Earth, Wind & Fire - Spirit
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Maurice White (voc, dr, perc); Philip Bailey (voc, cga, perc); Larry Dunn (p, org, synth); Johnny Graham (g); Al McKay (g, perc); Jerry Peters (p); Verdine White (voc, b, perc); Fred White, Ralph Johnson (dr, perc)
Written by Peter Cor (A1), Beloyd Taylor (A1), Philip Bailey (A2, A3, B1), Charles Stepney (A2, A3), Maurice White (A2, A3, A4, B1, B2, B3, B4), Larry Dunn (A4, B3), Al McKay (B1, B4), Skip Scarborough (B2), Jerry Peters (B5)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : Speakers Corner
Original Label : Columbia
Recording: 1976 at Wally Heider Studio 3, Burbank Studios, Hollywood Sound Recorders and Westlake Audio by George Massenburg
Production: Maurice White & Charles Stepney
Originally released in 1976
Reissued in 2017
Tracks :
Side A :
- Getaway
- On Your Face
- Imagination
- Spirit
Side B :
- Saturday Nite
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- Departure
- Biyo
- Burnin' Bush
Reviews :
« With That's the Way of the World having enjoyed multi-platinum success, Earth, Wind & Fire had a lot to live up to when the time came for another studio project. And the soul powerhouse didn't let anyone down (either commercially or creatively) on the outstanding Spirit, which boasted hits ranging from the optimistic "On Your Face" and the passionate funk classic "Getaway" to the poetic ballad "Imagination." Philip Bailey is as charismatic as ever on "Imagination" and the gorgeous title song. Maurice White's message and vision (an interesting blend of Afro-American Christianity and Eastern philosophy) was as positive and uplifting as ever, and as always, EWF expressed this positivity without being Pollyanna-ish or corny. And even if one didn't take EWF's calls for unity, hard work, self-respect, and faith in God to heart, they had no problem with their solid grooves. » AllMusic Review by Alex Henderson
The wise saying »spiritus ubi vult spirat« (»the spirit blows where it wills«) is interpreted by Earth, Wind & Fire with impressive clarity. Gentle sounds and modest gestures are foreign to the colourful Afro group, who in their live performances welded together ancient Egyptian Pharaonic mysticism with urban street life. That this spirit, which is found in the LP title and blows all the way through it, was guaranteed not only by the exuberant wind section in the group’s early years.
With regard to rhythm, too, the band rolls out almost everything to pave the floor with powerful disco patterns, not forgetting the elegant and finely controlled falsetto, which adds further pep. Out of all this came the highly cultivated and expressive vocals as in "Imagine", carefully balanced ballads ("Burnin’ Bush"), as well as a powerful sound that is so good for dancing to, as in the memorable number "Saturday Nite". An extremely wide range of musical genres was brought together by Earth, Wind & Fire in a big-band sound that is »innovative yet popular, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing« (Rolling Stone Magazine).
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4.5 / 5 , Discogs : Rate Your Music :