Open Our Eyes [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Earth Wind & Fire | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005B17T
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,652 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It sounds like they had fun recording this one!, October 30, 2003

By 

Michael Erisman (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Open Our Eyes (Audio CD)

Of course Earth Wind and Fire have tons of hits, spanning a couple decades, but the gems on this release are the non-single tracks. While both hits "Mighty Mighty" and "Devotion" are great, this CD is simply full of music from beginning to end that is funky, soulful, and fun. The title track "Open Our Eyes" is a wonderful gospel song, and the minor hit "Feeling Blue" is a great ballad which you may remember, but the highlights are the added tracks including the funky "Fair But So Uncool" and the gospel inspired soul in "Ain't No Harm to Moan". You will love the improvised jamming in "Drum Song" and the African inspired "Kalimba Story".

This is a wonderful collection of music and you can tell they had a lot of fun recording it. The music sounds fresh and alive, which is remarkable considering it has been nearly 30 years since it was recorded. A great and underrated release from one of the most talented recording groups of all time.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT WE HAVE IS A BRAND NEW SOUND!, September 7, 2004

By 

Christopher Williams (Syracuse, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Open Our Eyes (Audio CD)

Whoa! Even with the enlightening evolution of EW&F's fourth release, Head To The Sky, nobody could have seen this coming. This album is nothing short of bold and brilliant. It is an all-out assault on several musical genres, as well as the full emergence of a newly refined and crystalized EW&F sound.

"Mighty Mighty" is an eyebrow-raising funk experience in under 3 minutes, that boldly uplifts those of African descent, completes with fierce guitar licks, a snaky bassline, and confident vocals that all overflow with attitude. I hope that soundproof booth wasn't made of glass, because Phillip Bailey certainly would have shattered it. Other immediate standouts are the arm-waving anthem "Devotion", the much too funky "Kalimba Story" and the wordless "Drum Song" and "Caribou". You must love "Tee Nine Chee Bit" for it's lowdown Ohio Players-like feel. An album like this could have very easily taken a wrong turn, but the fact is that this one doesn't. It is random perfection. The only possible thing you could criticize is the somewhat lazy sounding vocals on "Caribou", and still this is overshadowed by the fact that you can't get this sound anywhere else.

This album crosses pop, funk, gospel, jazz, R&B and African music barriers full-stride without missing a step. It's also saturated with musical, vocal, spiritual and commercial prowess without being preachy. How can you even call yourself an Earth, Wind & Fire fan without owning this musical goldmine???!!! Even the bonus tracks are really bonus. Get it while the gettin' is good, my mellow.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The prelude to the amazing things to come, April 10, 2001

By 

Jeffrey Harris (South San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Open Our Eyes (Audio CD)

When this album was released in mid 1974 it was the first major turning point in the incredible career of Earth Wind & Fire. "Open Our Eyes" was the first album to feature the line up that would vault them into superstardom, first top 40 single("Mighty, Mighty"), first million selling album, and their first album to crack the top 20. Recorded at Chicago producer James William Guerico's Caribou Ranch, this album is the first to demonstrate what Earth Wind & Fire was capable of. The funky, hard driving "Mighty, Mighty", and fan favorites like "Devotion", "Kalimba Story", and the cool Brazilian influenced "Caribou" are included here. This reissue contains some interesting outtakes from the album recording sessions, including the gospel influenced "Ain't No Harm To Moan", an instrumental version of "Fair But So Uncool", the percussive latin flavored "Step's Tune" and the extended interlude "Dreams". A great sounding remaster, reprinted lyrics, and excellent liner notes about the making of this great album make this one a keeper.