumping into New Jack Swing territory.Still,even that album has a handful of decent tracks.

This is where we differ on EWF 80's albums. I love the Powerlight album. I like all the songs but

Freedom Of Choice. In addition to the 2 great singles from the album I also liked Speed Of Love. I thought Larry Dunn nailed it on the synthesizers. I also like Spread Your Love and the Phillip Bailey ballad Straight From the Heart followed by an tight Kalimba interlude by Maurice. I liked the other ballads too Something Special and the touching album closer Miracles. IMO this was EWF's last great solid album. I didn't care for Electric Universe. It was very un EWF. The top songs for me on this album were Magnetic, Moonwalk, and Electric Nation mainly for Verdine's bass licks. The only thing I liked about Touch was the chord change in the middle. Just a weak album imo and the band seemed tired and ready for a break at this point. Verdine even said so himself that the band needed a break at this point. Larry Dunn was not pleased with this album at all either.

Touch The World was a decent album but not great. Side 1 of the album nice. Side 2 not so much other than the album closer Victim Of The Modern Heart. Heritage had it's moments but failed big time with weak collaborations with the Boyz and MC Hammer.

I'll have to listen to Powerlight again...haven't played it in years.I just remember being very underwhelmed by most of it.

phunkdaddy said:

This is where we differ on EWF 80's albums. I love the Powerlight album. I like all the songs but

Freedom Of Choice. In addition to the 2 great singles from the album I also liked Speed Of Love. I thought Larry Dunn nailed it on the synthesizers. I also like Spread Your Love and the Phillip Bailey ballad Straight From the Heart followed by an tight Kalimba interlude by Maurice. I liked the other ballads too Something Special and the touching album closer Miracles. IMO this was EWF's last great solid album.

co-sign. also in my book Powerlight is the final chapter of classic EWF, and I like almost everything on it, I find it even more consistent and better flowing than Raise. I played the living hell out of it back in the days. afer that the releases got patchy and inconsistent

[Edited 3/15/18 1:05am]

My opinion about Faces might actually surprise some people Let me just say that,while I think that the songs are good for the most part and the production is excellent,I think it's too much of the same thing.When artists and bands do a 2-record set,they have lots of room to branch out and experiment but there isn't alot of experimenting going on here,which makes it a frustrating listen.Wouldn't it have been cool if an entire side (Side Three,perhaps) consisted of some instrumental jazzy latin and African sounds that they do so well? They really could have gotten out of their comfort zone on this album,but they didn't.The most interesting song on this album is the title track,which comes at the very end.I would have liked more of that.

But,when this album is good,it's very good.My favorites are "Share Your Love","Sailaway","Win Or Lose","And Love Goes On" and the title track.

^^

I know what you mean, a bit more variation in sound would hav been possible over 4 album sides. but overall the good to very good songs just pile up to an impressive amount of music
and usually I don't skip anything here

Dancelot said:

^^

I know what you mean, a bit more variation in sound would hav been possible over 4 album sides. but overall the good to very good songs just pile up to an impressive amount of music
and usually I don't skip anything here

yeah,they really play it safe but I can't deny the greatness of it.

SoulAlive said:

My opinion about Faces might actually surprise some people Let me just say that,while I think that the songs are good for the most part and the production is excellent,I think it's too much of the same thing.When artists and bands do a 2-record set,they have lots of room to branch out and experiment but there isn't alot of experimenting going on here,which makes it a frustrating listen.Wouldn't it have been cool if an entire side (Side Three,perhaps) consisted of some instrumental jazzy latin and African sounds that they do so well? They really could have gotten out of their comfort zone on this album,but they didn't.The most interesting song on this album is the title track,which comes at the very end.I would have liked more of that.

But,when this album is good,it's very good.My favorites are "Share Your Love","Sailaway","Win Or Lose","And Love Goes On" and the title track.

Faces is the last "EWF sounding" album...in my opinion

An amalgamation of 1975-79 sounds....

Maurice and Philip sounded great...The Horns sounded Greater....The Material was strong

Everything you loved about EWF is in that album...It's really quintessential..

