Audio CD review:
Wind & Fire Earth - Open Our Eyes

Wind & Fire Earth - Open Our Eyes

Band: Wind & Fire Earth Title: Open Our Eyes Rating: Release Date: 10 April, 2001 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Mighty Mighty 2: Devotion 3: Fair But So Uncool 4: Feelin' Blue 5: Kalimba Story 6: Drum Song 7: Tee Nine Chee Bit 8: Spasmodic Movements 9: Rabbit Seed 10: Caribou 11: Open Our Eyes 12: Ain't No Harm To Moan (Slave Song) 13: Fair But So Uncool (Walkin' In N'Awlins Mix) 14: Step's Tune 15: Dreams

Customer Reviews Their first Grand Slam Of those pre-Sprit, pre-1976 albums, THIS is my favorite. People who've read my EWF reviews know that I have a preference for their EARLIER material. I got into EWF during my teens in the late 80s, and this was one of the last albums I found. Why? Because as the band gained more crossover success the early albums got pushed into the background. By the late 80s, you had to search near and far for the early albums (or hope that you had some hip relatives that had the albums) This album contains the hallmarks of the early-EWF albums: uplifting messages throughout, punishing grooves, diversity (FUNK, inspirational ballads, instrumental funk-fusion), and RAWNESS. That's some thing you'll notice I harp on a lot. I've become more critical of EWF as I've gotten older, but the truth is the band's rawness gave way to POLISH once Charles Stepney died and Maurice White assumed full control of the production reigns. As I've said elsewhere, funk was meant to be RAW (but I can't pigeon-hole EWF as simply a funk band, I know). Like I said, I've become more critical of the band--I still LOVE them, though--because as they got bigger and "crossed over", it seemed like they turned their backs on this early music. I mean "MIGHTY, MIGHTY" was their first HIT, and it's been relegated to footnote status in their history. [Come to think of it, NOTHING from their first 3 CBS albums is on the first BEST OF album]. I mean, it wasn't even included on the first BEST OF album. The casual EWF listener "don't know nothin' 'bout this album. " Highlights? Well, for me it would be "Mighty, Mighty", "Kalimba Story" and "The Drum Song". The studio version of "Devotion" (which you RARELY hear on the radio) is here, too. It's all about "Mighty, Mighty", though, if I had to name one tune. It's a MONSTER of a groove from the opening drum pickup notes. It's got a powerful, uplifting, and empowering message. "We are the mighty people of the sun. " This is the type of song that first endeared EWF to its black audience. It's a JAM, my favorite EWF vocal tune. There was a clip of the Soul Train line done to this song on YouTube, and it showed just how much of a groove the guys had. . The Young Lions The prelude to greatness. . before the elements went on to glorious heights, there were already a tight, progressive, positive band, with two powerhouse vocalists. One thing that is not mentioned much when commentary is made about the best band of the 70s is that they celebrated their African roots without a second thought. Tracks like Mighty Mighty, Drum Song, Caribou, along with the spiritual overtones of songs like devotion exuded not only an awareness on their part of who they were, but they celebrated it without regard. This progressiveness continued up into the 80s and after a brief hiatus, continued into the 90s and recently with the wonderful release 'Illumination'. Their legacy needs to be preserved by our young and held up as an example of what great music should be modeled after. Now with all that said, this album/CD is a delight to listen to even today. Thank God these old gems were preserved! Real music has become a novelty today. Like Mr. White says, this music is Eternal. Baddest Band in the Land Back then I loved every Song on the Album, and that love stands pat today as Earth, Wind & Fire's Music from those days Song just as Beautiful Today as it did then, and there'll never be another Band like them. I was a Teenager when this Album was released on "Vinyl" (for those of you from the CD Age ask your Grandparents). I have every E. W. F. Album made in the 70"s on CD now. Some of the best purchases I ever made. . You can see a complete list of all Wind & Fire Earth discography, or go back to the Wind & Fire Earth tabs