Spotlight on - Earth, Wind & Fire
November 13th, 2009 by Rodney LeeWith the big Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry's Give2Live charity event (featuring Powerhouse) coming up tonight, I thought we'd revisit an MLC band with a ton of hits: Earth, Wind & Fire - or also known as EWF. And I'm sure there will be at least a couple of EWF songs performed tonight.
Here's a little something to refresh your memory.
From Wikipedia:
Earth, Wind & Fire is an African American R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 and led by founder Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the Elements or the Elements of the Universe, the band has won ten Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Having sold over 90 million albums worldwide has earned them a place on the list of best-selling music artists, where they are ranked as the seventh best selling American band of all time. Rolling Stone has described them as "innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing" and has also declared that the band "changed the sound of black pop". In 1998, they were ranked at number 60 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Rock N' Roll.
The band's music contains elements of African, Latin American, funk, soul, pop and rock music, jazz and other genres, as well. The band is known for the dynamic sound of their horn section and the interplay between the contrasting vocals of Philip Bailey's falsetto and Maurice White's tenor. The kalimba (African thumb piano) is played on all of the band's albums.
But you really have to hear the music to trigger the memories. Here's a couple of my favorite EWF tunes:
Remember cruisin' to this one?
Or this one:
And this one:
Or remember slow dancing to this classic:
Gotta be the live version of course.
And a couple of boogie down songs:
Check out their official site: Earth, Wind & Fire
Click on the Discography link to see all their albums. Any of them look familiar to you?
Click on the album cover to see the songs from that album then tell me which ones are your EWF favorites.
Tags: African, African American, Earth Wind & Fire, earthwindandfire.com, Feelin' Blue, Funk, jazz, kalimba, Latin American, Maurice White, midlife crisis blog, Mighty Mighty, Phillip Bailey, pop, R&B, Reasons, rock, Rodney Lee, Shining Star, Sing a Song, soul, Sun Goddess, That's the way of the world
November 13th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Could it be true? I'm first?!?
November 13th, 2009 at 5:33 am
chee hoo! I had to secure my spot just to be sure!
Good Morning everyone...wake up! Time to play.
Good Morning Rod, you picked my two top fave EWF songs, and I have not listened to Ramsey Lewis in years! Thank you for that!
Did you go to the concert? We had two rows in the lodges which worked out perfect cuz we danced the whole concert away! No one to block in back so we were lovin' it!
November 13th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Good one UR..
used to ride around town in the old dayz with EWF Greatest Hits on the box..
my fave.. a fairly recent reprise clip from an Olympic event of some sort..
a good one for you sports fans..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajil9904XGI&feature=related
November 13th, 2009 at 6:28 am
I remember buying some of those albums. Shining Star was the first song I remember hearing from the group but they had many hits over the years.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:41 am
I love EWF. You forgot one of my favorite songs: September!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Good morning Rodney!
Happy Friday the 13th!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Wow, time to go work already! K-den, you all have fun tonight at Give2Live party, I'll see pictures later.
Have a gorgeous, windy, blowy day!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:56 am
I'm w/ 9IG: I love September. And "I'll Write a Song for You" and "Fantasy."
I loved bands, like EWF and Chicago, that had the great horn sections and jazz influences.
(Sally - it's windy up here in Seattle too. Walking the last block to my office this morning was a challenge - got my resistance training for the day already!)
November 13th, 2009 at 6:59 am
Wow, high school memories. Many a slow dance to 'Reasons'.....and yesterday my co-worker was playing the original version of 'Devotion' on vinyl(!) I still listen 'That's the Way of The World' (on CD of course). Uncle Rodney, you sure know how to pick em!
November 13th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Morning everybody
I love EWF
UR; see you and AP tonight
NKHEA..... out
November 13th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Even though EWF is WAY before my time, I love that group.
Fave songs are "After The Love is Gone", "Boogie Wonderland" and "Reasons"
November 13th, 2009 at 7:35 am
I love Earth Wind & Fire!
November 13th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Morning!
They still sounded great last August when they played here.
Phil's voice is still top shelf.
Reason's was just perfect.
No snow sighting from this side of the island after all that rain last night.
Just a little on the top.
I bet it's all on Ynaku side of the mountain.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:14 am
note to the kiddies that might be lost in here: that's not a boy band, that' a MAN band.
reminds me of a friend of mine from back in the early 90's. when Practice What You Preach came out, my friend's daughter was rocking out on her walkman. she asked her daughter what she was grooving to and was told "Mom, you have to listen to this new singer. his name is Barry White."
November 13th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Hi Rod,
See Sally was #1, one of these days I'll need some insider info from you, naw j/k.
"The Way of The World", that my fav, though this was after my time
. They had a lot of great music, see you tonight. Can't wait to hear more music like this.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Good Morning.....
EWF???? I luv dem guys. Dem and CCRs. Oh man. lose out again
Das ok, You guys have fun. I check you out laters.
Eh sally congrats on #1
November 13th, 2009 at 9:20 am
EWF... sure brings back memories! and, believe it or not... my favorite songs are the same as bamboohouse808's! *gasp!*
C0hiba - i don't like to go out in the rain (and besides, i only go to the big island to play golf!).
November 13th, 2009 at 9:27 am
And hea I thought you was talking about our natural elements?