It's a shame it didnt do as well...Because it's a masterpiece

Let Me Talk...Pride...Take it to the sky..You...Sparkle...Share your love..In Time...Song In My Heart

And Love Goes On(*my favorite song on the album) Faces- a 7min jazz groove to close the album..

They really didnt need to experiment...If it aint broke dont fix it.lol

Coming off a 5 year run of hits and consecutive double platinum albums and grammy awards..

The formula worked like a mutha..

There was some experimentation...

The guitar intro to Back on the road was different

Let Me Talk didnt sound like anything they made before..Win or Lose didnt either

Pride was phenomenal ...the horn riffs on Pride were magnificent

Faces was their last great instrumental..and one of their best

Philip's best songs in my opinion since the Spirit Album...Sparkle..Win Or Lose..You Went Away

which continued on Raise with Evolution Orange and I've Had Enough....

Because it didnt do as well..The direction of EWF changed..A new sounding era began...

with Raise,Powerlight and Electric Universe which are like a trilogy to me

[Edited 3/15/18 3:09am]

[Edited 3/15/18 3:10am]

SoulAlive said:

I'll have to listen to Powerlight again...haven't played it in years.I just remember being very underwhelmed by most of it.

Yeah, I feel you on that one. Whilte there were some very good tracks, there was also a lot of filler. The first time I had felt like that about an EWF album in a while. But, "Side By Side" is one of my favorite EWF songs. Very underrated and forgotten song.

yeah, Powerlight is a better lp now, than i remember it being...like phunkdaddy said above, Larry Dunn's keyboard wizardry is on full display all over this album...."Side By Side" was classic EW&F, and Maurice sang the shit outta "Something Special", one of his greatest vocal performances..."Miracles" was cringe music though..."Fall In Love With Me" was one of their last great singles...

Electric Universe wasnt as bad as its reputation...what killed that album, was releasing "Magnetic" as the 1st single...1st joint should have been "Touch" or maybe "Moonwalk"..."Magnetic" was just a horrible song that sounded nothing like EW&F...
[Edited 3/15/18 10:58am]

i never understood Maurice's decisions to bring in outside writers and musicians like David Foster, Martin Page, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, and Steve Lukather...not only did it water down the classic EW&F sound, but he ran off core band members who were responsible for their greatness in the first place...when Al McKay and Johnny Graham and Larry Dunn left, they took the magic with them...especially the great Al McKay...

SoulAlive said:

Earth Wind and Fire music is timeless.Their music is an intriguing mix of funk,R&B,pop,jazz,along with African and Latin influences.The messages in their music are so uplifting and spiritual....makes you feel good! It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite EW&F album but I would say that ‘All N’All’ is truly one of their most inspired and most interesting albums.

Couldn't say it any better.

SoulAlive said:

I pulled out the old Faces vinyl last night and spun it entirely. I thought I remembered liking this better than it hit me last night. It did not hit. All the songs started to sound similar and it wore on me. I got bored with it. There is no reason for me to cue it up again.
Now I did have Powerlight in the early 80's on a cassette and wore it out until it wouldn't play anymore. Loved Side By Side.
[Edited 3/15/18 13:59pm]

RJOrion said:

Electric Universe wasnt as bad as its reputation...what killed that album, was releasing "Magnetic" as the 1st single...1st joint should have been "Touch" or maybe "Moonwalk"..."Magnetic" was just a horrible song that sounded nothing like EW&F...

The 80s was a tough time for funk bands who were popular in the 70s.The musical landscape was changing,synths and drum machines had taken over,and big bands with horn players were becoming obsolete.Cameo,Kool & The Gang and Bar-Kays were funk bands who were able to successfully adapt to the changes,for a few years at least.I can certainly understand why Maurice felt the need to make some changes.I liked "Magnetic" it has a very futuristic sound that I enjoyed.I think that "Could It Be Right" should have been a single......it would have been a big pop/adult contemporary hit,ala "After The Love Is Gone".

mrwiggles said:

SoulAlive said:

My opinion about Faces might actually surprise some people Let me just say that,while I think that the songs are good for the most part and the production is excellent,I think it's too much of the same thing.When artists and bands do a 2-record set,they have lots of room to branch out and experiment but there isn't alot of experimenting going on here,which makes it a frustrating listen.Wouldn't it have been cool if an entire side (Side Three,perhaps) consisted of some instrumental jazzy latin and African sounds that they do so well? They really could have gotten out of their comfort zone on this album,but they didn't.The most interesting song on this album is the title track,which comes at the very end.I would have liked more of that.

