"Devotion"
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album Open Our Eyes
B-side"Fair But So Uncool"
Released1974
Recorded1973
GenreR&B
Length3:30 (single version) 4:50 (album version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Maurice White, Philip Bailey
Producer(s)Joe Wissert, Maurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"Kalimba Story"
(1974)		 "Devotion"
(1974)		 "Hot Dawgit"
(1974)

"Devotion" is a single by R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire released in 1974 on Columbia Records.[1] "Devotion" peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2][3]

Overview

Devotion was produced by Joe Wissert and Maurice White and composed by White and Philip Bailey. The single's b-side was a song called "Fair But So Uncool". Both songs appeared on the band's 1974 studio album Open Our Eyes.[1]

Critical reception

Alex Henderson of Allmusic called "Devotion" "unforgettable".[4] Simon Werner of Popmatters wrote "the softer, reflective shades of "Devotion", represents a line of spiritual evangelism that would also prosper, and draw on a rich range of influences such as Christian and African mysticism and particularly the symbolism of Egyptology."[5] Craig Werner of Vibe stated "Devotion" is "inspired by Afrocentric consciousness".[6]

Record World said that "speaking of the metaphysical in soft funky terms, the visual act delivers a substantial soul ballad."[7]

Covers and samples

Jazz fusion/contemporary jazz group Pieces of a Dream featuring Tracy Hamlin covered the song on their 2004 release No Assembly Required.[8] R&B artist Ledisi covered Devotion on the 2007 tribute album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire.[9]

"Devotion" was sampled by Yo-Yo featuring Ice Cube on the track "You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo" from her 1991 album Make Way for the Motherlode. CeeLo Green featuring Jazze Pha and T.I. sampled "Devotion" on a tune called The One from Green's 2004 album Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine. Mack 10 sampled Devotion on the song Mozi Wozi from his 1995 self titled album. Drake featuring Kanye West also sampled "Devotion" on the track "Glow" from Drake's 2017 mixtape More Life.[10][11]

The single's b-side, Fair But So Uncool, was later covered by D'Angelo.[12]

Credits

Chart positions

Chart (1974) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] 33
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles[3] 23

References

  1. 1 2 3 Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion. Columbia Records. 1974.
  2. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion (Hot 100)". billboard.com.
  3. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  4. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  5. ↑ Warner, Simon. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes/Spirit". popmatters.com. PopMatters.
  6. ↑ Werner, Craig (March 2001). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes, Spirit". Vol. 9, no. 3. Vibe Magazine. p. 200. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. ↑ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. September 7, 1974. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  8. ↑ Tauss, Lucy (25 April 2019). "Pieces of a Dream: No Assembly Required". jazztimes.com. Jazz Times.
  9. ↑ Murray, Sonia (March 27, 2007). "Earth, Wind & Fire classics get new life". newspapers.com. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. E2.
  10. ↑ Espinoza, Daniel; Barna, Daniel (March 19, 2017). "7 Things You Probably Missed on Your First Listen of 'More Life'". complex.com. Complex.
  11. ↑ Howard, Jacinta. "RTB Rewind: Yo-Yo Makes Her Debut With "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo"". rockthebells.com. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  12. ↑ "D'Angelo – Fair But So Uncool", genius.com, retrieved 2023-07-11
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