I Am (Earth, Wind & Fire album)

I Am is the ninth studio album by the R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire released in June 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records.[1] The LP rose to Nos. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.[2][3] I Am has been certified Double Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA, Platinum in the UK by the BPI and Platinum in Canada by Music Canada.[4][5][6]

I Am
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 9, 1979
RecordedSeptember 4–16, 1978
StudioHollywood Sound Recorders, Sunset Sound Studio, Davlen Sound Studios
GenreR&B, soul, disco, funk
Length37:36
LabelARC/Columbia
ProducerMaurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
(1978)
I Am
(1979)
Faces
(1980)
Singles from I Am
  1. "Boogie Wonderland"
    Released: May 6, 1979
  2. "After the Love Has Gone"
    Released: July 12, 1979
  3. "In the Stone"
    Released: October 14, 1979
  4. "Star"
    Released: December 6, 1979
  5. "Can't Let Go"
    Released: December 30, 1979

Overview

I Am was produced by Maurice White. Artists such as The Emotions and Toto's Steve Lukather also made guest appearances on the album.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
New York Times(favorable)[8]
Gannett(favourable)[9]
Village VoiceB[10]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[11]
Los Angeles Times(favourable)[12]
Creem Magazine(favourable)[13]
Baltimore Sun(favourable)[14]
Stereo Review(favourable)[15][16]
The Morning Call(favourable)[17]
New York Daily News(favourable)[18]

Eric Sieger of the Baltimore Sun described I Am as "faultlessly produced". Sieger added "The album features a horn and string section, synthesizers, congas and kalimbas and the material ranges from straight boogie to soulful ballads. Lyrically, some of the numbers leave something to be desired, but Earth, Wind & Fire is one group where the musicianship is so sharp and vibrant that the words don't seem to matter quite so much."[14] Phyl Garland of Stereo Review said "As Earth, Wind & Fire have strengthened their grip on success, the mystical and extraterrestrial emblems adorning their albums have gained proportionately in grandiosity. This latest one, with a title echoing the majesty of Jehovah and an inside cover featuring a portrait of the group costumed and posed as princes out of fable, is no exception. Such bombast may be considered forgivable in this case, however, because of the excellence of the music on the record. As usual, this astral outfit blasts off in a balls -of -fire flurry of rhythm, which is cleverly varied through the album, even within selections, without losing its driving thrust. There is some evidence of capitulation to disco, particularly on Boogie Wonderland, to which the Emotions lend a few spirited soprano embellishments, but the emphasis throughout is on a dazzling interplay between precision ensemble voices-employed like horns-in rapid, robust exchanges with the group's instruments augmented by a large orchestra."[19] Rose Riggins of Gannett exclaimed "I Am is explosive and ready to lift you off your feet to boogie wonderland. Earth Wind & Fire's 10th album, it shows the band is still on the move upward. This is a fine LP, both versatile and creative."[9] Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone exclaimed " I Am is obviously meant to portend something, but who knows what? Is this Maurice White’s vision of paradise?"[11] John Rockwell of The New York Times stated "This flashily theatrical, musically imaginative creation of Maurice White can almost always be counted on for interesting records, and the new 'I Am' album is no exception." Rockwell added "Mr. White's records reaffirm one of the basic truths about the shifting fashions of black music. All these up‐tempo Idioms are inherently related. Disco and funk and soul and rhythm and blues are all fruits of the same tree —the music of rural black people, growing from African roots and shaped by influences from the dominant white culture, evangelical Christianity and the ‘urban experience. A band like Earth, Wind and Fire will enjoy its disco hits. But those hits won't sound like a very significant change in direction because a slight emphasis of the bass line entails only the most modest modification of the basic style."[8] Allen Weiner of Morning Call stated "EW&F's latest effort goes beyond every level of achievement Maurice White's legions have yet attempted. "I Am" is a splendid example of EW&F's ability to create soul with individuality and without cliches, music that is both artistic and commercial."[17] Robert Christgau of the Village Voice wrote "Sexy, dancey pop music of undeniable craft, and it doesn't let up. But as we all know, they could be doing a lot better."[10] Connie Johnson of The Los Angeles Times proclaimed "I Am is freshly innovative for EW&F in that it emphasizes the one-on-one as opposed to the cosmic experience, and freely utilizes the skill of other writers to propel that message. The album should also enforce EW&F's image as trend-setters for other rhythm & blues groups seeking to escape the traditional, doo-wop mold."[12] Robot A. Hull of Creem described the LP as "a rhythmic utopia".[13] Ace Adams of the New York Daily News called the album "A collection of numbers from disco to rhythm and blues and into a little jazz." Adams added "The group's impressive vocals make this album a must".[18]

NME placed I Am at No. 16 on their albums of the year list for 1979.[20] Melody Maker also placed the album at No. 8 on their albums of the year list for 1979.[21] Bandleader Maurice White was also Grammy nominated in the category of Producer of the Year Non-Classical.[22]

Singles

The song "After the Love Has Gone", reached No. 2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Songs charts.[23][24] After The Love Has Gone also reached No. 3 on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs and UK Pop Singles charts.[25][26] The ballad was Grammy nominated in the category of Record of the Year. After the Love Has Gone also won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.[27]

Another single, "Boogie Wonderland" featuring The Emotions, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[28][29] Boogie Wonderland was also Grammy nominated in the categories of Best Disco Recording and Best R&B Instrumental Performance.[27]

Track listing

Original release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."In the Stone"Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster4:48
2."Can't Let Go"Billy Meyers, Maurice White, Allee Willis3:28
3."After the Love Has Gone"David Foster, Jay Graydon, Bill Champlin4:26
4."Let Your Feelings Show"Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster5:24
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Boogie Wonderland" (featuring The Emotions)Jon Lind, A. Willis4:48
6."Star"Eddie del Barrio, Maurice White, Allee Willis4:23
7."Wait"Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster3:39
8."Rock That!"Maurice White, David Foster3:07
9."You and I"Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster3:34

