Devotion (song)
{{for|other songs|Devotion (disambiguation)#Songs}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Devotion
| cover =Devotion (song).jpg
|caption=Spain single cover sleeve
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Earth, Wind & Fire
| album = Open Our Eyes
| B-side = Fair But So Uncool
| released = September 1974{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/254/mode/2up?q=earth+wind|title=Great Rock Discography|page=254}}
| recorded = 1973
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = R&B
| length = 4:50 (album version)
3:30 (single version)
| label = Columbia
| writer = Maurice White, Philip Bailey
| producer = Joe Wissert, Maurice White
| prev_title = Kalimba Story
| prev_year = 1974
| next_title = Hot Dawgit
| next_year = 1974
}}
"Devotion" is a single by R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire released in 1974 on Columbia Records.{{cite work|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion|date=1974|publisher=Columbia Records}} "Devotion" peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/hsi/|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion (Hot 100)|website=billboard.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/bsi/|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion (Hot R&B Songs)|website=Billboard.com}}
Overview
Devotion was produced by Joe Wissert and Maurice White and composed by White and Philip Bailey, who handled lead vocals. The single's b-side was a song called "Fair But So Uncool". Both songs appeared on the band's 1974 studio album Open Our Eyes.
Critical reception
Alex Henderson of Allmusic called "Devotion" "unforgettable".{{cite web|url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/open-our-eyes-mw0000311346|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes|first=Alex |last=Henderson|publisher=Allmusic|website=allmusic.com}} Simon Werner of Popmatters wrote "the softer, reflective shades of "Devotion", represents a line of spiritual evangelism that would also prosper, and draw on a rich range of influences such as Christian and African mysticism and particularly the symbolism of Egyptology."{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/earthwindandfire-reissues/|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes/Spirit|first=Simon|last=Warner|publisher=PopMatters|website=popmatters.com}} Craig Werner of Vibe stated "Devotion" is "inspired by Afrocentric consciousness".{{cite work|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes, Spirit|author=Werner, Craig|page=200|volume=9|issue=3|date=March 2001|publisher=Vibe Magazine}}
Record World said that "speaking of the metaphysical in soft funky terms, the visual act delivers a substantial soul ballad."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=September 7, 1974|accessdate=2023-03-15|title=Single Picks|page=14|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/74/RW-1974-09-07.pdf}}
Credits
- Johnny Graham - guitar
- Al McKay - guitar, vocals
- Verdine White - bass, vocals
- Larry Dunn - piano
- Fred White - drums
- Ralph Johnson - drums
- Maurice White - drums, vocals
- Philip Bailey - lead vocals
Chart positions
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1974) !Peak |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"|33 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
|align="center"|23 |
Covers and samples
Jazz fusion/contemporary jazz group Pieces of a Dream featuring Tracy Hamlin covered the song on their 2004 release No Assembly Required.{{cite web|url=https://jazztimes.com/archives/pieces-of-a-dream-no-assembly-required/|title=Pieces of a Dream: No Assembly Required|author=Tauss, Lucy|publisher=Jazz Times|website=jazztimes.com|date=25 April 2019 }} R&B artist Ledisi covered Devotion on the 2007 tribute album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire.{{cite web |author=Murray, Sonia |date=March 27, 2007 |title=Earth, Wind & Fire classics get new life |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/423300375/ |website=newspapers.com |publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |page=E2}}
"Devotion" was sampled by Yo-Yo featuring Ice Cube on the track "You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo" from her 1991 album Make Way for the Motherlode. In 1996, rap group Mo Thugs sampled the song in their single “Thug Devotion” from the album “Family Scriptures”. CeeLo Green featuring Jazze Pha and T.I. sampled "Devotion" on a tune called The One from Green's 2004 album Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine. Mack 10 sampled Devotion on the song Mozi Wozi from his 1995 self titled album. Drake featuring Kanye West also sampled "Devotion" on the track "Glow" from Drake's 2017 mixtape More Life.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2017/03/things-you-missed-drake-first-listen-more-life|title=7 Things You Probably Missed on Your First Listen of 'More Life'|author1=Espinoza, Daniel|author2=Barna, Daniel|date=March 19, 2017|publisher=Complex|website=complex.com}}{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Jacinta |title=RTB Rewind: Yo-Yo Makes Her Debut With "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" |url=https://rockthebells.com/articles/rtb-rewind-yo-yo-you-cant-play-with-my-yo-yo-released/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=rockthebells.com |language=en}}
The single's b-side, Fair But So Uncool, was later covered by D'Angelo.{{Citation |title=D'Angelo – Fair But So Uncool |url=https://genius.com/Dangelo-fair-but-so-uncool-lyrics |work=genius.com |access-date=2023-07-11}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Earth, Wind & Fire}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Earth, Wind & Fire songs
Category:Songs written by Philip Bailey
Category:Songs written by Maurice White