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|rev6score = (favourable)<ref name=Baltimore>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/370346676/|title=There is more to black rock music than meets the white audience's ears|page=60|date=November 15, 1981|author=[[J.D. Considine|Considine, J.D.]]|publisher=[[Baltimore Sun]]|website=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|rev6score = (favourable)<ref name=Baltimore>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/370346676/|title=There is more to black rock music than meets the white audience's ears|page=60|date=November 15, 1981|author=[[J.D. Considine|Considine, J.D.]]|publisher=[[Baltimore Sun]]|website=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|rev7 = [[Musician (magazine)|Musician]]
|rev7 = [[Musician (magazine)|Musician]]
|rev7Score = (favourable)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/962646665|title=RECORD REVIEWS: Earth, Wind & Fire|author=Palmer, Don|date=January 1, 1982|page=83 & 84|issue=39|publisher=[[Musician (magazine)|Musician]]|website=proquest.com}}</ref>
|rev7Score = (favourable)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/962646665|title=RECORD REVIEWS: Earth, Wind & Fire|author=Palmer, Don|date=January 1, 1982|page=83 & 84|issue=39|publisher=[[Musician (magazine)|Musician]]|website=proquest.com|id={{ProQuest|962646665}}}}</ref>
|rev8 = [[Record Mirror]]
|rev8 = [[Record Mirror]]
|rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=RecordMirror>{{cite magazine|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!|author=Coulthard, Alan|page=14|volume=28|issue=46|publisher=[[Record Mirror]]}}</ref>
|rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=RecordMirror>{{cite magazine|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!|author=Coulthard, Alan|page=14|volume=28|issue=46|publisher=[[Record Mirror]]}}</ref>
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[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] gave a 3 out of 5 star rating stating "And while there are no surprises here, the group offers another session of class music, fortified by strong melodies and appealing lyrics. The skilled blend of classic funk and mainstream values guarantees wide acceptance for this release. The groups shifts nicely from mellow ballads such as 'My Love' to upbeat material such as '[[Let's Groove]]'."<ref name=PI /> With a 7 out of 10 rating Fred Dellar of [[Smash Hits]] found that "White's production is impeccable; the vocals float and flare, the horns urge you onto the dance-floor and the rhythms make you stay there".<ref name=Smash /> Hugh Wyatt of [[The New York Daily News]] described the LP as "a real gem".<ref name=NYDN /> With a 4 out of 5 stars rating [[Ken Tucker]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said "With each new album, Earth, Wind and Fire remain relatively true to their original sound: elaborate, neatly orchestral funk, influenced equally by American and African sources. But the band also keeps its ear to the radio. Accordingly, Raise! reflects the current wave of street-gritty black pop, from [[Lakeside (band)|Lakeside]] to [[Rick James]]. Most of the tracks crank up the bass and feature rattling percussion that scrapes against the beat." Tucker added "On Raise!, White’s romanticism is slinkier, more seductive."<ref name=RS /> With a four out of five stars rating Alan Coulthard of [[Record Mirror]] found that Raise! "sizzles from start to finish".<ref name=RecordMirror /> [[People (magazine)|People]] exclaimed EW&F's "New Age songs are ingenious sonic tapestries that blend tribal chants, zesty horns, brilliantly varied percussion, funky-flavored guitar rhythms and 2001-ish synthesizer sounds. Here an instrumental called Kalimba Tree melds into the LP’s best cut, You Are a Winner, which has White’s lead vocals bobbing and weaving with Philip Bailey’s. The lyrics are mostly power-of-positive-thinking messages that might thrill [[Norman Vincent Peale]] but are no match for the music’s complexity."<ref name=People>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-raise-vol-17-no-2/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Raise!|date=January 18, 1982|publisher=[[People (magazine)|People]]|website=people.com}}</ref> [[Richard Williams (journalist)|Richard Williams]] of ''[[The Times]]'' wrote "Paring away the overachievement of [[Faces (Earth, Wind & Fire album)|Faces]], EW&F return to something like their best form".<ref name=Times>{{cite news|first= Richard |last= Williams |authorlink= Richard Williams (journalist) |title= Jazz/Rock |newspaper= [[The Times]] |date= November 6, 1981 |page= 40}}</ref>
