Tommy McGee – I’m a Stranger
The last EWF release before the group broke into superstardom with That’s The Way Of The World, Open Our Eyes is a stripped back, jazz, funk and R&B classic that contains one of our favorite instrumental EWF tracks. The sensual A2 “Devotion” is the more popular of the bunch and features the sweet falsetto vocals of Philip Bailey, but B1 “Drum Song” might be our favorite here with its almost spiritual, afro-fusion kalimba and percussion groove. It reminds us a bit of Brother Ah’s “Sekou” from his cult classic Key to Nowhere, but funkier and more dancefloor friendly.
Recommended – A2 Devotion, A3 Fair But So Uncool, B1 Drum Song
Tags: Jazz-funk / Soul-jazz
Tracklist:
A1 Mighty Mighty
A2 Devotion
A3 Fair But So Uncool
A4 Feelin’ Blue
A5 Kalimba Story
B1 Drum Song
B2 Tee Nine Chee Bit
B3 Spasmodic Mood
B4 Caribou
B5 Open Our Eyes
Credits:
Arranged By – Charles Stepney, Earth, Wind & Fire
Drums, Percussion – Ralph Johnson
Engineer, Remix – Bruce Botnick
Guitar, Percussion – Johnny Graham
Management – Cavallo-Ruffalo Management
Mastered By [Credits] – Arnie Acosta
Mastered By [Runout Etch] – Az* (tracks: A1 to A5)
Photography By – Lee Lawrence (2)
Piano, Organ, Synthesizer [Moog] – Larry Dunn
Producer – Joe Wissert, Maurice White
Producer [Associate] – Charles Stepney
Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Andrew Woolfolk
Vocals, Bass, Percussion – Verdine White
Vocals, Congas, Percussion – Philip Bailey
Vocals, Drums, Kalimba – Maurice White
Vocals, Guitar, Percussion – Al McKay
