Customer Reviews

Eternal Dance (3cd Bin-Fitting Jewel Case)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This box set was not intended to be the greatest hits CD but to give us the listeners more of a vibe about what it's like to experience EWF in the live versions, unreleased cuts, and the true complexity of their music. Most EWF lovers have all of the songs that are missing. This CD is supposed to fill the voids and show the diversity of the music. Check them out at the fan site www.elememtsvipclub.com .

I love this disc set, however I have to agree with person who said "Love's Holiday" was missing. How could they not put that in the collection???? That's like having spaghetti without the sauce. I also would've like if "Take it to the Sky", "Jupiter", "On Your Face" and "Imagination" were included in there also. Aside from all of that, this CD set is good to have. It brings you from their early days until about the late 80's, early 90's.

THIS IS NOT A VERY GOOD BOX SET. IT IS MISSING TOO MANY SONGS. HOW CAN THEY LEAVE OFF "LOVE'S HOLIDAY" AND "REASONS(LIVE)." THEY ALSO LEFT OFF "LOVE MUSIC" FROM THEIR THE BEST OF VOL. 1 AND "TURN ON(THE BEAT BOX)" OFF OF VOL. 2. THEY DIDN'T PUT THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF "DEVOTION" OR ALBUM CUTS LIKE "FAIR BUT SO UNCOOL," "ALL ABOUT LOVE," "GRATITUDE," OR MY FAVORITE "ON YOUR FACE." THERE ARE MANY OTHER ALBUM CUTS THAT SHOULD HAVE MADE THIS SET BUT DIDN'T, SO INSTEAD OF THIS BUY THEIR ACTUAL ALBUMS AND YOU WON'T MISS ANY SONGS.

'The Eternal Dance' isn't as GREAT as it COULD BE, but IT'S ALMOST THERE!! With a legendary group like EWF, this anthology should've included at least 4 CDs, BUT there are a few bright spots!! Like most die hard EWF fans, I got this box set mainly for the unreleased tracks, and the rare live songs that didn't make it onto 1975's classic 'Gratitude' are priceless (fans, consider remastering 'Gratitude' and add these tracks for an improved EWF concert!!). The tracklisting is fairly predictable, but WHERE IS 'LOVE'S HOLIDAY'???, and I proclaim the 2nd CD to be the strongest in the set (the 3rd one could've been better!!).

With all of the redundant compilations ('Essential EWF', 'Greatest Hits', 'Super Hits', 'Definitive Collections', 'Remastered Classics', yada, yada!!) for EWF, I would STILL recommend buying the original CDs from 1972 - 1979 (most of these CDs have been remastered with bonus tracks & improved sound!!). Other bright spots this 3 CD set is the color scheme for the CDs, and the informative BOOKLET, which contains great liner notes and rare photos. The booklet alone is a collector's item!!

At any rate, let's hope for a better (IMPROVED!!) EWF tribute in the near future, or BETTER YET, Sony/Legacy will consider re-releasing 'The Eternal Dance' as a 4 CD set (also including a bonus DVD) ? Let's hope so...After 35 Years, EWF IS TRULY WORTHY!!!!
Peace, SD (of 'Chaka's World')

My best friend gave me this box set & I LOVE IT! Earth Wind and Fire is my favorite band of all time. No one can ever duplicate the energy, creativity, "Spirit", and incredible talent they gave the world. (EWF Horns, Larry Dunn, Verdine, Maurice, Phillip, and more!) EWF continues to touch hearts and "Fan the Fire" of the world with positive messages and "Magnetic" music. If you don't know how real music should sound, u definitely "Gotta Find Out"! Scoop this set, turn on the CD player and take a "Fantasy" filled ride "In the Stone".

The Eternal Dance contains 3 discs that span the years 1971 to 1989. There are many masterpieces in here, everything for young "elements" lovers to the vintage aficianados like myself. I'm talking from "Sun Goddess" days to "Boogie Wonderland" here. It would take pages to list and describe all of their "Power" hits. No one can name just one favorite EWF song but if pressed, I'd have to say "Can't Hide Love" tops my list!

Get this set. Put it on one Saturday afternoon in "September", relax and read through the enclosed pictorial/history so you can "Getaway" with these "Shining Star"s! Why? Because "That's the Way of the World". :o)

Peace. CLB.