[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] gave a 3 out of 5 star rating stating "And while there are no surprises here, the group offers another session of class music, fortified by strong melodies and appealing lyrics. The skilled blend of classic funk and mainstream values guarantees wide acceptance for this release. The groups shifts nicely from mellow ballads such as 'My Love' to upbeat material such as '[[Let's Groove]]'."<ref name=PI /> With a 7 out of 10 rating Fred Dellar of [[Smash Hits]] found that "White's production is impeccable; the vocals float and flare, the horns urge you onto the dance-floor and the rhythms make you stay there".<ref name=Smash /> Hugh Wyatt of [[The New York Daily News]] described the LP as "a real gem".<ref name=NYDN /> With a 4 out of 5 stars rating [[Ken Tucker]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said "With each new album, Earth, Wind and Fire remain relatively true to their original sound: elaborate, neatly orchestral funk, influenced equally by American and African sources. But the band also keeps its ear to the radio. Accordingly, Raise! reflects the current wave of street-gritty black pop, from [[Lakeside (band)|Lakeside]] to [[Rick James]]. Most of the tracks crank up the bass and feature rattling percussion that scrapes against the beat." Tucker added "On Raise!, White’s romanticism is slinkier, more seductive."<ref name=RS /> With a four out of five stars rating Alan Coulthard of [[Record Mirror]] found that Raise! "sizzles from start to finish".<ref name=RecordMirror /> [[People (magazine)|People]] exclaimed EW&F's "New Age songs are ingenious sonic tapestries that blend tribal chants, zesty horns, brilliantly varied percussion, funky-flavored guitar rhythms and 2001-ish synthesizer sounds. Here an instrumental called Kalimba Tree melds into the LP’s best cut, You Are a Winner, which has White’s lead vocals bobbing and weaving with Philip Bailey’s. The lyrics are mostly power-of-positive-thinking messages that might thrill [[Norman Vincent Peale]] but are no match for the music’s complexity."<ref name=People>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-raise-vol-17-no-2/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Raise!|date=January 18, 1982|publisher=[[People (magazine)|People]]|website=people.com}}</ref> [[Richard Williams (journalist)|Richard Williams]] of ''[[The Times]]'' wrote "Paring away the overachievement of [[Faces (Earth, Wind & Fire album)|Faces]], EW&F return to something like their best form".<ref name=Times>{{cite news|first= Richard |last= Williams |authorlink= Richard Williams (journalist) |title= Jazz/Rock |newspaper= [[The Times]] |date= November 6, 1981 |page= 40}}</ref>
[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] noted that "breathtaking production and a perscussive, non stop fusion of funk and rock power light up the entire album".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1438347097|title=Music Records: Record Reviews - Albums|date=December 2, 1981|page=89|issue=5|volume=305|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|website=proquest.com}}</ref> [[Barney Hoskyns]] of [[New Musical Express|NME]] said "Raise! is a thundering collection of the best noises around, urgent, controlled and meticulously glossy. Horns pump and spurt in golden ecstasy, percussion stamps and cracks through the usual mass of nibbling guitars and synthesizers, and White's voice is as strong and soaring as ever".<ref name=NME2 />
[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] noted that "breathtaking production and a perscussive, non stop fusion of funk and rock power light up the entire album".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1438347097|title=Music Records: Record Reviews - Albums|date=December 2, 1981|page=89|issue=5|volume=305|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|website=proquest.com|id={{ProQuest|1438347097}}}}</ref> [[Barney Hoskyns]] of [[New Musical Express|NME]] said "Raise! is a thundering collection of the best noises around, urgent, controlled and meticulously glossy. Horns pump and spurt in golden ecstasy, percussion stamps and cracks through the usual mass of nibbling guitars and synthesizers, and White's voice is as strong and soaring as ever".<ref name=NME2 />
[[The Village Voice]]'s [[Robert Christgau]] proclaimed EWF "turn their sparkling harmonies and powerful groove into a pure, contentless display of virtuosity".<ref name=RC /> As well [[J.D. Considine]] of the [[Baltimore Sun]] wrote "Raise! puts Earth, Wind & Fire back on the [[rock and roll]] road".<ref name=Baltimore />
[[The Village Voice]]'s [[Robert Christgau]] proclaimed EWF "turn their sparkling harmonies and powerful groove into a pure, contentless display of virtuosity".<ref name=RC /> As well [[J.D. Considine]] of the [[Baltimore Sun]] wrote "Raise! puts Earth, Wind & Fire back on the [[rock and roll]] road".<ref name=Baltimore />


