Earth, Wind & Fire - Powerlight

Many groups lose the steam that propelled them to the top; Earth, Wind & Fire, contemporary sound and all, were still blazing when this album was released. "Fall in Love With Me" was the first single. With its festive rhythm and sauntering vocals, it became a number four hit on the Billboard R&B charts and a number 17 pop hit. The percolating single "Side by Side" was the second release. The precise horns, sensuous female backing vocals, and Maurice White's animated vocals make this an entertaining piece. Though it should have fared better, it settled in at number 15 on the R&B charts. The final release was "Spread Your Love." The sonically aggressive special effects are contrasted with a soothing chanting chorus. The single peaked at 57. All three of the above feature Maurice White on lead. Throughout the entire album, White's unifying message is fueled by the aggressive rhythms and relaxing melodies. ~ Craig Lytle, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan DeVeritch Viola Allan Harshman Viola Anatol Kaminsky Violin Andrew Woolfolk Sax (Tenor), Wind Arni Egilsson Bass, String Bass Arnold Belnick Violin Assa Drori Concert Master, Violin Azar Lawrence Synthesizer, Keyboards Beloyd Taylor Guitar, Vocals (Background) Bill Hybel Violin Bill Meyers Horn Arrangements Bill Reichenbach Jr. Trombone Bob Sanov Violin Brenton Banks Violin Carole Mukogawa Viola Charles Loper Trombone Chuck Findley Trumpet David Frisina Violin, Concert Master David Schwartz Viola Don Myrick Saxophone, Sax (Soprano) Dorothy Remsen Harp Douglas Davis Cello Earl Madison Cello Eduardo del Barrio Piano, Keyboards Fred White Drums, Percussion Frederick Seykora Cello Gary Grant Trumpet George Bohannon Trombone George DelBarrio Keyboards, Horn Arrangements George Kast Violin Haim Shtrum Violin Harry Bluestone Violin Janet Lakatos Violin Jerry Hey Trumpet, Horn Arrangements Joel Soultanian Viola Karen Jones Violin Larry Corbett Cello Larry Dunn Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming, Piano Lew McCreary Trombone Linn Subotnick Viola Louis Satterfield Trombone Marshall Sosson Violin Maurice White Kalimba, Vocals, Producer, Vocals (Background), Drums Maxayn Lewis Piano Maxine Lewis Piano Meyer Bello Violin Michael Harris Trumpet Mick Guzauski Engineer, Mixing Milton Kestenbaum Viola Miwako Watanabe Violin Ms. Pluto Vocals, Vocals (Background) Nathan Ross Violin Nicole Bush Violin Oscar Brashear Trumpet Pam Tompkins Violin Pamela Goldsmith Viola Pamela Thompkins Violin Paulinho Da Costa Percussion Philip Bailey Vocals, Vocals (Background), Percussion Rahmlee Michael Davis Trumpet Ralph Johnson Drums, Percussion Richard Kelly Keyboards Rick Kelly Keyboards Robert Greenidge Drums (Steel), Percussion Robert Lipsett Violin Robert Spano Assistant Engineer Robert Sushel Violin Roland Bautista Guitar Roland Kato Viola Rollice Dale Viola Ronald Clark Violin Ronald Cooper Cello Shari Zippert Violin Sheldon Sanov Violin Shusei Nagaoka Illustrations Skip Scarborough Percussion, Keyboards Stanley Plummer Violin Steve Crimmel Assistant Engineer Suzie Katayama Cello Tom Perry Mixing Tom Tom Horn Arrangements Verdine White Vocals, Bass Wayne Vaughn Keyboards Zakir Hussain Tabla, Percussion Zakir Hussein Drums