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"Do you remember...." the first time you heard Earth, Wind & Fire? Was it in 1971 when they blew out of Chicago by way of Los Angeles with their self-titled debut album and its soul-stirring single "Love is Life?"
Maybe it was in 1975 with their breakthrough film score That's the Way of the World that introduced the now-classic hits "Shining Star" and "Reasons," or later in 1980 when they lit up dance floors around the globe with the techno-funk of "Let's Groove." Do you remember the sheer energy flowing like cosmic current through the thrilling ensemble arrangements of "Runnin'," "Faces" and "Pride?" Do you remember the stirring lyrics of "Head to the Sky" and "Mighty, Mighty?" Perhaps your first memory of Earth, Wind & Fire was in concert - being there or via their 2-Lp live set Gratitude that made you feel like you were there. Do you remember the masterful musicianship and otherworldly theatrics? Do you remember the spiritual aura that elevated your mood and expanded your consciousness?
Well, 35 years later - after earning eight Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, eight double platinum/Top 10 Pop albums, eight #1 R&B singles, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a year 2000 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement honors from the NAACP, ASCAP and BET - Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF) and their music remains as inspirational and influential as ever. Their relevance to the landscape of pop music remains evident from their recent electrifying performance at the Super Bowl, two consecutive summer concerts on 'The Today Show,' and a knockout team-up with stellar hip hop duo OutKast on the Grammy Awards.
On their Sanctuary Records Group CD Illumination - the 23rd of their extraordinary career - Earth, Wind & Fire collaborates with generations of appreciative artists that have gleaned profound inspiration from their work. The influence is crystal clear when Black Eyed Peas leader Wil I Am shouts, "Jump up, freak or hustle / Do what you want, just move every muscle," then mimics EWF's peppery horn and kalimba lines on his rousing "Lovely People." The reverence is sun-gold in crooner Brian McKnight's fusion of key elements from EWF's ballads "You," "Love's Holiday" and "After the Love is Gone" to create his own epic, "To You."
And the quality is as strong as ever, proven by the album's first single "Show Me The Way," which earned a 2004 Grammy nomination.
"Throughout our career, we've strived to push the idea of illumination," states EWF founder Maurice White, "...of being on top of things and the vibration of positivity. This album is a continuation of that concept."
For Illumination's star-studded new single, EWF bounces to the ATL for the hip hop-laced party joint "This Is How I Feel," produced by Organized Noize, featuring rapper Big Boi of OutKast, singers Sleepy Brown and Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child in a duet with EWF lead singer Philip Bailey. This steamy invitation to boogie was also used this year in the Will Smith romantic comedy, Hitch.
Elsewhere, super producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, former members of the band The Time, tip their trademark hats in tribute to the horn-laced ensemble sound of The Fire with the gently uplifting "Pure Gold" plus the sexy flirtation "Love Dance" (playfully utilized in the animated film, Robots). Acclaimed female poetry/soul duo Floetry bring their conscience cleansing balm to the soothing motivator "Elevated" (produced by Darren Henson and Keith Pelzer). R&B futurist Vikter Duplaix laces the joyously tropical instrumental "Liberation," which features tantalizing bursts of EWF's wondrous wordless vocal melodies. As a bonus, the pied piper of soprano sax Kenny G guests on a cover of OutKast's infectious, instant club classic, "The Way You Move."
Finally, Raphael Saadiq, the producer/songwriter who is also the leader of Tony Toni Tone' and Lucy Pearl, produced four songs on Illumination, including the first single "Show Me the Way" - a duet he sings with EWF leader Maurice White. He also contributes the samba-rooted "Work it Out," a lovely showcase for Philip's falsetto titled "Pass You By," and the vibrant opening track "Love Together".
Reflecting on working with Maurice White and Earth, Wind & Fire in the studio, Saadiq states, "I can't even believe I'm standing next to him sometimes...especially when we are on the mic singing together or he's letting me write stuff for them and actually liking it. As huge as Earth, Wind & Fire has been for coliseums full of people, I feel like that million-and-one person when I'm watching him in the studio."
