Audio CD review:
Earth Wind & Fire - Essential Earth Wind & Fire

Earth Wind & Fire - Essential Earth Wind & Fire

Band: Earth Wind & Fire Title: Essential Earth Wind & Fire Rating: Release Date: 30 July, 2002 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Mighty Mighty 2: Evil 3: Devotion 4: Keep Your Head To The Sky 5: Kalimba Story 6: Shining Star 7: That's The Way Of The World 8: Yearnin' Learnin' 9: All About Love 10: Reasons 11: Sing A Song 12: Can't Hide Love 13: Getaway 14: Saturday Nite 15: Ponta de Areia/Be Ever Wonderful 16: Open Our Eyes 17: Got To Get You Into My Life 18: September 19: Serpentine Fire 20: Fantasy 21: I'll Write A Song For You 22: Drum Song 23: In The Stone 24: Can't Let Go 25: After The Love Has Gone 26: Wait 27: You And I 28: Let Me Talk 29: And Love Goes On 30: You 31: Let's Groove 32: Fall In Love With Me 33: Side By Side 34: Boogie Wonderland (With The Emotions)

Editoral Review The 34 tracks on this double-disc anthology underscore White's downright utopian vision, which shrewdly stewed the emotionally compelling lead vocals and sweet harmonies of Motown with the earthy funk of Sly and the Family Stone and some slick contemporary jazz, then seasoned it with tasty dollops of Tower of Power horns and Maurice's (and brother Verdine's) curiosity in Afro-Cuban rhythms. While their name conveniently conjures slabs of fashionable late-'70s New Agey mysticism and eco-consciousness, EWF founder Maurice White couldn't have picked a more metaphorically perfect moniker for his mighty, genre-expanding soul ensemble. Small wonder they became arena superstars. There is something to please nearly everyone in the EWF oeuvre: from upbeat, infectious groove-staples like "Shining Star," Mighty Mighty," and "September" through the transglobal "Kalimba Story" and "Ponta de Areia" to the gospelized "Open Your Eyes," their pop-savvy cover of Lennon-McCartney's "Got to Get You into My Life," and the dancefloor-ready collaboration with the Emotions, "Boogie Wonderland. " Essential features new liner notes with commentary by Maurice White. --Jerry McCulley .. You can see a complete list of all Earth Wind & Fire discography, or go back to the Earth Wind & Fire tabs