Tag Archives: Al McKay

Earth, Wind & Fire: Spirit

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On September 28, 1976, “Columbia” label released “Spirit”, the seventh Earth, Wind & Fire studio album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Burbank Studios” in Burbank, California, “Hollywood Sound Recorders” and “Wally Heider Studios” in Los Angeles, “Westlake Audio” in Hollywood, and was produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in the US by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Maurice White – vocals, drums, kalimba, timbales, mixing
  • Al McKay – guitar, percussion
  • Johnny Graham – guitar
  • Larry Dunn – piano, keyboards, organ, Moog synthesizer
  • Jerry Peters – piano, keyboards
  • Verdine White – vocals, bass, percussion
  • Fred White – drums, percussion
  • Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion
  • Philip Bailey – vocals, congas, percussion
  • Harvey Mason – percussion
  • Andrew Woolfolk – saxophone, percussion
  • Don Myrick – saxophone
  • Oscar Brashear – trumpet
  • Charles Findley – trumpet 
  • Michael Harris – trumpet
  • Steve Madaio – trumpet
  • George Bohanon – trombone
  • Louis Satterfield – trombone
  • Charles Loper – trombone
  • Lew McCreary – bass trombone
  • David Duke – Frech horn
  • Arthur Maebe – French horn
  • Sidney Muldrow – French horn
  • Marilyn Robinson – French horn
  • Tommy Johnson – tuba
  • Charles Veal – concertmaster
  • Asa Drori, Winterton Garvey, Harris Goldman, Carl LaMagna, Joy Lyle, Sandy Seemore, Haim Shtrum, Ken Yerke – violin
  • Marilyn Baker, David Campbell, Denyse Buffum, Rollice Dale, James Dunham, Paul Polivnick, Lynn Subotnick, Barbara Thomason – viola
  • Ronald Cooper, Marie Fera, Dennis Karmazyn, Harry Shlutz – cello
  • Dorothy Ashby – harp
  • Jerry Peters, Charles Stepney, Tom Tom 84 – arrangements
  • George Massenburg – engineer, remix
  • Paul Klingberg, Leo Sacks – mixing

Track listing:

  1. Getaway –Peter Cor, Bernard “Beloyd” Taylor
  2. On Your Face – Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Philip Bailey
  3. Imagination – Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Philip Bailey
  4. Spirit – Larry Dunn, Maurice White
  5. Saturday Night – Al McKay, Maurice White, Philip Bailey
  6. Earth, Wind & Fire – Skip Scarborough, Maurice White
  7. Departure – Larry Dunn, Maurice White
  8. Biyo – Maurice White, Al McKay
  9. Burnin’ Bush – Jerry Peters

Earth, Wind & Fire: Head To The Sky

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In May 1973, “Columbia” label released “Head to the Sky”, the fourth Earth, Wind & Fire studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Clover Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Joseph Wissert. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Verdine White – vocals, bass, percussion, arrangements
  • Al McKay – guitar, sitar, percussion, arrangements
  • Larry Dunn– clarinet, piano, organ, arrangements
  • Philip Bailey– vocals, congas, percussion, arrangements
  • Maurice White– vocals, drums, kalimba, leader, arrangements
  • Jessica Cleaves – vocals
  • Johnny Graham – guitar, percussion
  • Ralph Johnson– drums, percussion
  • Andrew Woolfolk– soprano saxophone, flute
  • Oscar Braschear – trumpet
  • Robert Appère – engineer, mixing
  • Lee Lawrence – cover design, photography

Track listing:

  1. Evil – Phillip Bailey, Maurice White
  2. Keep Your Head to the Sky – Maurice White
  3. Build Your Nest – Maurice White, Verdine White
  4. The World’s a Masquerade – Skip Scarborough
  5. Clover – Larry Dunn, Maurice White
  6. Zanzibar – Edu Lobo

Earth, Wind & Fire: All ‘N’ All

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earth_wind__fire_-_alln_all1

