Published on Aug 17, 1999
Growing up in the ’70s, I was exposed to a lot of music that has
stuck with me throughout my adult life. I can still remember riding
with my dad when he’d have to go into the office at night; we’d be
driving home from Lincolnwood, and Don McLean’s song “Vincent”
would be on the radio, soothing both of us. I can still remember
when “Sirius / Eye In The Sky” was not the introduction music for
the Chicago Bulls (as well as the music that introduced the bridal
party at my wedding), but was a bonifide hit for the Alan Parsons
Project.
And then, there’s Earth, Wind & Fire. While I don’t claim to
be any great historian of this band, Maurice White and crew
provided me with some wonderful memories while I was a child. Songs
like “September” provided a pleasant kick in my day musically, and
I looked forward to hearing some of these songs as I’d tune in the
radio at night.
Their 1978 compilation
The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol. I was recently
remastered and re-released, including a new mix of the band’s hits
for the dance crowd of the upcoming millenium. While you might not
recognize every single song on this disc, it is an enjoyable
collection that sounds as fresh today as it did in the ’70s.
White and his band of musicians (which included Phillip Bailey
for a time) were an interesting combination. They were danceable,
yet they were not disco. (At least, they were not disco until
“Boogie Wonderland,” which is not on this collection except for
snippets in “Megamix 2000” and “Megamix (Radio Edit)”.) They were
soulful, yet they were not pure r&b. They were a musical
melting pot that welcomed fans of all different styles and genres
into the same dimension.
And, brother, what a dimension it was. From the opening track,
their version of “Got To Get You Into My Life” from the putrid
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band film, White and crew
inject a layer of funk that even Lennon and McCartney couldn’t have
dreamed of when they first recorded this track. (To be fair, the
song had a bit of funkiness to it originally; it just got kicked
into overdrive by EW&F.)
Earth, Wind & Fire keep things going on a more happy keel
with tracks like “Shining Star” (which I’m embarassed to admit I
don’t remember hearing on the radio during its glory days) and
“September” (a track you’ll instantly remember once the verses kick
in. If this album had stopped on these three tracks alone, I would
have been happy.
But White and crew show their talents stretch to the world of
ballads with songs like “That’s The Way Of The World,” another song
I remember hearing a lot of on the radio as a child. This, too, has
a bit of funk in it, though the emphasis is more on the gentle
groove than making it good and stinky.
The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol. I includes some
songs that might not be as familiar to listeners, such as
“Fantasy,” “Love Music” and “Reasons,” all of which are just as
worthy of your time as the more familiar tracks.
New to this collection are two versions of “Megamix,” a track
that does a cut-and-paste of many of the band’s hits to a solid
bass beat. Normally, I’m not too fond of gimmicks like this, but
the tracks are so well done that both the long and short versions
of “Megamix” were songs I found myself going back to. (Be all this
as it may, I’m surprised that there were no previously unreleased
tracks included on this disc, as seems to be the craze these
days.)
You may remember me stating at the start of this review that I’m
no expert on Earth, Wind & Fire. I only have a few of their
albums in the Pierce Memorial Archive, and many of those are
awaiting spins on the turntable. But
The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol. I is a disc that not
only has me interested in the albums I do own, but will probably
find me purchasing more of their albums very soon. Chances are,
this disc will inspire you as well.