Collectively the zenith of all bands. This is when they had the brilliance of Verdine White, Maurice White, Phillip Bailey with genius of Larry Dunn on the keyboards. Saw EWF live about four months ago - unbelievable! A must see for everyone (again).
Classic jam!!! Amazing how many young cats have sample the Elements!!!! At :18 seconds in, the intro xylophone piece was used by Missy Elliott on her first album track "Friendly Skies." Then listen tempo pick up at 2:08 and you'll hear where Van Hunt got the music for his track "Seconds of Pleasure."
In a class by themselves. Many people TRY to debate about other great groups that enjoyed commercial success in that era being on this level. There is no comparison! Of course, their versatility is practically unmatched in all of music. They do EVERYTHING well...
Must be listened to back to back with AFRICANO on the THATS THE WAY OF THE WORLD LP. They know how to play unlike most music that calls itself "expression" today.
Back then, I didn't know where they came from but now I seem to hear that most, so called GOOD music came from the HOOD. Garbage. Today's music can't hold EWF's jock strap. And DAMN I dare a rapper today to DANCE while spitting (literally) lyrics yet these masters PLAYED their instruments while dancing. Brilliant and very hard.
The best band and best music ever. They used instruments that were ahead of their time. Singers like Maurice White and Phillip Bailey just adds to their greatness. I am 50 years old. EWF was my favorite band when I was a teenager and still are to this day.
@SkyDragonCEO why would someone want to sample this masterpiece? It is like that white boy i saw in a live concert playing jazz guitar for his version of Stevie Wonder's LIVING FOR THE CITY. yes he was technically great, but he could never capture the SOUL of the spirit of the times, especially in relation to the black experience, that Stevie meant to share. How could any sample EWF? Will there ever be another MJ both on the court or on stage? See what I mean? Impossible.
@kennethketchum I know what you mean. We're unlikely to see this level of artistry in mainstream music ever again, if recent trends are anything to go by. It's not that there aren't musicians with the ability; it simply boils down to the lack of financial support for a band the size of EWF. On the issue of sampling: I'm not against it, and in the right hands there are wonderful results. But nothing can beat human beings channeling their souls through instruments and voices.
I've listened to this beautiful song for over 35 years and will NEVER be get over the great orchestration and Verdine and Larry's total over the top MASTERY of their instruments that has never beenmatched by anyone....this was recorded LIVE...OFF THE CHAIN!!!!
Very spiritual in the beginning before the tune takes an unforseen turn and climax in a way that makes even the hardest of haters stand up and exclaim "Right on!"
a unique blend of american jazz, with african over tones and rb mixed in a very spiritual and harmonious beat, because etw is mostly known for thier vocal harmony the beat is awesome
@doctafonk101 - I love all those, but there's no live album that has the overall musical greatness as this one. They cover every genre of music and do it with flawless efficiency. In my humble opinion.
THE PATIENCE AND D PRUDENT, D MAN THAT EXERCISE THE HABIT OF TRUTH.RESPCT. THE CONSCIOUS MAN,THE MAN THAT ASK WHY HE SHOULD BELIEVE IN WHAT ANOTHER MAN TELLS HIM TO BELIEVE OR NOT. PEACE ON EARTH THE HUMAN RACE, I HOPE SOONER THAN LATER WE CAN CATCH UP AND SHARE THE WORLD. AND STOP THE PAIN.WE R ALMOST 7 BILLION AND SEE OVR SELVES,TELL ME IT IS ALRIGHT? MAY BE IS MY IMAGINATION WHAT I SEE. AGAIN I GET DISORIENTED I RETREAT IN MY SHELL BCAUSE NOTHING WORKS AS REASONING NO ROOM INCOMPREHENSIBLE
what a terrible thing that the "NEW WORLD IS FULL OF IGNORANCE POVERTY, LACKING OF DIGNITY, LACKING OF REASONING, CONFUSION, THE NEW WORLD..... MMMMHH!! GO LOOK OUT SIDE, EVERY DETAIL AND TELL ME IF THIS MUSIC MATCHES MOST OF THE MASSES, I AM PERPLEX, DISORIENTED BECAUSE I SEE THE WORLD, AND WE KNEW WE COULD PREVENT THE TERRIBLE THINGS. WE DID NOT DO IT AND WE ARE NOT DOING IT, IT IS NOT ABOUT FEAR OF DYING, IT IS ABOUT LIVING, AND SEE THE WORLD GOING,... THE WAY WE SEE IT. THROWN. LIFE'1SHOT
something you sit and imagine the crowd size across the horizon, them playing this with the sun setting in the background. Amazing, better than the commercial crap people usually recognise ewaf for.
