The Promise (Earth, Wind & Fire album)

The Promise is the 18th studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire released in May 2003 on Kalimba Music.[1] The album peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart.[2][3]

The Promise
Studio album by
Earth, Wind & Fire
ReleasedMay 20, 2003
Recorded2002-2003
Genre
Length56:42
LabelKalimba
ProducerMaurice White (exec.), Tim & Bob
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
Live in Rio
(2002)		 The Promise
(2003)		 Love Songs
(2004)
Reissue cover
2009 reissue cover
Singles from The Promise
  1. "All in the Way"
    Released: May 2003
  2. "Hold Me"
    Released: August 2003
  3. "Never"
    Released: December 2014
  4. "Why?"
    Released: March 2015

Overview

The Promise was executively produced by Maurice White. Artists such as Angie Stone, The Emotions, Gerald Albright and Paulinho Da Costa featured on the LP. The album's cover art was also designed by Morito Suzuki.[1]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]
Blender [5]
People(favourable)[6]
The Guardian[7]
USA Today[8]
Boston Globe(favourable)[9]
Associated Press(favourable)[10]
SF Weekly(favourable)[11]

People called The Promise a "musically rich 17-track set (including five trademark instrumental interludes) that blows away most of today’s R&B."[6] With a three out of five star rating Chairman Mao of Blender proclaimed that EWF "maintains their trademark buoyancy on a classy collection of mid-tempo numbers and sweeping ballads."[5] Rob Theakston of AllMusic gave a three out of five star rating and declared the album is "extremely soulful and soothing".[4] With a 3.5 out of five star rating Steve Jones of USA Today wrote "with horn-kissed ballads and infectious jazz funk grooves, the band seems to have regained its spark".[12] Renee Graham of the Boston Globe noted that "unfussy and sincere, this is well-crafted R&B for grown ups".[9] David Peschek of The Guardian also gave a 4 out of five star rating and described The Promise as "17 tracks of immaculately smooth, meticulously detailed mid-tempo pop-soul and thoroughly intoxicating in its lushness."[7]

People called The Promise a "musically rich 17-track set (including five trademark instrumental interludes) that blows away most of today’s R&B."[6] With a three out of five star rating Chairman Mao of Blender proclaimed that EWF "maintains their trademark buoyancy on a classy collection of mid-tempo numbers and sweeping ballads."[5] Rob Theakston of AllMusic gave a three out of five star rating and declared the album is "extremely soulful and soothing".[4] With a 3.5 out of five star rating Steve Jones of USA Today wrote "with horn-kissed ballads and infectious jazz funk grooves, the band seems to have regained its spark".[12] Renee Graham of the Boston Globe noted that "unfussy and sincere, this is well-crafted R&B for grown ups".[9] David Peschek of The Guardian also gave a 4 out of five star rating and described The Promise as "17 tracks of immaculately smooth, meticulously detailed mid-tempo pop-soul and thoroughly intoxicating in its lushness."[7]

Singles

The track "All in the Way" featuring The Emotions reached No. 13 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 25 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[13][14]

The songs, "Never" and "Why?" peaked at Nos. 17 and 19, respectively, on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart.[15][16] "Hold Me" reached No. 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[17] "Hold Me" was also Grammy nominated for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.[18]

Trivia

"Where Do We Go from Here" and "Dirty" were originally recorded during the I Am sessions and remixed for this album. "Dirty", in particular, in its original form with blues legend Junior Wells, already appeared on the 1992 box-set The Eternal Dance.[1]

Track listing
The Promise track listing[1]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."All in the Way" (featuring The Emotions)Wayne Vaughn, Wanda Vaughn, Maurice White4:28
2."Betcha'"Preston Glass, Maurice White3:43
3."Wiggle"Preston Glass0:39
4."Why?"Gregory Curtis, Maurice White4:04
5."Wonderland"" (featuring Angie Stone)Chris Rodriguez, Tommy Sims4:05
6."Where Do We Go from Here?"Bill Meyers, Ross Vannelli5:21
7."Freedom"Maurice White0:42
8."Hold Me"Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson4:37
9."Never"Gregory Curtis, Maurice White5:08
10."Prelude" 0:40
11."All About Love"Sheila Hutchinson, Wanda Vaughn, Wayne Vaughn4:24
12."Suppose You Like Me"Scott Storch, Pino Palladino, James Poyser, Questlove, Sir James Bailey,4:37
13."The Promise"Raymond Crossley, Ralph Johnson, Maurice White0:27
14."She Waits"Marc Harris, Tommy Sims5:09
15."The Promise (Continued)"Maurice White, Ralph Johnson0:51
16."Let Me Love You"Gregory Curtis4:17
17."Dirty"Maurice White3:47
Japan bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Soul"Maurice White, Ralph Johnson, Carlos Rios3:48
18."So Lucky"Scott Storch, Questlove, Sir James Bailey4:44

Personnel

[1]

  • Maurice White - lead and background vocals, kalimba, producer, executive producer, horn arrangements, vocal producer
  • Tim Kelley - mixer, arranger, producer, keyboards, drum programming
  • Bob Robinson - arranger, producer, piano, guitar
  • Verdine White - bass
  • Philip Bailey - lead and background vocals
  • Ralph Johnson - percussion, background vocals, producer, drum programming
  • B. David Whitworth - background vocals
  • Tom Mgrdichian - keyboards, string arrangements
  • Sir Alexander Dutkewych - guitar, harp on "Dirty"
  • John Paris - drums
  • Greg "G-Mo" Moore - guitar
  • Robert Brookins - keyboards, producer, drum programming
  • Daniel de los Reyes - percussion
  • Gary Bias - flute, saxophone
  • Reggie Young - trombone
  • Ray Brown - trumpet, flugelhorn, horn arrangements, soloist
  • Darrell Crooks - guitar
  • Paulinho Da Costa - percussion
  • Gary Grant - trumpet
  • Jerry Hey - trumpet, horn arrangements
  • Sheila Hutchinson - background vocals
  • Tollak Ollestad - harmonica
  • Wayne Linsey - keyboards
  • Raymond Crossley - keyboards
  • Gregory Curtis - keyboards, background vocals, producer, engineer, drum programming
  • Andy Martin - trombone
  • Howard McCrary - background vocals
  • Michael "Patches" Stewart - trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Wanda Vaughn - lead and background vocals
  • Wayne Vaughn - drums, keyboards, background vocals, producer, engineer, horn arrangements, vocal producer
  • Eric Walls - guitar

Production
  • Myron McKinley - rhythm arrangements
  • Dave Dolimar - engineer
  • Preston Glass - producer, keyboard programming
  • Steve Hall - mastering
  • Andy Haller - engineer
  • Cameron Marcarelli - engineer, drum programming, assistant engineer
  • Wallace Mercer - engineer
  • Richard Salvato - production coordination
  • Dexter Simmons - mixing
  • Ben Wright - horn arrangements
  • Morito Suzuki - cover design

Charts
Chart (2003) Peak
position
US Billboard 200 89
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[2] 19
US Top Independent Albums (Billboard)[3] 5

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
2003 "All in the Way" US Billboard Adult R&B Airplay[13] 10
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[14] 25
UK Independent Singles[19] 45
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 77
"Hold Me" US Billboard Adult R&B Airplay[17] 28
2014 "Never" US Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs[15] 17
2015 "Why?" US Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs[16] 19
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References
  1. Earth, Wind & Fire: The Promise. Kalimba Music. May 2003.
  2. "Earth, Wind & Fire: The Promise (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album)". billboard.com.
  3. "Earth, Wind & Fire: The Promise (Top Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  4. Theakston, Rob. "Earth, Wind & Fire: The Promise". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  5. Mao, Chairman. "Earth, Wind & Fire: The Promise". blender.com. Blender. Archived from the original on 2009-05-10.
  6. "Picks and Pans Main: Song". people.com. People. May 26, 2003.
  7. Peschek, David (April 9, 2004). "Earth, Wind and Fire, The Promise". theguardian.com. The Guardian.
  8. Burton, Steve (May 23, 2003). "Earth, Wind & Fire: The Promise". Cincinnati Enquirer. USA Today – via newspaper.com.
  9. Graham, Renee (June 6, 2003). "Earth, Wind & Fire: The Promise". newspaper.com. Boston Globe. p. 62.
  10. Associated Press (May 25, 2003). "Turn up sound for 'Deftones' - Self-titled CD really rocks". newsbank.com. Telegraph Herald. p. f8.
  11. Palmer, Tamera (May 28, 2003). "Earth, Wind & Fire: The Promise". sfweekly.com. SF Weekly.
  12. Burton, Steve (May 23, 2003). "Earth, Wind & Fire: The Promise". newspaper.com. USA Today.
  13. "Earth, Wind & Fire: All In The Way Chart History (Adult R&B)". Billboard.
  14. "Earth, Wind & Fire: All In The Way Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  15. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Never (Smooth Jazz Songs)". Billboard.
  16. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Why? (Smooth Jazz Songs)". Billboard.
  17. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Hold Me (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.
  18. "Earth, Wind & Fire". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
  19. "Official Independent Singles Chart". officialcharts.com. Official Charts. May 1, 2004.
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