Revision as of 05:19, 1 November 2020

Raise!
Cover art by Shusei Nagaoka
Studio album by
Earth, Wind & Fire
ReleasedOctober 1981
RecordedMay–September 1981
StudioARC/George Massenburg Studio
(Los Angeles, California)
Sunset Sounds Recording Studio
(Hollywood, California)
GenreR&B, soul, funk, post-disco
Length38:08
LabelARC/Columbia
ProducerMaurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
Faces
(1980) 		Raise!
(1981) 		Powerlight
(1983)
Singles from Raise!
  1. "Let's Groove"
    Released: September 1981
  2. "Wanna Be with You"
    Released: December 1981
  3. "I've Had Enough"
    Released: January 1982
Back cover
The back cover of Raise!

Raise! is the eleventh studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire issued in October 1981 by ARC/Columbia Records.[1] The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.[2][3] Raise! has been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA, Gold in the UK by the BPI and Gold in Canada by Music Canada.[4][5][6]

Overview

Raise! was produced by bandleader Maurice White. The album spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard Top R&B albums charts.[2][7]

Raise! marked the return to EWF of rhythm guitarist Roland Bautista, who last played upon 1972's Last Days and Time. The LP was also reissued in 2015 with seven bonus tracks.[8]

Singles

Off the album came the single "Let's Groove" which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[9][10] A song called "I've Had Enough" also got to No. 29 on the UK Pop Singles chart.[11]

Another song entitled "Wanna Be With You" rose to No. 15 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.[12] Wanna Be With You also won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Rolling Stone[15]
Village Voice(B+)[16]
The Times(favourable)[17]
NME(favourable)[18]
Baltimore Sun(favourable)[19]
Musician(favourable)[20]
Record Mirror[21]
Philadelphia Inquirer[22]
LA Weekly(B-)[23]
Smash Hits(7/10)[24]
New York Daily News(favourable)[25]

