Electric Universe (album)

Electric Universe is the thirteenth studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1983 on Columbia Records.[1] The album rose to No. 8 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 40 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[2][3] Electric Universe also reached No. 17 on the Swedish Pop Albums chart, No. 18 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart and No. 22 on both the Dutch Pop Albums and Swiss Pop Albums charts.[4][5][6][7]

Electric Universe
Studio album by
Earth, Wind & Fire
ReleasedNovember 4, 1983
Recorded1983
StudioThe Complex Studios, West Los Angeles, CA.
GenreNew wave, synthpop, R&B, funk
Length35:40
LabelColumbia
ProducerMaurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
Powerlight
(1983)		 Electric Universe
(1983)		 The Collection
(1986)
Singles from Electric Universe
  1. "Magnetic"
    Released: November 1983
  2. "Touch"
    Released: January 1984
  3. "Moonwalk"
    Released: April 1984

Overview

Electric Universe was produced by Maurice White for Kalimba Productions.[1] With Electric Universe came a unique new wave & synth pop sound for EWF.[8]

Artists such as David Foster, Martin Page, Michel Colombier and Pamela Hutchinson and Wanda Vaughn of The Emotions featured upon the album. The album was also reissued in 2015 with six bonus tracks and two demos.[8][9]

As well, Electric Universe was featured in an August 2016 episode of Mass Appeal's YouTube series Rhythm Roulette.[10]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[11]
Village Voice(B)[12]
Rolling Stone[13][14]
Atlanta Journal Constitution(favourable)[15]
Morning Call(favourable)[16]
Dallas Morning News(favourable)[17]
Record Mirror[18]
Wall Street Journal(favourable)[19]
Knight Ridder(7/10)[20]
Detroit Free Press(favourable)[21]
Omaha World Herald[22]
New York Times(favourable)[23]

Gary Graff of the Detroit Free Press exclaimed "Plug in the planets! This is the best disc this outfit has put together in quite some time."[21] Lennox Samuels of the Dallas Morning News declared that "Electric Universe (Columbia) shows the bands resilience. Unlike the previous offering Powerlight this LP should please fans." Samuels added "Although most of the cuts here are characterized by mellow overtures, midway through the disc, colourful kalimba choruses and airy harmonies capture the high spirits of this nine member aggregation".[17] Although calling it a "letdown" Robert Christgau of the Village Voice gave the album a B grade.[12] Roger Catlin of the Omaha World Herald gave the album a four out of five star rating and declared EWF "seems to be trying to continue to branch out under leader Maurice White. Catlin also stated "he's testing out yet another theory for worldwide unity too, on Electric Universe in which electricity or magnetism plays a big role in getting everybody together - perhaps through static cling".[22] With a three out of five stars review Matty Karas of Rolling Stone described Electric Universe as being full of "sensuous, and at times, rock oriented dance material".[13][14] Pam Lambert of The Wall Street Journal exclaimed "after more than a decade together, Earth, Wind & Fire continue to chart new ground; their current album, "Electric Universe" (Columbia), deserves to win this black supergroup even more of a crossover audience than it has enjoyed in the past."[19] Phyl Garland of Stereo Review wrote "Although 'Electric Universe' does not scintillate with Earth, Wind & Fire's usual brilliance, it's skilfully crafted and worth a listen".[24] Rick Shefchik of Knight Ridder gave the album a 7/10 rating stating "Fearing more of Maurice White's cosmic pablum, I was glad to notice the shift to concrete r&b on Side One, while the band retains its breathy mix of horns and voices". Shefchik added "White relinquished his songwriting role on the first three songs, and even the ones he did write seem to benefit from a less starry-eyed perspective. Unless, of course, you count Electric Nation and Spirit of a New World."[20] Prentis Rogers of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote "In fact, the entire album holds up well lyrically and musically with a noticeable but not overpowering rock flavour. It may not signal a return to the group's standard of staying a note or two ahead of its contemporaries, but this is EWF's best album in recent years."[15] Robert Palmer of The New York Times proclaimed that "the rich vocal harmonies and lapidary pop craftsmanship listeners have learned to expect from Earth, Wind & Fire are still in evidence, but the group's instrumental sound has been radically stripped down and rethought."[23]

Don McLeese of The Chicago Sun Times also gave Electric Universe an honourable mention in his list of the top ten albums of 1983.[25]