The seeds of Illumination's origin sprang from an idea Philip Bailey had of collaborating with a new generation of soul artists for his next solo album. However, reflecting on the success Santana had in collaborating with today's on his award-winning Supernatural album, it became clear that this was a golden opportunity to fortify Earth Wind & Fire's position in today's marketplace. "I was 22 when I joined Earth Wind & Fire in 1973," Philip shares. "I'm 53 now. It's the 22 year-olds' time now...Usher' time! What Santana did was a masterpiece, but it would not have gotten played the way it did without the guest artists that he had. Superstars are coupling with other artists because the playing field is so competitive now. Earth Wind & Fire collaborating with the new soul movement made sense because the thrust of their music is still about playing instruments and utilizing vintage sounds, only in today's setting."
The linchpin of organizing this fusion for Earth Wind & Fire was Damien Smith, a musician who came up through the managerial ranks of the West Coast record industry, establishing critical ties to the hot young music makers of today. Philip knew him since he was a childhood friend of his oldest son's back in Denver. Ironically, the man who once mentored Damien now found himself leaning on his pupil for keen, fresh insights into today's industry. "These new artists are Damien's peers and respect him," Philip stresses. "He started reaching out to them to see if they'd be interested in working with us. Then it snowballed and other artists wanted to be down. It became very exciting and competitive...the different artists hearing what the others had done and trying to top each other. Suddenly, we had a project that was indicative of the momentum we had back in the day. In the`70s, everything we touched turned to gold not because we were trying so hard, but because we were in the moment. You spend your whole life trying to duplicate situations like that, which is futile. So, today, it was apparent that we had to reinvent ourselves."
Singer/percussionist Ralph Johnson adds, "The most important thing for us to understand going into this was wrapping our heads around the concept of being produced by outside writer/producers. It was about getting people who really 'got' Earth, Wind & Fire, then leaving all egos at the door and allowing the record to happen with the artists we called on board. 'This is How I Feel' with Sleepy Brown and 'Lovely People' with the Black Eyed Peas...those are hit records. They got it!"
Though the outside contributors handled all of the songwriting, the core members of Earth, Wind & Fire were meticulously involved in the shaping and arranging of the music. Co-Manager Damien Smith shares, "Their presence in the proceedings laid the blueprint for the artists to dig into. For instance, 'Elevated' with Floetry originally had verses for Philip and Maurice to sing. Philip suggested they try something different. He said, 'Natalie, why don't you just rhyme the verses and Marsha and I will sing around you and Maurice will play the kalimba.' It made the song fresh."
Maurice White concurs. "This was an exciting opportunity for us to grow - to peek into the new ventures of different artists. It was quite an adventure."
The result is Earth Wind & Fire's most vibrant and contemporary album in years. The synergy surrounding the project is going to make for a bountiful series of concerts with the current incarnation of the band that includes Russian guitar virtuoso Vadim, energetic singer/percussionist David "Tigg" Whitworth (both Berklee School of Music alumni) and Musical Director Myron McKinley. This summer, Earth Wind & Fire will re-team with pop rock legends Chicago for a double bill that was a knockout sell-out at the box office last year. The group will follow that up with a tour of their own featuring special guests from the Illumination album and beyond. A TV special is also being pursued. And in his time off the road from the group, Maurice White, in collaboration with Maurice Hines, is working on a theatrical production called 'Hott Feet". In addition to incorporating a number of Earth, Wind & Fire hits, White is composing new music with former behind the scenes EWF associates Allee Willis and Bill Meyers.
Surveying today's musical landscape, Philip hypothesizes, "What R. Kelly was able to do with Ronald "Mr. Biggs" Isley recently is the same thing we were able to do with Ramsey Lewis in 1974 with 'Sun Goddess.' The bottom line is this: if you have the respect of younger artists and don't take advantage of it, you're missing out. We've taken some chances, but we have more legitimate buzz now than I can remember."
Reflecting on all the years of music-making, history-making and memory-making, Verdine concludes, "Along with Maurice, Philip, Ralph and I are like brothers now. It's one thing to be able to hang out and talk, but it's another level when you play music together. It's definitely an out of body experience...all about accessing the spirit. Being together this long, we've had a chance to do that and then some, let alone the contributions we've had the opportunity to make to the music scene in general. Now, there is this re-interest in Earth Wind & Fire. People are really checking for us again. That's kinda cool."
