Maps of Music

All 'n All (1977)

Where the lyrics of All 'n All take you, and where it was really made.

Recorded in Los Angeles, the album drew its main inspiration from a month-long trip to Argentina and Brazil.

Key places

Recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders (1977)

Recording site Hollywood Sound — The album was recorded at the Hollywood Sound Recorders in Los Angeles, California, alongside The Burbank Studios. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at The Burbank Studios (1977)

Recording site The Burbank Studios — The album was also recorded at The Burbank Studios in Los Angeles, California, alongside the Hollywood Sound Recorders. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Sunset Sound (1977)

Recording site Sunset Sound — Discogs lists Sunset Sound among the California studios where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• All 'n All: eighth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire
• Released November 1977 by Columbia Records
• Reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200
• Certified Triple Platinum in the US, Gold in Canada, and Silver in the UK

Background

• Produced by Maurice White for Kalimba Productions
• A month-long trip to Argentina and Brazil was his main source of inspiration
• Fits the band's run of late-1970s records led by White as producer and main creative voice

Recording

• Recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders and The Burbank Studios, both in Los Angeles, California
• Discogs credits also list Sunset Sound among the recording studios
• George Massenburg credited as engineer for the remix
• Mastered at The Mastering Lab, with Mike Reese credited as mastering engineer

Cover

• Artwork painted by Shusei Nagaoka
• Concept built on pyramids, a temple, and outer space, with the themes of the passage of time and human passion
• Maurice White asked for an angel to be included, and the artist, White, and an art director disagreed during the design process
• The final angel is neither clearly white nor black

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · ja.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Maurice White, originating out of the Salty Peppers.
• Known for a kalimba sound, a dynamic horn section, elaborate stage shows, and the contrast between Philip Bailey's falsetto and Maurice White's tenor.
• Music spans jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop.

Members

• Prominent members include Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson, Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Roland Bautista, Robert Brookins, Sonny Emory, Ronnie Laws, Sheldon Reynolds and Andrew Woolfolk.
• Maurice White, the founder, died on February 4, 2016.

Career

• Among the best-selling bands ever, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.
• Won six Grammy Awards out of 17 nominations and four American Music Awards out of 12 nominations.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.
• Received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2019, becoming the first Black group to be inducted.
• Had a hiatus from mid-1984 to mid-1987.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Rolling Stone: Joe McEwen wrote that the album is filled with leaded brotherhood platitudes, Star Trek sci-fi, and stiffly poetic love songs, yet said he liked the record
• Los Angeles Times: the album includes only two ballads, and both are as nifty as the R&B rockers, possibly the group's finest collection
• The Village Voice: Robert Christgau gave a B+ review, praising soulful horns, high-tension harmonies, and rhythms and textures from many lands
• Record Mirror: Barry Cain gave a 4/5 review, saying the spirit of Maurice White reigns supreme across the album
• Stereo Review: Phyl Garland called the music delightfully earthy and described the band's sound as neo-progressive soul
• The New York Times: John Rockwell said the album pushes the group's music further toward a febrile jazz-rock direction
• Chicago Tribune: Monroe Anderson called the album a rare blend of poetry, passion, and artistic progression

Reappraisal

• The Guardian: a retrospective review praised the album's drum-like sound and said Milton Nascimento's 'Brazilian Rhyme' beautifully punctuates the whole record
• AllMusic: Alex Henderson called the album a highly rewarding addition to the group's catalog

Records

• Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart: No. 1
• Billboard 200: No. 3
• 'Serpentine Fire': No. 1 on Billboard Hot Soul Songs, No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100
• 'Fantasy': No. 12 on Billboard Hot Soul Songs, No. 14 on the UK Pop Singles chart
• Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for the album
• 'Runnin'' won a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental
• 'Fantasy' earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song
• American Music Award nomination for Favorite Soul/R&B Album
• Certifications: Triple Platinum (US, RIAA), Gold (Canada, Music Canada), Silver (UK, BPI)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Record Mirror's review called Maurice White the Fellini of funk.
• Rolling Stone's Joe McEwen described his own response to the album as schizophrenic, since it held both the worst and the best of black music.
• Nagaoka said he finished the cover painting in a desperate hurry after the disagreements over the design.
• The characters 風林火山 are hidden in the hieroglyphs on the pedestal of the Ramesses statue in the artwork.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

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