[30]

2004 reissue bonus tracks

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Diana"Maurice White, David Foster4:08
11."Dirty (Interlude)" (featuring Junior Wells)Maurice White0:52
12."Dirty (Junior's Juke)" (featuring Junior Wells)Maurice White, Alexander Dutkewych3:44

[31]

Note
  • The Emotions are Jeanette Hawes, Sheila Hutchinson-Whitt & Wanda Hutchinson-Vaughn

Uses in other media

  • "Let Your Feelings Show" was featured in an episode of the TV series Fame called "Heritage".[32] This song was later sampled in Kid Ink's song "The Movement", from his 2014 album My Own Lane.

Personnel

Production

  • Design by Roger Carpenter
  • Illustration by Shusei Nagaoka
  • Mastered by Michael Reese
  • Producer - Maurice White (Original, Reissue), Leo Sacks (Reissue), Paul Klingberg (additional on 10, 12)
  • Engineer - Tom Perry, George Massenburg
  • Assistant Engineers - Craig Widby, Ross Pallone
  • Mixing - Mark Wilder (11), George Massenburg
  • Concertmaster - Janice Gower
  • Horn Arrangements - Jerry Hey (1, 3, 7-8, 10-12), Tom Tom 84 (2, 4, 6-7, 9), Benjamin F. Wright (5)
  • String Arrangements - David Foster (1, 3, 8, 10), Tom Tom 84 (2, 4, 6-7, 9), Benjamin F. Wright (5)

[31]

Charts and certifications

Albums

Year Chart Position
1979 US Billboard 200 3
US Billboard Top Soul Albums 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) 2[33]
Sweden Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 3[34]
UK Pop Albums 5
Japanese Albums (Oricon) 10[35]

Singles

Year Single Chart
US Hot 100 US R&B US Dance UK Pop Singles[26]
1979 "Boogie Wonderland" (featuring The Emotions) 6 2 14 4
"After the Love Has Gone" 2 2 - 4
"In the Stone" 58 23 - 53
"Star" 64 47 - 16
"Can't Let Go" - - - 46

Certifications

Country Award
US (RIAA) Double Platinum[5]
CA (Music Canada) Platinum
UK (BPI) Platinum
NZ (RIANZ) Gold

Accolades

The information regarding accolades attributed to I Am is adapted from Acclaimed Music and NME[21][20]

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Melody Maker U.K Albums of the Year 1979 8
NME U.K Albums of the Year 1979 16
The Guardian U.K 100 Albums that Don't Appear in All Other Top 100 Album Lists 1999 14
Mojo 1000, the Ultimate CD Buyers Guide U.K 100 Soul Albums Everyone Should Own 2001 *
Gary Mulholland U.K 261 Greatest Albums Since Punk and Disco 2006 *

See also

References

  1. Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am. ARC Records/Columbia Records. June 1979.
  2. "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  3. "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am (Billboard 200)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  4. Music Canada certification for I Am Archived September 5, 2012, at Archive.today
  5. "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am". riaa.com. RIAA.
  6. British Phonographic Industry Certification for I AM Archived June 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  8. Rockwell, John (June 8, 1979). "The Pop Life". nytimes.com. New York Times. p. C12.
  9. Riggins, Rose (August 25, 1979). "'Boogie Wonderland' more than just pop". The Californian. Gannett. p. 35 via newspapers.com.
  10. Christgau, Robert. "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
  11. Marsh, Dave (August 29, 1979). "I Am". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
  12. Johnson, Connie (July 1, 1979). "EWF: The Sweetest Muzak". Los Angeles Times. p. 367.
  13. A. Hull, Robot (September 1, 1979). "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am". Vol. 11. Creem Magazine. p. 52. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  14. Sieger, Eric (September 23, 1979). Six major groups in area this week. newspapers.com. The Baltimore Sun. p. 134.
  15. Garland, Phyl (October 1979). "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 43 no. 4. Stereo Review. p. 100.
  16. Garland, Phyl (October 1979). "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 43 no. 4. Stereo Review. p. 102.
  17. Weiner, Allen (June 23, 1979). "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am". The Morning Call. p. 52 via newspapers.com.
  18. Adams, Ace (June 22, 1979). "Mini Reviews". New York Daily News. p. 321 via newspapers.com.
  19. Garland, Phyl (March 1978). "Earth, Wind & Fire: All 'n All" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 40 no. 3. Stereo Review. p. 77.
  20. "Albums And Tracks Of The Year: (1979)". nme.com. NME.
  21. "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am". acclaimedmusic.net.
  22. "Maurice White". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
  23. "Earth, Wind & Fire: After the Love Has Gone (Hot 100)". billboard.com.
  24. "Earth, Wind & Fire: After the Love Has Gone (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com.
  25. "Earth, Wind & Fire: After The Love Has Gone (Adult Contemporary Songs)". billboard.com.
  26. "Earth, Wind & Fire". officialcharts.com.
  27. "Earth, Wind & Fire". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
  28. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Boogie Wonderland (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  29. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Boogie Wonderland (Hot 100)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  30. Earth, Wind & Fire. “I Am”. ARC / Columbia. 1979.
  31. Earth, Wind & Fire. “I Am” (Expanded Edition). ARC / Columbia-Legacy. 2004.
  32. "Fame: Heritage". IMDb.
  33. "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am". norwegiancharts.com. VG-lista.
  34. "Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am". swedishcharts.com. Sverigetopplistan.
  35. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
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