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| Walhello -> Knowledge Base -> CDs -> E -> Earth Wind Amp Fire Head To The Sky |
| Earth Wind & Fire - Head to the Sky Band: Earth Wind & Fire Tracks: - Evil - Keep Your Head to the Sky - Build Your Nest - World's a Masquerade - Clover - Zanzibar Early & rough in their career but still fantastic Some may prefer EWF's more polished, radio-friendly recordings from the mid-to-late 70's, but 1973's "Head To The Sky" is one of their greatest efforts. This early in the game EWF were alerady composing angelic ballads like "World's A Masquerade", displaying their infallible skill for harmony arrangements. The opening track, "Evil" is a mysterious piece, incorporating funk guitars, latin rhythms, ghostly back-up vocals and Maurice White's ever-present kalimba, which is used here to spooky effect. "Build Your Nest" is a favorable funk jam, the ballad "Keep Your Head To The Sky" showcases Phillip Bailey's and Jessica Cleaves' wonderful falsetto voices. The last two tracks, "Clover" and "Zanzibar" incoporate funk, rock, african & latin rhythms into spacious instrumental jams that would become absent from their later records and appear only onstage. The album also features wonderful horn arrangements, all the strengths you hear on this album will be better developed on later efforts. (Also recommended, 1972's "Last Days & Time".) Keep Your Head The Sky With This One... "Head To The Sky" finally saw the group reach its first flowering of maturity; like its predecessor "Last Days And Time" it is a Strong and highly spiritual collection of Afro-funk rockers, ballads and lengthy funk-fusion numbers, but improves on all three counts, and also comes together better as a unified statement. Unusually, it is the only EWF album not to feature the group's trademark horn arragements, but this does not detract from the proceedings one bit; indeed, it allows the group a chance to stretch out in other directions. "Evil" starts the album Strong with a strong, sure groove that is abetted by the kalimba and some stellar harmony vocals; these vocals reach an absolute peak of ecstasy on the title track, which is the most graceful and thought-provoking ballad in the group's repertoire (check out the insanely high pitched final vocal line!). Sitars, electric pianos, fuzzed guitars and kalimbas are mixed in a sound that is both soulful and experimental; The Band make it all come together with disarming ease. The next three tracks follow from there, with the closing instrumental epic "Zanzibar" reminding one of a more relaxed, sophisticated version of "Power" from the previous album--the organ solo in particular is a unique highlight. Although the filler still pops up (this time it's another soppy ballad, "Masquerade", although even this one has its guilty charms) and the overall mood can get a bit *too* relaxed, "Head To The Sky" was a perfect setup for the commercial breakthrough which was to come with the next album. clover is my song 4 life I Love this whole lp EWF was so tight, and funky and proved they were the elements of the world and they could play any style pure funk EWFALWAYS STAYED CONNECTED TO THEIR AFRICAN Roots AND BEYOND. Buy Earth Wind Amp Fire Head To The Sky at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
