I Am

After the Love has Gone // Boogie Wonderland // 3.5/5

I find that whenever there’s a huge song that I recognize like “Boogie Wonderland” the rest of the tracks either serve to contextualize and heighten that track or the rest of the tracks lay bare all of the flaws with the track you do know. This album is absolutely the former. Everything about this album is great. The playing and production are awesome. The song structures are great. It’s just a fun listen.

Ooh, more Earth, Wind & Fire! I went back and check my notes for their album on the main list (it was in my first 100 albums to review), and I gave it four stars. I’m don’t recognize anything on the track listing for this album, but I assume this one will probably fall somewhere close to That’s The Way of The World. Overall, I thought I Am was fine. This album was a nice mix of funk bops and soul ballads, but I didn’t think it really did anything incredibly noteworthy or unique. I feel like I should love this album, because I do enjoy great bass lines, but this album lacked the noteworthy hooks and melodies that I would like to hear alongside those bass grooves. The production is slick, and the disco brightness of this album is nice, but nothing about it really came across as essential listening. I did think that “Boogie Wonderland” was the best song on this album though. With its great bass playing and wonderful vocals, it really did make me want to stand up and dance. Earth, Wind & Fire are great, but this album was just middle of the road to me.

I can't tell you how not in the mood for this I was. It deserves a 5.

Generated on 4th September, so its a shame that song isn't here (I miss the 21st September Youtube guy, what a 5 year run). Opening like the theme tune to Cagney and Lacey, I'm reassured when the funky bass and guitar actually starts about 45 seconds in. Wiki review suggests this is weaker than 3 other record but still good. I only found That's the Way etc to be good, I perhaps didn't let it sit. Anyway "Can't Let Go" is a banger. Everything here is of high quality. If anything, the two mega-famous ones take me out of the rest of the album, make me forget I don't just have the radio on for a second, but they're obviously both incredible songs hence being so massively overplayed.

You mean to tell me that the album with the worldwide hit Boogie Wonderland wasn’t on the original list!?

Disco de estilo discotequero de los años 70, con buen ritmo, canciones pegadizas y bien elaborado. Sin ser un entusiasta de ese estilo, el disco me convence y es algo diferente.

Yeah, this was a great jam. I’ll be listening again.

Earth, Wind & Fire were a hit machine back in the day, and this album proves that. There were only two big singles on this album, but really any song on it could have been one, it's loaded front to back with bangers. As it was released at the height of disco mania, compared to their previous soul and funk works this one is a little more disco, which gives them a much needed boost in energy for mainstream pop appeal. This is brilliant dance music and I think it's at its best when it's letting loose with accessible funk grooves. The soul songs are probably on the weaker end of the album, After the Love Has Gone is brilliant, but EWF excel at more upbeat and energetic music. Not to say it's bad though, if anything they might provide a good counterbalance to the disco songs to keep the album from getting stale. It's hard to criticize the album because I don't think it has any important flaws. I'm going to keep this album to cheer me up when I'm in a bad mood, or for when I just want to enjoy life. Should it be in the list: I think so, yes. EWF are a band that probably deserve multiple albums, I'd even say this one is more deserving than the one currently on the list. Top 3 songs: Can't Let Go, After the Love Has Gone, Boogie Wonderland

3.1 I enjoyed the EW&F album that appeared in the main list so was looking forward to this. This album didn't reach those heights though, I enjoyed Boogie Wonderland though it seemed a bit basic. The rest of the album was pretty tepid though, nothing really stood out as better than average.

They're obviously good at what they do but I don't know that I particularly needed another Earth, Wind and Fire album after the one on the main list. I have a distinct memory of hearing "After the Love Has Gone" while having dental work so maybe that's affecting my personal bias here. But yeah, they make some good music.

