Gratitude in Bloomington, MN

With
That's the Way of the World
having made
Earth, Wind & Fire
one of the best-selling
soul
bands of the 1970s,
Maurice White
and co. had no problem filling large arenas. As dynamic as
EWF
was on-stage, it's a shame that there isn't more documentation of the band's live show. Only one live
album was released by a major label in America, the superb
Gratitude
. First a two-LP set and later reissued on CD,
brilliantly captures the excitement
generated on-stage at its creative peak. Neither hardcore
devotees nor more casual listeners should deprive themselves of the joys of the live versions of
"Shining Star"
and
"Yearnin' Learnin'."
is magnificent throughout, and
Philip Bailey
truly soars on extended versions of
"Reasons"
(which boasts a memorable alto sax solo by guest
Don Myrick
) and
"Devotion."
The album also introduced some excellent new studio songs, including the haunting
"Can't Hide Love"
and the uplifting
"Sing a Song."
One could nitpick and wish for live versions of
"Evil,"
"Keep Your Head to the Sky,"
"Kalimba Song,"
but the bottom line is that
is one of
's finest accomplishments. ~ Alex Henderson