Earth, Wind And Fire

Collection of Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire were one of the most musically accomplished, critically acclaimed, and commercially popular funk bands of the '70s. Conceived by drummer, bandleader, songwriter, kalimba player, and occasional vocalist Maurice White, EWF's all-encompassing musical vision used funk as its foundation, but also incorporated jazz, smooth soul, gospel, pop, rock & roll, psychedelia, blues, folk, African music, and, later on, disco. Lead singer Philip Bailey gave EWF an extra dimension with his talent for crooning sentimental ballads in addition to funk workouts; behind him, the band could harmonize like a smooth Motown group, work a simmering groove like the J.B.'s, or improvise like a jazz fusion outfit. Plus, their stage shows were often just as elaborate and dynamic as George Clinton's P-Funk empire. More than just versatility for its own sake, EWF's eclecticism was part of a broader concept informed by a cosmic, mystical spirituality and an uplifting positivity the likes of which hadn't been seen since the early days of Sly & the Family Stone. Tying it all together was the accomplished songwriting of Maurice White, whose intricate, unpredictable arrangements and firm grasp of hooks and structure made EWF one of the tightest bands in funk when they wanted to be. Not everything they tried worked, but at their best, Earth, Wind & Fire seemingly took all that came before them and wrapped it up into one dizzying, spectacular package.
White founded Earth, Wind & Fire in Chicago in 1969. He had previously honed his chops as a session drummer for Chess Records, where he played on songs by the likes of Fontella Bass, Billy Stewart, and Etta James, among others. In 1967, he'd replaced Redd Holt in the popular jazz group the Ramsey Lewis Trio, where he was introduced to the kalimba, an African thumb piano he would use extensively in future projects. In 1969, he left Lewis' group to form a songwriting partnership with keyboardist Don Whitehead and singer Wade Flemons. This quickly evolved into a band dubbed the Salty Peppers, which signed with Capitol and scored a regional hit with "La La Time." When a follow-up flopped, White decided to move to Los Angeles, and took most of the band with him; he also renamed them Earth, Wind & Fire, after the three elements in his astrological charts. By the time White convinced his brother, bassist Verdine White, to join him on the West Coast in 1970, the lineup also consisted of Whitehead, Flemons, female singer Sherry Scott, guitarist Michael Beal, tenor saxophonist Chet Washington, trombonist Alex Thomas, and percussionist Yackov Ben Israel. This aggregate signed a new deal with Warner Bros. and issued its self-titled debut album in late 1970. Many critics found it intriguing and ambitious, much like the 1971 follow-up, The Need of Love, but neither attracted much commercial attention, despite a growing following on college campuses and a high-profile gig performing the soundtrack to Melvin Van Peebles' groundbreaking black independent film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.
Dissatisfied with the results, White dismantled the first version of EWF in 1972, retaining only brother Verdine. He built a new lineup with female vocalist Jessica Cleaves, flute/sax player Ronnie Laws, guitarist Roland Bautista, keyboardist Larry Dunn, and percussionist Ralph Johnson; the most important new addition, however, was singer Philip Bailey, recruited from a Denver R&B band called Friends & Love. After seeing the group open for John Sebastian in New York, Clive Davis signed them to CBS, where they debuted in 1972 with Last Days and Time. Further personnel changes ensued; Laws and Bautista were all gone by year's end, replaced by reedman Andrew Woolfolk and guitarists Al McKay and Johnny Graham. It was then that EWF truly began to hit their stride. 1973's Head to the Sky (Cleaves' last album with the group) significantly broadened their cult following, and the 1974 follow-up, Open Our Eyes, was their first genuine hit. It marked their first collaboration with producer, arranger, and sometime songwriting collaborator Charles Stepney, who helped streamline their sound for wider acceptance; it also featured another White brother, Fred, brought in as a second drummer. The single "Mighty Mighty" became EWF's first Top Ten hit on the R&B charts, although pop radio shied away from its black-pride subtext, and the minor hit "Kalimba Story" brought Maurice White's infatuation with African sounds to the airwaves. Open Our Eyes went gold, setting the stage for the band's blockbuster breakthrough.
In 1975, EWF completed work on another movie soundtrack, this time to a music-biz drama called That's the Way of the World. Not optimistic about the film's commercial prospects, the group rushed out their soundtrack album of the same name (unlike Sweet Sweetback, they composed all the music themselves) in advance. The film flopped, but the album took off; its lead single, the love-and-encouragement anthem "Shining Star," shot to the top of both the R&B and pop charts, making Earth, Wind & Fire mainstream stars; it later won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group. The album also hit number one on both the pop and R&B charts, and went double platinum; its title track went Top Five on the R&B side, and it also contained Bailey's signature ballad in the album cut "Reasons." White used the new income to develop EWF's live show into a lavish, effects-filled extravaganza, which eventually grew to include stunts designed by magician Doug Henning. The band was also augmented by a regular horn section, the Phoenix Horns, headed by saxophonist Don Myrick. Their emerging concert experience was chronicled later that year on the double-LP set Gratitude, which became their second straight number one album and featured one side of new studio tracks. Of those, "Sing a Song" reached the pop Top Ten and the R&B Top Five, and the ballad "Can't Hide Love" and the title track were also successful.
Sadly, during the 1976 sessions for EWF's next studio album, Spirit, Charles Stepney died suddenly of a heart attack. Maurice White took over the arranging chores, but the Stepney-produced "Getaway" managed to top the R&B charts posthumously. Spirit naturally performed well on the charts, topping out at number two. In the meantime, White was taking a hand in producing other acts; in addition to working with his old boss Ramsey Lewis, he helped kick start the careers of the Emotions and Deniece Williams. 1977's All n' All was another strong effort that charted at number three and spawned the R&B smashes "Fantasy" and the chart-topping "Serpentine Fire"; meanwhile, the Emotions topped the pop charts with the White-helmed smash "Best of My Love." The following year, White founded his own label, ARC, and EWF appeared in the mostly disastrous film version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, turning in a fine cover of the Beatles' "Got to Get You Into My Life" that became their first Top Ten pop hit since "Sing a Song." Released before year's end, The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 produced another Top Ten hit (and R&B number one) in the newly recorded "September."
1979's I Am contained EWF's most explicit nod to disco, a smash collaboration with the Emotions called "Boogie Wonderland" that climbed into the Top Ten. The ballad "After the Love Has Gone" did even better, falling one spot short of the top. Although I Am became EWF's sixth straight multi-platinum album, there were signs that the group's explosion of creativity over the past few years was beginning to wane. 1980's Faces broke that string, after which guitarist McKay departed. While 1981's Raise brought them a Top Five hit and R&B chart-topper in "Let's Groove," an overall decline in consistency was becoming apparent. By the time EWF issued its next album, 1983's Powerlight, ARC had folded, and the Phoenix Horns had been cut loose to save money. After the lackluster Electric Universe appeared at the end of the year, White disbanded the group to simply take a break. In the meantime, Verdine White became a producer and video director, while Philip Bailey embarked on a solo career and scored a pop smash with the Phil Collins duet "Easy Lover." Collins also made frequent use of the Phoenix Horns on his '80s records, both solo and with Genesis.
Bailey reunited with the White brothers, plus Andrew Woolfolk, Ralph Johnson, and new guitarist Sheldon Reynolds, in 1987 for the album Touch the World. It was surprisingly successful, producing two R&B smashes in "Thinking of You" and the number one "System of Survival." Released in 1990, Heritage was a forced attempt to contemporize the group's sound, with guest appearances from Sly Stone and MC Hammer; its failure led to the end of the group's relationship with Columbia. They returned on Reprise with the more traditional-sounding Millennium in 1993, but were dropped when the record failed to recapture their commercial standing despite a Grammy nomination for "Sunday Morning"; tragedy struck that year when onetime horn leader Don Myrick was murdered in Los Angeles. Bailey and the White brothers returned once again in 1997 on the small Pyramid label with In the Name of Love. After 2003's The Promise, the group realigned itself with several top-shelf adult contemporary artists and released 2005's Illumination, which featured a much-publicized collaboration with smooth jazz juggernaut Kenny G. By Steve Huey


