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The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1

 
Album Review: The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire Volume 1
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Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1

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  • Artist: Earth, Wind & Fire
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: 1978 11
  • Total Time: 40:14
  • Type: Compilation (best of)
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

When it was originally released in 1978, The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 was a succinct, ten-track collection of the group's best and biggest singles up to that point. There was one brand-new song, the excellent "September," which soon became a hit in its own right, plus the non-LP Beatles cover "Got to Get You Into My Life," which was recorded for the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band film, makes its first appearance on an EWF album here. EWF's commercial prime hadn't yet ended when this collection appeared; thus, it's missing several crucial latter-day hits, including the slinky funk of "Serpentine Fire," the ballad "After the Love Has Gone," and the disco smashes "Let's Groove" and "Boogie Wonderland." But even if it's an incomplete hits collection, The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 still ranks as a strong encapsulation of EWF the funk innovators. The singles gathered here constitute some of the richest, most sophisticated music the funk movement ever produced; when the absolute cream of the group's catalog is heard in such a concentrated fashion, the effect is dazzling. That's why The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 was remastered and reissued along with the rest of EWF's catalog, even though it's been supplanted by more extensive single-disc (Greatest Hits), double-disc (The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire), and triple-disc (The Eternal Dance) anthologies. 1998's Greatest Hits now stands as the definitive single-disc EWF overview, but for the budget-minded and the disco-phobic, this still makes for an excellent listen. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Got to Get You into My Life (Lyrics) John Lennon, Paul McCartney Earth, Wind & Fire (4:03)
Fantasy (Lyrics) Maurice White, Eduardo del Barrio, Verdine White Earth, Wind & Fire (3:46)
Can't Hide Love (Lyrics) Skip Scarborough Earth, Wind & Fire (4:10)
Love Music Skip Scarborough Earth, Wind & Fire (3:55)
Getaway (Lyrics) Beloyd Taylor, Peter Cor Earth, Wind & Fire (3:46)
That's the Way of the World (Lyrics) Maurice White, Charles Stepney, Verdine White Earth, Wind & Fire (5:46)
September (Lyrics) Maurice White, Al McKay, Allee Willis Earth, Wind & Fire (3:36)
Shining Star (Lyrics) Philip Bailey, Maurice White, Larry Dunn Earth, Wind & Fire (2:50)
Reasons (Lyrics) Philip Bailey, Maurice White, Charles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (4:59)
Sing a Song (Lyrics) Maurice White, Al McKay Earth, Wind & Fire (3:23)
Megamix 2000 [*] Maurice White, Al McKay, Wayne Vaughn, Allee Willis Earth, Wind & Fire (7:38)
Megamix [Radio Edit][*] Maurice White, Al McKay Earth, Wind & Fire (3:23)

Credits

Philip Bailey (Liner Notes), Earth, Wind & Fire (Arranger), Earth, Wind & Fire (Main Performer), Maurice White (Arranger), Maurice White (Drums), Maurice White (Vocals), Maurice White (Producer), Maurice White (Engineer), Maurice White (Liner Notes), Maurice White (Mixing), Mauro DeSantis (Producer), Mauro DeSantis (Engineer), Mauro DeSantis (Mixing), Larry Dunn (Production Assistant), Jay Graydon (Songwriter), Paul Klingberg (Producer), Paul Klingberg (Engineer), Paul Klingberg (Mixing), Al McKay (Producer), Joseph M. Palmaccio (Mastering), Jim Shea (Photography), Charles Stepney (Arranger), Charles Stepney (Producer), Tom Tom 84 (Horn Arrangements), Tom Tom 84 (String Arrangements), Verdine White (Liner Notes), Verdine White (Production Assistant), Mark Wilder (Mastering), Joseph Wissert (Producer), Leo Sacks (Producer), Leo Sacks (Liner Notes), Leo Sacks (Reissue Producer), Howard Fritzson (Art Direction), David Gahr (Photography), Alan Hewitt (Keyboards), Alan Hewitt (Programming), Alan Hewitt (Producer), Alan Hewitt (Engineer), Alan Hewitt (Mixing), Chris Walter (Photography), Steve Newman (Design), Shusei Nagaoka (Artwork), Richard Salvato (Director), George Calle (Producer), George Calle (Engineer), George Calle (Mixing), Cameron Marcarelli (Assistant Engineer), Art Macnow (Director)
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Wikipedia: The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
Compilation album by Earth, Wind & Fire
Released November 23, 1978 (November 23, 1978)
Genre R&B
Length 40:14
Label ARC/Columbia Records
Producer Maurice White, Charles Stepney
Professional reviews
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
All 'n' All
(1977)		 The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
(1978)		 I Am
(1979)
Singles from Vol. 1
  1. "Got to Get You Into My Life"
    Released: July 14, 1978
  2. "September"
    Released: November 18, 1978
Back cover
The back cover of The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1

