Well,I've been listening to the new Earth Wind and Fire CD 'The Promise' for several days now.I'm happy to report that it is a great album! No,it's not their strongest work and no,it doesn't break any new ground but you know what? That's okay because it is a welcome return to form in many ways.More on that later.Here is the complete tracklist and song times...

"All In The Way" (4:27)
"Betcha" (3:43)
"Wiggle" (0:39)
"Why?" (4:04)
"Wonderland" with Angie Stone (4:05)
"Where Do We Go From Here" (5:21)
"Freedom" (0:42)
"Hold Me" (4:37)
"Never" (5:09)
"Prelude" (0:40)
"All About Love" (4: 24)
"Suppose You Like Me" (4:37)
"The Promise" (0:27)
"Love's Patience/She Waits" (5:09)
"The Promise (continued)" (0:51)
"Let Me Love You" (4:17)
"Dirty" (3:47)


First of all,let's make this perfectly clear: there isn't much uptempo funk here.This is primarily a laid-back,sophisticated affair.Quiet storm and jazz radio stations are gonna love these songs! The album begins with the infectious first single "All In The Way",one of the few uptempo jams on the album.It sounds just like old times...Maurice White on lead vocals,with the sexy background vocals of The Emotions.This is one of their best singles in years and it's great hearing Maurice again.

Interestingly,this CD includes two tracks from the 'I Am' sessions in 1978."Where Do We Go From Here" is a lovely Philip Bailey tour de force.The music has obviously been updated,but I'm betting that those are his SAME vocals from the 1978 recording.Another track from the same period, "Dirty, is a funky instrumental track that appeared as a brief interlude on their 'Eternal Dance' box set.Here,it is the full completed song and it rocks!


Other surprises include the Latin-flavored "Never",which features a nice salsa breakdown.Then there is the smooth,midtempo collaboration with ?uestlove "Suppose You Like Me".One track here "Wonderland" is destined to become a new Earth Wind and Fire classic.It features guest vocalist Angie Stone and gorgeous harmonies.This album marks the return of Maurice's kalimba and there are several stunning interludes.


I admit,I wasn't too impressed with the last EW&F album,1997's 'In The Name Of Love'.On that record,Maurice took on a limited role.On 'The Promise',he is back,front and center,sharing lead vocals with Philip Bailey.This album *FEELS* like an Earth Wind and Fire album.It's jazzy and mesmerizing,with all of the old trademarks that made them so great in the first place.'Promise' fulfilled.





Here are a few more reviews that I found...



USA Today---"On their first new album in six years,the legendary band delivers an engaging first single that recalls some of it's best work of the 70s."All In The Way" reunites EW&F with the Emotions,who graced their classic "Boogie Wonderland",and features a welcome return of Maurice White's signature kalimba.With horn-kissed ballads and infectious jazz-funk grooves,the band seems to have regained it's spark.Philip Bailey is still hitting impossibly high notes.Angie Stone adds her soulful vocals to the easygoing "Wonderland",and the band sizzles on the hard-driving "Dirty".It's been a long time coming,but this 'Promise' is a keeper...Steve Jones

Launch/Yahoo---"Back in the day,Earth Wind and Fire seemed to have the jump on their R&B peers.Their ballads were a little glossier,their funk a little crisper,even their sequined bell-bottoms a little wider.Now they're the first among their comebacking 70s contemporaries to have discerned a fundamental truth: people want them back,badly,but not if it involves a hip-hop makeover.So the group wisely shelved a collaboration with Wyclef Jean and decided to use its first album in six years to give the public exactly what it wants.That is,Philip Bailey's falsetto piercing Maurice White's sophisticated pop;intricately arranged harmonies and horn charts;and just one unobtrusive guest star,Angie Stone.Does it break new ground? Not a bit.Is that a bad thing? See if you can say yes after listening to Bailey soar through "Betcha" and "Hold Me",prom anthems for a different generation.Nostalgia,as they say,usually isn't what it used to be,but sound this sweet is certainly worth repeating"---Dan Leroy



