Open Our Eyes is the fifth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released March 25th, 1974 on Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 15 on the Top Pop Albums chart. Open Our Eyes has been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
Overview Open Our Eyes was produced by Maurice White and Joe Wissert and recorded at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado, US. During 2001, Open Our Eyes was reissued with four bonus tracks.
Singles The track, "Mighty Mighty", peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Kalimba Story" reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. Another single, "Devotion", peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone called Open Our Eyes "a pleasant miscellany of Africana, Latin rhythms, well-mannered funk, smooth jazz, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder and the Fifth Dimension". Dale Anderson of the Buffalo News declared "Open Our Eyes is worthy of the attention of progressive music fans everywhere". The Village Voice's Robert Christgau also described Side 1 as "A very pleasant surprise" and Side 2 as a complete "tour de force".
Music journalist Vince Aletti named Open Our Eyes in his ballot for The Village Voice's 1974 Pazz & Jop critics poll.
Track listing Original release
Earth, Wind & Fire. “Open Our Eyes”. Columbia. 1974.
2001 Reissue Earth, Wind & Fire. “Open Our Eyes” (Remastered). Legacy’s Rhythm Soul Series. Columbia / Legacy. 2001.
Personnel Philip Bailey - vocals, congas, percussion Larry Dunn - Moog synthesizer, piano, organ Johnny Graham - guitar, percussion Ralph Johnson - drums, percussion Al McKay - vocals, guitar, percussion Maurice White - vocals, drums, kalimba Verdine White - vocals, bass, percussion Andrew Woolfolk - soprano saxophone, flute
Production Earth, Wind & Fire - Musical arrangements Maurice White - Producer (Original recording), Audio Mixing (12–15) Bruce Botnick - Recording Engineer, Remix Paul Klingberg - Audio Mixing (12–15) Leo Sacks - Producer (Reissue), Audio Mixing (12–15) Charles Stepney - Associate Producer (Original recording), Musical arrangements Joe Wissert - Producer (Original recording)
Charts and Certifications
Weekly charts Chart (1974) Peak position US Cashbox Top 100 Albums10
Year-end charts Chart (1974) Rank US Billboard 200 38 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 10
+ Singles Year Single Chart Position 1974 "Devotion" Billboard Hot Soul Songs 23 Billboard Hot 100 33 "Kalimba Story" Billboard Hot Soul Songs 6 Billboard Hot 100 55 "Mighty Mighty" Billboard Hot Soul Songs 4 Billboard Hot 100 29
Certifications CountryAwardUS (RIAA)Platinum
See also List of number-one R&B albums of 1974 (U.S.)
References