Pros: Classic R&B, funky rhythms, live instruments, cool lyrics, catchy hooks and danceable tracks
Cons: Some things that Phillip Bailey sing are hard to understand because he rifs a lot.
The Bottom Line: When I feel tired and need a boost, this is one of the albums I turn to. The music is great, the lyrics are nice and the vocals are classic.
sj1and0's Full Review: The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 [Remaster] ...
Music would be nothing without the artists of the past. It is a fact that the world of music consists of some new sounds with old concepts. When you listen to songs on the radio, we hear nothing but remakes and samples from artists like Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, The Jackson Five and my favorite funk band, "Earth, Wind, and Fire."
There is no other group like them except for the funkiest girl group of all times, "The Emotions" which happened to be produced by Earth, Wind and Fire. There were many guy groups back then like The Gap Band, The Intruders and The Delphonics but none were able to achieve the type of success that Earth, Wind and Fire has. Earth, Wind and Fire was honored a Hollywood star in 1995 and in March of 2000 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They have had 7 double platinum albums, 2 platinum, 3 gold and 9 number 1 singles between 1973 and 1981. They are also a 6 time Grammy award winning group.
Earth, Wind and Fire was founded by drummer Maurice White in 1969 when the group featured 9 members and featured his brother, Verdine White (a bass player) and vocalist, Phillip Bailey. They have since released 26 albums with the 27th to be released some time in 2005. My favorite is the eleventh. "The Best of Earth, Wind, and Fire Vol 1" was released in 1971 by Columbia and was recently remastered and released by Sony Records in 1999. It consists of 11 of their funkiest songs including a house mix of all their songs combined into 1 with Boogie Wonderland featuring the Emotions.
(1)Got to Get You Into My Life is the first song on their best of album. Lots of horns, drums and the sassy voice of Phillip Bailey. What I like about music of the past is the live instrumentation. You don't hear the quality of music that you heard in the past in the present face of the music world. Even with artists who attempt to do remakes. This is the kind of live music though you would find in current music from overseas, like Haiti though. In this song, the vocals are tight and I really appreciate the background vocals from each bridge section and the hooks. Their hooks and music are so catchy that when you sing along, sometimes you imitate the music as well. Ooh you were meant to be near me, ooh I want to make sure that you hear me say we'll be together for always. Got to get you into my life.
(2)Fantasy is such a funky song. It starts off very soft and jazzy and then enters into this funky part. The African Kalimba stands out in this song with the horns slightly heard in the background. The music is very moving and with the emotional screams at the end of the song, it touched me in a way that I never thought music could. Take a ride in the sky on a ship fantasize all your dreams will come true far away. Our voices will ring together. Until the 12th of never. We all will live love forever as one.
(3)Can't Hide Love is the funky song with the sharp horns blowing, hums, and then the deep vocals. This song is very mellow with a funky bass line and very soft guitar strokes. This is one of their most popular songs that can still be heard on the radios today. My favorite parts of this song are the hook and then the vamp with the smooth aah's and the funky drive. The lyrics are very real and are interpreted very well full of soul and emotion. You turn down love like it's really bad. You can't give what you never had. Well bless your soul you can fool a fool. I know the truth and so do you. You can't hide I bet you. Bet Ya! Bet ya! Can't hide love.
(4)Love Music has a nice rhythm section. The lyrics speak mainly about what love music is and the reason why it is the only music they like. I like the "bapbadababa." The music in this song is very full and soulful. Their is also a really nice drum line in this song. Very moving and danceable. Just play the music. Love funky music, (with the funky horn playing in the background)
(5)Getaway is one of the songs that you could start comparing them to Parliament or "Sly and the Family Stone" because of the way the vocals were laid, the drive of the song. But in this song, you can also hear the similarities between Earth, Wind and Fire with The Emotions because of the ad libs, the way the lyrics were sung and the musical accompaniment. So come take me by the hand, we'll leave this troubled land. Get Away let's leave today. Let's get away.
(6)That's The Way of the World is the third slower tempoed songs on the album. This also sounds like music that would be played in a Haitian song because of the depthness of it. Full of horns, drums, bass and guitar. I love their lyrics. My favorite part, "You will never, never, never." You will find peace of mind if you look way down in your heart and soul. Don't hesitate because the world seems cold. Stay young at heart.
(7)September is another of their most popular songs. It was recently used in a commercial for Target (I think it was). I like the cow bell used in this song. This a very funky and danceable song. This song has the same melody as that of, Boogie Wonderland. The movement of this song is why I hardly listen to the radio today because since I've listened to this song, I started listening to more and more music of this era, more often than others. I like the "ah de ya de ya de ya (s)." It makes the song even more full of life and funk. Our hearts were ringing in the key that our souls were singing, do you remember as the stars drove the night away. Someday you'll remember. Dancing in September. Never was a cloudy day.
(8)Shining Star is another one of their most popular songs that was also used for a commercial and was also remade by Hilary Duff of Lizzie McGuire. This melody is something you could probably find on a hip-hop album now because of the drive of it. My favorite part is the vamp with the song ending with "Shining star for you to see what your life can truly be" done in accapella. I also like the bass line in this song a lot. When you wish upon a star. Your dreams will take you very far. When you wish upon a dream, life ain't always what it seems. What you see is not so clear in the sky so very dear. You're a shining start no matter who you are shining bright to see what you can truly be
(9)Reasons is the slowest song on the album and would give you a feel like The Stylistics or DeBarge would because of the falsetto notes used throughout the song and the La La La (s) used in this song. The music is filled with horns, keyboards and drums keeping the song moving in a funky type of pace, though this song is still very slow. I remember the first time I ever heard this song was on, Coming To America which featured Eddie Murphy. In the morning when I rise. No longer feeling hypnotized Find out the reasons had no pride. After all the reasons why, all our reasons why love was left aside.
(10)Sing a Song has a drive like that of September or would remind you of The Emotions' I Don't Want to Lose Your Love because of the rhythm, the horns, the rifs and the background vocals. The horns make this song very funky. The only thing I don't like about this song is that sometimes he rifs so much, you don't know what Phillip Bailey is saying. He reminds me of Amel Larrieux sometimes when he sings even though she is my all-time favorite singer, but they often sing in ways that is hard for the listener to understand what they are saying. But otherwise the song is cool. When you feel down and out sing a song, It will make you dance.
(11 and 12) Both 11 and 12 are mixes of all their songs together mixed with Boogie Wonderland which featured The Emotions.
I kid you not that I had this album for a long time before I really listened to it and started loving it. But since, Earth, Wind and Fire and The Emotions are albums I listen to at least 2 times a week. Earth, Wind and Fire are the funkiest group I've ever listened to even though I would classify them more as R&B because of the feels of the song, the horns and the lyrics. I recommend this album to all music lovers because I really believe that you will enjoy this album almost as much as I do.
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