In the Stone - 8 Can't Let Go - 8 After the Love Has Gone - 9 Let Your Feelings Show - 9 Boogie Wonderland - 10 Star - 6 Wait - 5 Rock That! - 8 You and I - 7

Album #11 (1001 challenge extended): "I Am" by Earth, Wind & Fire (1978) "I Am" is the ninth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire. R&B, soul, funk and disco are the Wiki-listed genres. The band included Philip Bailey (vocals, congas, percussion), Maurice White (vocals, drums, kalimba, producer), Larry Dunn (piano, synthesizers), Johnny Graham (guitars), Al McKay (guitars), Verdine White (bass), Fred White (drums), Ralph Johnson (percussion) and Andrew Woolfolk (tenor saxophone). 50+ additional musicians also contributed. Commercially, the album reached #3 in the US and #5 in the UK and, critically, it had generally positive reviews specifically for its production and musicianship. "In the Stone" opens the album with drum beats, blaring horns carrying the melody and a Latin percussion. A groovy guitar and bass. White and Bailey on vocals. Strings in the background. Ah, true love. An uplifting smooth R&B pop song. "Can't Let Go" starts with horns again but is faster paced with a harder groove. There's horn breaks. The synth is featured in an interlude and solo. "After the Love is Gone" is a slower ballad with a piano and synth. It builds with fantastic Bailey-White harmonies. Various horn fills in a soft-loud-soft song. And that alto sax solo by Don Myrick near the end. The disco really gets going on the second side with "Boogie Wonderland." Horns charges with a funky bass. White with deeper vocals and the Emotions giving those female backing vocals. A string interlude. "Star" features a Moog synth and strings at the beginning. A funky groove kicks in and the Bailey falsetto. Harmonies, layers of music and horns giving a New Orleans jazzy vibe. Horn and piano-driven melodies with funky and at times disco rhythm section. Smooth, pop/R&B, ballads, funky and disco with elements of jazz occasionally. Flawless lead and backing vocals and harmonies by Bailey and White. Tremendous songcraft. This album really took me back to that late 70's period. Maybe not reaching some of their previous early to mid-70's album heights but still a solid album. And, it sounded quite good today. 3.5 out 5

As good as the one on the mainlist.

DISCOOOO

Should have been in the book. Better than their other album that they did include.

Better than the one on the main list!

I’ve loved the hits from them my entire life and was gratified to know that a whole album is just as solid

I think therefore I disco.

it was

Damn! You have to love EW&F. The bass line hits hard in basically every song. The funk and groove, the sax and the soul are just to die for. Superb album, better than the one included in the main list. So many influences and "borrowed" samples. Banger after banger. Superb!

Proper disco album. Good fun and nothing to complain about here.

That was the greatest disco album ever made. Perfection start to finish, perfect polish and still has soul

Well after the political punk of yesterday this was a very smooth groove. Fave: In the Stone

Nice - I enjoyed this more than "That's The Way Of The World" as it had fewer ballads. Fewer ballads that grated, anyway. Fave tracks - "Boogie Wonderland" is the one I knew going in, and it's pretty iconic. I also dug "Rock That", and "Dirty (Junior's Juke)", which I see now is a bonus track...

This actually should have been on the original list.

I wish I was around when this came out.. seems like such an amazing time to be alive.

I know I am going to love this album. Boogie Wonderland is transcendent. Very excellent but I don't think its a 5 for me.

Pure happy funk, if a bit on the baroque side. The sheen on the horns (and outfits and hair styles, including chest hair if memory serves) is such that one feels the need to wear sunglasses whilst listening. Maybe a touch below the overall quality of Way of the World (but that’s still a very elevated position). The power stack of horns and vocals is outstanding, one of a kind really, and the spiritual uplift/life optimism is also very much a feature. One wonders if hip-hop should be interpreted as a reaction (counterrevolution) to this form of over-the-top funk as punk was to classic/arena rock. Also worth asking if disco net-net benefitted EWF or made them seem tired and bloated and too mainstream before their time. At any rate this is a delight and certainly merits a position on list proper – EWF deserves two slots, easy, so good call, recommender.

EWF firing on all cylinders. This is perhaps the peak of disco-funk as we know it. Supported by the immutable Phenix Horns, EWF delivers a bonafide party in 37 minutes. Hard to find a bad thing about an album that's so awe-inspiring and hopeful, it's just so full of life. CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: Absolutely. What a jam!

