1990 proved to be a landmark year for Earth, Wind, and Fire. First, they released Heritage, an attempt to merge their traditional R&B sound with more contemporary hip-hop influences. Then they underwent a tour supporting the album, but it proved to be a more significant event for a different reason: it marked the final tour where leader/founder Maurice White performed with the group. A diagnosis of Parkinson's forced White to retire from the stage, although he continues to produce other artists as well as his legendary band. This final tour with White is documented by Live in Japan, a remastered CD/DVD release that showcases EWF at their usual best.
Proving that the EWF sound translates through all cultures, the band repeatedly brings the Japanese audience to their feet as they perform classics as well as a few more obscure tunes. Judging by their high-energy performance, the band seems determined to engage the audience as much as possible. They double the tempo of “September,” “Getaway,”and “Let's Groove,” and include a blazing electric guitar solos to “Shining Star” and “That's the Way of the World.”
Clearly the band decided to include some lesser-known tracks in addition to the big hits. Interestingly, they begin the show with “System of Survival,” a song off their 1987 album Touch the World (best known for the hit “Thinking of You”). The lone nod to Heritage, “For the Love of You” (not the Isley Brothers slow jam) is enlivened by the fierce horn section as well as the sublime interplay between White's vocals and Philip Bailey's falsetto. While the 1981 album Raise! remains notable mainly for the huge hit “Let's Groove,” EWF instead selects “Kalimba Tree,” an exotic workout featuring White playing the kalimba, an African thumb-piano. He also has great fun with the audience, encouraging them to sing along — and hold some lengthy notes!
Article comments
1 - chris texas
Yes I love to see Maurice strut his stuff across the floor. EWF is legendary and for me will be one of the best bands world wide as noted by their fans.
2 - Kit O'Toole
I'm in complete agreement--much as I still love EWF, I do miss seeing Maurice White out there with them.
3 - Drew
This isn't the last recorded video show with Maurice - that would be the live in Japan dvd from 1994. The last tour with him was 1995 in Japan, although there is a 2004 recording with him when he showed up at a show as well. This is a great dvd though!