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EWF is a great band. This is a memorable live cd that all EWF fans should own.
The 1st side of this double album is all live cuts from their various concerts in support of the classic, "That's the Way of the World" tour. Many people say that their favorite groups live albums are the "best ever", however, that is the case with this one. You get a chance to see them in their true element, on stage. They were one of the few funk/r&b/jazz bands to ever perform at what many considered rock open air festivals like the California Jam. But my 2 favorites are "Gratitude" & "Celebrate" both of which are beautiful written with deep and meaningful lyrics.This is a wonderful album and it's the type that will just bring a smile to your face and make you happy. One of the greatest strengths of Earth, Wind & Fire was their outstanding musicianship.
It's beautiful transitions and movements are other worldly. This is one of my favorite albums by the Mighty Elements. All the essentials are here and one of the greatest songs ever recorded live or in studio, "New World Symphony". Guitars, drums, percussion, bass, keyboard & piano and of course, the Mighty Phenix Horns.Many artist would attend their concerts as well as their millions of fans to see what they would come up with next. I've read stories of the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and others attending their shows. There are also great live cuts of smash hits like "Yearnin Learnin", "Devotion", "Reasons" & one of my personal favorites "Sun Goddess".The second half of the album are new songs recorded in studio, 3 are were hits for them "sunshine", "singasong" & "can't hide love" with it's incredible vocal arrangements and lush keyboard/string arrangements.
And that's, along with incredible innovation & musicianship, is the true legacy of the Elements of the Universe: Earth, Wind and Fire.
Great sounds of the group Earth Wind & Fire - all the wonderful sounds of the band the I grew up with.
Now that they had finally made it big, the group decided the best thing to do was go all-out, issuing a double album - one half studio, one half live. But the live material is some of the best they ever cut, and the studio disc's no slouch either. Add that to the ambitious, excellent synthesis of world music, jazz, and funk "New World Symphony", and you've got a perfect live album.
This group could've definitely made it as a jazz ensemble), keep the energy level as high as possible ("Africano/Power"; "Yearnin' Learnin'", way better than the original - they untap its potential, channeling the energy and adding an awesome wah-wah guitar), give the hits wonderful makeovers ("Devotion"; "Shining Star") and put on a ridiculously entertaining live show. and the spry, bouncy, gospel-pop title song. The live segments of this are among the best music the group has ever made, bringing the group's jazz leanings to the fore ("Sun Goddess"; "Reasons" - my god, I love the soprano sax on "Reasons" and the keyboards on "Sun Goddess".
The studio side scales back the ambition considerably, but still results in some fantastically catchy pop songs - the uplifting Top 10 hit "Singasong"; the wonderful ballad "Can't Hide Love", with a strong, heavily accented Philip Bailey vocal and awesome hummed coda (Yeah, they're humming and it sounds awesome). Plus that version of "Devotion" - slowed down, very emotional, with a great bit of audience participation near the end - is debatably my favorite Earth, Wind and Fire song. Yeah, that's a wonderful tune.
I'm not big on the remaining two songs: "Sunshine" and "Celebrate", much like "Yearnin' Learnin'" or "Happy Feelin's", don't do anything the group hadn't done far better anywhere else, but they aren't too bad. It's not perfect, but it's damn close.
I blast this classic cd and you should hear it with the bose system wow. I've been looking for this CD for about a few months I use to have the album. I'm showing my age but what a age to live in the wonderful 70'd. Love the E.W.F. a true fan and looking for that sound once again.
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