Now, Then & Forever Explained
| Now, Then & Forever |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Earth, Wind & Fire |
| Cover: | Earth, Wind & Fire's Now, Then & Forever.jpg |
| Released: | September 10, 2013 |
| Recorded: | 2012–2013 |
| Studio: | NuVintage Recording Studio A (Tarzana, California)- Mungo Bungo Studio (Rancho Cucamongo, California)
- Blakeslee Studios and NRG Studios (North Hollywood, California)
- Ritesonian Recording Studio (Van Nuys, California)
- The Mix Room (Burbank, California)
- Vivrant Street (Los Angeles, California)
- Germano Studios (New York City, New York)
- Dunn-Elliott Studios
- TheHotPurplePettingZoo (Atlanta, Georgia)
|
| Genre: | R&B, funk |
| Length: | 43:21 |
| Label: | Legacy |
| Producer: |
|
| Prev Title: | S.O.U.L. |
| Prev Year: | 2013 |
| Next Title: | Holiday |
| Next Year: | 2014 |
Now, Then & Forever is the twentieth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 10, 2013, by Legacy Recordings/Sony Music. The album reached No. 11 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[1] [2]
Overview
This is the first Earth, Wind & Fire album without musical input from founder Maurice White, although he supplied a note in the album's liner notes:[3]
Larry Dunn, a former Earth, Wind & Fire bandmember, features as a keyboardist on the album.[4] A deluxe edition came coupled with a compilation album.[5]
Singles
The track "Guiding Lights" rose to No. 16 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[6] [7] Another single, "My Promise", reached No. 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.[8] [9]
Critical reception
Matt Bauer of Exclaim gave the album an eight out of ten rating, noting that "Now, Then & Forever is a more than worthy addition to the Earth Wind & Fire catalogue."With a four out of five rating, Harry Guerin of RTÉ called Now, Then & Forever "One of the surprises of the year." Elias Leight of Popmatters wrote "Now, Then & Forever has all the old colors and grooves, an impeccable rhythm section, prominent guitars, and indomitable horns that trace and re-trace motifs, dancing rings around everything." With a three out of five stars rating, Gavin Martin of the Daily Mirror exclaimed "Elements of greatness remain but the songs aren't classics." Daryl Easlea of Record Collector gave a four out of five stars rating and found that "Now, Then And Forever, is a splendid diversion that recalls – in spirit alone, of course – Rick Rubin’s recent work with Black Sabbath. It also sounds like a lost album that should have come out after 1979’s I Am: a very shrewd approximation of the EWF we know and love, it’s crammed with sophisticated R&B, gossamer-light jazz and powerful, soulful vocals with a positive message. Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave a three out of five stars rating saying "Now, Then & Forever demonstrates the lasting value of the band's classic sound." With a three out of five rating the Daily Record called Now, Then & Forever "a worthy effort, and EWF are clearly using old glories as inspiration for the future."
Personnel
Adapted from the album's text.
- Philip Bailey — producer, executive producer, lead and background vocals, percussion
- Trinity Bailey — A&R
- Jon Barnes — trumpet
- Duane Benjamin — trombone
- Gary Bias — alto and tenor saxophones
- Mathieu Bitton — design
- Terence Blanchard — trumpet
- Errol Cooney — guitar
- Sal Cracchiolo — trumpet
- Tishaun Dawson — cover art, creative director
- Reggie Dozier — horn engineer
- Larry Dunn — engineer, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, handclapping, keyboards, Minimoog, Moog synthesizer, grand piano, producer, soloist, synthesizer
- Jennifer Feinberg — project director
- Chuck Findley — flugelhorn, trumpet
- James Ford — trumpet
- Matthew Fronke — trumpet
- Siedah Garrett — background vocals
- Jerry Hey — horn arrangements
- J.R. Hutson — producer
- Dr. Billy Ingram — insert photography
- Fred Jackson, Jr. — flute, tenor saxophone
- Munyungo Jackson — percussion
- Austin Jacobs — Producer, composer, keyboards, programming, synthesizer
- Ralph Johnson — drums, percussion
- Eric Jorgensen — trombone
- Wendell Kelly — trombone
- Paul Klingberg — engineer
- Nicholas Lane — trombone
- David Leach — percussion
- Daniel McClain — background vocals
- Jevon McGlory — background vocals
- Myron McKinley — Fender Rhodes, keyboards, producer, synthesizer
- Justin Merrill — engineer
- Gregory Moore — guitar
- Kenny Moran — engineer, percussion engineer, synthesizer
- Jarius Mozee — guitars
- Vernon Mungo — vocal engineer
- Morris O'Connor — guitars
- Jeremiah Olvera — mixing assistant
- Don Pace — cover art
- Ric'key Pageot — keyboards, synthesizer
- Justin Panariello — producer
- John Pappenbrook — trumpet
- Jim Parham — project director
- John Paris — drums, background vocals
- Dave Pensado — mixing
- Neil Pogue — A&R
- Neal H. Pogue — additional production, engineer, handclapping, mixing, percussion, producer
- Satnam Ramgotra — tabla
- David Rideau — engineer
- Darrin Simpson — Producer, guitar, Hammond B3, handclapping, horn arrangements, keyboards, piano, programming, synthesizer
- Damien Smith — A&R
- Jubu Smith — guitars
- Michael "Patches" Stewart — trumpet
- Randee St. Nicholas — photography
- Juan F. "Jef" Villaluna — guitar
- Mark Visher — baritone and tenor saxophones
- Wait B — handclapping, producer
- Verdine White — bass, executive producer, handclapping, mixing assistant
- B David Whitworth — background vocals, percussion
- Benjamin Wright — conductor, horn arrangements
- Reggie Young — bass and tenor trombones
Charts
Year-end charts
Singles - Billboard (US)
Notes and References
- Earth, Wind & Fire: Now, Then & Forever (Billboard 200). Billboard.
- Earth, Wind & Fire: Now, Then & Forever (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums). Billboard.
- Book: Earth, Wind & Fire: Now, Then & Forever. September 2013. Sony Music.
- Web site: FIRST LISTEN: Earth, Wind & Fire's New Single 'Sign On'. Music News Desk. broadwayworld.com.
- Book: Earth, Wind & Fire: Now, Then & Forever. September 2013. Sony Music. Deluxe.
- Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: Guiding Lights (Smooth Jazz Songs). Billboard. billboard.com.
- Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: Guiding Lights (Adult R&B Songs). Billboard. billboard.com.
- Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: My Promise (Adult R&B Songs). Billboard. billboard.com.
- Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: My Promise (Adult Contemporary Songs). Billboard. billboard.com.
- Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2013. Billboard. July 23, 2020.
