Millennium (Earth, Wind & Fire album)

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Millennium
Studio album by
Earth, Wind & Fire
ReleasedSeptember 14, 1993
Recorded1992-1993
StudioSonic Lab,

Capitol Studios and Andora Studios (Hollywood, California)

Genre
Length63:55
LabelReprise Records
ProducerMaurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
The Very Best of Earth, Wind & Fire
(1992) 		Millennium
(1993) 		The Very Best
(1994)
Singles from Heritage
  1. "Spend The Night"
    Released: 1993
  2. "Sunday Morning"
    Released: 1993
  3. "Two Hearts"
    Released: 1993

Millennium is the sixteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire released in September 1993 on Warner Bros. Records.[1] The album reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, No. 39 on the US Billboard 200, No. 18 on the Japanese Pop Albums chart and No. 29 on the Dutch Album Top 100.[2][3][4][5] Millennium has also been certified Gold in Japan by the RIAJ.[2]

Overview[edit]

Millennium marked the band's return after 21 years to Warner Bros. Records. The album was also produced by EWF's founder and leader Maurice White.[1]

Artists such as Prince and Ronnie Laws appeared on the LP.[1]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Associated Press(favourable)[7]
Boston Globe(favourable)[8]
Buffalo News[9]
Orlando Sentinel[10]
Dayton Daily News[11]
Detroit Free Press(favourable)[12]
The Independent(favourable)[13]
Los Angeles Times[14]
Morning Call(favourable)[15]
USA Today[16]

With 4 out of 5 stars the Buffalo News commented "EW&F, one of the few groups that kept black popular music alive when disco ruled, has poured new life into a proven musical formula. Its latest project contains a plethora of kalimbas, blaring horns, and converging Afro-Cuban and Latin rhythms. Add the stratospheric voices of EW&F founder Maurice White, and star-lead vocalist Philip Bailey, and behold: a revamped re-creation of the message-laden, massaging tunes the band was known for in its heyday."[9] Steven Wine of the Associated Press claimed "Millennium is EWF's best record since their artsistic peak in the 1970s, when such albums as Gratitude and That's the Way of the World deftly mixed R&B,funk and jazz."[7] Tom Sinclair of Vibe proclaimed that EWF "demonstrate they still have the knack for constructing mellifluous R&B on the visonary/romantic tip".[17]

Paul Willistein of The Morning Call wrote "There are more than half a dozen standouts among the disc's 16 tracks, making this a must have for longtime fans."[15] Renee Graham of The Boston Globe noted that Millennium "returns the band to its funk/r&b roots".[8] With a three out of four star rating James T. Jones IV of USA Today found that the band "returned to their trademark sound: snappy horns, kalimba (thumb piano), falsetto harmonies, Afro-Cuban influences, instrumental interludes and philosophical lyrics."[16] Derek Ali of the Dayton Daily News gave a 3.5 out of 5 stars rating saying "With its Millennium album, Earth, Wind & Fire proves its one of those rare groups that can maintain a musical style for several decades while keeping pace with today's sounds".[11] Gary Graff of the Detroit Free Press wrote "EWF returns to the joyous R&B that made it famous, landing smooth if not exactly landmark results."[12] Andy Gill of The Independent stated "if it's an old-style R&B sensibility you're after, the new Earth, Wind & Fire album may be just the ticket."[13]

The Buffalo News placed the album on its list of the best R&B/Hip-Hop albums of 1993.[18] Millennium was also nominated for a Soul Train Music Award within the category of Best R&B/Soul Album - Group, Band or Duo.[19]

Singles[edit]

The track "Sunday Morning", earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.[20] Released as a single, it peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, No. 20 on the Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 35 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[21][22][23]

The album cut "Spend the Night" reached Nos. 36 and 42 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, respectively.[24][25]

Covers[edit]

The Prince-penned track, "Super Hero", was covered by the New Power Generation featuring the Steeles for the soundtrack to the film Blankman.[26][27]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Even If You Wonder"Nicky Brown, Jeffrey Cohen, Jon Lind, Maurice White4:38
2."Sunday Morning"Sheldon Reynolds, Maurice White, Allee Willis4:39
3."Blood Brothers"Nicky Brown, Jon Lind, Brock Walsh, Maurice White5:23
4."Kalimba Interlude"Maurice White0:31
5."Spend The Night"Dawn Thomas4:24
6."Divine"Philip Bailey, Ken Barken, Roxanne Seeman4:33
7."Two Hearts"Burt Bacharach, Philip Bailey, Maurice White5:06
8."Honor The Magic"Freddie Ravel, Maurice White3:05
9."Love Is The Greatest Story"Faye Freenberg, David Lawrence, Maurice White4:38
10."The "L" Word""Nicky Brown, Jon Lind, Maurice White, Allee Willis4:34
11."Just Another Lonely Night"Linda Stokes, Michael Stokes4:38
12."Super Hero"Prince4:10
13."Wouldn't Change A Thing About You"Philip Bailey, Frankie Blue4:47
14."Love Across The Wire"Philip Bailey, Thom Bell, Maurice White3:34
15."Chicago (Chi-Town) Blues"Nicky Brown, Jon Lind, Brock Walsh, Maurice White4:58
16."Kalimba Blues"Maurice White0:35