On November 21, 1977, “Columbia” label released “All ‘N All”, the eighth Earth, Wind & Fire studio album. It was recorded August 1977, at “Hollywood Sound” and “The Burbank Studios” in California, and was produced by Maurice White  The album won a “Grammy” for “Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus” and the song “Runnin'” also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental in 1978. “All ‘N All” was also the best selling R&B album of 1978, and was certified Platinum in the US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Maurice White– vocals, drums, kalimba, original recording, mixing
  • Larry Dunn– synthesizer, piano, keyboards, Moog synthesizer, Oberheim
  • Verdine White– vocals, bass
  • Philip Bailey– vocals, percussion, conga
  • Eduardo del Barrio – piano
  • Johnny Graham – guitar
  • Art Macnow – direction
  • Al McKay– guitar, percussion
  • Terry Harrington – flute
  • Fred Jackson, Jr. – flute
  • Abe Most– flute
  • George Bohanon– trombone
  • Garnett Brown– trombone
  • Louis Satterfield– trombone
  • Michael Harris – trumpet
  • Chuck Findley– trumpet
  • Oscar Brashear– trumpet
  • Steve Madaio – trumpet
  • Don Myrick– alto, baritone and tenor saxophones
  • Andrew Woolfolk – tenor saxophone, wind
  • Alan Robinson – French horn
  • Richard Klein – French horn
  • Gale Robinson – French horn
  • David Duke – French horn
  • Marilyn Robinson – French horn
  • James M. McGee – French horn
  • Roger Bobo – tuba
  • Richard Salvato – direction
  • Dorothy Ashby– harp
  • Haim Shtrum – violin
  • Betty LaMagna – violin
  • Sheldon Sanov – violin
  • Carl LaMagna – violin
  • Mary D. Lindquist – violin
  • Barry Socher – violin
  • Lya Stern – violin
  • David Stockhammer – violin
  • Blanche Belnick – violin
  • Ruth Henry – violin
  • Marcia Van Dyke – violin
  • Harris Goldman – violin
  • Jack Gootkin – violin
  • Ronald Clark – violin
  • Janice Gower – violin, concertmaster
  • Barbara Thomason – viola
  • Linda Lipsett – viola
  • Renita Koven – viola
  • Norman Forrest – viola
  • Daniel Smith – cello
  • Ronald Cooper – cello
  • Jan Kelly – cello
  • Meyer Rubin – bass
  • Susan Ranney – bass
  • Ralph Johnson– vocals, percussion, drums
  • Skip Scarborough– percussion, piano
  • Paulinho Da Costa– percussion
  • Phil Ayling – drums
  • Fred White – percussion, drums
  • George Massenburg– engineer
  • Paul Klingberg – mixing
  • Cameron Marcarelli – mixing assistant
  • Mark Wilder – mastering
  • Shusei Nagaoka – cover art

Track listing:

  1. Serpentine Fire – Maurice White, Verdine White, Reginald “Sonny” Burke
  2. Fantasy – Maurice White, Verdine White, Eduardo DelBarrio
  3. In the Marketplace (Interlude) – Maurice White
  4. Jupiter – Maurice White, Verdine White, Larry Dunn, Philip Bailey
  5. Love’s Holiday – Maurice White, Skip Scarborough
  6. Brazilian Rhyme (Beijo) – Toninho Horts
  7. I’ll Write a Song For You – Philip Bailey
  8. Magic Mind – Maurice White, Verdine White, Freddie White, Larry Dunn, Philip Bailey, Andy Mckay
  9. Runin’ – Maurice White, Larry Dunn, Eduardo DelBarrio
  10. Brazilian Rhyme (Ponta de Areia) – Milton Nascimento
  11. Be Ever Wonderful – Maurice White, Larry Dunn

Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am

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I Am

On June 9, 1979, “CBS” label released “I Am”, the ninth Earth, Wind & Fire studio album. It was recorded September 1978, at “Hollywood Sound Recorders”, “Sunset Sound Studio”, “Davlen Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Maurice White and Al McKay. “I Am” has been certified 2 x Platinum in the US by the “RIAA”, Platinum in the UK by the “BPI”, and in Canada by “Music Canada”.

Personnel:

