One week ago, the Owl covered Chicago, “a rock and roll band with horns”. There was another horn band from the Windy City that formed at about the same time, but didn’t get any real traction in the charts until six years later. In 1975, Earth, Wind & Fire hit the big time, with Shining Star skyrocketing to number 1 on Billboard’s US Hot 100 and US R&B charts.
Often overlooked and underrated, Earth, Wind & Fire was hard to put in a box. Their immense talent allowed the group to shine in multiple genres including soul, R&B, pop, Latin, jazz, funk, disco, dance, and Afro pop.
You might not recognize any of the first four tunes in this playlist, but they were minor hits that got EWF on the charts before Shining Star made them international celebrities. It’s all great music.
1973
Keep Your Head to the Sky (5:12)
1974
Mighty Mighty (3:04)
1974
Kalimba Story (4:03)
1975
Shining Star (2:51)
1975
That’s The Way of The World (5:48)
1975
Sing a Song (3:25)
1976
Getaway (3:48)
1977
Serpentine Fire (3:52)
1978
Fantasy (4:39)
1978
Got to Get You Into My Life (4:03)
1978
September (3:36)
1979
Boogie Wonderland (4:53)
1979
After The Love Has Gone (4:39)
1981
Let’s Groove (3:55)