The Philadelphia Inquirer gave a 3 out of 5 star rating stating "And while there are no surprises here, the group offers another session of class music, fortified by strong melodies and appealing lyrics. The skilled blend of classic funk and mainstream values guarantees wide acceptance for this release. The groups shifts nicely from mellow ballads such as 'My Love' to upbeat material such as 'Let's Groove'."[22] With a 7 out of 10 rating Fred Dellar of Smash Hits found that "White's production is impeccable; the vocals float and flare, the horns urge you onto the dance-floor and the rhythms make you stay there".[24] Hugh Wyatt of The New York Daily News described the LP as "a real gem".[25] With a 4 out of 5 stars rating Ken Tucker of Rolling Stone said "With each new album, Earth, Wind and Fire remain relatively true to their original sound: elaborate, neatly orchestral funk, influenced equally by American and African sources. But the band also keeps its ear to the radio. Accordingly, Raise! reflects the current wave of street-gritty black pop, from Lakeside to Rick James. Most of the tracks crank up the bass and feature rattling percussion that scrapes against the beat." Tucker added "On Raise!, White’s romanticism is slinkier, more seductive."[15] With a four out of five stars rating Alan Coulthard of Record Mirror found that Raise! "sizzles from start to finish".[21] People exclaimed EW&F's "New Age songs are ingenious sonic tapestries that blend tribal chants, zesty horns, brilliantly varied percussion, funky-flavored guitar rhythms and 2001-ish synthesizer sounds. Here an instrumental called Kalimba Tree melds into the LP’s best cut, You Are a Winner, which has White’s lead vocals bobbing and weaving with Philip Bailey’s. The lyrics are mostly power-of-positive-thinking messages that might thrill Norman Vincent Peale but are no match for the music’s complexity."[26] Richard Williams of The Times wrote "Paring away the overachievement of Faces, EW&F return to something like their best form".[17] Variety noted that "breathtaking production and a perscussive, non stop fusion of funk and rock power light up the entire album".[27] Barney Hoskyns of NME said "Raise! is a thundering collection of the best noises around, urgent, controlled and meticulously glossy. Horns pump and spurt in golden ecstasy, percussion stamps and cracks through the usual mass of nibbling guitars and synthesizers, and White's voice is as strong and soaring as ever".[18] The Village Voice's Robert Christgau proclaimed EWF "turn their sparkling harmonies and powerful groove into a pure, contentless display of virtuosity".[16] As well J.D. Considine of the Baltimore Sun wrote "Raise! puts Earth, Wind & Fire back on the rock and roll road".[19]

Music critic Nelson George also placed Raise in his ballot for the 1981 Village Voice Pazz and Jop poll.[28]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let's Groove"Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White5:37
2."Lady Sun"Bernard “Beloyd” Taylor3:39
3."My Love"Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White4:35
4."Evolution Orange"David Foster, Nan O'Byrne, M. White4:37
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Kalimba Tree"Maurice White, Verdine White, Jerry Hey0:25
6."You Are a Winner"Beloyd Taylor4:09
7."I've Had Enough"Philip Bailey, Greg Phillinganes, Brenda Russell4:36
8."Wanna Be with You"Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White4:36
9."The Changing Times"Beloyd Taylor, Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White5:54

[1]

2015 Expanded Version Bonus Tracks[8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Wanna Be With You" (Single Version)Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White3:58
11."Kalimba Tree" (12" Long Version)Jerry Hey, M. White3:49
12."Let's Groove" (Special Remixed Holiday Version)Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White6:44
13."Let's Groove" (Single Version)Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White4:07
14."Let's Groove" (Instrumental)Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White4:01
15."I've Had Enough" (7" Version)Philip Bailey, Greg Phillinganes, Brenda Russell3:53
16."The Changing Times" (7" Version)Beloyd Taylor4:45

Personnel

Production

  • Philip Bailey – co-producer (7)
  • Tony Calvert - reissue producer
  • Roger Carpenter - art direction, design
  • Larry Dunn – production assistant
  • David Foster – string arrangements (4)
  • Ken Fowler – recording engineer (basic tracks)
  • Mick Guzauski – recording engineer (horn and string overdubs), audio mixing
  • Jerry Hey- horn arrangements (2, 4, 6, 8–9)
  • Stephen McManus – assistant engineer (basic tracks)
  • Billy Meyers – horn arrangements, string arrangements (1, 3, 7)
  • Shusei Nagaoka – illustration
  • Ron Pendragon – recording engineer (basic tracks)
  • Tom Perry – recording engineer (vocal overdubs), audio mixing
  • Maurice White – original recording producer
  • Verdine White – production assistant[1]

Charts

Album
Year Chart Position
1981 US Billboard Top Soul Albums 1
US Billboard 200 5
Dutch Albums (Dutch Album Top 100) 3[29]
Japanese Albums (Oricon) 7[30]
Sweden Albums

(Veckolista Album)

