Heritage (Earth, Wind & Fire album)


Heritage is the fifteenth studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire, released in February 1990 on Columbia Records. The album reached No. 19 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No.18 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.

Overview

Heritage was produced by Maurice White. White stated in an interview with the Associated Press that tributes are paid to Fats Waller and Charlie Parker on the album. He also added "The album was a germ in my mind, its very interesting watching it evolve and come to fruition. It starts as an idea, and all of a sudden its a giant thing. I was thinking, first of all of musical heritage, the things we had drawn from. And we wanted to bring to our fans attention things to appreciate, things to be drawn from."
As well Heritage features guest appearances by artists such as Wanda Vaughn and Jeanette Hawes of The Emotions, Sly Stone, MC Hammer and The Boys.

Samples

Daydreamin' was sampled by Nas on the song "Pray" from his 1998 album I Am... and 4 Hero on the song "Journey from the Light".

Critical reception

People described Heritage as an album "with a full dose of energy and creativity". J.D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun declared "Earth, Wind & Fire has not only kept its sound current, but on Heritage actually seems invigorated by the process of change".
Don Palmer of Spin noted "EWF's newest kicks with some genuine enthusiasm". John Milward of Rolling Stone called Heritage "an album that finds these soulful survivors proving that their old-fashioned strengths can still sound fresh in the most modern sense of the word". Paul Robicheau of The Boston Globe also described the album as a "fresh and funky outing".
As well Lynden Barber of The Sydney Morning Herald placed Heritage at No. 7 on his list of the top ten albums of 1990.

Singles

The title track features The Boys and reached No. 5 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart. The single, "For the Love of You" featuring MC Hammer, peaked at No. 19 on the same chart.

Track listing

Personnel

YearSingleChartPosition
1990"For the Love of You"Billboard Hot R&B Singles19
1990"Heritage"Billboard Hot R&B Singles5
1990"Wanna Be the Man"Billboard Hot R&B Singles46

Accolades