A fun jam from beginning to end. I thought Rock That! got cooking in a particularly tasty way. Good share.

10/10 I feel like you have to be suspicious of someone who doesn’t like EW&F, like that’s an automatic red flag

So fucking groovy, so fucking groovy, so fucking groovy. Not much range, but this is so fun and so fucking groovy. 4/5

Perfect for the dancefloor, a few ballads vary the tempo. Happy music for happy times

Polished & passable disco funk I suppose but it's all a bit tired and vapid. Good as it is, Boogie Wonderland can't carry the rest of the album

A little slice of disco magic. Like a cute friend (who is obsessed with Dr Who and won't shut up).

It's a shame that there wasn't more Earth, Wind, & Fire on the original list. This is good stuff.

This is one of those albums I thought I should love, but I like. It souds ike something "essential" and "influential", but for me it's just "likable, what do you have next?"

I was so sure that “That’s the Way of the World” was going to be my last album on the original list. When I got towards the end of the list, I did all the math, compiled a list of remaining albums and the day before I finished, I was 99% sure that it was going to be the last one generated. Imagine my surprise when it was actually the Mamas and the Papas. You see, “That’s the Way of the World” left such a small impact on me that I forgot I listened to it in the first 100 records. I didn’t even write a review for it. In one ear and out the other, I suppose. So when I saw the reviews here saying that this is the album that should’ve been on the list, I was cautiously optimistic. Well, my cautious optimism soured pretty quickly, sorry to say. Not because it’s disco(ish), but because it’s slick and glossy - which is a hallmark of disco, I suppose - but there’s more to it than just that…it comes across as tepid. Maybe I’ve been influenced by George Clinton’s assessment of the band on the Funkadelic track “Let’s Take it to the Stage”: “Earth, Hot Air and No Fire”. Maybe that’s unfair, but outside of one track, “Let Your Feelings Show”, the heat just wasn’t there for me. I get that they’re different bands; that Earth, Wind and Fire was probably catering to a more mainstream audience than Clinton and that might account for the less aggressive attitude in their brand of Funk. …and don’t get me started on “Rock That!”, which feels like it might possibly be an answer song to “Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock” from Funkadelic’s 1978 LP, One Nation Under A Groove? Am I just inventing beef between these two bands at this point? I think I might be. I guess my point is, this record didn’t really move me in the way I would hope a funk record would.

En stabil trea.

Excellent submission

Hell yeah, I Am is quality. Funky, soulful, super fun, a few all time hits, can't really ask for more. 5/5 every time, impossible not to have a good time with. We had a different album of theirs on the main list and this is SO much better.

R&B, soul, funk, disco. Ni fu ni fa.

R&B, soul, funk, disco. Ni fu ni fa.

Great disco bump from back when I was alive

It was good. It’s not the type of music I usually listen to but I liked it.

Really flawlessly produced R&B. It sounds so clean and beautiful.

That sure was Earth, Wind & Fire.

This album kicks off brilliantly. “In the Stone” and “Can’t Let Go” set the tone with pure disco-funk energy, and “Boogie Wonderland” iwill of course make you move. Even the ballads, like “After the Love Has Gone,” work far better here than on some of their earlier records, like the one on the original list. But the album peaks early. The last three tracks don’t hold up to the sparkle of the opening run and drift into more middle-of-the-road funk. A strong, danceable record, even if the momentum fades toward the end.

Harmless

Loved it

Great record. Not my usual sound, but I found my toes tapping along to this.

Possibly better than the selection on the official list

Almost too funky.

