I'd certainly agree that American culture is Black culture...and that Black culture is American culture. I'll even grant you that EW&F was, is, and will forever will be a seminal influence on American music. But the Greatest Band of All Time?? As enamored as I am of your skill, talent, and judgment, I can't extend myself that far. Their uniqueness and talent certainly make them ONE of the greatest bands of all time, but that's a pretty subjective crown to bestow.
I also think that title depends on your criteria. Is it talent? Popularity? Longevity? Musical originality? Hatred of the Green Bay Packers? Or, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the willingness to confront and destroy norms by producing cover art that shows them wearing nothing but socks on their dicks? Google it; it ain't pretty.
I don't know that I could name one band or musician as the G.O.A.T. Music is such a broad spectrum, and so much depends on individual taste.
I will concede that you make an impressive case, though.
(Johnny Paycheck?? Really??? I love country music, but OMG....)
LOL! YOU'RE a musician! Of course you have your front and back pockets full of favorites. And I agree with you--music IS a broad spectrum and much depends on individual taste. EW&F was and is such a go-to-feel-good space for me. The talent--my God, the talent.
Yes, they were truly great. (And, thanks for inadvertently providing me with another tragic tale for my "Rock & Roll Nightmares: True Stories" book series. I just finished writing the chapter on musicians & music industry people who were murdered or/and were murderers. While it's not outright murder it's pretty sad about Don Myrick and I will add it.)
Jul 25, 2022·edited Jul 25, 2022Liked by Stacey Eskelin
Great article about a truly great band. I love EW&F too but they're not my favorite band. While I like a wide range of artists and styles, my most preferred style of music is the The Blues. My favorite artists and bands, or blues based bands are names like Muddy Waters, Holwin Wolf, The Stones, The Black Keys, Gary Clark Jr, and a host of many others. These groups and artists, at their best, have a rawness and immediacy in emotion that I don't get from EW&F, although everything you've noted about their music, talent, and sound is on-point. However, I am in absolute agreement with you when you say, "American culture is Black culture." It's bracing to state it so bluntly, but it is nonetheless true. And it's true beyond music, it's also true for language, science, fashion, food, sexuality, and pop culture generally. Indeed, it's impossible to imagine America without the contributions of Black culture, and I don't say this out of a sense of misplaced racial pride, because I'm Black. I say this out of the sense of it being the objective truth, just look at the evidence. Just imagine how this nation might have looked had White America ever fully embraced Black Americans instead of the oppression, objectification, erasure, exploitation, and a multitude of other evils enacted against Black people. What Black people have accomplished, faced with such obstacles, is frankly astonishing to the extreme. More White people need to have this perspective, by you're fortunate Stacey because you're already there, and have been there since I've known you. You're a "real G," White ally.
I am greatly humbled by such a compliment. I fail so often, but if heart counts for anything--I've got so much heart for this. It's hard to believe more white Americans don't see what a debt we owe to Black culture. It's perfectly obvious, and in so many areas, too, as you pointed out: language, science, fashion, food, sexuality, pop culture, sports, and AMERICAN culture. If I were Black, I'd be bursting at the seams with pride.
When my son was around seven, he played (and watched) hours of basketball. One day he turned to me in all earnestness and said, "Mom, when can I be Black?" That sweet boy assumed that since all his heroes were Black basketball players, he'd get to be Black, too.
And your heart regarding race shows every time you write about the subject. And that's what's really important, your heart, your recognition and acknowledgement of the racial reality of this nation. That's huge, it's a bridge that most White people don't even see, never mind cross. The story of your son is so bracing, wow. That says everything about how dominant Black culture has been in our society, yet paradoxically so appropriated as to go unnoticed by most people. This is one of most vexing ironies of racism, one which I don't think is unintentional.
This sentiment is on full display in the film The Intouchables from 2011. Such a great gem of a movie! Fantastic scene where Earth Wind and Fire save the day. A must watch especially for you if you haven’t seen it
I'd certainly agree that American culture is Black culture...and that Black culture is American culture. I'll even grant you that EW&F was, is, and will forever will be a seminal influence on American music. But the Greatest Band of All Time?? As enamored as I am of your skill, talent, and judgment, I can't extend myself that far. Their uniqueness and talent certainly make them ONE of the greatest bands of all time, but that's a pretty subjective crown to bestow.
I also think that title depends on your criteria. Is it talent? Popularity? Longevity? Musical originality? Hatred of the Green Bay Packers? Or, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the willingness to confront and destroy norms by producing cover art that shows them wearing nothing but socks on their dicks? Google it; it ain't pretty.
I don't know that I could name one band or musician as the G.O.A.T. Music is such a broad spectrum, and so much depends on individual taste.
I will concede that you make an impressive case, though.
(Johnny Paycheck?? Really??? I love country music, but OMG....)
LOL! YOU'RE a musician! Of course you have your front and back pockets full of favorites. And I agree with you--music IS a broad spectrum and much depends on individual taste. EW&F was and is such a go-to-feel-good space for me. The talent--my God, the talent.
Yes. That much there can be no disagreement about. ❤️
Yes, they were truly great. (And, thanks for inadvertently providing me with another tragic tale for my "Rock & Roll Nightmares: True Stories" book series. I just finished writing the chapter on musicians & music industry people who were murdered or/and were murderers. While it's not outright murder it's pretty sad about Don Myrick and I will add it.)
It DEFINITELY qualifies as tragic. Please send it to me so I can be sure to read it!
Will do!
I can hardly wait to read your chapter on Phil Spector.
Marvelous writer, isn't she?
That she is. 😁
Oh, yeah -- it's a doozy. And in my research, I found the strangest connections between him and his British rival, Joe Meek.
Great article about a truly great band. I love EW&F too but they're not my favorite band. While I like a wide range of artists and styles, my most preferred style of music is the The Blues. My favorite artists and bands, or blues based bands are names like Muddy Waters, Holwin Wolf, The Stones, The Black Keys, Gary Clark Jr, and a host of many others. These groups and artists, at their best, have a rawness and immediacy in emotion that I don't get from EW&F, although everything you've noted about their music, talent, and sound is on-point. However, I am in absolute agreement with you when you say, "American culture is Black culture." It's bracing to state it so bluntly, but it is nonetheless true. And it's true beyond music, it's also true for language, science, fashion, food, sexuality, and pop culture generally. Indeed, it's impossible to imagine America without the contributions of Black culture, and I don't say this out of a sense of misplaced racial pride, because I'm Black. I say this out of the sense of it being the objective truth, just look at the evidence. Just imagine how this nation might have looked had White America ever fully embraced Black Americans instead of the oppression, objectification, erasure, exploitation, and a multitude of other evils enacted against Black people. What Black people have accomplished, faced with such obstacles, is frankly astonishing to the extreme. More White people need to have this perspective, by you're fortunate Stacey because you're already there, and have been there since I've known you. You're a "real G," White ally.
I am greatly humbled by such a compliment. I fail so often, but if heart counts for anything--I've got so much heart for this. It's hard to believe more white Americans don't see what a debt we owe to Black culture. It's perfectly obvious, and in so many areas, too, as you pointed out: language, science, fashion, food, sexuality, pop culture, sports, and AMERICAN culture. If I were Black, I'd be bursting at the seams with pride.
When my son was around seven, he played (and watched) hours of basketball. One day he turned to me in all earnestness and said, "Mom, when can I be Black?" That sweet boy assumed that since all his heroes were Black basketball players, he'd get to be Black, too.
And your heart regarding race shows every time you write about the subject. And that's what's really important, your heart, your recognition and acknowledgement of the racial reality of this nation. That's huge, it's a bridge that most White people don't even see, never mind cross. The story of your son is so bracing, wow. That says everything about how dominant Black culture has been in our society, yet paradoxically so appropriated as to go unnoticed by most people. This is one of most vexing ironies of racism, one which I don't think is unintentional.
This sentiment is on full display in the film The Intouchables from 2011. Such a great gem of a movie! Fantastic scene where Earth Wind and Fire save the day. A must watch especially for you if you haven’t seen it
I am TOTALLY watching that now, thanks to you! EW&F saving the day? I'm IN! Eight million thank yous!