All 'n' All

iTunes Review

There are (at least) two ways to appreciate Earth, Wind & Fire: as high-flying New Age-tinged conceptualists and as a relentless soul/funk/pop hit-making machine. EW&F’s collective desire to groove and seduce while purveying an overall message of cosmic harmony was particularly well-expressed on 1977’s All ‘N All. “Jupiter” (pure pressure-cooker funk, sparked by joyful horns and fervent vocal interplay) and “Serpentine Fire” (a pagan love-fest driven by Latin rhythms) are jams to satisfy the most dance-addicted fan. Sublimely tender ballads like “I’ll Write A Song For You” and “Love’s Holiday” highlight singer Phillip Bailey’s almost unnaturally sensual falsetto. “Runnin’” shows off the ensemble’s sophisticated jazz instrumental abilities. Binding all these elements together is album’s pervasive theme of brotherhood and spiritual unity, expressed explicitly in songs like “Fantasy” and more subtly in ethereal pieces like “Brazilian Rhyme.” The album marked a creative peak for the band, and whether you’re a seeker after astral wisdom or just desperate to get down, there’s a lot to like on All ‘N All.