Just like the Egyptian ruins shown on *I Am*'s artwork, Earth Wind And Fire's hits have been deservedly preserved in public consciousness, to the detriment of their albums' deeper cuts, now mostly forgotten and buried in the sand. The question is, which albums from their golden age in the late seventies harbored the most valuable deeper cuts? Let's all pretend we are archeologists here. After all, isn't that what we're all doing on a daily basis with this generator? There seems to be two groups of listeners when it comes to *I Am* (1979): those who think this LP is their highest achievement in the album format -- quite a large one given the incredibly high global score given to the record -- and those who consider it marks the start of their artistic decline, in spite of the legendary success of single "Boogie Wonderland". I have to admit I am part of the smaller second group, along with a lot of "professional critics" out there. Not that I always agree with them, but here I definitely do. In general terms, *I Am* favors a 100% commercially-minded effort -- a somewhat watered down, more streamlined version of the band's funk craft. Not unpleasant to listen to, yet not as rewarding as previous full-length releases from them. I don't mind the more pronounced disco influences, it made sense that EWF would eventually catch that train, even if belatedly. What I do object to is the rather formulaic approach to the tracklist, which lazily uses the three clear highlights in the record (the sensational opener "In The Stone", proudly showcasing a trademark bombastic horn section and killer vocal harmonies ; the groovy and iconic "Boogie Wonderland"; the classic ballad "After The Love Has Gone") as a template to then copy and paste their elements and intents on far lesser compositions, instead of trying to explore other territories. Hits don't necessarily yield to great LPs, unless you cram more and more of them in a tracklist. Ironically, EWF could have done so. If only they had included "September" in the tracklist (their most famous and recognizable song, released both as a single and as part of a compilation released the year before), the album would have appeared as more solid overall. The other option would have implied including more daring, quote-unquote "experimental" elements. Like, something akin to the fun and lively Brazilian influences found on previous LP *All 'n All* (maybe my favorite of theirs, in spite of the fact that the only timeless hit in it is "Fantasy"). Alas, Maurice White and his brothers / companions do none of those things. And you can clearly sense a lack of stakes on the second side of this album as a result. Crucially, this is also the album where Maurice White started to systematically hire the help of outside writers -- didn't know that before, but I was definitely not surprised when I read the credits of the songs. For me, this conveys the idea that his heart was not fully in it, and that the main idea was to capitalize on the good work that had been done so far. Fine, maybe he had no choice after all if he wanted the band to remain relevant just a little longer. But you can definitely feel something has changed in *I Am*, and not always for the best. Let's be honest for one second here: if really all you want on your shelves is catchy and memorable EWF songs, a "greatest hits" collection will get you covered. But if what you want is a good funk studio album that's varied and dynamic enough, there are definitely better choices in Earth Wind And Fire's discography. Not all the best archeological finds get retrieved at the Temple of Memphis or the Giza Pyramids. Sometimes you have to dig a little further into the desert. 2.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 3. 7.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 2.5) ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 26 Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 38 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 68 (including this one) --- Émile, j'ai mis ma dernière réponse sous l'album de The 1975 au dessus...

Yes. This album! Funk and disco and a horn section for the gods. There’s a great deal of cocaine in this record, to be sure, but isn’t a little recreational sniff coupled with artistic genius what we’re all admiring? This record slaps and stands up well to the horrors of time.

Loved it! Definitely a unique album deserving to be on the list!

It's fun.

Not my thing

Real nice

Great

4.5

Borderline disco, but somehow not terrible, probably thanks to the broader base of influences (and variety of songwriters and producers)

The smoother side of disco funk of the late 70s

A whole album was a bit much.

Get up and DANCE! Music that puts me in a very good mood

Boogy

This was more the EW&F I know (and not the one in the main list which I gave a 4/5). The two big hits just make you wanna strut your funky stuff or smooze drunkenly on the dancefloor late night at a wedding whichever takes your fancy. Just how they ever made any money is beyond me- there were about 18 of them (I mean look at the wiki for the past members). Seriously though this is top edge - Funk, Fusion, Disco and everything else thrown in. It just make you want to move!

More Earth, Wind & Fire 🙏 I won’t say no to that

Absolutely delightful. While I'm not as keen on the slower numbers, it's still a great album from the dying days of disco.

I fondly remember being introduced to this album by a former colleague who put it on during an otherwise tedious shift manning our office’s reception area. Very little work was done as we were just vibing out to this. In the Stone is an incredible opener, After the Love Has Gone is a picture perfect ballad, Boogie Wonderland is obviously massive - those are probably my favourite three but there’s really not a bad song on here In my 4-star review of the EWF album on the main list (That’s the Way of the World), I sung its praises but noted it’s not as good as I Am. After relistening to I Am, I definitely stand by that. This shit slaps

Awesome disco-y goodness! Groovin' through a boogie wonderland!

