Raise!

''Raise!'' is the eleventh studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on November 14, 1981, by ARC/Columbia Records. The album spent 11 weeks atop the ''Billboard'' Top R&B albums chart and peaked at No. 5 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. ''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.

Overview

''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.

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. A song called " I've Had Enough" also got to No. 29 on the UK Pop Singles chart.

Another song entitled " Wanna Be with You" rose to No. 15 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Soul Singles chart. "Wanna Be with You" also won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

Critical reception

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

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

Track listing

Personnel

*Maurice White – lead vocals, background vocals, kalimba, drums
*Philip Bailey – lead vocals, background vocals, percussion
*Ms. Pluto – additional background vocals
*Michael Boddicker – vocoder, synthesizer, keyboards
*Verdine White – bass guitar, additional background vocals
*Selene Burford – cello
*Larry Corbett – cello
*Paula Hochhalter – cello
*Jerome Kessler – cello
*Frederick Seykora – cello
*Mary Louise Zeyen – cello
*Assa Drori – concertmaster
*James Getzoff – concertmaster
* Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion, additional background vocals
* Fred White – drums, percussion
*Roland Bautista – guitar
*Johnny Graham – guitar
*Marlo Henderson – guitar
*Beloyd Taylor – guitar, additional background vocals
*Larry Dunn – keyboards, piano, synthesizer, synthesizer programming
*Greg Phillinganes – keyboards
*David Foster – keyboards
*Billy Meyers – keyboards
*Wayne Vaughn – keyboards
* Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
*Don Myrick – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
*Tom Saviano – additional saxophone
*Andrew Woolfolk – tenor saxophone
* Bill Reichenbach – trombone
*Charles Loper – trombone
* Dick Hyde – trombone
*George Bohanon – trombone
*Lew McCreary – trombone
*Louis Satterfield – trombone
*Chuck Findley – trumpet
*Gary Grant – trumpet

*Jerry Hey – trumpet
*Larry G. Hall – trumpet
*Michael Harris – trumpet
*Oscar Brashear

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