― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Monday, 21 July 2003 13:23 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Neudonym, Monday, 21 July 2003 13:28 (9 years ago) Permalink
― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Monday, 21 July 2003 13:30 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Chris V. (Chris V), Monday, 21 July 2003 13:54 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 21 July 2003 14:22 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 21 July 2003 15:15 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Chris V. (Chris V), Monday, 21 July 2003 15:23 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Paul R (paul R), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 05:21 (9 years ago) Permalink
and the harp!
― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 07:13 (9 years ago) Permalink
― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 07:17 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 10:36 (9 years ago) Permalink
― jamesmichaelward (jamesmichaelward), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 11:56 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 11:57 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Vincent Vern, Tuesday, 22 July 2003 12:49 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 13:08 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Bill E (bill_e), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 20:30 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:30 (9 years ago) Permalink
― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:34 (9 years ago) Permalink
― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:35 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 11 December 2003 02:10 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Keith C (lync0), Sunday, 8 January 2006 16:39 (7 years ago) Permalink
― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Sunday, 8 January 2006 16:44 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 8 January 2006 18:15 (7 years ago) Permalink
I wonder why George Clinton hates them?
― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Sunday, 8 January 2006 18:25 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Sunday, 8 January 2006 18:26 (7 years ago) Permalink
Their late 80s material ("System Of Survival" was the actual title of that song, wasn't it?) was really, really, really awful though.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 8 January 2006 20:36 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 9 January 2006 05:48 (7 years ago) Permalink
-- Daniel_Rf
Does he, really? Or was Kenny just referring to "Let's Take It To The Stage" (in which GC good-naturedly disses "Earth, Hot Air & No Fire" along with "Fool & The Gang", "Slick And The Family Brick", etc.)?
Anyways, obviously classic. Even Geir likes 'em! (I wonder what he thought about their "Got To Get You Into My Life" cover.) The only band to place two LPs in my own personal Top 10 of 1975. (Never cared much for "Boogie Wonderland" but that's an anomaly.)
Love that "R&B version of Yes" description!
― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 9 January 2006 07:55 (7 years ago) Permalink
That song was never my favourite Beatles song anyway.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 9 January 2006 13:07 (7 years ago) Permalink
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 9 January 2006 13:08 (7 years ago) Permalink
i need copies of the first two albums and *head to the sky*. i think i'm good with everything else. TO THIS DAY, i have never heard the first album. i've heard *the need of love* which is the 2nd album. and i've heard *head to the sky*. sold my copies :(
anyway, listening to *last days and time* right now. so great. *open our eyes* might be my fave album though.
― scott seward, Monday, 14 January 2008 04:15 (5 years ago) Permalink
They were pure mimicry in the '80s, though: What was "Let's Groove" if not "Fantastic Voyage" on a bigger budget?
???
― deej, Monday, 14 January 2008 04:27 (5 years ago) Permalink
I was going to say...
Two other unmentioned classics "Misled" (which I've actually made an edit for which takes out the half speed parts), and of course the wonderful wonderful "Brazilian Rhyme".
― Spencer Chow, Monday, 14 January 2008 04:36 (5 years ago) Permalink
Remember when they had that HBO special in the early 80s? Boy did they look cool in that.
― Mark Rich@rdson, Monday, 14 January 2008 04:52 (5 years ago) Permalink
From 1971-75, they ruled.
I'm no disco fan, so I won't comment on anything since, although I do retain a soft spot for "Serpentine Fire."
― Rev. Hoodoo, Monday, 14 January 2008 04:58 (5 years ago) Permalink
Keep Your Head to the Sky
― dell, Monday, 14 January 2008 05:11 (5 years ago) Permalink
there is a version of that song on which in which they push the falsetto to weird glass-shattering heights. you can hear their vocal chords shredding; check it out, man
― dell, Monday, 14 January 2008 05:16 (5 years ago) Permalink
classic
― am0n, Monday, 14 January 2008 05:45 (5 years ago) Permalink
Dude I work with came back from his lunch break the other day with a whole bag full of mint condition EWF LPs he'd found in a charity shop. I was very jealous.
― JimD, Monday, 14 January 2008 07:00 (5 years ago) Permalink
I love EWF's disco stuff more than their earlier funk. Their particular sound works so great for the sort of disco grooves of pure, unadulterated joy. Everyone should check out Raise!, it's one of the best disco LPs ever (and "Let's Groove" is one of my favourite songs ever). It's better than I Am, in my opinion, which (despite containing "Boogie Wonderland") is less energetic and joyful.
