JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS
EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE
The origins of this colourful, imaginative group date back to the 60s and Chicago's black music session circle. Drummer Maurice White (b. 19 December 1941, Memphis, Tennessee, USA) appeared on sessions for Etta James, Fontella Bass, Billy Stewart and more, before joining the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1965. He left four years later to form the Salty Peppers, which prepared the way for an early version of Earth Wind and Fire. The new group - Verdine White (b. 25 July 1951, Illinois, USA; bass), Michael Beale (guitar), Wade Flemmons (vocals), Sherry Scott (vocals), Alex Thomas (trombone), Chet Washington (tenor saxophone), Don Whitehead (keyboards) and Yackov Ben Israel (percussion) - embarked on a diffuse direction, embracing jazz, R&B and funk, as well as elements of Latin and ballad styles.
The extended jam 'Energy', from their second album, was artistically brave, but showed a lack of cohesion within the group. White then abandoned the line-up, save his brother, and pieced together a second group around Ronnie Laws (b. 3 October 1950, Houston, Texas, USA; saxophone, guitar), Philip Bailey (b. 8 May 1951, Denver, Colorado, USA; vocals), Larry Dunn (b. Lawrence Dunhill, 19 June 1953, Colorado, USA; keyboards), Roland Battista (guitar) and Jessica Cleaves (b. 1948; vocals). He retained the mystic air of the original group but tightened the sound immeasurably, blending the disparate elements into an intoxicating 'fire'. Two 1974 releases, Head To The Sky and Open Our Eyes, established the group as an album act, while the following year 'Shining Star' was a number 1 hit in both the US R&B and pop charts. Their eclectic mixture of soul and jazz was now fused to an irresistible rhythmic pulse, while the songs themselves grew ever more memorable.
By the end of the decade they had regular successes with such infectious melodious singles as 'Fantasy', 'September', 'After The Love Has Gone' and 'Boogie Wonderland', the latter an energetic collaboration with the Emotions. A further recording, 'Got To Get You Into My Life', transformed the song into the soul classic composer Paul McCartney had originally envisaged. The line-up of Earth, Wind And Fire remained unstable. Philip Bailey and Ronnie Laws both embarked on solo careers as new saxophonists, guitarists and percussionists were added. White's interest in Egyptology and mysticism provided a visual platform for the expanded group, particularly in their striking live performances. However, following 11 gold albums, 1983's Electric Universe was an unexpected commercial flop, and prompted a four-year break.
A slimline core quintet, comprising the White brothers, Andrew Woolfolk, Sheldon Reynolds and Philip Bailey, recorded Touch The World in 1987 but they failed to reclaim their erstwhile standing. Heritage (1990) featured cameos from rapper MC Hammer and Sly Stone, in an attempt to shift White's vision into the new decade. Since 1987 White has no longer toured with the band, but seemed to regain his enthusiasm with 1997's In The Name Of Love, a back-to-basics album recorded for new label Eagle.
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 - 1998
|
|
| LOOK | ALBUM | YEAR |  | Earth, Wind & Fire | 1971 | | The Need Of Love | 1971 | | Last Days & Time | 1972 | | Head To The Sky | 1973 | | Open Our Eyes | 1974 | | Gratitude | 1975 | | That's the Way of the World | 1975 | | Spirit | 1976 | | All In All | 1977 | | Sing A Song | 1977 | | The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 | 1978 | | I Am | 1979 | | Faces | 1980 | | Raise | 1981 | | Electric Universe | 1983 | | Powerlight | 1983 | | Beat It To Life | 1986 | | Touch The World | 1987 | | Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol 2 | 1988 | | Heritage | 1990 | | The Very Best Of Earth, Wind, and Fire | 1991 | | Millennium | 1993 | | Let's Groove | 1996 | | Elements Of Love: The Ballads | 1996 | | Greatest Hits Live - Tokyo, Japan | 1996 | | In The Name Of Love | 1997 | | Super Hits | 1998 |
Earth, Wind & Fire (1971)
|
Help Somebody Moment Of Truth Love Is Life Fan The Fire |
C'mon Children This World Today Bad Tune |
The Need Of Love (1971)
|
Energy Beauty I Can Feel It In My Bones |
I Think About Lovin' You Everything Is Everything |
Last Days & Time (1972)
|
Where Have All The Flowers Gone Mom Make It With You Time Is On Your Side Interlude They Don't See |
Interlude Power Remember The Children Interlude 1I'd Rather Have You |
Head To The Sky (1973)
|
Evil Keep Your Head To The Sky Clover |
Build Your Nest World's A Masquerade Zanzibar |
Open Our Eyes (1974)
|
Open Our Eyes Devotion Mighty Mighty Fair But So Uncool Feelin' Blue |
Kalimba Story Drum Song Tee Nine Chee Bit Spasmodic Mood Caribou |
Gratitude (1975)
|