Album: Earth, Wind & Fire (1971)





01. Help Somebody
02. Moment of Truth
03. Love Is Life
04. Fan the Fire
05. C'mon Children
06. This World Today
07. Bad Tune


http://www21.zippyshare.com/v/99015308/file.html


Album: Need Of Love (1971)





01. Energy
02. Beauty
03 I Can Feel It In My Bones
04. I Think About Lovin' You
05. Everything Is Everything


http://www63.zippyshare.com/v/17581006/file.html


Album: Last Days And Time (1972)





01. Time Is on Your Side
02. Interlude
03. They Don't See
04. Interlude
05. Make It With You
06. Power
07. Remember the Children
08. Interlude
09. Where Have All the Flowers Gone
10. I'd Rather Have You
11. Mom


http://www14.zippyshare.com/v/51195463/file.html

Album: Head To The Sky (1973)





01. Evil
02. Keep Your Head to the Sky
03. Build Your Nest
04. World's a Masquerade
05. Clover
06. Zanzibar


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Album: Open Our Eyes (1974)





01. Mighty Mighty
02. Devotion
03. Fair But So Uncool
04. Feelin' Blue
05. Kalimba Story
06. Drum Song
07. Tee Nine Chee Bit
08. Spasmodic Movements
09. Rabbit Seed
10. Caribou
11. Open Our Eyes
12. Ain't No Harm To Moan (Slave Song)
13. Fair But So Uncool
14. Step's Tune
15. Dreams