  • Philip Bailey – vocals, congas, percussion
  • Maurice White – vocals, drums, kalimba
  • Al McKay – guitar
  • Larry Dunn – piano, Oberheimand Moog synthesizer
  • Johnny Graham, Marlo Henderson, Sir Alexander Dutkewych , Steve Lukather – guitar
  • The Emotions- backing vocals
  • Verdine White – bass
  • Fred White – drums
  • Barbara Korn, Marilyn Robinson, Richard Perissi, Sidney Muldrow – French horn
  • Dorothy Jeanne Ashby – harp
  • Billy Myers, David Foster, Eddie Del Barrio – keyboards
  • Paulinho Da Costa, Ralph Johnson – percussion
  • Richard Lepore – timpani
  • Fred Jackson, Jr., Herman Riley, Jerome Richardson – saxophone
  • Don Myrick – alto, tenor and baritone saxophones
  • Andrew Woolfolk – tenor saxophone
  • Benjamin Powell, William Reichenbach, Garnett Brown, George Bohanon, Louis Satterfield, Maurice Spears – trombone
  • Bobby Bryant, Jerry Hey, Michael Harris, Oscar Brashear, Rahmlee Michael Davis, Steve Madaio – trumpet
  • James Ross, Laurie Woods, Linda Lipsett, Marilyn Baker, Rollice Dale, Virginia Majewski – viola
  • Anton Sen, Sherman Bryana, Carl LaMagna, Cynthia Kovaks, Gina Kronstadt, Haim Shtrum, Harris Goldman, Henry Ferber, Henry Roth, Ilkka Talvi, Jack Gootkin, Jerome Reisler, Jerome Webster, Joseph Goodman, Joseph Livoti, Judith Talvi, Leeana Sherman, Marcy Dicterow, Pamela Gates, Pavel Farkas, Ronald Clarck, Rosmen Torfeh, Sheldon Sanov, William Henderson – violin
  • Daniel Smith, Delores Bing, Jacqueline Lustgarten, Jan Kelley, John Walz, Kevan Torfeh, Larry Corbett, Miguel Martinez – cello
  • Steven Porcaro – synthesizer programming
  • Janice Gower – concertmaster
  • Tom Perry – engineer
  • George Massenburg – engineer, mixing
  • Craig Widby, Ross Pallone – engineer assistant
  • Michael Reese – mastering
  • Roger Carpenter – design
  • Shusei Nagaoka – illustration

Track listing:

  1. In the Stone – Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster
  2. Can’t Let Go – Bill Meyers, Maurice White, Allee Willis
  3. After the Love Has Gone – David Foster, Jay Graydon, Bill Champlin
  4. Let Your Feelings Show – Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster
  5. Boogie Wonderland – Jon Lind, Allee Willis
  6. Star – Eddie Del Barrio, Maurice White, Allee Willis
  7. Wait – Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster
  8. Rock That! – Maurice White, David Foster
  9. You and I – Maurice White, Allee Willis, David Foster

Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes

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Earth,_Wind_&_Fire_-_Open_Our_Eyes

On March 25, 1974, “Columbia” label released “Open Our Eyes” the fifth Earth, Wind & Fire, studio album. It was recorded August 1973, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, Colorado, and was produced by Maurice White, Joe Wissert and Charles Stepney. “Open Our Eyes” was certified Platinum in the US by the “RIAA.”

Personnel:

  • Maurice White – vocals, drums, kalimba
  • Al McKay – vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Johnny Graham – guitar, percussion
  • Larry Dunn – piano, organ, synthesizer
  • Andrew Woolfolk – soprano saxophone, flute
  • Verdine White – vocals, bass, percussion
  • Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion
  • Philip Bailey – vocals, congas, percussion

Track listing:

  • Mighty, Mighty – Maurice White, Verdine White
  • Devotion – Maurice White, Philip Bailey
  • Fair But So Uncool – Rick Giles, Charles Stepney
  • Feelin’ Blue – Kenny Altman
  • Kalimba Story – Maurice White, Verdine White
  • Drum Song – Maurice White
  • Tee Nine Chee Bit – Maurice White, Charles Stepney, Philip Bailey
  • Spasmodic Movements – Eddie Harris
  • Caribou – Charles Stepney, Rick Giles
  • Open Our Eyse – Leon Lumkins

Earth, Wind & Fire: That’s The Way Of The World

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TTWOTWL

On March 15, 1975, “Columbia” label released “That’s the Way of the World”, the sixth Earth, Wind & Fire studio album. It was recorded September – October 1974, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, Colorado, and was produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 486 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Maurice White – vocals, drums, percussion, kalimba
  • Al McKay – guitar, percussion
  • Johnny Graham – guitar
  • Richard Tee– electric piano
  • Larry Dunn – piano, organ, Moog synthesizer
  • Verdine White – vocals, bass, percussion
  • Fred White – drums, percussion
  • Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion
  • Philip Bailey – vocals, percussion
  • Andrew P. Woolfolk – flute, saxophone

Track listing:

  1. Shining Star – Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White
  2. That’s the Way of the World – Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White
  3. Happy Feelin’ – Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn
  4. All About Love – Larry Dunn and Maurice White
  5. Yearnin’ learnin – Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White
  6. Reasons – Philip bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White
  7. Africano – Larry Dunn, Maurice White
  8. See the Light – Louise Anglin, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn