Electric Universe

I have been waiting for the Earth Wind and Fire Electric Universe CD with previous unreleased material for years and did not know it existed until a searched last week 10/08/2015! Wow, what a difference the CD makes in sound quality. I owned the LP and extended Magnetic mix on 12" LP but the sound quality was harsh. Now with the CD it sounds more full range. The problem with LP records is the pitch. Now I can hear the music at the correct pitch, which did affect the vocal quality on the LP. Spirit of a New World sounds much better. I like the demo version of Spirit of a New World. It has Maurice White singing with more energy. The song is in a different dimension. The background vocals are smooth. The mix is very good but it is lacking in instruments since it is a demo. But for a demo it could pass as a release since that is how good Earth Wind and Fire is as a band.Milky Way is another treat similar to the demo version of Spirit of a New World.The instrumentals Here's to Love and Club Foot are jazzy. They do not seem to fit into the Electric Universe mix but are nice to have since the origin of EWF was jazz with Maurice White as a drummer with Ramsey Lewis.This CD is well worth it for EWF fans. I finally have it after purchasing the LP in 1983, some 32 years ago! This is a timeless treat with all the extras!EWF was ahead of their times up until Electric Universe. The orchestra is missing and the horns of course. Looking back at Head to the Sky and Open Ours Eyes, these albums lacked them as well but were successful for the pace and vocals were more fresh.I guess with Let's Groove being such a hit in 1981, it was hard for the aging group to follow up with something better. It was a nice try to mimic the energy from the EWF in Concert in Oakland, CA in 1982. Powerlight was a good album but commercially it did not sell as well as Raise. Powerlight's overall sound quality was poor, which too much mids and highs. Electric Universe was rushed but the sound quality was better. But like I said the group is so good that they can stand on their own even without the Orchestra and horns.After the band broke up after this album, Touch the World which followed some 4 years after is a wonderful effort with the computerized EWF sound. But after that, there isn't any material that is interesting in my opinion.Until Touch the World expanded version comes out, I will keep an eye out! Thanks EWF for the memories.

The bonus tracks on 'Electric Universe' are worth the price. For some odd reason, 'Powerlight' has yet to be remastered with bonus tracks (etc), and it's a MUCH BETTER project than 'Electric Universe'. Let's hope they also give 'Touch The World' a Deluxe Remaster as well!

I'm just an EWF fan and love all their projects. The Expanded Editions are on the average much better because of different takes or mixes of various tracks. The group's concept writing is deep on most, if not all their projects with Heritage beings their weakest . Love the album covers with Electric Universe being one of their best .

Having seen EWF at a mid-80's concert the album Electric Universe brought back some fine memories of what was a special time in the groups history. Most of the effort is crisp and features Maurice and Philip at their very best. I love the song Sweet And Sassy and there are others like Electricnation and Magnetic which make the album a worthwhile purchase.

I bought this song to add to the library of tunes I listen to when doing long distance bike riding. It is a great song with a beat that helps keep my legs pumping. I have really enjoyed listening to it. The music really helps me get over those long and never ending hills.

Funkytown Grooves. This product is CD-R format.

Like new - perfect sound

This was a cd that was ahead of its time and so different then any EWF album before it. I think the timing of the release really hurt it. Some of the songs are not very good such as Spirit in a New World and Electric Nation. Milky Way is a great song like Fantasy. I don't know why they left it off. It would have been a hit. Club foot and the instrumental Here's to Love should also have replaced the poor songs on the CD that I mentioned. The extended version of Magnetic was so far ahead of its time. It sounds great now. The new remastered is worth adding to the collection.

