Greatest Hits [Legacy] in Bloomington, MN

Columbia
's 1998 collection of
Earth, Wind & Fire
's
Greatest Hits
in many ways stands as the group's definitive compilation. Even though there have been more extensive overviews of the group's work, such as the triple-disc set
The Eternal Dance
, this is the first collection to contain all of the group's biggest hits on one disc. All but one (
"Love Music"
) of the ten songs from 1978's
The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire
are included, while six of the ten songs from
The Best Of, Vol. 2
are featured; the remaining two cuts on the 17-track collection are the minor early single
"Kalimba Story"
and the album cut
"Gratitude."
These are fine additions to the album, but the true meat of the collection lies in the hits --
"Shining Star,"
"That's the Way of the World,"
"Sing a Song,"
"Getaway,"
"Got to Get You Into My Life,"
"September,"
"Boogie Wonderland,"
"After the Love Has Gone,"
"Let's Groove,"
and so many others. They might not be presented in chronological order (the only flaw in this otherwise flawless collection), but it's a sheer delight to have all of the hits on one terrifically entertaining and valuable disc. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine