EW & F Earth,Wind & Fire/California Jam CA,USA 1974

The newly excavated soundboard master of “California Jam” is shocking collectors all over the world. The EARTH, WIND & FIRE edition is here. Anyway, this new excavation is shocking. Even though 2022 has just begun, I think the year ahead will be boring. This week it will appear as the press title for the DEEP PURPLE edition and the BLACK SABBATH edition, but in fact, soundboard recordings of other performing bands are also being excavated one after another. All bands other than EL&P, which are asserted to have not been recorded, have come out. This work is the EARTH, WIND & FIRE edition of such a shock master. Of course, what is recorded in this work is the “April 6, 1974 Ontario Motor Speedway Park performance”. It is the finest stereo soundboard recording. At that time, EARTH, WIND & FIRE was climbing the ladder of success, but it was not yet at the stage of the breakthrough of “THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD”. Let’s look back at the schedule at the time to see what position the legendary festival held for them. ・February 23rd – March 9th: US #1 (4 performances) {March 25th “OPEN OUR EYES” released} ・March 31st – April 14th: US #2 (4 performances) ←★Here★ ・May 10th + 11th / June 1st: US #3 (3 performances) ・June 22nd – August 16th: US #4 (13 performances) {September 16th – October 2nd “THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD” production} ・October 24th – November 29th: US #5 (9 performances) This is EARTH, WIND & FIRE in 1974. There are some ambiguities in the records at the time, so please don’t believe the details such as the number of performances, but I think you can understand the general flow. “OPEN OUR EYES”, which was completed in August of the previous year, was released in 1974 after about half a year. The appearance of this work at California Jam was the second performance of “US # 2” immediately after that. As it is a huge festival famous for its history, it was also broadcast on television and radio. EARTH, WIND & FIRE is also famous for several professional shots, but this work is different from that and you can enjoy a full set of about 42 minutes. Moreover, the sound is intense and unparalleled. This new excavation has a microphone set up in front of the amplifier on the stage, and the sound that the on-site PA spits out is recorded exactly. While the DEEP PURPLE / BLACK SABBATH edition was a 1st generation copy of the reel tape, EARTH, WIND & FIRE was the 2nd generation, so it was hesitant to press it, but the transcendent direct feeling is exactly the same. The breath of the cheers is like a distant whisper, and only the intensely separated and harsh live performance is poured directly into the brain. Moreover, the vividness and strength of the details are incomparable to FM broadcasts or official works. The rawness is so amazing that it doesn’t even care about playing it on a home audio system, and of course there is no processing to create a concert experience. The appeal of a live album is as varied as the people, but in terms of “tasting live performance”, this is an unparalleled piece. And it’s irresistible because the main performers are EARTH, WIND & FIRE, who are on the rise. The standard that will be played for a long time is “Evil”, and the rest is full of repertoire that is only available in the early days. Some people may have learned for the first time that “Energy” was played live through this work. Furthermore, the jam centered on Verdine White’s bass and the precious song “People” are very flexible and gooey. EARTH, WIND & FIRE in 1974, when the band’s potential and young ambition were boiling, producing the masterpiece “THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD” six months later. This is a superb stereo soundboard album with 100% synchronization with the harsh live performance unfolding in your brain. A new masterpiece that seems to crystallize the taste of the soundboard and the pleasure of the live album. A superb stereo soundboard recording of the “April 6, 1974 California Jam performance”. A microphone was set up in front of the amplifier on stage, and the sound emitted by the on-site PA was recorded exactly as it was. Only the intensely separated harsh live performance is poured directly into your brain, and the pleasure of “tasting live performance” is unparalleled. The ensemble of EW&F, which was on the verge of a breakthrough, is tremendous, and there are plenty of precious songs from the early days. This is a superb stereo soundboard album with 100% synchronization with the harsh live performance unfolding in your brain. “California Jam I”, Ontario Motor Speedway, CA, USA 6th April 1974 STEREO SBD (42:01) 1. Energy 2. People 3. Time Is on Your Side 4. Bass Solo 5. Evil 6. C’mon Children 7. Event Announcement Maurice White – vocals, kalimba, percussion Verdine White – bass, percussion, vocals, Larry Dunn – keyboards Ralph Johnson – percussion Philip Bailey – vocals s Johnny Graham – guitar Al McKay – guitar Andrew Woolfolk – saxophone Fred White – drums