It is no secret that 'Electric Universe' was seen by most a somewhat of a disappointment at the time of its release in 1983. While the band had seemed to try hard to update their sound the use of electronic trickery and snyths only seemed to dull their organically funky sound. With the lead single, 'Magnetic' also more of a rock song than a funk one those who'd lapped up the previous 'Raise!' and 'Powerlight' albums were left unimpressed...33 years on though and newly expanded, 'Electric Universe' is a lot more easy to appreciate. It still won't go down in history as one of the bands best records but in the most part the album is essentially a typical EWF album. I think, because the band had been so big for a few years back in 1983, we had all gotten a bit too familiar with their sound and as such had become ultra critical of any new product from them.What makes this re-issue worthy of an extra star ( I too would give the normal album three stars) is the inclusion of the five demo/unreleased songs at the end. None of them are 'outstanding classics' but they do prove to be a fascinating insight into the creative process and provide a snapshot into the mind of the late, great, Maurice White. 'Milky Way' in particular is a nice throwback to the 'Jupiter' period but its easy to see why in 1983 it was left off the album. The instrumentals, 'Here's To Love' and 'Club Foot' are essentially the artist 'fishing' for a good idea but not quite realising one and 'El Solitario' an early version of the main album included, 'We're Living In Our Own Time' with a completely different set of lyrics...I think the labelling here though has gone amiss because on my CD the versions of 'Magnetic' (tracks 9-11) do not sound like the versions they are described to be. My feeling is that the versions listed ARE all on the CD but are listed in the wrong order.Overall, with an interesting essay in the booklet to read as well, I think Funky Town Grooves are to be congratulated on this release. 'Electric Universe' will never be a classic set but it is now a lot more interesting to listen to and may yet reveal hidden talents because of this expanded edition.

I bought this when it came out and was underwhelmed. It felt rather rushed and tired, as if they were looking to stay relevant but somehow missed the target. The idea of moving to the more electronic sound was good, and a progression of what had been happening through their earlier 80's stuff. Somehow though it did not come together.Side 1 is effectively Powerlight Lite with similar types of songs albeit much more electronic. Magnetic, the lead single, has some great bass work by Verdine White but the whole thing comes across rather repetitive in the end. Touch is better and was the second single, almost Side by Side pt2, but you wonder that it was not really a hit because the music press had already made up their minds by this time. Moonwalk has an air of wonderment about it the first time you hear it at least, with a welcome sax solo by Don Myrick, the Emotions also showing up on the chorus. Could it be Right is the end ballad, again reasonable without being as good as its Powerlight equivalent, though Straight from the Heart is a special song and difficult to follow.Side 2 has the biggest disappointments, Spirit of a New World and Electric Nation feel a little desperate in places. They just tried too hard here and it does not really work. Having said that the other two tracks are rather good. Sweet Sassy Lady perhaps has a few too many effects but is another mid tempo tune featuring the Hutchinson sisters. We're Living in our own Time is a sweet ballad, one I was not so keen on originally but it has grown on me now. Philip Bailey has a wonderful voice, so tender, gentle when it needs to be, and powerful likewise.As for the bonus stuff well we have three new tracks written by Maurice. The best of these is Milky Way, which has a certain dream like quality fitting of the title. You really feel you are flying through a heavenly sky of stars - like Lois and Superman perhaps. I wasn't convinced it would have worked on the album at first but now think it's a classic of its era and the best track here. The demo of Spirit of a New World has different lyrics and shows that the underlying song is not bad as it works better with the simpler arrangements. The 12 inch of Magnetic is the best version (one of four on this presentation).The album sounds really good so well done to those responsible and I hope you give us a similarity packaged version of Powerlight and Touch the World soon.So in summary a good repackage of a rather disappointing album, probably one for completists of which I am pleased to be one.

Underrated electronic funk pop, Maurice hopefully created as the futuristic r&b.. With Simmons drums,lots of keyboards, some soprano sax.. But this time his vision failed.. try to imagine this with normal acoustic instruments as usual..

Despite what it says on the cd case, the booklet and the actual disc the tracklisting is partly wrong - It should be9 - Magnetic (7'' Version)10 - Magnetic (Extended Dance Remix)11 - Magnetic (Instrumental)

Brilliant Album