- Greatest Hits · 1978
- Raise! · 1981
- That's the Way of the World · 1975
- That's the Way of the World · 1975
- I Am · 1979
- All 'N All · 1977
- That's the Way of the World · 1975
- All 'N All · 1977
- I Am · 1979
- A Very Trainor Christmas · 2020
- TROLLS (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) · 2016
- Holiday · 2014
- Greatest Hits · 1975
Essential Albums
- Almost a decade after Maurice White formed the spiritually minded Earth, Wind & Fire, the band hit upon one of their sweatiest, most sensual anthems, "Boogie Wonderland." Featuring alluring lead vocals by female R&B trio The Emotions, this disco stunner remains a surefire dance-floor filler. In a mellower mood, the aching "After the Love Has Gone" is one of Philip Bailey's most enduring ballads, and the slinky "You and I" is an uplifting, joyous love song.
- "Fantasy" has become one of Earth, Wind & Fire's calling cards, thanks to its melancholic groove and beautifully aching lyrics. Like much of the band's eighth studio album, the song was partially inspired by Maurice White's travels in South America, and is infused with slinky Afro-Brazilian touches. Snatches of tunes by Brazilian superstars Toninho Horta and Milton Nascimento drift through the album's sultry grooves, while Latin jazz icon Eumir Deodato adds a delicate orchestral arrangement to the lilting "I'll Write a Song For You.”
- Spirit captures Earth, Wind & Fire at their celestial peak. Dedicated to longtime co-producer Charles Stepney, who died of a heart attack during the project's recording, the album is suffused with leader Maurice White's mystical, positive worldview, as well as his melodic funk vision. Cocky workouts like the soaring opener, "Getaway," and the loose, funky instrumental "Biyo" mesh with such sleek love songs as "On Your Face" and "Imagination," while the expansive "Burnin' Bush" closes the album on a sophisticated note.
- Six albums into their career, Earth, Wind & Fire perfected their blend of dance-floor funk, crackling pop, heartfelt soul, and smooth R&B. The LP leads off with the band's first No. 1 single, the superbly crafted "Shining Star." But the masterfully arranged collection also boasts the sultry slow jam "Reasons," the funk-fortified title track, and the loose-limbed, bass-driven "Africano." It's impossible to pick EWF's best album, but this one’s a more-than-worthy contender.
Artist Playlists
- Forward-thinking funk that still sounds beamed in from the future.
- Plush, splashy arrangements influenced by the ‘70s funk pioneers.
- The R&B pioneers' boldest quests are just as silky as their hits.
- Inventive arrangements and vocal chops drove these funk legends.
- Their original tunes have been the source material for some of modern music’s biggest hits.
Singles & EPs
Live Albums
- 2002
Compilations
- 2005
More To Hear
- Imagine a boring alternate reality without “Boogie Wonderland.”
- 47 years ago, Earth, Wind & Fire’s live album went No. 1.
- Estelle curates an essential playlist from Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Verdine White joins Estelle to talk all things All ’N All.
- Sabi goes through the greatest grooves from Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Spinna shares a mix for Earth, Wind & Fire’s 50th Anniversary.
- Laid back tracks from Anderson .Paak, Fela Kuti, and Kari Faux.
About Earth, Wind & Fire
The world didn’t realize it was waiting for a spaceship containing a nine-man squad of cosmic pop/funk/R&B superheroes until Earth, Wind & Fire broke through to stardom in the mid-’70s. Their story actually starts in 1969 in Chicago, where drummer/singer Maurice White started The Salty Peppers with singer/keyboardists Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. By 1970, they had regrouped in L.A. as Earth, Wind & Fire, and they released their self-titled debut LP the following year. Key elements like Latin grooves, funky riffs, and celestial vocal harmonies were present from the start, but success wasn’t immediate. A sea change came in 1972 when the lineup shifted to include Maurice’s brother Verdine White on bass, singer Philip Bailey, and keyboardist Larry Dunn, who quickly became crucial to their sound. The arrival of Maurice’s old Chicago crony Charles Stepney as producer brought a dazzling eclecticism and sonic sheen to the band’s breakout album, 1975’s That’s the Way of the World, and the funky, party-starting single “Shining Star” became a No. 1 hit. Things rocketed upward from there, as Earth, Wind & Fire became superstars with a long string of smashes that lasted into the early ’80s, including the percolating R&B exultation of “Sing a Song,” the disco floor-fillers “Boogie Wonderland” and “September,” and the Quiet Storm ballad “After the Love Has Gone,” with a punchy horn section becoming a signature. Elaborate stage shows accentuated the band’s image as glam-soul spacemen from a blissful, funky future, solidifying their status as ’70s/’80s icons. Maurice remained the prime mover until his death in 2016; the remaining members continued his mission, bringing their joyous sound to fans around the world.
- ORIGIN
- Chicago, IL, United States
- FORMED
- 1969
- GENRE
- R&B/Soul