Kalimba Story
{{short description|1974 song by Earth, Wind, & Fire}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Kalimba Story
| cover =Kalimba Story.jpg
|caption=Japan release picture sleeve
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Earth, Wind & Fire
| album = Open Our Eyes
| B-side = Tee Nine Chee Bit
| released = July 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 =
| length = 4:03 (album version)
2:58 (single version)
| label = Columbia
| writer = Maurice White, Verdine White
| producer = Joe Wissert, Maurice White
| prev_title = Mighty Mighty
| prev_year = 1974
| next_title = Devotion
| next_year = 1974
}}
"Kalimba Story" is a song by R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in 1974 on Columbia Records.{{cite work|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Kalimba Story|date=1974|publisher=Columbia Records}}
Overview
Kalimba Story was produced by Maurice White and Joe Wissert and composed by Maurice and Verdine White. The song also came off EWF's 1974 album Open Our Eyes
Critical reception
Record World said that "What Stevie Wonder has done for the clavinet, this group does for the African thumb piano, the 'kalimba.'"{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=June 22, 1974|accessdate=2023-03-16|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/74/RW-1974-06-22.pdf}}
Alex Henderson of Allmusic called "Kalimba Story" a "treasure".{{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}}
Chart performance
The single reached number six on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart,{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/bsi/|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Kalimba Story (Hot R&B Songs)|website=Billboard.com}} and number fifty-five on the Hot 100.{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=264}} In Canada the song reached number 63.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5068b.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - August 17, 1974}}
Samples
"Kalimba Story" was sampled by hip hop duo Gang Starr on their 1990 track Jazz Thing (Movie Mix).{{cite web|url=http://the-breaks.com/search.php?term=Jazz+Thing&type=7|title=Gangstarr: Jazz Thing|website=the-breaks.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Earth, Wind & Fire}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Maurice White
Category:Songs written by Verdine White
Category:Earth, Wind & Fire songs
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Maurice White
{{1970s-R&B-song-stub}}