― Tuomas, Monday, 14 January 2008 07:34 (5 years ago) Permalink
OTM re: Raise! > I Am but to quibble a bit I wouldn't call either "disco" though both were played in discos.
― m coleman, Monday, 14 January 2008 10:53 (5 years ago) Permalink
I think Raise! is maybe at some junction point between disco and electro-funk (especially "Let's Groove"), but I think the way the strings and the horns are arranged and the fact that almost every tune is based on a steady 4/4 groove makes it pretty much a disco LP, despite the fact that disco was almost dead by 1981. Then again, like I said I think EWF's sweet and clean funk sound has always been pretty close to disco, tunes like "Fantasy" are already disco in my opinion.
― Tuomas, Monday, 14 January 2008 11:25 (5 years ago) Permalink
"Can't Hide Love." Guys.
― god bless this -ation (Abbott), Monday, 7 September 2009 17:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
This song never doesn't do it for me.
I spent months trying to figure out what it was, asking everyone I knew, "Hey do you know that one '70s R&B song that goes 'dun dun DUN DUN!' and then ends with this epic harmony battle?" Of course no one knew what I was talking abt but I got a feeling it was EW&F and that best of was SO good an investment.
― god bless this -ation (Abbott), Monday, 7 September 2009 17:23 (3 years ago) Permalink
in the stone!
― or something, Monday, 7 September 2009 17:40 (3 years ago) Permalink
Their live album, Gratitude, is fucking fantastic, and there's nothing from it on the 2CD Essential Earth, Wind & Fire, which is a crime.
― neither good nor bad, just a kid like you (unperson), Monday, 7 September 2009 17:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
I got the box set @ a garage sale for $15.
― god bless this -ation (Abbott), Monday, 7 September 2009 17:50 (3 years ago) Permalink
― its like why GROCERY BAG and not saddam? (deej), Monday, 7 June 2010 05:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
hell yes
― hobbes, Monday, 7 June 2010 05:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
anyway, first six albums are definitely classic. hell, spirit is pretty classic as well. i have copies of "all n all" and "i am" somewhere but don't think i ever listened to em more than one
― hobbes, Monday, 7 June 2010 05:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
I often these days think, to myself, when listening to Earth, Wind & Fire: "this was the best fucking band in the world"
― get your bucket of free wings (underrated aerosmith albums I have loved), Monday, 7 June 2010 07:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
just saw them live tonite XD
― its like why GROCERY BAG and not saddam? (deej), Monday, 7 June 2010 07:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
aww yeah! report!
― get your bucket of free wings (underrated aerosmith albums I have loved), Monday, 7 June 2010 08:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
― or something, Monday, 7 September 2009 18:40 (9 months ago) Bookmark
― village idiot (dog latin), Monday, 7 June 2010 11:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
Certainly when their comp is playing it seems like they're the greatest band in the world.
― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 7 June 2010 12:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
They have DC and Baltimore shows coming up shortly. I wonder how the current version of the band is...
― curmudgeon, Monday, 7 June 2010 13:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
just continuing the love here. hope everyone is having a nice day. if not, this might help
― hobbes, Monday, 7 June 2010 19:58 (2 years ago) Permalink
I need to break out some EWF on my radio show this week.
― Trip Maker, Monday, 7 June 2010 20:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
― curmudgeon, Monday, June 7, 2010 8:03 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
how 'current'? its the 3 surviving members... although when i went, one of them had to fly back to LA to take care of his mother who is sick. :(
philip bailey, fwiw, sounds INCREDIBLE. the band is unbelievably tight & plays stuff pretty much as close to the recordings as can be imagined (in a good way)
― its like why GROCERY BAG and not saddam? (deej), Tuesday, 8 June 2010 06:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
hmm i dont know why i thought one of them had passed away. never mind me. anyway yes it was three of them touring, maurice white wasnt there
― its like why GROCERY BAG and not saddam? (deej), Tuesday, 8 June 2010 06:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
how 'current'? its the 3 surviving members...
I thought Maurice White doesn't gig with EWF anymore?
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 8 June 2010 07:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
Whoops, sorry, didn't notice your second post!
There's also a "fake" (though apparently officially approved) band touring called "Earth, Wind & Fire Experience" or something like that, the only original member it has is their 70s guitarist.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 8 June 2010 07:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
If you do not LOVE the song "Reasons", you have no soul.
OTMFM
― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Thursday, 17 March 2011 15:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
also "See the Light" pwns u
― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Thursday, 17 March 2011 15:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
This is pretty nice; it's a recent remix, but it's made in the classic disco mix style, i.e. using only elements from the original song.
Also, I think the way the vocals sound on "Fantasy" is better than on any other song made by anyone. They're just so immaculately beautiful!