But,when this album is good,it's very good.My favorites are "Share Your Love","Sailaway","Win Or Lose","And Love Goes On" and the title track.

I pulled out the old Faces vinyl last night and spun it entirely. I thought I remembered liking this better than it hit me last night. It did not hit. All the songs started to sound similar and it wore on me. I got bored with it. There is no reason for me to cue it up again. Now I did have Powerlight in the early 80's on a cassette and wore it out until it wouldn't play anymore. Loved Side By Side.

that's my only issue with Faces.It's a 2-record set,but it's too much of the same thing.The songs are good for the most part,but in order to make a 2-record set interesting,you gotta branch out and go in a few different directions.

RJOrion said:

i never understood Maurice's decisions to bring in outside writers and musicians like David Foster, Martin Page, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, and Steve Lukather...not only did it water down the classic EW&F sound, but he ran off core band members who were responsible for their greatness in the first place...when Al McKay and Johnny Graham and Larry Dunn left, they took the magic with them...especially the great Al McKay...

if I recall,weren't there some problems with Al McKay? He started skipping shows and causing drama.Maurice talks about it in his book,but I don't remember all of what he said.I gotta pull the book out again as for David Foster......he's one of the reasons why I Am is such a great album.Maurice wanted to expand the EW&F sound and make it bigger and more appealing to more people,so I understand why he brought those people in.

kitbradley said:

SoulAlive said:

I'll have to listen to Powerlight again...haven't played it in years.I just remember being very underwhelmed by most of it.

Yeah, I feel you on that one. Whilte there were some very good tracks, there was also a lot of filler. The first time I had felt like that about an EWF album in a while. But, "Side By Side" is one of my favorite EWF songs. Very underrated and forgotten song.

I felt like Powerlight was a let-down after the excellent Raise,an album that I like all the way through.

SoulAlive said:

Yeah he says he the book McKay was trying to challenge his authority. A couple of the horn guys did too. Then Al missed gig in South America. He said if he didn't let him go then the others might start the same shenanigans. Said he could not treat EWF as a democracy. He had to maintain total control of it was to work.

mrwiggles said:

SoulAlive said:

U

if I recall,weren't there some problems with Al McKay? He started skipping shows and causing drama.Maurice talks about it in his book,but I don't remember all of what he said.I gotta pull the book out again as for David Foster......he's one of the reasons why I Am is such a great album.Maurice wanted to expand the EW&F sound and make it bigger and more appealing to more people,so I understand why he brought those people in.

Yeah he says he the book McKay was trying to challenge his authority. A couple of the horn guys did too. Then Al missed gig in South America. He said if he didn't let him go then the others might start the same shenanigans. Said he could not treat EWF as a democracy. He had to maintain total control of it was to work.

I recently watched a documentary on The Eagles,and Gleen Frey and Don Henley said the exact same thing.They had problems with a few bandmembers and had to remind them that it's not a democracy.Every band must have a leader.

SoulAlive said:

yeah...definitely right about the demise of the funk/r&b bands due to drum machines replacing drums, nd synths replacing horns...(prince's rise to prominence can share some of the blame)...but EWF had done better genre switching songs than Magnetic though..."Boogie Wonderland" (disco), and "Changing Times" (new wave/pop) were much better attempts at crossing over than Magnetic...

mrwiggles said:

i can dig that, but McKay was too important to their sound and songwriting...even the Emotions fell off after he left camp...he was the man behind joints like "Best Of My Love", "I Dont Wanna Lose Your Love" and "Flowers"...Maurice should have reached a compromise with that brother somehow...