CD Review - Earth Wind & Fire: Illumination
(2005 Pop Music)

Earth, Wind and Fire is one of the most legendary performers in the history of Black music. The very first concert I ever attended was in 1972 at Hofstra University with Earth, Wind and Fire and Zuleema. And subsequent to that I have seen them many times in concert. Therefore they are one of my all time favorite artists (along with millions of other people). However their music has been a source of continuing disappointment for me since the 1980's. Yet I still continue to root for them, because I'm an "old fart" and I remember when they were truly a force to be rekoned with.

When I first heard about this album, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. This latest effort by EWF called "Illumination" has guest stars like Black Eyed Peas, Raphael Saadiq, Big Boi, Kelly Rowland and Sleepy Brown, Floetry, Brian McKnight, Kenny G, I was at a loss to understand what EWF was trying to accomplish.

I wondered if they were "selling out" (again??) or perhaps just trying to incorporate the sounds modern popular music into their classic sound? I also wondered how this project would sound when compared to the magnificent CD I reviewed early in 2005 called "Devoted Spirits" (EWF tribute w/former members of EWF). After listening to the CD, I am still confused. I'm tempted to say that this is "sell out 2", because it doesn't really sound like an EWF album, it's pretty much "devoid of funk" and the "guest stars" bring little to the table beyond name recognition My favorites from this album "Love's Dance" (with echoes of "Mighty Mighty"). I also liked the song "Pass You By" (Has a nice "Neo Soul" feel to it). "Too You" features Brian McKnight sounding an awful lot like Maurice White (sounds a little like "After The Love Has Gone"). The remake of "The Way You Move" featuring Kenny G. is awful. Everything else is mediocre.

At the end I find myself still confused. If this was an album by a brand new artist, I would say that they had a lot of potential for the future. But it isn't an album by a brand new artist. It's an album by one of Black Music's legends along with a cross section of the most popular musical artists of the decade. This may ultimately work out well for EWF as a marketing move, they have already gotten quite a bit of TV exposure and I hope that it makes them a lot of money and introduces them to a new generation of fans.

However strictly on a musical tip, for EWF this is an average CD, if you are a longtime fan, this CD will probably make you yawn if you focused on it intensely. If you had it on in the background, you would probably hardly even notice it was there. However in today's marketplace some people might think it's pretty good, and maybe that's good enough.

I'm confused...(maybe I'll just have to listen to it a few more times before I "get it"???)

--Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net

CD Review: Devoted Spirits - "Tribute To Earth, Wind and Fire"

Devoted Spirits - "Tribute To Earth, Wind and Fire"
(Mind Expanding Soul/Jazz/Funk/Rock/Gospel)

I have been a frustrated EWF fan for many years. I have always felt that they along with Kool and the Gang & the Commodores led the way for the commercialization of funk music back in the 1970's. In doing so all three groups literally broke my heart as each succeeding album brought their fierce and inspirational music closer and closer to being "elevator music". I am not alone in this feeling. Over the years many "children of the 1970's" have written in and expressed similar feelings of disgust about all three groups. In fact the criticism of Kool and the Gang & the Commodores has been absolutely scathing over the years. However I have always thought that EWF (for reasons) that are beyond me has mostly gotten a "free pass" on this whole issue. For me the "sellout" of EWF was always the most heart breaking of the three. That's because of the high minded jazz/soul/rock/afrocentric ideals that the band seemed to stand for when I first got hip to them in the early 1970's. I have NEVER forgiven them for abandoning those ideals in the mid 1970's.

Enter Mr. Sheldon Reynolds, EWF's lead guitarist during the 1990's, founding EWF member Larry Dunn and former EWF musical director Morris Pleasure. At first I am wondering just what in the heck is the purpose of having former members of a once great band doing a tribute album" of that bands old songs? When the CD starts, that question is quickly put to rest. This CD starts off with "Devotion" & an AWESOME version of "September/Mighty Mighty" and after listening I come to understand the purpose of this CD very quickly and why it's actually a very important release. To my ears it almost sounds like the three of them have decided to "go back and correct history". For example "Serpentine Fire", no longer sounds like a "pop/disco" song. It now has some firece funk/rock guitar playing in a "call and response" duel with the Kalimba. This album kept me smiling thru all 20 plus songs because it feels like someone decided to go back and redo EWF's music as if it all retained "the high mided jazz/soul/rock/afrocentric ideals" of the original band? If you (like me) are a person who silently sheds a tear every time you hear one of EWF's "Saturday Night Fever" type hit songs played on "oldies radio stations" or perhaps even at a "corporate function"....

....THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS ALBUM....

In the liner notes it says..."This tribute is to the original sound of love that was earth, wind and fire"

I couldn't agree with that statement more!!!

In addition to Reynolds, Dunn & Pleasure this CD also features the following players Bobby Watson (Rufus), Ricky Lawson (Eric Clapton, Quincy Jones), John Paris (Earth Wind & Fire), Randy Ellis (Christina Aguilera), Francois Dean, Solomon Singers (Maurice James, Jo-Anna Solomon, Amee' Solomon, Danene Solomon-Sepulveda, & Grady Austin Shakiah), David Danner.

This CD is a perfect manifestation of a term we like to use here at Soul-Patrol called "BLACK AMERICAN STANDARD MUSIC". Devoted Spirtis has taken great songs from the songbook of Black History and given them the historical treatment that the songs deserve, but done so with a love and care that will insure that listeners will understand its true context.
For certain there will be some folks out there who won't like this concept or approach. Those people would probably best be served by searching the cutout bins, in the "oldies section" of their local "wreckastow".

Devoted Spirits - "Tribute To Earth, Wind and Fire" isn't designed for those type of EWF fans. It's designed with the connoisseur in mind who wants a deeper exploration into the historical legacy of Earth, Wind and Fire. The inside cover of the CD jewel box contains a picture of Sheldon Reynolds along with Maurice White, along with a thoughtfully worded dedication of the album to Maurice White.

(In my mind, that just about says it all....)

Count on seeing and hearing more about this GREAT ALBUM here on Soul-Patrol.

(Thanks Experience Hendrix!!!!)



--Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net

A Few Observations From The Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies

Maurice White appeared to be about the same height as me (I am 5' 9''). But as he waked thru the entrance to the Ballroom for the rehearsal, Maurice White appeared to me to be a majectic figure, an African King among his subjects. He said nothing He didn't have to And then suddenly it struck me...I guess that I have always known it... ...But at that moment, my vision was clear And the truth emerged in my mind for the first time... And I was able to see VERY clearly that... (Maurice White looked to me like Hallie Sellasie) Prior to the rehearsals I had talked with both Ralph Johnson and Verdine White and later as they walked past me going into the rehearsal, they both gave me that "nod". Yall know what I'm talking about, right? That "nod" that Black men give to each other when they pass on the street It's an acknowledgement of mutual respect Sorta like saying... "I dunno what might go down here, but if something does, you KNOW that I got your back" Later inside of the rehearsal I talked more with Ralph Johnson and Verdine White about music, politics, Blacks on the internet, etc. We were the ONLY Black media at the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies. I got the distinct impression that as PROUD as I was to see Earth, Wind and Fire inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, that they were just as PROUD to see US there. They knew that we weren't there to cover Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt or the Lovin Spoonful. (no disrespect to them) THEY KNEW THAT THE ONLY REASON WE WERE THERE WAS TO COVER THEM AND THE MOONGLOWS. Soul Patrol knows it's history Soul Patrol is all about documenting that history Soul Patrol is all about spreading the GOOD WORD about OUR majestic past, present and future culture Li'l Kim presented EWF for induction Perhaps if other "negro media" actually cared about OUR majestic past, present and future culture, this young lady might have actually known enough about Earth, Wind and Fire to have been able to recognize one of their songs when it was played (she didn't) Once again I say that it is up to US, the people who have first hand knowledge of these artists and their connection to OUR glorious history to EDUCATE younger people about it. How else will they be equipped to PROTECT our culture from the CULTURE BANDITS? Earth, Wind and Fire knows this. Their music right from the start has always been about the advancement of African culture. I was PROUD to have been there and maybe even a little prouder, when they gave me that "brotha's nod" as they walked by :) One last point about EWF and the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame Induction... Just wanted to mention that my brother Mike was there as well. The very first concert I ever went to was in 1972 Mike and I went together to see the show, just like we did on Monday It was in 1972 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY and we saw... Earth Wind and Fire!!!!!!!!! their opening act was Maxxayn) So going to see them inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, together... ...almost 30 years later It was kinda special for the two of us :) I'm rambling now... However, I just wanted to get those thoughts out. (I think that we made a few new friends) --Bob Davis

