Raise!
Cover art by Shusei Nagaoka
Studio album by
Earth, Wind & Fire
ReleasedNovember 14, 1981
RecordedMay–September 1981
StudioARC/George Massenburg Studio (Los Angeles, California), Sunset Sounds Recording Studio (Los Angeles, California)
Genre
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 the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on November 14, 1981, by ARC/Columbia Records.[1] The album spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard Top R&B albums chart[2][3] and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.[2][4] 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.[5][6][7]

Production

The album art was designed by Roger Carpenter and Raise! was illustrated by Shusei Nagaoka. The front cover of Raise! features a presumed Egyptian female figure. The name of the band is present on the front cover, but the title is not.

On the back cover there is an illustration of a female figure in a sarcophagus, which is also divided into a purple left side and a blue right side. The sarcophagus appears to be hyper-modern. The title of the album is presented in the top left corner of the back cover.

Raise! was produced by bandleader Maurice White. The album marked the return 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]
LA WeeklyB−[15]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[16]
Record Mirror[17]
Rolling Stone[18]
Smash Hits7/10[19]
The Village VoiceB+[20]

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'."[16] 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".[19] Hugh Wyatt of the New York Daily News described the LP as "a real gem".[21] 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."[18] With a four out of five stars rating Alan Coulthard of Record Mirror found that Raise! "sizzles from start to finish".[17] 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."[22] Richard Williams of The Times wrote "Paring away the overachievement of Faces, EW&F return to something like their best form".[23] Variety noted that "breathtaking production and a perscussive, non stop fusion of funk and rock power light up the entire album".[24] 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".[25] The Village Voice's Robert Christgau proclaimed EWF "turn their sparkling harmonies and powerful groove into a pure, contentless display of virtuosity".[20] As well J.D. Considine of the Baltimore Sun wrote "Raise! puts Earth, Wind & Fire back on the rock and roll road".[26]

Music critic Nelson George also placed Raise! in his ballot for the 1981 Village Voice Pazz and Jop poll.[27]

Track listing

Side one[1]
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[1]
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
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[28]
Finland (Suomen virallinen albumlista) 5[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 CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[7] Gold 50,000^
Japan — 291,610[38]
Netherlands (NVPI)[39] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[40] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[5] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
NME[41] United Kingdom Albums of the Year 1981 16
The Village Voice[42] United States Dean's List 1981 49

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!. ARC/Columbia Records. 1981.
  2. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise! (Top R&B Albums)". Billboard.
  3. ↑ Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums of 1982
  4. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise! (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  5. 1 2 "American album certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Raise!". Recording Industry Association of America.
  6. 1 2 "British album certifications – Earth Wind & Fire – Raise". British Phonographic Industry.
  7. 1 2 "Canadian album certifications – Earth, Wind and Fire – Raise". Music Canada.
  8. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 "Earth, Wind & Fire". officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company.
  12. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Wanna Be With You (Hot Soul Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire". The Recording Academy.
  14. ↑ Rhulmann, William. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". AllMusic.
  15. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise". LA Weekly. December 24, 1981. p. 19 – via newspapers.com.
  16. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 22, 1981. p. 114 – via newspapers.com.
  17. 1 2 Coulthard, Alan. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". Record Mirror. Vol. 28, no. 46. p. 14.
  18. 1 2 Tucker, Ken (February 4, 1982). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". Rolling Stone.
  19. 1 2 Dellar, Fred (November 12, 1981). Albums. Smash Hits. p. 25.
  20. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". The Village Voice – via robertchristgau.com.
  21. ↑ Wyatt, Hugh (December 13, 1981). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise". New York Daily News. p. 322 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Picks and Pans Review: Raise!". People. January 18, 1982.
  23. ↑ Williams, Richard (November 6, 1981). "Jazz/Rock". The Times. p. 40.
  24. ↑ "Music Records: Record Reviews - Albums". Variety. Vol. 305, no. 5. December 2, 1981. p. 89. ProQuest 1438347097.
  25. ↑ Hoskyns, Barney (November 14, 1981). Raise High The Cosmic Booty. NME. p. 37.
  26. ↑ Considine, J.D. (November 15, 1981). "There is more to black rock music than meets the white audience's ears". Baltimore Sun. p. 60 – via newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "The Eighth (or Ninth) Annual Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". Village Voice. February 1, 1982 – via robertchristgau.com.
  28. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  29. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Earth, Wind & Fire". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 69. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  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". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.
  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. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  39. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Earth Wind & Fire – Raise" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved July 10, 2023. Enter Raise in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1982 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  40. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Raise')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  41. ↑ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 10 October 2016.
  42. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Pazz & Jop 1981: Dean's List". The Village Voice – via robertchristgau.com.
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