EW&F is back,yall!
[This message was edited Sun May 25 11:27:00 PDT 2003 by DavidEye]

cosign..if people are expecting ewf circa '77, they will be disappointed. but let's give these guys some credit. imho, the problem with older acts "doing it like they used to" is just that, they don't do it like they used to! they get with some lame producer and hire some lame rapper and the end result is garbage. that's why i like this album. no guest rapper to make it more appealing to the kids. true, it could have had more funk. i was just glad to hear maurice give me a "yeow" on a song again!!

revolution75 said:

Exactly! What I love about this album is,it is a *REAL* EW&F album,produced by Maurice White.It features the same elements that they've always used.No guest rappers,no "updating" of their sound to appeal to youngsters,no gimmicks.

"true,it could have had more funk"

I agree.This CD could have used a couple of more uptempo funk tracks.Have you heard their song "Whatever Happened" from last year's 'Undercover Brother' movie soundtrack? That song would have been a nice addition to this album.

they need a R.Kelly to Give them a Makeover ASAP.that album is like Urban Knights Lite&I Bought that Project with Maurice&Ramsey Lewis 6-7 Years back.they Need to call Mr.Biggs for a Make-Over IMHO.

I have been waiting for the return of Mr. White. I have also been waiting for your review, so it looks like I'll be picking this up.

mistermaxxx said:

ok the R Kelly thing is going TOO far now!

mistermaxxx said:

If they let R.Kelly produce them,I wouldn't even buy the CD! EW&F is a *respectable* band,they don't need to work with a porn star like R.Kelly

stymie said:

Be sure to come back to this thread,I'm interested in seeing your review too.

DavidEye said:

Am I the only one who is loving the track "Where Do We Go From Here"? This song was originally recorded in 1978,during the sessions for the 'I Am' album.On the new CD,they updated the music but I am almost certain that the vocals are from the 1978 version.Philip Bailey doesn't sound like that these days...lol...anyway,it's a GREAT song,one of the highlights on the album.

Joshy84au said:

just like Bon Jovi.

DavidEye said:

oh working with Wyclef&?Love gonna bring them some Hits as well huh? you can't answer my questions why they Sounding just like the Urban Knights Projects that Maurice did back in the Mid 90's.why they digging up Old Jams instead of bringing some Funk?&While Maurice White is a Musical Genius IMHO He ain't no Saint&I Know How things went down with Him&Charles Stepney.

DavidEye said:

one of the few highlights.on my EWF Group Board on Yahoo this Album has met with alot of folks thinking along the same lines as myself that while it's cool to have a New EWF Album that this wasn't worthy of a 6 Year wait.pretty average aside from a few tracks&the Solid Instrumentation.

I have to somewhat agree with maxxx (in regards to the tempo to the album not that they need an outside producer) The album is a little too quiet storm for me. Great review though David. Interesting info about "dirty" That was one of the cuts I really liked when I gave it a listen. I have been listening to more old EWF than usual the last few weeks so that could be clouding my judgment of this album. Of course it can't measure up to the classic shit, so I might need to take a few weeks off from the old stuff and give Promise another listen then. Just to be fair.

I'm glad 2 hear that bands are still loyal 2 that "silence" & "space"! Very well produced and its growing in me everytime I listen 2 it.

The most thing that I love/respect about this LP that its not a commercial release.

I don't wanna see EW&F with an outsider producer(other than Prince who nailed "Super Hero") but Mr.White still have that glow in his touch.

The only let-down is there ain't alot of "solos" like I expected and the songs are somehow short. But I like alot of it overall, my faves are "All In The Way" and "Wonderland" w/Angie Stone.

Thanks for the review

mistermaxxx said:

Could you shut up please? I asked you nicely.

intha916 said:

The tracks "Dirty" and "Where Do We Go from Here" probably would have appeared as bonus tracks on the upcoming 'I Am' remaster,but I'm glad that Maurice added them to this CD instead.Those songs can now get the full attention they deserve and "Where Do We Go From Here" could even become a future single.



[This message was edited Wed May 28 1:08:33 PDT 2003 by DavidEye]

mistermaxxx said:

What's the name of your EWF yahoo group maxxx?