@kennethketchum Amen
kperrucci 6 days ago
Collectively the zenith of all bands. This is when they had the brilliance of Verdine White, Maurice White, Phillip Bailey with genius of Larry Dunn on the keyboards. Saw EWF live about four months ago - unbelievable! A must see for everyone (again).
Jazzeerun 1 week ago
Classic jam!!! Amazing how many young cats have sample the Elements!!!! At :18 seconds in, the intro xylophone piece was used by Missy Elliott on her first album track "Friendly Skies." Then listen tempo pick up at 2:08 and you'll hear where Van Hunt got the music for his track "Seconds of Pleasure."
BlackFlynt 1 week ago
"Down" like that!!!
N2itv2 2 weeks ago
the first band i've ever heard in my life
i'm so proud to know the first songs i heard in my life were written by black people
this is the kind of music i enjoy to listen to
in 2 months i'm going to see them live (i live in peru and they will come)
MasterOfTrapos 2 weeks ago
In a class by themselves. Many people TRY to debate about other great groups that enjoyed commercial success in that era being on this level. There is no comparison! Of course, their versatility is practically unmatched in all of music. They do EVERYTHING well...
4BA88F 1 month ago
Must be listened to back to back with AFRICANO on the THATS THE WAY OF THE WORLD LP. They know how to play unlike most music that calls itself "expression" today.
Back then, I didn't know where they came from but now I seem to hear that most, so called GOOD music came from the HOOD. Garbage. Today's music can't hold EWF's jock strap. And DAMN I dare a rapper today to DANCE while spitting (literally) lyrics yet these masters PLAYED their instruments while dancing. Brilliant and very hard.
kennethketchum 2 months ago
Verdine is a BEAST !!!!!
jdpatterson100 2 months ago
I saw them back in 75 in St.Louis do this...Killed It !!!!
jdpatterson100 2 months ago
perfect.......
mustd156 2 months ago
The best band and best music ever. They used instruments that were ahead of their time. Singers like Maurice White and Phillip Bailey just adds to their greatness. I am 50 years old. EWF was my favorite band when I was a teenager and still are to this day.
1005hank 3 months ago 2
Shut up and enjoy the music!
rockjohnson80 3 months ago
This song has 2 drummers. Maurice is the other drummer
PhuckHue2 4 months ago
The Kalimba sets the scene for the entire song. Maurice is a genius.
keez2daworld 4 months ago
this has been sampled so many times :O
SkyDragonCEO 4 months ago
@SkyDragonCEO why would someone want to sample this masterpiece? It is like that white boy i saw in a live concert playing jazz guitar for his version of Stevie Wonder's LIVING FOR THE CITY. yes he was technically great, but he could never capture the SOUL of the spirit of the times, especially in relation to the black experience, that Stevie meant to share. How could any sample EWF? Will there ever be another MJ both on the court or on stage? See what I mean? Impossible.
kennethketchum 2 months ago
@kennethketchum I know what you mean. We're unlikely to see this level of artistry in mainstream music ever again, if recent trends are anything to go by. It's not that there aren't musicians with the ability; it simply boils down to the lack of financial support for a band the size of EWF. On the issue of sampling: I'm not against it, and in the right hands there are wonderful results. But nothing can beat human beings channeling their souls through instruments and voices.
ImaniHekima 2 months ago
I've listened to this beautiful song for over 35 years and will NEVER be get over the great orchestration and Verdine and Larry's total over the top MASTERY of their instruments that has never beenmatched by anyone....this was recorded LIVE...OFF THE CHAIN!!!!