9[31]
UK Pop Albums 11[11]
Norwegian Albums (VG-Lista) 18[32]
Canada RPM 50 Albums 25[33]
German Albums

(Offizielle Top 100)

30[34]
1982 New Zealand Albums Chart 19[35]
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1981 "Let's Groove/I've Had Enough" US Billboard Dance Club Songs 3
"Let's Groove" US Billboard Hot Soul Songs 1
US Billboard Hot 100 3
UK Pop Singles 3[11]
Dutch Singles (Dutch Single Top 100) 5[36]
Belgian Singles (Ultratop 50 Singles) 9[37]
1982 I've Had Enough" UK Pop Singles 29[11]
"Wanna Be With You" Billboard Hot Soul Songs 15
Billboard Hot 100 51

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[38] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[39] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[41] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
NME[42] U.K Albums of the Year 1981 16
Village Voice[43] U.S Dean's List 1981 49

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!. ARC/Columbia Records. 1981.
  2. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise! (Top R&B Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  3. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise! (Billboard 200)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  4. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". riaa.com. RIAA.
  5. ^ "BPI Certification for Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". British Phonographic Industry.
  6. ^ "Music Canada Certification for Earth, Wind & Fire". Music Canada.com.
  7. ^ Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums of 1982
  8. ^ a b Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise! (Expanded ed.). Funky Town Grooves/Columbia Records/Sony Music. 2015.
  9. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Let's Groove (Hot R&B Songs)". billboard.com.
  10. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Let's Groove (Hot 100)". billboard.com.
  11. ^ a b c d "Earth, Wind & Fire". officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company.
  12. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Wanna Be With You (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  13. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
  14. ^ Rhulmann, William. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  15. ^ a b Tucker, Ken (February 4, 1982). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
  16. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
  17. ^ a b Williams, Richard (November 6, 1981). "Jazz/Rock". The Times. p. 40.
  18. ^ a b Hoskyns, Barney (November 14, 1981). Raise High The Cosmic Booty. New Musical Express. p. 37.
  19. ^ a b Considine, J.D. (November 15, 1981). "There is more to black rock music than meets the white audience's ears". newspapers.com. Baltimore Sun. p. 60.
  20. ^ Palmer, Don (January 1, 1982). "RECORD REVIEWS: Earth, Wind & Fire". proquest.com. No. 39. Musician. p. 83 & 84. ProQuest 962646665.
  21. ^ a b Coulthard, Alan. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". Vol. 28, no. 46. Record Mirror. p. 14. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  22. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise". newspapers.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 22, 1981. p. 114.
  23. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise". newspapers.com. LA Weekly. December 24, 1981. p. 19.
  24. ^ a b Dellar, Fred (November 12, 1981). Albums. Smash Hits. p. 25.
  25. ^ a b Wyatt, Hugh (December 13, 1981). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise". newspapers.com. New York Daily News. p. 322.
  26. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Raise!". people.com. People. January 18, 1982.
  27. ^ "Music Records: Record Reviews - Albums". proquest.com. Vol. 305, no. 5. Variety. December 2, 1981. p. 89. ProQuest 1438347097.
  28. ^ "The Eighth (or Ninth) Annual Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice. February 1, 1982.
  29. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  30. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  31. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". swedishcharts.com. Sverigetopplistan.
  32. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". norwegiancharts.com. VG-Lista.
  33. ^ "RPM 50 Albums".
  34. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment charts.
  35. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". charts.nz. Official New Zealand Music Chart.
  36. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Let's Groove (Dutch Top 40)". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  37. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Let's Groove". ultratop.be. Ultratop.
  38. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Raise". Music Canada.
  39. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Raise')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  40. ^ "British album certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Raise". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Raise in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  41. ^ "American album certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Raise". Recording Industry Association of America.
  42. ^ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". nme.com. New Musical Express.
  43. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Pazz & Jop 1981: Dean's List". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.


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