Personnel[edit]

Earth, Wind & Fire

  • Philip Bailey – backing vocals (1-3, 5-7, 9-15), lead vocals (3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14), vocals (8, 12)
  • Maurice White – kalimba, percussion, lead vocals (1-3, 5-7, 9-15), backing vocals (1-3, 5-7, 9-15), drum programming (2), synth horn arrangements (6, 7), vocals (8, 12), arrangements (8, 14), horn arrangements (12)
  • Sheldon Reynolds – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals (1-3, 5-7, 9-15), synth bass (1, 2), rhythm programming (1, 3, 5, 9, 13, 15), keyboard programming (2), synthesizer programming (2), drum programming (2, 10), additional programming (12), synthesizers (15)
  • Verdine White – bass guitar
  • Ralph Johnson – percussion
  • Andrew Woolfolk – saxophones
  • Gary Bias – saxophones
  • Reggie C. Young – trombone
  • Ray Brown – trumpet

Additional musicians

  • Nicky Brown – keyboards (1, 10), synthesizers (3, 15), rhythm arrangements (10)
  • Michael McKnight – synthesizer programming (1-3, 5-7, 9-15), rhythm programming (1, 3, 9, 15), keyboard programming (2), keyboards (7), synth bass (7, 14), drum programming (7, 14), synth horn arrangements (7), arrangements (14), synthesizers (15)
  • Bill Meyers – keyboards (4, 16), acoustic piano (5), synthesizers (5, 11, 12, 15), rhythm programming (5), horn arrangements (5, 10, 12, 15), synth horn and string arrangements (11), acoustic piano solo (13), synth bass (15)
  • Freddie Ravel – synthesizers (5, 8), breath synthesizer solo (5, 8), synthesizer arrangements (5), drums (8), percussion sound design (8), arrangements (8),
  • Don Wyatt – keyboards (6, 11, 14), synth bass (11)
  • Darnell Spencer – synthesizer programming (6), synth bass (6), drum programming (6), rhythm arrangements (6)
  • Rex Salas – keyboards (7), synthesizer programming (7), synth bass (7), drum programming (7), rhythm arrangements (7)
  • Burt Bacharach – additional keyboards (7)
  • Claude Gaudette – additional keyboards (7)
  • David Lawrence – keyboards (9), rhythm programming (9)
  • Prince – keyboards (12), drum programming (12), backing vocals (12), rhythm arrangements (12)
  • Frankie Blue – synthesizers (13), synthesizer programming (13), rhythm programming (13)
  • Brad Cole – synthesizers (13)
  • Thom Bell – keyboards)14)
  • Michael Thompson – guitars (1, 2, 5, 12, 14)
  • Jorge Strunz – acoustic guitar (8)
  • Dimitric Collins – drum programming (11, 14)
  • James "Timbali" Cornwell – percussion (1, 9)
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion (2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 15), additional percussion (8)
  • Dan Higgins – saxophones (1, 9, 12)
  • Gerald Albright – saxophones (5, 7)
  • Larry Williams – saxophones (12)
  • Ronnie Laws – sax solo (15)
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (1, 9, 12)
  • Gary Grant – trumpet (1, 9, 12)
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet (1, 9, 12), horn arrangements (1, 9)
  • Michael "Patches" Stewart – trumpet (2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 15)
  • Tom "Tom Tom 84" Washington – horn arrangements (2, 13)

Strings (Tracks 3 & 5)

  • Tom Tom 84 – arrangements (3)
  • Bill Meyers – arrangements (5)
  • Bruce Dukov – concertmaster
  • Larry Corbett, Steve Erdody and Suzie Katayama – cello
  • Bob Becker, Roland Kato and Herschel Wise – viola
  • Ron Clark, Bruce Dukov, Henry Ferber, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Endre Granat, Clayton Haslop, Peter Kent, Dimitrie Leivici, Sid Page, Barbra Porter and Haim Shtrum –

Production[edit]