Introduction Africano Power Yearnin' Learnin' Devotion Sun Goddess Reasons Sing A Message To You |
Shining Star New World Symphony Musical Interlude #1 Sunshine Singasong Gratitude Celebrate Musical Interlude #2 Can't Hide Love |
That's the Way of the World (1975)
|
Shining Star That's the Way of the World Happy Feelin' All About Love |
Yearnin', Learnin' Reasons Africano See the Light |
Spirit (1976)
|
Getaway On Your Face Imagination Spirit Saturday Nite |
Earth, Wind and Fire Departure Biyo Burnin' Bush |
All In All (1977)
|
Serpentine Fire Fantasy In The Marketplace (Interlude) Jupiter Love's Holiday Brazilian Rhyme (Interlude) |
I'll Write A Song For You Magic Mind Runnin' Brazilian Rhyme (Interlude) Be Ever Wonderful |
Sing A Song 1977
|
Shining Star That's the Way of the World Let's Groove Reasons Serpentine Fire |
After the Love Is Gone Got to Get You into My Life Singasong Can't Hide Love |
The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 (1978)
|
Got To Get You Into My Life Fantasy Can't Hide Love Love Music Getaway |
That's The Way Of The World September Shining Star Reasons - (studio version) Singasong |
I Am (1979)
|
In The Stone Can't Let Go After The Love Has Gone Let Your Feelings Show Boogie Wonderland - (with The Emotions) |
Star Wait Rock That! You And I |
Faces (1980)
|
Pride Turn It Into Something Good You Sparkle Let Me Talk Back On The Road Song In My Heart You Went Away |
And Love Goes On Sailaway Take It To The Sky Win Or Lose Share Your Love In Time Faces |
Raise! (1981)
|
Let's Groove Lady Sun My Love Evolution Orange Kalimba Tree |
You Are A Winner I've Had Enough Wanna Be With Me The Changing Times |
Electric Universe (1983)
|
Magnetic Touch Moonwalk Could It Be Right |
Spirit Of A New World Sweet Sassy Lady We're Living In Our Own Time Electric Nation |
Powerlight (1983)
|
Fall In Love With Me Spread Your Love Side By Side Straight From The Heart The Speed Of Love |
Freedom Of Choice Something Special Hearts To Heart Miracles |
Beat It To Life (1986)
|
Fan The Fire Moment Of Truth |
I Can Feel It In My Bones Beauty |
Touch The World (1987)
|
System Of Survival Evil Roy Thinking Of You You And I New Horizons (Musical Interlude) |
Money Tight Every Now And Then Touch The World Here Today And Gone Tomorrow Victim Of The Modern Heart |
Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol 2 (1988)
|
Mighty Mighty Devotion Turn On (The Beat Box) Fantasy After The Love Has Gone Saturday Nite |
Serpentine Fire Let's Groove Boogie Wonderland (with The Emotions) Love's Holiday |
Heritage (1990)
|
Soweto (interlude) Takin' Chances Heritage (featuring The Boys) Good Time (featuring Sly Stone) Body Rap (interlude) Wanna Be The Man (featuring MC Hammer) Close To Home (interlude) |
Daydreamin' King Of Groove I'm In Love For The Love Of You Motor Faith (interlude) Welcome Soweto (reprise) |
The Very Best Of Earth, Wind, and Fire - 1991
|
Disc One: In The Stone Boogie Wonderland Let's Groove Got To Get You Into My Life Takin' Chances After The Love Has Gone Fall In Love With Me Getaway Sun Goddess Let Me Talk Serpentine Fire In The Market Place (Interlude)/Jupiter Sing A Song Reasons |
Disc Two: September Fantasy I'll Write A Song For You Shining Star Faces Rock That! Saturday Nite That's The Way Of The World Take It To The Skay Daydreamin' Back On The Road And Love Goes On Sweet Sassy Lady System Of Survival Heritage Win Or Lose |
Millennium (1993)
|
Even If You Wonder Sunday Morning Blood Brothers Kalimba Interlude Spend The Night Divine Two Hearts Honor The Magic |
Love Is The Greatest Story The L Word Just Another Lonely Night Super Hero - (with Prince) Wouldn't Change A Thing About You Love Across The Wire Chicago (Chi-Town) Blues Kalimba Blues |
Let's Groove 1996
|
Let's Groove Magnetic Shining Star Pride September |
Keep Your Head To The Sky In The Stone Got To Get You Into My Life Let Me Talk Star |
Elements Of Love: The Ballads (1996)
| Open Our Eyes Keep Your Head To The Sky Devotion Love's Holiday Ponta De Areia Be Ever Wonderful All About Love |
Can't Hide Love I'll Write A Song For You After The Love Is Gone Imagination Side By Side Spirit Reasons - (live) |
Greatest Hits Live - Tokyo, Japan (1996)
|
In The Stone September Let Your Feelings Show Let's Groove Sun Goddess Can't Hide Love Boogie Wonderland Fantasy Reasons |
That's The Way Of The World Africano I'll Write A Song For You Be Ever Wonderful After The Love Is Gone Shining Star System Of Survival Sing A Song Devotion |
In The Name Of Love (1997)
|
Rock It In The Name Of Love Revolution When Loves Goes Wrong Fill You Up The Right Time |
Round And Round Keep It Real Cruising Love Is Life Avatar (Interlude) |
Super Hits (1998)
|
Shining Star Sing A Song In The Stone Happy Feeling September |
Saturday Night I'll Write A Song For You Boogie Wonderland Fall In Love With Me Got To Get You Into My Life |