"Levitating Verdine"

"The Elements" - by Kathy Kyles Earth, Wind & Fire also known as "The Elements" Just those three words are enough to pique my interest, make me stop what I am doing and just stop and take notice. My cousin introduced me to EWF when I was 14 years old. She lived in North Carolina, and was always telling me which groups and songs were coming out down there. The album was "That's the Way of the World." I told her "Oh, this is the same group that mde the jam "Mighty Mighty." We went to the record store and bought the album. When I got home and started playing the album, I thought the grooves were funky, great to dance to. But then I started LISTENING TO THE WORDS of "Shining Star", and "That's the Way of the World." I got so absorbed into reading the lyrical sheet that was enclosed, (and always enclosed on an EWF project),learning the names of each of the fellas, that I didn't realize that two hours had passed until my mom yelled that she was going to scream if I didn't turn that stereo off! After that I began reading everything I could find, which wasn't a lot because in the early days, Maurice White used to say "let the music convey the message. EWF never did a lot of the shows that were out during that time, ex. Don Kirchner's Rock Concert, etc, and they attended very few award shows. I think I've seen them in concert more than I have on TV. Alright I think I was 14 or 15 when EWF came to Madison Square Garden. I HAD TO GO!!!...With my step-dad in tow, for 2 1/2 hours I just lost my mind. I was spellbound by that pure sound, by the beautiful glittering costumes, by the vocals of Maurice White and Philip Bailey, by the keyboardmaestro called Larry Dunn, by the funkiest drummer called Freddie White, by the swirling sounds of the guitars of Johnnie Graham and Al McKay, the percussion of Ralph Johnson, funky saxman Andrew Woolfolk and the baadest bassist Verdine White. Let's not forget the Phoenix Horns either! How could anyone forget the magic tricks?...Verdine levitating in the air?..Maurice and Philip disappearing into the pyramids. Going to an EWF concert was stepping into a real fantasy. One of the things that one noticed at an EWF concert were the people. There weren't just black people, there were a whole lot of white people, Hispanic people, definitely a rainbow coalition, and that always made me prouder of them because it meant that the message was really getting out there. After my first EWF concert, I became a serious groupie. when they came to the East Coast, I went as far North and as far South as I could. I have never had a group come close to the feeling that I get when I put on an EWF album. The feeling? it could be called a peacefulness, definitely tranquility. Above all, there's a message in every song if one just takes the time and let's that message come out. When I'm down and need a little pick me up, I put on "Turn It Into Something Good." this is the second song on the Raise album. When its mellow time, I listen to "Devotion," which has to be my all time favorite slow jam by EWF. "Devotion Live" (from Gratitude) or "Devotion" from the "Open our Eyes" album, eith one is fine with me. When I'm in a jammin' mood, "Can't Let Go". This is the secon cut on "I Am." One of my least favorite EWF albums was Electric Universe, EWF was going in a direction that made me kinda nervous, and I had hung in with them for a long time. It had some good song, but the vibe was not something that I was used too. When EWF announced that they were splitting, I felt like I was splitting also, but I kept the faith that they would return, and they did with "System of Survival" and "Millenium." I've read recently whre EWF has signed a four album deal and will be coming out with a new album soon. They can also be heard on the soundtrack for the Spike Lee movie,"Get on the Bus." It is hard to express in words how I feel about a group that has brought so much joy to millions of people all over the world. I may be the one who has penned this, but I also know that the richness and the spirtuality of Earth, Wind & Fire, is something that has touched everyone. I hope that I have given enough of my feeling on EWF to warrant my twenty year love affair with them. I just hope that folks will take a few minutes and listen to the music, and let the message flow....

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