Earth, Wind & Fire (album)

Earth, Wind & Fire is the self-titled debut studio album by the band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in February 1971 by Warner Bros. Records.[1] The album got to No. 24 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and was certified Gold in France by the SNEP.[2][3]

Earth, Wind & Fire
Studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire
Released	February 1971
Recorded	1970
Studio	Sunset Sound Studios, Hollywood
Genre	Funk, soul, psychedelic soul
Length	27:58
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Joe Wissert
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
Earth, Wind & Fire (1971) The Need of Love (1971)

Overview

The album was produced by Joe Wissert. Hip hop artist Ludacris has also named this LP as one of his five favorite records which he considers forerunners of hip-hop.[1][4]

Samples

Moment of Truth was sampled by LL Cool J on the track Murdergram, Kid N Play on the track Energy and The Jungle Brothers on Good News Comin' and What You Waiting For. Bad Tune was sampled by Brand Nubian on Dance to My Ministry, Diamond D on Feel the Vibe, DJ Shadow on In/Flux and by Lupe Fiasco on Carrerra Lu. Fan the Fire was also sampled by Michie Mee on Jamaican Funk.[5][6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[7]
Village Voice	(C+)[8]
Rolling Stone	(favourable)[9]
Billboard	(favourable)[10]
Detroit Free Press	(favourable)[11]
Jazz Journal	[12]

Lester Bangs of Rolling Stone noted a "heavy Sly influence" and the "smooth harmonies" of The Fifth Dimension on the LP".[9] The Village Voices Robert Christgau was ambivalent towards the album's various musical "cross-references", including "the expert vocal harmonies [that] neither fit the concept nor assert any personality of their own", and said that even its successful songs have "a way of slipping away unnoticed once the record is over".[8] John Bush of AllMusic gave the album four-and-a-half out of five stars and complimented the song's' "freewheeling arrangements". Bush found "the songwriting was as strong and focused as the musicianship" and praised the LP's social context, noting "unerringly positive compositions, reflecting the influence of the civil rights movement with nearly every song urging love, community, and knowledge as alternatives to the increasing hopelessness plaguing American society".[7] Billboard noted "soul oriented rhythms and harmonies" on the album with songs which encourages one "to move on the dance floor".[10] Bob Talbert of the Detroit Free Press also wrote "i'm not sure what to call this group. Afro-gospel-jazz-blues-rock? Must there be a label?".[11]

Issac Hayes called Earth, Wind & Fire one of the band's five essential recordings.[13]

Singles

The track "Love Is Life" reached No. 43 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[14][15]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Help Somebody"	Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead	3:37
2.	"Moment of Truth"	Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead	3:08
3.	"Love Is Life"	Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead	5:02
4.	"Fan the Fire"	Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead	4:59

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"C'mon Children"	Michael Beal, Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Verdine White, Don Whitehead	3:08
6.	"This World Today"	Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Don Whitehead	3:33
7.	"Bad Tune"	Michael Beal, Wade Flemons, Maurice White, Verdine White, Don Whitehead	4:31

Personnel

Musicians

• Michael Beal – guitars
• Leslie Drayton – trumpet
• Wade Flemons – electric piano, vocals
• Sherry Scott – vocals
• Alexander Thomas – trombone
• Chet Washington – reeds
• Maurice White – percussion, drums, vocals, electric kalimba
• Verdine White – bass
• Don Whitehead – acoustic piano, electric piano, vocals
• Doug Carn – Hammond organ
• Phillard Williams – percussion, conga

Production

• Producer: Joe Wissert
• Recording engineer: Bruce Botnick
• Arranger: Earth, Wind & Fire
• Horn arrangements: Leslie Drayton
• Art direction: Ed Thrasher
• Design: Mary Ann Dibs
• Artwork: Russ Smith

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1971	Billboard Top Soul Albums	24
	Billboard 200	172

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[3]	Gold	100,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". 45worlds.com.
2. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
3. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". snepmusique.com. SNEP.
4. Jurgensen, John (February 10, 2007). "Hit List: Ludacris". wsj.com. Wall Street Journal.
5. "Earth, Wind & Fire". the-breaks.com.
6. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Bad Tune". genius.com.
7. Bush, John. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
8. Christgau, Robert. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
9. Bangs, Lester (June 24, 1971). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth, Wind & Fire". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
10. Album Reviews. 83. Billboard Magazine. March 20, 1971. p. 44.
11. Talbert, Bob (May 9, 1971). "Music's Finest Hour Symphonic Jazz". newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 47.
12. Lindsay, Bruce (July 13, 2019). "Earth, Wind And Fire: Earth, Wind And Fire / The Need Of Love". jazzjournal.co.uk. Jazz Journal.
13. Hayes, Issac (July 7, 1995). Essentials: Issac Hayes on Earth, Wind & Fire. The Guardian. p. 39.
14. Earth, Wind & Fire: Love Is Life. Warner Bros. Records. 1971.
15. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Love Is Life (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.