Singles

The lead single, "Magnetic" peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 36 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.[26][27] "Touch" reached No. 23 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 36 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.[28][29]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Magnetic"Martin Page4:19
2."Touch"Jon Lind, Martin Page4:54
3."Moonwalk"David Porter, Desmond O'Connor4:08
4."Could It Be Right"Allee Willis, David Foster, Maurice White5:15
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Spirit Of A New World"Brian Fairweather, David Foster, Martin Page, Maurice White4:29
6."Sweet Sassy Lady"Lisa Vaughn, Maurice White, Wanda Vaughn, Wayne Vaughn4:08
7."We're Living In Our Own Time"Allee Willis, Maurice White, Michel Colombier5:18
8."Electric Nation"Brian Fairweather, Martin Page, Maurice White4:30
2015 Expanded Edition Bonus Tracks[8][9]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Magnetic" (Extended Dance Remix)Martin Page6:24
10."Magnetic" (Instrumental)Martin Page5:49
11."Magnetic" (7" Version)Martin Page3:52
12."Spirit Of A New World" (Demo Version)Maurice White, Martin Page, David Foster, Brian Fairweather4:35
13."El Solitario (We're Living In Our Own Time)" (Demo Version)Maurice White, Michel Colombier, Allee Willis5:14
14."Here's To Love" (Instrumental)Maurice White4:22
15."Club Foot"Maurice White3:59
16."Milky Way"Maurice White5:23

Credits

Reissue
  • Coordinator [Artist/Musician Interview] – Randy Mahon
  • Coordinator [Reissue] – Jeff James
  • Coordinator [Release] – Craig Turnbull
  • Design [Package Design] – Roger Williams
  • Liner Notes, Research – Alex Henderson
  • Mastered By – Sean Brennan
  • Production Manager [Reissue] – Matt Murphy

Reissue Producer – Tony Culvert[9]

Charts
Albums
Year Chart Position
1983 U.S. Billboard Top Soul Albums 8
U.S. Billboard 200 40
Sweden Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 17[4]
UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums 18[5]
Japanese Albums (Oricon) 20[30]
Dutch Albums (Dutch Album Top 100) 22[6]
Swiss Albums (Swiss Hitparade) 22[7]
German Albums (Offizielle Charts) 37[31]
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1983 "Magnetic" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles 10[26]
Belgian Singles Ultratop 50 Singles 16[32]
N.L Dutch Single Top 100 18[33]
U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs 36[27]
US Billboard Hot 100 57
U.K. Blues & Soul Top British Soul Singles 23[34]
1984 "Electric Nation" Dutch Single Tip 7[35][36]
"Touch" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles 23[28]
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs 36[29]
"Moonwalk" US Billboard Hot Soul Songs 67
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References
  1. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". 45worlds.com.
  2. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  3. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe (Billboard 200)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  4. "Earth, Wind & Fire". sverigetopplistan.se. Sverigetopplistan.
  5. "Top British Soul Albums". No. 398. Blues & Soul. December 27, 1983. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  6. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  7. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". hitparade.ch. Swiss Hitparade.
  8. V. Henderson, Alex (June 2015). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe [Expanded Edition]". alexvhenderson.com.
  9. Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe (Expanded Edition). Columbia Records. 2015.
  10. "Rhythm Roulette: Iman Omari". youtube.com. Mass Appeal. August 18, 2016.
  11. Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  12. Christgau, Robert. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
  13. Karas, Matty (February 16, 1984). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". The Rolling Stone Review (1985). No. 415. Rolling Stone. p. 93.
  14. Karas, Matty (February 16, 1984). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". The Rolling Stone Review (1985). No. 415. Rolling Stone. p. 93.
  15. Rogers, Prentis (December 31, 1983). Record Reviews. newspapers.com. Atlanta Journal Constitution. p. 71.
  16. Willistein, Paul (December 17, 1983). Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe. newspapers.com. Morning Call. p. 82.
  17. Samuel, Lennox (December 1, 1983). "Triumphant Rock from the Rolling Stones". newspapers.com. Dallas Morning News. p. 9.
  18. Hill, Simon (December 17, 1983). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". Vol. 30 no. 51. Record Mirror. p. 14. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  19. Lambert, Pam (19 January 1984). "Prime Cuts: Noteworthy Rock Records". Wall Street Journal. ProQuest 397920155.
  20. Shefchik, Rick (January 12, 1984). Waylon's latest shows why he used his friends. Muncie Evening Press. Knight Ridder. p. 13 – via newspapers.com.
  21. Graff, Gary (December 4, 1983). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. p. 74.
  22. Catlin, Roger (December 18, 1983). "Latest English Beat Album Is Like a Collection of Hits". newsbank.com. Omaha World Herald. p. 14.
  23. Palmer, Robert (December 7, 1983). "The Pop Life". nytimes.com. New York Times. p. C24.
  24. Garland, Phyl (April 1984). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". Vol. 49 no. 4. Stereo Review. p. 85 & 86. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  25. McLeese, Don (January 5, 1984). "Top Ten: Critics picks 83's best pop discs". The Central New Jersey Home News. Chicago Sun Times. p. 61 – via newspapers.com.
  26. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  27. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.com.
  28. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Touch (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  29. "Adult Contemporary Songs" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 96 no. 9. Billboard. March 3, 1984. p. 23.
  30. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  31. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe". offiziellecharts.de. Offizielle Charts.
  32. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic". ultratop.be.
  33. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic (Dutch Top 40)". dutchcharts.nl.
  34. "Top British Soul Singles". No. 397. Blues & Soul. December 27, 1983. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  35. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Nation". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  36. "DUTCH SINGLE TIP". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts. February 25, 1984.
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