Even though waaaay before my time..... I love some of their songs. Love da beat and rhythms of da "back in da day" music.
You got Diane Ako to post on your blog..... eh, you somebody eh?
November 13th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Their music reminds me of a much simpler time when the tunes had a much more positive outlook.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Wow! EWF was like THE BAND in the 70's........one couldn't turn on the radio without hearing them. And the song "REASONS"...........so many have TRIED TO SING THAT SONG and so few have succeeded.
Good one Rodney..........
OL
November 13th, 2009 at 11:19 am
@Ocean Lover: I agree; EWF was the 70s; their picture should be in the dictionary next to the definition of the 70s. Plus their music is universal/all purpose. EWF was played in discos and all over the radio for dancing/listening/whatever. Hard to choose favorites (so many great songs) but among my faves are After the Love Is Gone, Feelin' Blue, Happy Feeling, Reasons, September, Singasong. And Feelin' Blue and Reasons remind me of Natural High and Roy Yonashiro (one of the few who could sing Reasons).
November 13th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Hey, someone is not at their desk today!!
I was going to see if you wanted to pick up lunch. I see you got that awesome no-Friday schedule going again! 
November 13th, 2009 at 11:34 am
"September," "Reasons" and "Mighty, Mighty" for me. I'm with all of those who miss bands with a good brass section!
November 13th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
sorry, was never into ewf, chicago or bands with a lot of horns and funk...at the time think I was listening to a lot of blues, stones, led zeppelin, allman brothers, neil young, ccr, bob dylan and da like. While listening to the first song "feeling blue", it reminded me of Kalapana for some reason.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Hi ya MLCers! And welcome buddahbelly (why do I think of California Hotel?) to MLC. Great to have to join in the conversation.
Yup, I'm off today - getting ready for the big dance tonight!
There's one EWF song that took me back to Natural High playing at the Hula Hut. Take a listen and see where it takes you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLJEvOvhKHo
November 13th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
@KAN - I'll Write A Song For You - excellent choice. Very soulful. Thanks for the "slow dance" memory...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRxH5qRuXAg
November 13th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Let's Groove:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bH9z931L1U
November 13th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Love's Holiday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY7WO0_wAJ4
November 13th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Can't Let Go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLetyIPrbEc
Get up and dance!
November 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
According to the website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_White Maurice White joined the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1966 as their new drummer. While in the Trio, Maurice introduced the "Kalimba" which he found in a Chicago drum store. The Trio's 1969 album "Another Voyage" featured the first recording of Maurice playing the "Kalimba". Maurice left the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1969 to form Earth, Wind & Fire.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
My first two cassettes ever purchased were EWF That's The Way of the World and The Commodores from Project 3, Ltd in Hilo.
Remember that place Ynaks?
I miss Maurice White being the Front man.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Out of the woodworks because EWF is my all time favorite band.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
You guys picking all the suk suk songs. My favorites gost to be Fantasy, In the Stone and I'll Write a Song For You.
Anyone going to see Loggins and Messina on Sunday night? Wish I was going, but I got other thing I gotta do...
November 13th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
EWF and Chicago- my two top groups, anything with horns!! Too many songs to list that are my favorite, but their hit "Mighty Mighty" has to be one of my best songs, its their first hit. I do like "In the Stone". Can't wait for them to come back again.
@Ukuhead- I will be going to see Loggins and Messina, looking forward to that, its been a long, long time.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Hi Rodney! It was great meeting you, Paula, opso,
Rod's Big Bro, NKHEA & IKHEA at the Give2Live benefit
tonight. The band was SO good, esp. the EWF set. Roy
can still sing Reasons, just like the old Hula Hut days.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Hi Rod, did you see Irwin and my HI 72 gang? His Bday party continued on to tonight. You shoulda gone last night, food was guuud! Hope you had a chance to sing Happy Birthday to him.
Sounds like you all had a great time! chee hoo!
November 14th, 2009 at 12:34 am
@Konaish - now that you know us IRL, we'll see you at the Triad party, right? ;^)
@Sally - Yup, wished Supes a Happy Birthday and talked with Suzi and company. Met quite a few MLC readers and made a few too. It was quite a night to remember
November 14th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Good Morning Rod and all the dance-drained MLCers!
Rise 'n Shine!
November 14th, 2009 at 11:53 am
g'morning! or IS it morning yet. *yaaaawn*
sally - thanx for waking me up!
huuu.....that was good fun last night! thanx Largo for planning another awesome outing.
heh
i have to admit that EWF was one of the most iconic bands in the 70's. but i was a closet rocker at the time and just kinda listened to their music.....and disco.....with only 1 ear open. had to blend in y'know.
konaish - wow! i neva see you in like over 20 years yeah? nice seeing you again! hope you can make the party on the 20th!
NKHEA - you missed out on some post pahtay festivities!
November 14th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
K-Folks...Pikchas from last night in the last post of this link
http://www.superman808.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1253577605
I'm going back to sleep. I lost count how many shots I had from last night.
Supes
November 14th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
First song on my mp3 player during my exercise walk today was EWF's "Got to Get You Into My Life"! Made me smile.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Pictures up already?!? Thanks Supes! Hope you had a "super" birthday!