It’s a long way to the top. That’s the best way to describe these two albums which have signs of Earth, Wind & Fire’s eventual greatness, but also leave plenty of *ahem* room for growth. I don’t know whether to blame producer Joe Wissert or just chalk these albums up to growing pains or just the post-psychedelic funk/rock era they were made.
Earth, Wind & Fire
Released: 1971
LP Charts: #24 R&B, #172 pop
Basically this album is a rough approximation of EWF’s classic sound, but I do emphasize rough. The heavenly background vocal arrangements are already there. The horns are blaring away. However, it’s all kind of raggedy. Adding to that rickety feel is the copious electric guitar. Not complaining, just noting since this album is definitely more rock-ish than their future and more famous efforts that smoothed out their sound.
Also, just two of the 10 members of the band that appeared on this album would be around for their platinum success a mere four years later. That’ll be brothers Maurice and Verdine White.
On the plus side, “Moment of Truth” is a really good Sly & the Family Stone impersonation from the “higher” lyrics to the popcorn style passing of lead vocals.
ALBUM GRADE: C
Every song has a funky groove and is performed well, but nothing here really sticks. There aren’t any catchy hooks or real thought-provoking lyrics. And this thing is real short at 29 minutes. Once the record stops spinning, you pretty much forget what you just listened to even if you largely liked it or found it pleasant.
But that’s the tell.
If you had loved it, you woulda remembered more.
Song Scores
Help Somebody: 6/10
Moment of Truth: 7/10
Love Is Life: 6/10
Fan the Fire: 6/10
C’mon Children: 6/10
This World Today: 5/10
Bad Tune: 6/10
The Need Of Love
Released: 1972
LP Charts: #35 R&B, #89 pop
Still no precision as the band is still steeped in psychedelic funk-rock. Or in the case of the nearly 10-minute “Energy”, Miles Davis inspired fusion jazz as much as it is by psychedelic funk-rock. The jazzy sections are actually not that bad, but the funk-rock segments are horrendously sloppy. And the spoken intro by Sherry Scott is absurdly ridiculous.
After a shaky start, “Beauty” does musically anticipate the feel-good pop anthems EWF would one day concoct. Still no dice on catchy vocals hooks though. “Everything Is Everything” is a cover of the Donny Hathaway track, which was done better by Hathaway, but it is still the best song on this album.
Rounding out the album we have “I Can Feel It In My Bones” is funk-rock replete with fuzz guitar. It lacks any true bite, though, since it clumsily shifts over to jazzy interludes. Oh and “I Think About Lovin' You” a boring, mundane soft ballad.
ALBUM GRADE: D
Earth, Wind & Fire may not have been that memorable, but you’re able to stick around for the whole ride. The Need Of Love is a struggle to sit through… and of course isn’t that memorable. The worst EWF album we’ll be seeing for a long while.
Song Scores
Energy: 3/10
Beauty: 6/10
I Can Feel It In My Bones: 4/10
I Think About Lovin’ You: 4/10
Everything is Everything: 6/10