Earth, Wind & Fire (album)

Earth, Wind & Fire is the self-titled debut studio album by the band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in February 1971 by Warner Bros. Records.[1] The album got to No. 24 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and was certified Gold in France by the SNEP.[2][3]

Earth, Wind & Fire
Studio album by
Earth, Wind & Fire
ReleasedFebruary 1971
Recorded1970
StudioSunset Sound Studios, Hollywood
GenreFunk, soul, psychedelic soul
Length27:58
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerJoe Wissert
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
Earth, Wind & Fire
(1971)		 The Need of Love
(1971)

Overview

The album was produced by Joe Wissert. Hip hop artist Ludacris has also named this LP as one of his five favorite records which he considers forerunners of hip-hop.[1][4]

Samples

Moment of Truth was sampled by LL Cool J on the track Murdergram, Kid N Play on the track Energy and The Jungle Brothers on Good News Comin' and What You Waiting For. Bad Tune was sampled by Brand Nubian on Dance to My Ministry, Diamond D on Feel the Vibe, DJ Shadow on In/Flux and by Lupe Fiasco on Carrerra Lu. Fan the Fire was also sampled by Michie Mee on Jamaican Funk.[5][6]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[7]
Village Voice(C+)[8]
Rolling Stone(favourable)[9]
Billboard(favourable)[10]
Detroit Free Press(favourable)[11]
Jazz Journal[12]

Lester Bangs of Rolling Stone noted a "heavy Sly influence" and the "smooth harmonies" of The Fifth Dimension on the LP".[9] The Village Voices Robert Christgau was ambivalent towards the album's various musical "cross-references", including "the expert vocal harmonies [that] neither fit the concept nor assert any personality of their own", and said that even its successful songs have "a way of slipping away unnoticed once the record is over".[8] John Bush of AllMusic gave the album four-and-a-half out of five stars and complimented the song's' "freewheeling arrangements". Bush found "the songwriting was as strong and focused as the musicianship" and praised the LP's social context, noting "unerringly positive compositions, reflecting the influence of the civil rights movement with nearly every song urging love, community, and knowledge as alternatives to the increasing hopelessness plaguing American society".[7] Billboard noted "soul oriented rhythms and harmonies" on the album with songs which encourages one "to move on the dance floor".[10] Bob Talbert of the Detroit Free Press also wrote "i'm not sure what to call this group. Afro-gospel-jazz-blues-rock? Must there be a label?".[11]

Issac Hayes called Earth, Wind & Fire one of the band's five essential recordings.[13]

Singles

The track "Love Is Life" reached No. 43 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[14][15]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Help Somebody"Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead3:37
2."Moment of Truth"Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead3:08
3."Love Is Life"Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead5:02
4."Fan the Fire"Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead4:59
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."C'mon Children"Michael Beal, Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Verdine White, Don Whitehead3:08
6."This World Today"Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead3:33
7."Bad Tune"Michael Beal, Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Verdine White, Don Whitehead4:31

Personnel

Musicians

Production
  • Producer: Joe Wissert
  • Recording engineer: Bruce Botnick
  • Arranger: Earth, Wind & Fire
  • Horn arrangements: Leslie Drayton
  • Art direction: Ed Thrasher
  • Design: Mary Ann Dibs
  • Artwork: Russ Smith

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1971 Billboard Top Soul Albums 24
Billboard 200 172

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
France (SNEP)[3] Gold 100,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". 45worlds.com.
  2. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  3. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". snepmusique.com. SNEP.
  4. Jurgensen, John (February 10, 2007). "Hit List: Ludacris". wsj.com. Wall Street Journal.
  5. "Earth, Wind & Fire". the-breaks.com.
  6. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Bad Tune". genius.com.
  7. Bush, John. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  8. Christgau, Robert. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
  9. Bangs, Lester (June 24, 1971). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
  10. Album Reviews. 83. Billboard Magazine. March 20, 1971. p. 44.
  11. Talbert, Bob (May 9, 1971). "Music's Finest Hour Symphonic Jazz". newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 47.
  12. Lindsay, Bruce (July 13, 2019). "Earth, Wind And Fire: Earth, Wind And Fire / The Need Of Love". jazzjournal.co.uk. Jazz Journal.
  13. Hayes, Issac (July 7, 1995). Essentials: Issac Hayes on Earth, Wind & Fire. The Guardian. p. 39.
  14. Earth, Wind & Fire: Love Is Life. Warner Bros. Records. 1971.
  15. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Love Is Life (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
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