Faces
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Album Summary
Released in 1980 on ARC Records, 'Faces' arrived as a sweeping double album from Earth, Wind & Fire at a moment when the band stood at the very peak of their creative and commercial powers. Produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney's spiritual successor in the EWF sound, the record brought together the deep ensemble talents of Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn, and a full cast of collaborators including Jessica Cleaves, Ronnie Laws, Robert Brookins, Wayne Vaughn, Morris O'Connor, Myron McKinley, and Maurice White himself. The album's ambitious scope — fifteen tracks spread across four sides of vinyl — reflected the band's desire to stretch beyond any single genre, weaving soul, disco, funk, and balladry into one rich, expansive tapestry. ARC, the band's own imprint distributed through CBS, gave them the creative latitude to deliver something grand, and grand is exactly what they delivered.
Reception
- The album performed respectfully on the charts, continuing EWF's commercial momentum through the transition from the late-seventies disco era into the new decade.
- Critics noted the album's ambitious double-LP format as a statement of artistic confidence, though some felt the breadth of styles occasionally spread the energy thin across four sides.
- Tracks like 'Let Me Talk' and 'And Love Goes On' drew particular attention as standout moments that demonstrated the band's signature blend of groove and melodic sophistication.
Significance
- As a double album released right at the turn of the decade, 'Faces' stands as a document of Earth, Wind & Fire navigating the post-disco landscape with their cosmic funk identity fully intact, refusing to be defined or confined by any single trend.
- The record showcases the remarkable depth of the EWF ensemble — with contributors like Ronnie Laws and Jessica Cleaves adding texture and dimension — cementing the band's reputation as one of the great collective musical forces of the era.
- Stylistically catalogued under both Soul and Disco, 'Faces' captures a pivotal transitional moment in Black popular music, bridging the orchestrated euphoria of late-seventies dance music with the more polished, introspective soul sound that would define the early eighties.
Samples
- "Let Me Talk" — sampled across multiple hip-hop and R&B productions, prized for its propulsive groove and horn-driven intro.
- "And Love Goes On" — its smooth, melodic bassline and lush arrangement have drawn the attention of producers mining the EWF catalog for soulful source material.
- "Back On The Road" — sampled by various artists drawn to its upbeat rhythmic energy and clean funk instrumentation.
Tracklist
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A1 Let Me Talk 112
4:08
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A2 Turn It Into Something Good 86
3:53
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A3 Pride 115
4:02
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A4 You 141
5:09
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B1 Sparkle 115
3:51
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B2 Back On The Road 117
3:33
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B3 Song In My Heart 128
4:18
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B4 You Went Away 76
4:29
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C1 And Love Goes On 123
4:06
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C2 Sailaway 104
4:08
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C3 Take It To The Sky 86
4:21
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C4 Win Or Lose 118
3:55
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D1 Share Your Love 129
3:17
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D2 In Time 139
3:44
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D3 Faces 140
7:40
Artist Details
Earth, Wind & Fire is a transcendent force of nature that came together in Chicago in 1970 under the visionary leadership of Maurice White, blending funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and pop into a cosmic musical tapestry unlike anything the world had ever heard before. With their kaleidoscopic stage presence, lush horn arrangements, and spiritually uplifting lyrics, they became one of the best-selling musical acts of all time, stacking up hits like "September," "Shining Star," and "Boogie Wonderland" that still make people lose their minds on the dance floor to this very day. Their cultural significance runs deep — breaking racial barriers, bridging Black and white audiences, and infusing popular music with Afrocentric imagery and a message of unity and enlightenment that spoke to the soul of an entire generation.