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Album: Thats The Way Of The Word (1975)





01. Shining Star
02. That's The Way Of The World
03. Happy Feelin'
04. All About Love
05. Yearnin' Learnin'
06. Reasons
07. Africano
08. See The Light
09. Shining Star (Future Star)
10. All About Love (First Impression)
11. Caribou Chaser (Jazzy Jam)
12. That's The Way Of The World (Latin Expedition)


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Album: Gratitude (1975)





01. Introduction
02. Medley- Africano - Power
03. Yearnin' Learnin'
04. Devotion
05. Sun Goddess
06. Reasons
07. Sing A Message To You
08. Shining Star
09. New World Symphony
10. Musical Interlude #1
11. Sunshine
12. Singasong
13. Gratitude
14. Celebrate
15. Musical Interlude #2
16. Can't Hide Love


http://www35.zippyshare.com/v/34238480/file.html


Album: Spirit (1976)




01. Getaway
02. On Your Face
03. Imagination
04. Spirit
05. Saturday Nite
06. Earth, Wind and Fire
07. Departure [Instrumental]
08. Biyo [Instrumental]
09. Burnin' Bush


http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/3715655/file.html


Album: All N All (1977)





01. Serpentine Fire
02. Fantasy
03. In The Marketplace (Interlude)
04. Jupiter
05. Love's Holiday
06. Brazilian Rhyme (Interlude)
07. I'll Write A Song For You
08. Magic Mind
09. Runnin'
10. Brazilian Rhyme (Interlude)
11. Be Ever Wonderful
12. Would You Mind (Demo Of Love's Holiday)
13. Runnin' (Original Hollywood Mix)
14. Brazilian Rhyme (Live)


http://www52.zippyshare.com/v/54723782/file.html

Album: The Best Of Vol I (1978)





01. Got to Get You Into My Life
02. Fantasy
03. Can't Hide Love
04. Love Music
05. Getaway
06. That's The Way of The World
07. September
08. Shining Star
09. Reasons
10. Singasong


http://www11.zippyshare.com/v/85607249/file.html


Album: I Am (1979)





01. In the Stone
02. Can't Let Go
03. After the Love Has Gone
04. Let Your Feelings Show
05. Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind & Fire, The Emotions
06. Star
07. Wait
08. Rock That! [Instrumental]
09. You and I


http://www41.zippyshare.com/v/42505329/file.html


Album: Faces (1980)





01. Let Me Talk
02. Turn It Into Something Good
03. Pride
04. You
05. Sparkle
06. Back On The Road
07. Song In My Heart
08. You Went Away
09. 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


http://www66.zippyshare.com/v/82666221/file.html

Album: Raise! (1981)





01. Let's Groove
02. Lady Sun
03. My Love
04. Evolution Orange
05. Kalimba Tree
06. You Are A Winner
07. I've Had Enough
08. Wanna Be With You
09. The Changing Times


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Album: Powerlight (1983)





01. Fall In Love With Me
02. Spread Your Love
03. Side By Side
04. Straight From The Heart
05. The Speed Of Love
06. Freedom Of Choice
07. Something Special
08. Hearts To Heart
09. Miracles


http://www66.zippyshare.com/v/65866614/file.html


Album: Electric Universe (1983)





01. Magnetic
02. Touch
03. Moonwalk
04. Could It Be Right
05. Spirit of a New World
06. Sweet Sassy Lady
07. We're Living in Our Own Time
08. Electric Nation


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Album: Touch The World (1987)





01. System Of Survival
02.. Evil Roy
03. Thinking Of You
04. You And I
05. New Horizons (Interlude)
06. Money Tight
07. Every Now And Then
08. Touch The World
09. Here Today And Gone Tomorrow
10. Victim Of The Modern Heart


http://www36.zippyshare.com/v/47042580/file.html

Album: The Best Of II (1988)





01. Turn on (The Beat Box)
02. Let's Groove
03. After The Love is Gone
04. Fantasy
05. Devotion
06. Serpentine Fire
07. Love's Holiday
08. Boogie Wonder
09. Saturday Nite
10. Mighty Mighty


http://www64.zippyshare.com/v/73034976/file.html


Album: Heritage (1990)





01. Interlude Soweto
02. Takin' Chances
03. Heritage
04. Good Time
05. Interlude Body Wrap
06. Anything You Want
07. Interlude Bird
08. Wanna Be The Man
09. Interlude Close To Home
10. Daydreamin'
11. King Of Groove
12. I'm In Love
13. For The Love Of You
14. Motor
15. Interlude Faith
16. Welcome
17. Soweto (Reprise)


http://www27.zippyshare.com/v/34261751/file.html


Album: Very Best Of (1991)