Phenomenal! Could not be better.

Does the list need another Earth, Wind and Fire album? When that album is home to one of the best dance floor classics ever, “Boogie Wonderland” - YES! Not to mention that perfect slow-dance number “After the Love Is Gone”. I hadn’t listened to this before and it would have been worthwhile with only those two tracks, but the rest of the album is a lot of fun. Nothing but upturned thumbs from me… there’s always room for more Earth, Wind and Fire!

Well hell yeah. This is way better than the other Earth, Wind & Fire album on the list. It's so good. Just killing it on every single level. Boogie Wonderland is just such a good song that makes you get up and dance. Just go watch some soul train and enjoy. My personal rating: 5/5 My rating relative to the list: 5/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Absolutely. A better pick than the original for sure.

To cite my almost 3 year old review of the EW&F album that was on the original list: "Listening to Earth, Wind & Fire gives me the same vibes as watching UFO sightings on Youtube." Still haven't figured out what that truly means, but it's true. Anyways, this is pretty alright.

Always love a little EWF! I know I’ve heard Boogie Wonderland in some movies before too. Great album cover!

Love these guys, always a pleasure. Some great songs on here!

Yep there is room for two Earth, Wind and fire albums on the list, can make a good argument why this is actually their best album,

Yep. This is mint and skill. Any band that wrote Boogie Wonderland can rest easy knowing they are ALL TIME.

It's earth, wind, and fire; of course it's good.

I mean, man, if you know anyone who doesn't jam with this even a little, maybe consider giving them some distance. It's just a pleasant, fun album that gets your feet tapping. Notes of city pop and some maybe some easy listening, just solid grooves. That bridge groove change on "Let Your Feelings Show" is immaculate. Favorite tracks: "In The Stone", "Let Your Feelings Show", "You And I"

Is it possible to listen to EWF and not have a good time? I don’t think so. This is a solid album with a classic in boogie wonderland. This album has more funk and soul in one song than some do in whole albums now. EWF can never be recreated. They were locked in in their era and provided some of the best soul music ever. This is a solid album. 7.7/10

Nokkuð gott. Ekki þeirra besta, en samt tveir algjörir bangerar á þessu!

It’s a good time, you can party to this record!

Some of their greatest hits on this album and through there is the definitive EW&F sound. It does sound a little dated now though, still very listenable thought

R&B, soul, funk, disco. Ni fu ni fa.

A 37 minute visit to a wonderland of boogie. Rating: 4 Playlist track: Boogie Wonderland Date listened: 24/09/24

Pretty good funky album. I'm pretty sure some of these songs are party staples. Probably not as popular as the Village People, but still pretty darn popular.

There's nothing really like Boogie Wonderland... an absolute banger. After the Love is Gone certainly also stands out, though it's not enough to carry an entire album of otherwise just serviceable 70's disco/r&b/funk.

Just jam after jam after jam

Nice funky album with Boogie Wonderland as a highlight, but also some forgettable songs.

Fantastic album.

Good in places, dragged in others. Still worth a listen.

I liked this one more than the ones in the original list

This was a great album. I did not grow up with Earth, Wind, & Fire but have enjoyed listening to them. I’m more familiar with p-funk and Motown but this is much more smooth and produced. The horns are great and the whole album is very well balanced. I think I’ll be revisiting this one.

Vibrant, funky and unabashedly earnest in a way few artists can get away with. If you're in need of a little positivity in your life, you really can't go wrong with a little Earth Wind & Fire. Slightly uneven in quality from song to song, but when the band gets it right this absolutely cooks. "After the Love Has Gone" is a soft soul ballad for the ages. Fave Songs: Boogie Wonderland, After the Love Has Gone, Let Your Feelings Show, You and I, Star

Solid.

First album after the official list which is a genuine 5 star.

That funk, that schmalz, and that rock, carried by that bass. Should have been in the original list. Favorites: Boogie Wonderland and Rock that.