I was born in '76. As a result, I grew up listening to these cats CONSTANTLY. Of course, at three, I didn't know who they were. About six years ago, while in high school, my band instuctor and a friend and former band student turned me on to this; my instructor let me borrow all three discs of the set. I was blown away. At sweet 17, in 1994, I was the world's biggest EWF fan. The music moved me. I bought my own copy of The Eternal Dance. Recently, the same friend who turned me onto the music died prematurely. This music comforted me during that time, as it did when I left high school and all my close friends. It makes me dance, it makes me cry. It makes me think. It makes me feel ALIVE.

This is the best box set I own.With exception to the Isley's.Being a huge Rolling Stones fan,and only 23,my parents used to listen to all the old r&b tunes. I just fell in love with EW&F. Also being a whiteboy, I am exposing my friends to this music and you can say they are getting a little soul in them. Buy this right away!! You don't know what you're missing.

Not much can be said about a 3-disc set that chronicles the career of the greatest musical conglomeration in rock/pop history. The crispness of the horns, the vocals of Maurice White and Phillip Bailey, and the driving African influences in many of the "hits" are all here. Featuring a fully detailed "history" booklet, the set tells all, and more that one wants to know about the group.

This is a truly worthy inclusion for fans and non-fans alike.

Huge Fans of the Elements. Great commentary from Writer David Nathan along with fellow Artists Ramsey Lewis&El Debarge. Maurice White speaks as well about the Band. this Box set takes you back all the Great colabs with the Late Great Charles Stepney.i dig the Older Band way better as well. the days of Larry Dunn on the Keys, Al Mckay on the Guitar, Verdine on Bass, Maurice on drums&the Trademark Kalimba which was very instrumental in so many of the Fire's Projects. Great songwriting, arrangements, productions, Concepts&overall Instrumentation. they covered so many styles of music&yet maintain there own brand of styling it all. you always knew a EWF track. they were the best Feel Good Band Ever. in my world I could care less about the Beatles, Rolling Stones,Led Zepplin,etc... The Elements Covered all the bases&then some. 'That's the way of the world", Reasons, Can't hide love, september,Open Our eyes,Sing a song, Sunshine, sun Goddess,Shinning Star,Head to the sky,Devotion,Mighty,Mighty,Be ever Wonderful, Love is life, Evil, Power, I'll write a song for you,Saturday Nite,&the many incredible Interludes. they are timeless&Live they always brought it on stage. this Band truly made you feel Warmth&Soul. they were a band's band. One of the Greatest Box sets Ever,from one of the Greatest Musical acts Ever.Props always to the Elements.

I purchased my first EW&F as an 8-track tape back in the early '70's by accident. I thought they were like "War" by the picture on the album cover. I realized instantly that I got more than I bargained for. I listened to their music and instantly became a life-long fan and follower of Maurice White and his band. I have purchased everything that has been released, including the Phillip Bailey albums (directly influenced by his E,W& F experience) and even bought Maurice White's single album "Stand by Me". I am a true discliple of the band. (I even sent them a wedding invitation in 1983, but they must have been busy.) I also have attented 14 live concerts. I am so glad that some of the cuts on this album were live, just to prove to the world that these guys weren't just a bunch of studio hacks. They were the best live perfomance artists I have ever witnesses and may be the most talented composition of performers ever to hit the live tour. There are no holes in this band, nor are there any holes in their music. This album is a must. My 8-tracks are in a box and my albums are in storage. Every cut these guys ever did of any substance is in this set. I had the cassette version of this collection, but it is beginning to show wear, so I got the CD collection to preserve the viability of my collection.(The extra tunes on the third disc are good stuff and a pleasant surprise.) Maurice is not in good health. We are never going to hear that perfect mix of talent and energy or that golden voice on anything new again. The new band is great, don't get me wrong, but the band belonged to Maurice, and it will be a sad day when he leaves this planet for his hear-after. I can think of no better way to insure his unique energy and his perfect vocals than by buying this set. Other than the box set by Steely Dan, this box set has no rival. I have made the statement since I was a 12 year old boy with three years of percussion experience under his belt that my "perfect eternity" would include a chance to play with Earth, Wind & Fire. Even if that never occurs, at least I can listen to "The Eternal Dance" for an eternity.

Respectfully given in tribute to the master and his Master.