Earth, Wind & Fire – I Am

Album Revolution #8:

This is where "Earth, Wind & Fire" started to waver a bit, but "Maurice and Co". were STILL capable of making INCREDIBLE Music....

The whole album ("I Am") is good , but unlike "That's The Way Of The World" ,"Spirit", and "All N All", certain songs pop out, instead of it sounding like a complete concept even if the songs are weaved together.....

"In The Stone" (1st Crown Jewel) was crafted wonderfully, even though it is practically featured in ALMOST EVERY Feature Film....

"Can't Let Go" (2nd Crown Jewel), is a feel good song with WICKED Keyboards and very PUNCHY HORNS!!!!!

The 3rd Crown Jewel in "After The Love Is Gone", was their "POPIEST" song ever, but it STILL had "Soul" appeal....It also has a FANTASTIC Saxophone performance by "Don Myrick"....

They even dabbled into a little "Disco" with "Boogie Wonderland" featuring their Sister Act "The Emotions" (the 4th Crown Jewel)....

Other notables are, "Let Your Feelings Show" (with HEAVY Guitar and Drum work), "Star", and "You And I" (5th Crown Jewel), even though it is shorter than the CD version (which Burns My Bacon!!!!!)...

Now, to those who were talking about the Band losing their "Jazz" roots, I can say that you might have a case here with the Instrumental "Rock That".....It tends to lean toward the "Disco" that I always say is not that good, but I feel that it gets a though...

I guess the slide to me is about the direction "Maurice" took the Band...He decided to collaborate with the Song Writing genius of "David Foster"...Not to totally blame it on him, but with some songs it's BRILLIANT, with others, not so much....Still BETTER than most albums out there, and STILL worth a listen if you are a TRUE "Earth, Wind & Fire fan.....

PS: I need a 2 Vinyl Re-Release from Sony Legacy....Why? Because there were FANTASTIC Outtakes from these Recording Sessions in the the form of: "Diana", "Dirty" and "Where Do We Go From Here".....Just Sayin'.....

If there were an R&B/soul counterpart to ELO’s elaborate majestic sound, it would have to be Earth Wind & Fire. Just as ELO was reaching for the stars in the late 70’s so were the The Fire, only with a crisper and diverse sound, and much like Out Of The Blue, I Am was the group’s gusto brass ring.

The track Boogie Wonderland was the group’s sole disco offering, but there are many tracks of panoramic pop/R&B goodness that didn’t need disco to get the job done and your butt to dance. The opener, ‘In The Stone’, lays out a percussive heavy blast that will put a smile in your face along side slides like Star and Let Your Feelings Show continuing this cosmic jam while After the Love Has Gone should take care of your ballad needs.

The 2004 CD re-issue includes a few bonus cutting room floor tracks, one of which is a funky blues number call Dirty, a sound and jam a little more raw most would expect from The Fire, but they weren’t afraid to surprise you. Much like ELO’s Jeff Lynne, the group’s leader, Maurice White is The MAN!