CD1
01. Let's Groove
02. Getaway
03. Serpentine Fire
04. Shining Star
05. Spread Your Love
06. Reasons
07. Can't Let Go
08. Boogie Wonderland
09. Star
10. Jupiter
11. Electric Nation
12. Fall In Love With Me
13. And Love Goes On
14. Keep Your Head To The Sky

CD2
01. Fantasy
02. Sing A Song
03. Magnetic
04. I've Had Enough
05. Got To Get You Into My Life
06. Could It Be Right
07. After The Love Has Gone
08. September
09. Wait
10. I'll Write A Song For You
11. That's The Way Of The World
12. Something Special
13. Wanna Be With You
14. Saturday Nite


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Album: The Eternal Dance (1992)





CD1
01. Fan The Fire
02. Love Is Life
03. I Think About Lovin' You
04. Interlude (Previously Unreleased)
05. Time Is On Your Side
06. Where Have All The Flowers Gone
07. Power
08. Keep Your Head Up In The Sky
09. Evil
10. Mighty Mighty
11. Feelin' Blue
12. Hey Girl (Previously Unreleased)
13. Open Our Eyes
14. Shining Star (Previously Unreleased Alternate Version)
15. Happy Feelin'
16. Reasons
17. Shining Star
18. That's The Way Of The World

CD2
01. Kalimba Story-Sing A Message To You (Live) (Previously Unreleased)
02. Head To The Sky-Devotion (Live) (Previously Unreleased)
03. Sun Goddess (Live)
04. Mighty Mighty (Live) (Previously Unreleased)
05. Interlude
06. Can't Hide Love
07. Sing A Song
08. Sunshine
09. Getaway
10. Saturday Nite
11. Spirit
12. Ponta De Areia -- -Brazilian Rhyme- (Interlude) (Previously Unreleased)
13. Fantasy
14. Serpentine Fire
15. I'll Write A Song For You
16. Be Ever Wonderful
17. Beijo (Interlude)
18. Got To Get You Into My Life (Previously Unreleased as Single Only)

CD3
01. September
02. Boogie Wonderland
03. After The Love Is Gone
04. In The Stone
05. Dirty (Interlude) (Previously Unreleased)
06. Let Me Talk
07. And Love Goes On
08. Pride
09. Demo (Previously Unreleased)
10. Let's Groove
11. Wanna Be With You
12. Little Girl (Interlude) (Previously Unreleased)
13. Night Dreamin' (Previously Unreleased)
14. Fall In Love With Me
15. Magnetic
16. System Of Survival
17. Thinking Of You
18. Gotta Find Out (Previously Unreleased as U.S. Single Only)
19. That's The Way Of The World (Live) (Previously Unreleased on Album)


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Album: Millenium (1993)





01. Even If You Wonder
02. Sunday Morning
03. Blood Brothers
04. Kalimba Interlude
05. Spend The Night
06. Divine
07. Two Hearts
08. Honor The Magic
09. Love Is The Greatest Story
10. The L Word
11. Just Another Lonely Night
12. Super Hero
13. Wouldn' Change A Thing About You
14. Love Across The Wire
15. Chicago (Chi-Town) Blues
16. Kalimba Blues


http://www36.zippyshare.com/v/14087767/file.html


Album: In The Name Of Love (1997)





01. Rock It
02. In The Name Of Love
03. Revolution
04. When Love Goes Wrong
05. Fill You Up
06. Right Time
07. Round And Round
08. Keep It Real
09. Cruising
10. Love Is Life
11. Avatar


http://www29.zippyshare.com/v/65174196/file.html


Album: The Promise (2003)





01. All in the Way
02. Betcha'
03. Wiggle
04. Why
05. Wonderland
06. Where Do We Go from Here
07. Freedom
08. Hold Me
09. Never
10. Promise
11. All About Love
12. Suppose You Like Me
13. Promise 2
14. She Waits
15. Promise 3
16. Let Me Love You
17. Dirty


http://www41.zippyshare.com/v/38829441/file.html


Album: Love Songs (2004)





01. Reasons
02. Can't Hide Love
03. Love's Holiday
04. Be Ever Wonderful
05. Beijo (Interlude)
06. I'll Write a Song for You
07. You
08. Fantasy
09. Earth, Wind and Fire
10. Fall in Love With Me
11. Side By Side
12. Wait
13. After the Love Has Gone
14. Wanna Be With You


http://www21.zippyshare.com/v/31923422/file.html


Album: Illumination (2005)





01. Lovely People
02. Pure Gold
03. A Talking Voice (Interlude)
04. Loves Dance
05. Show Me The Way
06.This Is How I Feel
07. Work It Out
08. Pass You By
09. The One
10. Elevated
11. Liberation
12. To You
13. The Way You Move (Bonus Track)


http://www65.zippyshare.com/v/80505202/file.html

Enjoy!!!!