Maps of Music

Millennium (1993)

Where the lyrics of Millennium take you, and where it was really made.

This album marks Earth, Wind & Fire's return to Warner Bros. Records after 21 years, and it was recorded across several studios rather than one.

Key places

Recorded at Capitol Studios (1993)

Recording site Capitol Studios — The album credits Capitol Studios among the studios where it was recorded. The studio is in Hollywood. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded and mixed at Devonshire Studios (1993)

Recording site Devonshire Sound Studios — Devonshire Studios is credited both as a recording studio and as the main mixing studio for the album. The studio is in North Hollywood. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Millennium: sixteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire
• Released September 1993 on Warner Bros. Records
• Reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 39 on the Billboard 200
• Also No. 18 on the Japanese Pop Albums chart and No. 29 on the Dutch Album Top 100
• Certified Gold in Japan by the RIAJ

Background

• Marked the band's return after 21 years to Warner Bros. Records
• Produced by EWF founder and leader Maurice White
• Prince and Ronnie Laws appear on the LP
• Prince wrote the track Super Hero, which the New Power Generation featuring the Steeles covered for the soundtrack to the film Blankman

Recording

• Recorded at Sonic Lab, Devonshire Studios, Andora Studios and Capitol Studios
• Mixed at Devonshire Studios; tracks 6 and 12 mixed at Larrabee Sound studios, track 8 at Pacifique Recording Studios
• Mastered at Future Disc in Hollywood, California
• Paul Klingberg credited with recording; Mick Guzauski credited with mixing on most tracks
• Strings appear on tracks 3 and 5, with Bruce Dukov as concertmaster

Cover

• Artwork by Tadanori Yokoo, credited for illustration
• Kim Champagne credited for art direction; Reiko Yoshida for artwork coordination

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org · 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

• Buffalo News: 4 out of 5 stars, calling it a revamped re-creation of the band's message-laden, massaging tunes from its heyday
• Steven Wine (Associated Press): the band's best record since its artistic peak in the 1970s
• Tom Sinclair (Vibe): found EWF still have a knack for mellifluous R&B on the visionary and romantic side
• Paul Willistein (The Morning Call): more than half a dozen standouts among the 16 tracks, a must-have for longtime fans
• Renee Graham (The Boston Globe): the album returns the band to its funk and R&B roots
• James T. Jones IV (USA Today): 3 out of 4 stars, with the band returning to its trademark sound
• Derek Ali (Dayton Daily News): 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising the band for keeping a musical style for several decades
• Gary Graff (Detroit Free Press): the band returns to the joyous R&B that made it famous, landing smooth results
• Andy Gill (The Independent): the album may be the ticket for listeners wanting old-style R&B sensibility

Records

• US Billboard Top R&B Albums: No. 8
• US Billboard 200: No. 39
• Japanese Pop Albums: No. 18
• Dutch Album Top 100: No. 29
• Japan: RIAJ Gold certification
• Sunday Morning: Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
• Sunday Morning peaked at No. 10 on Adult R&B Songs, No. 20 on Hot R&B Singles and No. 35 on Adult Contemporary
• Spend the Night reached No. 36 on Adult R&B Songs and No. 42 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
• Nominated for a Soul Train Music Award, Best R&B/Soul Album - Group, Band or Duo
• Placed on the Buffalo News list of the best R&B/Hip-Hop albums of 1993

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Prince wrote the track Super Hero, which the New Power Generation covered for the Blankman soundtrack.
• The album was mixed mainly at Devonshire Studios, with two tracks mixed at Larrabee Sound studios and one at Pacifique Recording Studios.
• Millennium was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award in the Best R&B/Soul Album - Group, Band or Duo category.
• Sunday Morning earned a Grammy nomination, while the album cut Spend the Night charted on the Adult R&B Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
• The album's artwork was by Tadanori Yokoo, a Japanese artist.

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

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact