Getaway (Earth, Wind & Fire song) explained

Getaway
Cover:	Getaway EWF.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Earth, Wind & Fire
Album:	Spirit
B-Side:	Getaway (Instrumental)
Released:	July 7, 1976
Recorded:	1976
Genre:	R&B soul funk disco
Length:	3:47
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Maurice White, Charles Stepney
Prev Title:	Can't Hide Love
Prev Year:	1976
Next Title:	Saturday Nite
Next Year:	1976

"Getaway" is a song by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1976 on Columbia Records as the first single from the band's seventh studio album Spirit. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.^{[1] [2]} "Getaway" also peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Dance Singles charts.^[3] A remixed version appears on the soundtrack for Gran Turismo 4.

Overview

"Getaway" was produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney and composed by Beloyd Taylor and Peter Cor Belenky.^[4]

An instrumental version of "Getaway" was included as the single's B-side.

Critical reception

Joe McEwen of Rolling Stone said "'Getaway', a current pop smash, is EWF at its best. The theme is in line with urban escapist classics like 'Up on the Roof' and 'World of Fantasy', with pyramid mumbo-jumbo temporarily laid aside. A propulsive funk track laced with dizzying changes makes the song one of the most sophisticated pop hits in recent memory".^[5] Record World said that "A tapestry of electronics and syncopated vocals provides an inertia that should send the song skyrocketing to the top."^[6] Ed Hogan of AllMusic described "Getaway" as a "fantastically frantic jam". He also noted that "listen to the opening horn blasts which could be termed assaultive if this wasn't such a cut as well as the earth-shaking energy that's released on the track, it's easily one of the band's most sensational sides."^[7] Music Week declared that the song "opens proceedings in fine style, with Philip Bailey's falsetto sweetening its funky rhythms".^[8]

Chart history

Chart (1976–1977)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles	29
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	12
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	12
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles	1

Samples

• "Getaway" was sampled by Poor Righteous Teachers on the song "Strictly Ghetto".
• The song was also sampled by Papoose and Sheek Louch Featuring Busta Rhymes, Raekwon and Young Chris on the song "Power Cypher".^{[9] [10]}
• It was also sampled on the Boards of Canada album Music Has the Right to Children, on the track "Sixtyten".

Notes and References

1. Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway (Hot 100). Billboard. billboard.com.
2. Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway (Hot Soul Songs). Billboard. billboard.com.
3. Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway (Dance Club Songs). Billboard. billboard.com.
4. Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway. 1976. Columbia Records.
5. Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: Spirit. McEwen, Joe. December 16, 1976. Rolling Stone. rollingstone.com.
6. Record World. July 3, 1976. 1. 2023-03-04. Hits of the Week.
7. Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway. Hogan, Ed. Allmusic. allmusic.com.
8. . Product Reissues . Music Week . London . 26 September 2014 . 53 .
9. Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire. the-breaks.com.
10. Web site: 10 of the Best Earth, Wind & Fire Samples in Hip Hop Songs. February 5, 2016. BET. BET.