The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 is a 1978 compilation album collecting the charting singles of Earth, Wind & Fire. In addition to collecting previously charting songs, the album also presented two tracks which were a cover of the Beatles' song "Got to Get You Into My Life" and the original track "September", both of which also became charting singles, the former also winning a Grammy Award.

The compilation album itself placed on three Billboard charts, reaching #3 on Black Albums, #6 on Pop Albums.[1] It reached #6 on the album charts in Britain.[2] The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 has been certified as 5X Platinum.[3] The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 is ranked numbers 30 and 44 on Allmusic.com's list of the Top urban and R&B albums of all time respectively.[4][5]

Contents

Songs

The album collected a variety of songs, primarily charting hit singles, previously released by the band between 1975 and 1978. In addition to previously released songs, the album included several tracks which had never been on an Earth, Wind & Fire album before. Among them, a cover of the Beatles' song "Got to Get You Into My Life" recorded by the band for the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band had previously been published on the film's soundtrack, but "September" was new. Both of these songs also became charting singles. "Got to Get You Into My Life" reached #1 on the Billboard Black Singles chart, #9 on the Pop Singles chart and #33 on the British singles charts, while "September" reached #1 on Black Singles, #8 on Pop Singles and #3 on the British charts.[2][6] "Got to Get You Into My Life" also won a Grammy Award for "Best Instrument Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)/Best Background Arrangement" for Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White.[7] The album has been reissued with two bonus tracks: "Megamix 2000" and "Megamix."

Critical reception

Although EWF would go on to other charting hits, this volume is described by Allmusic as "still...a strong encapsulation of EWF the funk innovators."[8] It is for this reason, their reviewer notes, that even though new and more definitive greatest hits albums have been released, this one has been reissued and remastered, as "for the budget-minded and the disco-phobic, this still makes for an excellent listen."[8] Music critic Robert Christgau describes this volume as "the best album" EWF "ever released", with "ten exquisitely crafted pop tunes in which all the passion and resonance of black music tradition are blended into a concoction slicker and more sumptuous than any white counterpart since Glenn Miller."[9][10]

Track listing

Original release

Side one
# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Got to Get You Into My Life" (first album appearance: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1978) John Lennon, Paul McCartney 4:03
2. "Fantasy" (first album appearance: All 'N All, 1977) Eduardo DelBarrio, Maurice White, Verdine White 3:46
3. "Can't Hide Love" (first album appearance: Gratitude, 1976) Skip Scarborough 4:10
4. "Love Music" (Previously unreleased) Skip Scarborough 3:55
5. "Getaway" (first album appearance: Spirit, 1976) Peter Cor, Beloyd Taylor 3:46
Side two
# Title Writer(s) Length
6. "That's the Way of the World" (first album appearance: That's the Way of the World, 1975) Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White 5:46
7. "September" (Previously unreleased) Al McKay, Maurice White, Allee Willis 3:36
8. "Shining Star" (first album appearance: That's the Way of the World, 1975) Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, M. White 2:50
9. "Reasons" (first album appearance: That's the Way of the World, 1975) Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, M. White 4:59
10. "Sing a Song" (first album appearance: Gratitude, 1976) Al McKay, M. White 3:23