  • Maurice White – producer (1-14, 16)
  • Freddie Ravel – producer (8)
  • Frankie Blue – producer (13)
  • Bill Meyers – producer (15)
  • Paul Klingberg – recording
  • Guy DeFazio – additional engineer
  • Ray Blair – assistant engineer
  • Mark Fergesen – assistant engineer
  • Judy Kirschner – assistant engineer
  • Keith Kresge – assistant engineer
  • Terry Reiff – assistant engineer
  • Lee Watters – assistant engineer
  • Mick Guzauski – mixing (1-3, 5, 7, 9-11, 13-15)
  • Vachik Aghanisntz – mixing (4, 8, 16)
  • Keith Cohen – mixing (6, 12)
  • Jeff Graham – mix assistant (1-3, 5, 7, 9-11, 13-15)
  • Anas Allaf – mix assistant (4, 8, 16)
  • Tommy Daugherty – mix assistant (6, 12)
  • Steve Hall – mastering at Future Disc (Hollywood, California)
  • Art Macnow – project supervisor
  • Richard Salvato – album coordinator
  • Reiko Yoshida – artwork coordinator
  • Kim Champagne – art direction
  • Tadanori Yokoo – illustration
  • Terushia Tajima – computer supervisor
  • Bob Cavallo – management

Charts[edit]

Album
Year Chart Position
1993 U.S. Billboard 200 39
U.S. Billboard Top R&B Albums 8
Japanese Pop Albums (Oricon) 18[2]
Dutch Albums (Dutch Album Top 100) 29[3]
Sweden Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 50[28]
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1993 "Spend the Night" Japanese Pop Singles (Oricon) 33[2]
U.S. Billboard Adult R&B Airplay 36
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles 42
"Sunday Morning" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles 20[23]
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 31[29]
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs 35[21]
U.S. Billboard Adult R&B Songs 10[30]
Canada RPM Top Singles 33[31]
Dutch Singles (Dutch Single Top 100) 26[32]
Japanese Pop Singles (Oricon) 2[2]
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40 34[33]
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 53
"Blood Brothers" Japanese Pop Singles (Oricon) 53[2]
"Two Hearts" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles 88

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[34] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium. Warner Bros. Records. September 1993.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  3. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium". dutchcharts.nl.
  4. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.com.
  5. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium (Billboard 200)". Billboard.com.
  6. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium". AllMusic.
  7. ^ a b Wine, Steven (December 25, 1993). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium (Reprise)". Associated Press. p. 25 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b Graham, Renee (October 21, 1993). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium (Reprise)". Boston Globe. p. 108 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "In Brief". The Buffalo News. November 5, 1993.
  10. ^ Gettelman, Parry (October 22, 1993). "EARTH, WIND & FIRE". orlandosentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel.
  11. ^ a b Ali, Derek (October 8, 1993). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium". Dayton Daily News. p. 72 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b Graff, Gary (October 11, 1993). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium". Detroit Free Press. p. 43 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b Gill, Andy (September 16, 1993). "ALBUMS / Return of the vox Pop: Andy Gill on Iggy Pop and the week's new releases". The Independent. p. 31.
  14. ^ Johnson, Connie (November 14, 1993). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Willistein, Paul (December 4, 1993). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium". The Morning Call. p. 77.
  16. ^ a b Jones, James T. IV. (October 4, 1993). "Three '70s R&B acts bring grooves to '90s". USA Today. p. 04D. ProQuest 306599814.
  17. ^ Sinclair, Tom (September 1993). Earth, Wind & Fire: Millennium. Vol. 1. Vibe Magazine.
  18. ^ Simon, Jeff (December 13, 1993). "FROM OUR CRITICS -- FROM YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LISTS". The Buffalo News. p. 81.
  19. ^ Sandler, Adam (February 1, 1994). "Jackson, Braxton top Soul Train nominees". variety.com. Variety.
  20. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire". Grammy.com.
  21. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: Sunday Morning (Adult Contemporary Songs)". Billboard.com.
  22. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Sunday Morning (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  23. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: Sunday Morning (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  24. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Spend The Night (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  25. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Spend The Night (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  26. ^ "How Prince Became a 'Super Hero'". diffuser.fm.
  27. ^ "Blankman: Original Soundtrack". allmusic.com.
  28. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire". sverigetopplistan.se.
  29. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: (Rhythmic Songs)". Billboard.com.
  30. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Sunday Morning (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  31. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Sunday Morning (RPM Top Singles)". Bac-lac.gc.ca.
  32. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Sunday Morning". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  33. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: (Mainstream Top 40)". Billboard.com.
  34. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Earth, Wind and Fire – Millennium" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 2, 2020. Select 1995年4月 on the drop-down menu
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