Spirit (Earth, Wind & Fire album)

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Spirit is the seventh studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire, released in September 1976 by Columbia Records. The album reached number 2 on the Billboard Pop and R&B Albums Chart and has been certified double platinum in the US by the RIAA.[1][2] Charles Stepney died during the sessions for Spirit, and Maurice White took over fully the arranging and production duties for the band.

Untitled

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [3]
The Daily Vault(A)[4]
Warr.org     [5]
Music Hound     [6]

Billboard magazine in its review found that the album's "arrangements, songs, sweet floating vocal harmonies and punching instrumental phrases are all best described as impeccable". In his 1999 review of the album Eric Atwell of the Daily Vault notes that "Spirit's tracks are distinct yet cohesive; classic in an album oriented sense, yet still sounding fresh enough to be contemporary".[7][8]

Spirit was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album. The album cut Earth, Wind and Fire was also Grammy nominated for Best Instrumental Composition.[9]

Track listing

Original release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Getaway"Peter Cor, Beloyd Taylor3:47
2."On Your Face"Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Phillip Bailey4:33
3."Imagination"Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Phillip Bailey5:15
4."Spirit"Larry Dunn, Maurice White3:12
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Saturday Nite"Maurice White, Phillip Bailey, Al McKay4:02
6."Earth, Wind & Fire"Maurice White, Skip Scarborough4:40
7."Departure"Larry Dunn, Maurice White0:27
8."Biyo"Maurice White, Al McKay3:37
9."Burnin' Bush"Jerry Peters6:46

2001 reissue

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Getaway"Peter Cor, Beloyd Taylor3:47
2."On Your Face"Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Phillip Bailey4:33
3."Imagination"Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Phillip Bailey5:15
4."Spirit"Larry Dunn, Maurice White3:12
5."Saturday Nite"Maurice White, Phillip Bailey, Al McKay4:02
6."Earth, Wind and Fire"Maurice White, Skip Scarborough4:40
7."Departure"Larry Dunn, Maurice White0:27
8."Biyo"Maurice White, Al McKay3:37
9."Burnin' Bush"Jerry Peters6:46
10."Saturday Nite (Alternate Mix)"Maurice White, Al McKay Phillip Bailey4:55
11."Seraphim"Maurice White, Al McKay Phillip Bailey2:06
12."Imagination (Angels Mix)"Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Phillip Bailey1:02
13."Departure (The Traveler)"Larry Dunn, Maurice White3:37
14."African Symphony"Larry Dunn, Maurice White1:52

[10]

Personnel

Production

Charts

Album – Billboard
Year Chart Position
1976 Black Albums 2
Pop Albums 2
Singles – Billboard
Year Single Chart Position
1976 "Getaway/Saturday Nite" Club Play Singles 9
"Getaway" Black Singles 1
Pop Singles 12
"On Your Face" Black Singles 26
"Saturday Nite" Black Singles 4
Pop Singles 21

[10]

References

  1. ^ Spirit - Charts on Allmuisc.com
  2. ^ RIAA Certification for Spirit
  3. ^ Allmusic review
  4. ^ The Daily Vault review
  5. ^ Warr.org review
  6. ^ Music Hound review
  7. ^ Atwell, Eric (1999-01-14). "The Daily Vault Music Reviews: Spirit". dailyvault.com. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  8. ^ "Billboard's Top Album Picks". Billboard Magazine. Vol. 88, no. 41. October 9, 1976. ISSN 0006-2510.
  9. ^ earthwindandfire.com/bio_awards
  10. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire - That's the Way of the World". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 8, 2009.