1999 reissue

# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Got to Get You Into My Life" (first album appearance: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1978) John Lennon, Paul McCartney 4:03
2. "Fantasy" (first album appearance: All 'N All, 1977) Eduardo DelBarrio, Maurice White, Verdine White 3:46
3. "Can't Hide Love" (first album appearance: Gratitude, 1976) Skip Scarborough 4:10
4. "Love Music" (Previously unreleased) Skip Scarborough 3:55
5. "Getaway" (first album appearance: Spirit, 1976) Peter Cor, Beloyd Taylor 3:46
6. "That's the Way of the World" (first album appearance: That's the Way of the World, 1975) Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White 5:46
7. "September" (Previously unreleased) Al McKay, Maurice White, Allee Willis 3:36
8. "Shining Star" (first album appearance: That's the Way of the World, 1975) Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White 2:50
9. "Reasons" (first album appearance: That's the Way of the World, 1975) Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White 4:59
10. "Sing a Song" (first album appearance: Gratitude, 1976) Al McKay, Maurice White 3:23
11. "Megamix 2000" (Bonus track on reissue) Al McKay, Wayne Vaughan, Maurice White, Allee Willis 7:38
12. "Megamix (Radio Edit)" (Bonus track on reissue) Al McKay, Maurice White 3:23

Personnel

Performance

Production

  • Philip Bailey – liner notes
  • George Calle – producer, audio engineer, audio mixing
  • Mauro DeSantis – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Larry Dunn – production assistant
  • Earth, Wind & Fire – arranger
  • Howard Fritzson – art dDirection
  • David Gahr – Photography
  • Jay Graydon – songwriter
  • Alan Hewitt – programming, producer, engineer, mixing
  • Paul Klingberg – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Art Macnow – director
  • Cameron Marcarelli – assistant engineer
  • Al McKay – producer
  • Shusei Nagaoka – artwork
  • Steve Newman – design
  • Joseph M. Palmaccio – mastering
  • Leo Sacks – producer, liner notes, reissue producer
  • Richard Salvato – director
  • Jim Shea – photography
  • Charles Stepney – arranger, producer
  • Tom Tom 84 – horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Chris Walter – photography
  • Maurice White – arranger, producer, engineer, liner notes, sixing
  • Verdine White – liner notes, production assistant
  • Mark Wilder – audio mastering
  • Joseph Wissert – producer

Charts

Album – Billboard
Year Chart Position
1979 Black Albums 3
1979 Pop Albums 6
Year Chart Position[11]
1979 UK 6


Singles – Billboard
Year Single Chart Position
1978 "Got To Get You Into My Life" Black Singles 1
1978 "Got To Get You Into My Life" Pop Singles 9
1979 "September" Black Singles 1
1979 "September" Pop Singles 8

References

  1. ^ The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1: Billboard Albums at Allmusic
  2. ^ a b Warwick, Neil (2004). The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles and Albums. Omnibus Press. p. 361. ISBN 1844490580. http://books.google.com/books?id=ib4MyAIpe3MC&pg=PA361&dq=%22The+Best+of+Earth,+Wind+%26+Fire,+Vol.+1%22&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U0tm1j_6cLAxUQKW93dXfo-GPShQQ. 
  3. ^ RIAA Certification of The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
  4. ^ "Top Urban Albums". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:72~T2. Retrieved 8th June, 2009. 
  5. ^ "Top R&B Albums". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=73:13334~T3. Retrieved 8th June, 2009. 
  6. ^ The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1: Billboard Singles at Allmusic
  7. ^ The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1: Grammy Awards at Allmusic
  8. ^ a b The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 at Allmusic
  9. ^ Christgau, Robert. "The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol. 1". http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=1114. Retrieved 2009-03-04. 
  10. ^ Christgau, Robert. "The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol. II". http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=1117. Retrieved 2009-03-04. 
  11. ^ "The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1". chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/albuminfo.php?id=4530. Retrieved May 24, 2009. 

External links

v • d • e
Earth, Wind & Fire
Maurice White · Philip Bailey · Verdine White · Ralph Johnson
Studio Albums
Compilations and live albums
Singles
Other albums
Related articles
Lists

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