LamontCJ 5 months ago 2
@LamontCJ 35 years and never gets old...love the way the song climaxes at the end. A great piece of instrumental music.
salvooch4 3 months ago
@salvooch4 ....i hear ya bro i'm 49 and i still dig this old school music
betom62 2 months ago in playlist old school r&b, rap,slow jams and spanish
@LamontCJ ..love the percussion section...i'm a retired drummer
betom62 2 months ago in playlist old school r&b, rap,slow jams and spanish
beautiful beautiful song!!
MASEK1PROD 5 months ago
On vinyl and this album still sets my pulse right off the scale when given some serious power! Only one word - awesome can describe this piece!
WinningOnline 6 months ago
A constant from the list of of "Good to be Alive" played at high volume . . .
DCDuarte 6 months ago
Love this song. Wish there was a live version on youtube though.
n0013sauce 9 months ago
Very spiritual in the beginning before the tune takes an unforseen turn and climax in a way that makes even the hardest of haters stand up and exclaim "Right on!"
ChowMeinChowdown 11 months ago
this song has my mind going in all different directions absolutely remarkable
MrBackintheday70 11 months ago
Timeless..
MrMusicevolution 1 year ago
a unique blend of american jazz, with african over tones and rb mixed in a very spiritual and harmonious beat, because etw is mostly known for thier vocal harmony the beat is awesome
angelbeyondsaveme 1 year ago
Drake sampled this for Bria's Interlude
Missy Elliot-Friendly Skies
blodachia 1 year ago
The Live Song from the greatest Live album of all time.
Soulman785 1 year ago 12
@Soulman785 NEXT TO DONNY HATHAWAY 'LIVE', JAMES BROWN 'LIVE AT THE APOLLO VOL.2', AND RUFUS AND CHAKA 'STOMPIN' AT THE SAVOY'
doctafonk101 5 months ago
@doctafonk101 - I love all those, but there's no live album that has the overall musical greatness as this one. They cover every genre of music and do it with flawless efficiency. In my humble opinion.
Soulman785 5 months ago 5
Comment removed
ilikeyouallot 1 year ago
THE PATIENCE AND D PRUDENT, D MAN THAT EXERCISE THE HABIT OF TRUTH.RESPCT. THE CONSCIOUS MAN,THE MAN THAT ASK WHY HE SHOULD BELIEVE IN WHAT ANOTHER MAN TELLS HIM TO BELIEVE OR NOT. PEACE ON EARTH THE HUMAN RACE, I HOPE SOONER THAN LATER WE CAN CATCH UP AND SHARE THE WORLD. AND STOP THE PAIN.WE R ALMOST 7 BILLION AND SEE OVR SELVES,TELL ME IT IS ALRIGHT? MAY BE IS MY IMAGINATION WHAT I SEE. AGAIN I GET DISORIENTED I RETREAT IN MY SHELL BCAUSE NOTHING WORKS AS REASONING NO ROOM INCOMPREHENSIBLE
ilikeyouallot 1 year ago
NO ONE KNOWS IF IT WAS HAPPY UNTIL THE LAST INSTANT OF LIFE..... PERHAPS THE HAPPY IS THE VIRTUOSO....
ilikeyouallot 1 year ago
what a terrible thing that the "NEW WORLD IS FULL OF IGNORANCE POVERTY, LACKING OF DIGNITY, LACKING OF REASONING, CONFUSION, THE NEW WORLD..... MMMMHH!! GO LOOK OUT SIDE, EVERY DETAIL AND TELL ME IF THIS MUSIC MATCHES MOST OF THE MASSES, I AM PERPLEX, DISORIENTED BECAUSE I SEE THE WORLD, AND WE KNEW WE COULD PREVENT THE TERRIBLE THINGS. WE DID NOT DO IT AND WE ARE NOT DOING IT, IT IS NOT ABOUT FEAR OF DYING, IT IS ABOUT LIVING, AND SEE THE WORLD GOING,... THE WAY WE SEE IT. THROWN. LIFE'1SHOT
ilikeyouallot 1 year ago
Spetttacolo... And now you can think nothing else...
solelunauno 1 year ago
something you sit and imagine the crowd size across the horizon, them playing this with the sun setting in the background. Amazing, better than the commercial crap people usually recognise ewaf for.
MrBaker644 1 year ago
This is good road trip music.5 ** * * *
AuroraKismet 2 years ago