― Tuomas, Thursday, 17 March 2011 21:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
I distrust any man who doubts the buoyancy of "Fantasy" and "Serpentine Fire."
― Rich Lolwry (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 17 March 2011 21:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
My ex's dad was demoing a bass guitar on this makeshift stage at NAAM several years ago. Some guy walks up and starts playing drums behind him. Then a keyboardist comes up, then a guitarist. Ex's dad looks up and oh shit it's EWF on stage with him. At this point he goes "you guys are too good for me" and takes off the bass but they implore him to go on. I probably would've freaked out too, honestly.
― blank, Friday, 18 March 2011 00:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
so so so so CALSSIC!!!!!I always smile when I hear those bad ass jams..
― SeanWayne, Friday, 18 March 2011 00:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
anybody who can't get down w/EWF is straight up my enemy
that is just the deal with me & EWF
― five gone cats from Boston (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, 18 March 2011 01:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
Is "Gratitude" the best one live/one studio double LP? It's certainly my favourite.
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Friday, 18 March 2011 04:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
fun fact: these dudes went to my high-school and played us a song during an assembly. or at least a couple of the members did - i was at least 16 and had no idea at the time.
― yeah (kelpolaris), Friday, 18 March 2011 06:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
My iPod played "Fantasy," "September," "Let's Groove," and "Fall in Love With Me." I'm going to delete the rest of the content and just play these four songs in a loop.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 12 January 2012 01:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
You need "Can't Hide Love" in there. fumf fumf FUMF FUMF
― no more mr. nice girls (Abbbottt), Thursday, 12 January 2012 04:07 (1 year ago) Permalink
oh man every day is a good day to think about the righteousness of EWF
― unlistenable in philly (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 12 January 2012 04:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
Other severely underrated '80s EWF jams: "Wanna Be With You," "Lady Sun," "Side By Side," "Win or Lose."
― dor Dumbeddownball (Eric H.), Thursday, 12 January 2012 04:57 (1 year ago) Permalink
Was your ipod on shuffle? Those are the exact four best EWF songs. "Serpentine Fire" is almost as good.
Also cosign with Eric above me: Raise (the whole album) is fucking slept on. I have half a dozen late 70s/early eighties EWF albums, and none of them is less than very good. Taken together, they're a pretty good argument for not fucking with a good formula. Which is not to say they're all the same, not hardly. Some of the canniest pop of its era - Michael J and Quincy J certainly took a lesson or two from Maurice White's playbook when they were concocting Thriller.
― Melle Mel and the Coconuts (thewufs), Thursday, 12 January 2012 18:07 (1 year ago) Permalink
Why has no one done a supercut of Maurice White going Yeowwww?
― Eric H., Friday, 17 August 2012 18:25 (9 months ago) Permalink
I was a fool for letting Mom get rid of her near-mind copy of Raise!
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 28 October 2012 18:20 (6 months ago) Permalink
I like the early stuff ok. Got bits of the s/t popping up on my walkman from time to time.Meant to get all that pre-disco stuff, maybe need to check out some of the later stuff?
Didn't see any mention of their appearance behind Melvin van Peebles on Sweet Sweetback's Sweetback song. You used to be able to get the s/track with the book with the script/film history in. Not sure if you still can.
Need to find the 2cd of his solo stuff too, RAted X By AN All White Jury. Has some great stuff on it with an unfortunately uncredited band shining in most places. Not sure who that is on the 1st 3 lps , don't think it's EW&F members after the s/trk.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 28 October 2012 20:28 (6 months ago) Permalink
picked up raise and powerlight a month or so ago and was surprised how damn great the both of them actually arexpost
― making plans for nyquil (outdoor_miner), Sunday, 28 October 2012 22:20 (6 months ago) Permalink
"Spread Your Love" is awesome. "Lady Sun" is awesome. God I love these guys.
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 28 October 2012 22:24 (6 months ago) Permalink
I think the first album is probably my favourite album of theirs these days, just ahead of That's The Way of The World. Such a great band.
― Kitchen Person, Sunday, 28 October 2012 22:37 (6 months ago) Permalink
I keep thinking I need this box.
― 誤訳侮辱, Sunday, 28 October 2012 22:45 (6 months ago) Permalink
Other severely underrated '80s EWF jams: "Wanna Be With You," "Lady Sun," "Side By Side," "Win or Lose."― dor Dumbeddownball (Eric H.), Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:57 PM (9 months ago)
Not just severely underrated. They are all among their very best songs, too.
― Bobby Ken Doll (Eric H.), Monday, 29 October 2012 03:07 (6 months ago) Permalink