I Am (Earth, Wind & Fire album)


I Am is the ninth studio album by the R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire released in June 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records. The LP rose to Nos. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. I Am has been certified Double Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA, Platinum in the UK by the BPI and Platinum in Canada by Music Canada.

Overview

I Am was produced by Maurice White. Artists such as The Emotions and Toto's Steve Lukather also made guest appearances on the album.

Critical reception

Eric Sieger of the Baltimore Sun described I Am as "faultlessly produced". Sieger added "The album features a horn and string section, synthesizers, congas and kalimbas and the material ranges from straight boogie to soulful ballads. Lyrically, some of the numbers leave something to be desired, but Earth, Wind & Fire is one group where the musicianship is so sharp and vibrant that the words don't seem to matter quite so much." Rose Riggins of Gannett exclaimed "I Am is explosive and ready to lift you off your feet to boogie wonderland. Earth Wind & Fire's 10th album, it shows the band is still on the move upward. This is a fine LP, both versatile and creative." Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone exclaimed " I Am is obviously meant to portend something, but who knows what? Is this Maurice White’s vision of paradise?" John Rockwell of The New York Times stated "This flashily theatrical, musically imaginative creation of Maurice White can almost always be counted on for interesting records, and the new 'I Am' album is no exception." Rockwell added "Mr. White's records reaffirm one of the basic truths about the shifting fashions of black music. All these up‐tempo Idioms are inherently related. Disco and funk and soul and rhythm and blues are all fruits of the same tree —the music of rural black people, growing from African roots and shaped by influences from the dominant white culture, evangelical Christianity and the ‘urban experience. A band like Earth, Wind and Fire will enjoy its disco hits. But those hits won't sound like a very significant change in direction because a slight emphasis of the bass line entails only the most modest modification of the basic style." Robert Christgau of the Village Voice wrote "Sexy, dancey pop music of undeniable craft, and it doesn't let up. But as we all know, they could be doing a lot better." Connie Johnson of The Los Angeles Times proclaimed "I Am is freshly innovative for EW&F in that it emphasizes the one-on-one as opposed to the cosmic experience, and freely utilizes the skill of other writers to propel that message. The album should also enforce EW&F's image as trend-setters for other rhythm & blues groups seeking to escape the traditional, doo-wop mold." Creem Magazine described the LP as "a rhythmic utopia". Ace Adams of the New York Daily News called the album "A collection of numbers from disco to rhythm and blues and into a little jazz." Adams added "The group's impressive vocals make this album a must".
NME placed I Am at No. 16 on their albums of the year list for 1979. Melody Maker also placed the album at No. 8 on their albums of the year list for 1979. Bandleader Maurice White was also Grammy nominated in the category of Producer of the Year Non-Classical.

Singles

The song, "After the Love Has Gone", reached No. 2 on both theBillboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Songs charts. After The Love Has Gone also reached No. 3 on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs and UK Pop Singles charts. The ballad was Grammy nominated in the category of Record of the Year. After the Love Has Gone also won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
Another single, "Boogie Wonderland" featuring The Emotions, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Boogie Wonderland was also Grammy nominated in the categories of Best Disco Recording and Best R&B Instrumental Performance.

Track listing

Original release

2004 reissue bonus tracks

;Note

Charts

Albums

Singles

Certifications

Accolades

The information regarding accolades attributed to I Am is adapted from Acclaimed Music and NME
PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
Melody MakerU.KAlbums of the Year19798
NMEU.KAlbums of the Year197916
The GuardianU.K100 Albums that Don't Appear in All Other Top 100 Album Lists199914
Mojo 1000, the Ultimate CD Buyers GuideU.K100 Soul Albums Everyone Should Own2001*
Gary MulhollandU.K261 Greatest Albums Since Punk and Disco2006*