By: Earth Wind & Fire Average Rating: Binding: Audio CD Format: Extra tracks, Live, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered Label: Sony Number of Discs: 1 Release Date: July 27, 1999
Amazon.com essential recording: Earth, Wind & Fire were consolidating their jazz influences into a tighter meld of funk and rock when Gratitude appeared near the end of 1975. Still, the improvisatory spirit burns hard on the three-quarters of the set taken from concert performances in the wake of That's the Way of the World's success. Highlights include hot takes on "Shining Star" and "Sun Goddess," as well as the studio cuts "Sing a Song" and "Can't Hide Love." --Rickey Wright
Album Description: Digipak reissue of 1975 album. 2001.
Their best album ever Now that they had finally made it big, the group decided the best thing to do was go all-out, issuing a double album - one half studio, one half live. The live segments of this are among the best music the group has ever made, bringing the group's jazz leanings to the fore ("Sun Goddess"; "Reasons" - my god, I love the soprano sax on "Reasons" and the keyboards on "Sun Goddess"! This group could've definitely made it as a jazz ensemble), keep the energy level as high as possible ("Africano/Power"; "Yearnin' Learnin'", way better than the original - they untap its potential, channeling the energy and adding an awesome wah-wah guitar), give the hits wonderful makeovers ("Devotion"; "Shining Star") and put on a ridiculously entertaining live show. Plus that version of "Devotion" - slowed down, very emotional, with a great bit of audience participation near the end - is debatably my favorite Earth, Wind and Fire song. Yeah, that's a wonderful tune! Add that to the ambitious, excellent synthesis of world music, jazz, and funk "New World Symphony", and you've got a perfect live album. The studio side scales back the ambition considerably, but still results in some fantastically catchy pop songs - the uplifting Top 10 hit "Singasong"; the wonderful ballad "Can't Hide Love", with a strong, heavily accented Philip Bailey vocal and awesome hummed coda (Yeah, they're humming and it sounds awesome!) and the spry, bouncy, gospel-pop title song. I'm not big on the remaining two songs: "Sunshine" and "Celebrate", much like "Yearnin' Learnin'" or "Happy Feelin's", don't do anything the group hadn't done far better anywhere else, but they aren't too bad. But the live material is some of the best they ever cut, and the studio disc's no slouch either. It's not perfect, but it's damn close.
The Summer of Fun "74" Do you remember? I've been looking for this CD for about a few months I use to have the album. I'm showing my age but what a age to live in the wonderful 70'd. I blast this classic cd and you should hear it with the bose system wow. Love the E.W.F. a true fan and looking for that sound once again.
Correction to Amazon's track listing! Stereo audio cassette. Live album.
1. Introduction (with MC Perry Jones) 2. Medley: Africano, Power 3. Yearnin' Learnin' 4. Devotion 5. Sun Goddess 6. Reasons 7. Sing A Message To You 8. Shining Star 9. New World Symphony 10. Sunshine 11. Singasong 12. Gratitude 13. Celebrate 14. Can't Hide Love
how is the old members are doing do anyone out there know about the real members of E.W.F is how are they doing like like some off the real names if you are a E.W.F fan MR.Louis satterfield-precusion-- Mr.michael Harris-precusion--- Mr.Don myrick-sax----- Mr.Beloyd Talyor-------- MR Johnny Graham--doing his thing.---how about Mr.Andrew Woolfork play that sax. can i give you more names. How about Mr.Roland Bautista on bass you cant forget about Mr.Fred White on Drums and MR.Larry Dun on keys love you guys thats EARTH WIND FIRE NOT LAST BUT EARTH WIND FIRE MR M WHITE----MR P.BAILY MR.R JHONSON THATS MUSIC CAN SOMEONE LET ME KNOW WHERE ARE THE OLD MEMBERS ARE THEY ALIVE WHAT ARE THE DOING I THINK THEY SHOULD ALL GET BACK FOR ONE MORE LIVE SHOW
The quintessential sound of the era This is one of the few recordings I've owned in 8-track, cassette, vinyl, and now CD formats. The live cuts are so superbly tracked it sounds as though you are standing on the stage with the band. I love the slighly overdriven bass speaker cabinet, especially. Gorgeous vocals and an audience that came to celebrate... a must-have among your must-haves!
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