"The Columbia Masters" by EARTH, WIND & FIRE - 1972 to 1990 (June 2012 UK Sony/Legacy 16CD Clamshell Box Set with Remasters and Bordered Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Let's Groove…"

With 15 albums (2 of which were originally vinyl doubles) and a packed Bonus Disc personally chosen by the band's principal songwriter and guiding force Maurice White - there’s a huge cache of Soul/Funk goodies on here – so let's get to the cosmic details right away. 

Released June 2012 – "The Columbia Masters" by EARTH, WIND & FIRE is a 16CD Mini Box Set on Sony Legacy 88697894692 and breaks down as follows:

1. Last Days And Time, November 1972 album, 11 tracks, 39:52 minutes

2. Head To The Sky, May 1973, 6 tracks, 36:39 minutes

3. Open Our Eyes, March 1974, 11 tracks, 39:53 minutes

4. That's The Way Of The World, March 1975, 8 tracks, 38:54 minutes

5. Gratitude, November 1975 2LP set, 16 tracks, 66:11 minutes

6. Spirit, October 1976, 9 tracks, 36:23 minutes

7. All 'n' All, November 1977, 11 tracks, 38:58 minutes

8. The Best Of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol.1, November 1978, 10 tracks, 40:10 minutes

9. I Am, June 1979, 9 tracks, 37:40 minutes

10. Faces, November 1980 2LP set, 17 tracks, 66:07 minutes

11. Raise!, November 1981, 9 tracks, 38:30 minutes

12. Powerlight, March 1983, 9 tracks, 41:20 minutes

13. Electric Universe, November 1983, 8 tracks, 37:19 minutes

14. Touch The World, November 1987, 10 tracks, 42:47 minutes

15. Heritage, February 1990, 17 tracks, 51:22 minutes

16. Constellations – The Universe Of EW&F, 2012 Exclusive, 16 tracks, 68:10 minutes

Their first two albums "Earth, Wind & Fire" (1971) and "The Need Of Love" (1972) were both on Warner Brothers in the USA – so are not covered by this box set. And the eagle-eyed collectors amongst you will also have noticed the absence of bonus tracks on all albums when the 1999 and 2001 Legacy single-issue CD remasters all had about 4 extras each. But there is Disc 16 – which has "Live From Rio" stuff, 12" instrumental mixes and duets.

The chunky 40-page mini booklet is fabulous – well put together with full album annotation – an Intro from Leo Sachs – photos of singles and publicity photos. Overall mastering is by Mark Wilder – but a quick listen to any disc and its clear that the Legacy remasters of old have been used – and that means great sound quality throughout. And a bonus for us who appreciate our Repro Artwork – each card is a gatefold – even the albums that had a single sleeve issue initially.

The chart statistics surrounding EWF are staggering - "Shining Star", "Sing A Song", "Getaway", "Serpentine Fire", "Got To Get You Into My Life" (a Beatles cover), "September", "Let's Groove" and "System Of Survival" were all Number 1s in the USA R 'n'B Billboard charts. Every other chart entry they had between 1973 ("Evil") and 1990 ("For The Love Of You” with MC Hammer) are all here too – nearly 40 of them! But what a set like this does is to allow you to dip into those lesser-travelled paths – the stunning Fusion instrumental "Power" on "Last Days And Time" – the lovely Isley Brothers Soul of "Keep Your Head To The Sky" – the out-and-out Power Funk of "Mighty Mighty" (a Number 4 in March 1974) – and the irresistible floor-filling joy of "Let Me Talk" which opened the ambitious double-album "Faces".

Sixteen CDs worth of EWF is probably a little too much for the average Soulster (a single Best Of will do) – but at its presently reduced price of just over a twenty spot – in 2014 "The Columbia Masters" doesn't half offer ludicrously great value for money. And all of it sounding like it's ready to put ants in your pants. Always a joyous Soul and Funk band – Earth, Wind & Fire's "The Columbia Masters" is a winner…