Open Our Eyes
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Open Our Eyes
| type = Studio
| artist = Earth, Wind & Fire
| cover = Earth, Wind & Fire - Open Our Eyes.jpg
| alt =
| released = March 1974
| recorded = August 1973, Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado, U.S.
| venue =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 39:52
| producer = Maurice White, Joe Wissert
| prev_title = Head to the Sky
| prev_year = 1973
| next_title = Another Time
| next_year = 1974
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Open Your Eyes
| type = studio
| single1 = Mighty Mighty
| single1date = February 1974
| single2 = Kalimba Story
| single2date = July 1974
| single3 = Devotion
| single3date = September 1974
}}
}}
Open Our Eyes is the fifth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in March 1974 on Columbia Records.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/254/mode/2up?q=earth+wind|title=Great Rock Discography|page=254}} The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 15 on the Top Pop Albums chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/blp/|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes (Top Soul Albums)|publisher=Billboard|website=billboard.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/tlp/|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes (Top Pop Albums)|website=billboard.com}}
Open Our Eyes has been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Earth%2C+Wind+%26+Fire++&ti=Open+our+eyes&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes|publisher=RIAA|website=riaa.com}}
Overview
Open Our Eyes was produced by Maurice White and Joe Wissert and recorded at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado, US. During 2001, Open Our Eyes was reissued with four bonus tracks.{{cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/album/kc32712|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes|website=45worlds.com}}
Singles
The track, "Mighty Mighty", peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.{{cite web|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Mighty Mighty (Hot R&B Songs)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/bsi/|website=Billboard.com}}{{cite web|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Mighty Mighty (Hot 100)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/hsi/|website=Billboard.com}} "Kalimba Story" reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.{{cite web|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Kalimba Story (Hot R&B Songs)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/bsi/|website=Billboard.com|publisher=Billboard}} Another single, "Devotion", peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.{{cite web|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion (Hot 100)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/hsi/|website=billboard.com}}{{cite web|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Devotion (Hot R&B Songs)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/earth-wind-fire/chart-history/bsi/|website=Billboard.com}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{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}}
| rev2 = Billboard
| rev2Score = (favourable){{cite book|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes|page=48|date=March 16, 1974|publisher=Billboard Magazine}}
| rev3 = Buffalo News
| rev3Score = (favourable){{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-steely-dan-geared-for-j/126702197/|title=Steely Dan Geared for Jazz-Rock Fusion|author=Anderson, Dale|page=77|date=April 6, 1974|publisher=Buffalo News|website=newspapers.com}}
| rev4 = PopMatters
| rev4Score = (favourable){{cite web |url= https://www.popmatters.com/earthwindandfire-reissues-2495898667.html|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes/Spirit|first=Simon|last=Warner|publisher=PopMatters|website=popmatters.com}}
| rev5 = Rolling Stone
| rev5Score = (favorable){{cite web|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/open-our-eyes-104019/|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes|first=Ken |last=Emerson|date=May 9, 1974|publisher=Rolling Stone|website=rollingstone.com}}
|rev6 = Village Voice
|rev6Score = (A–){{cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=1111|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes|author=Christgau, Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|publisher=The Village Voice|website=robertchristgau.com}}
| rev7 = Vibe
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes, Spirit|author=Werner, Craig|page=200|volume=9|issue=3|date=March 2001|magazine=Vibe Magazine}}
| rev8 = The Times
| rev8Score = (favourable){{cite web|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=Newspapers&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=81&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=44&docId=GALE%7CFP1802602678&docType=Article&sort=Pub+Date+Forward+Chron&contentSegment=ZSUN-MOD1&prodId=STHA&pageNum=3&contentSet=GALE%7CFP1802602678&searchId=R6&userGroupName=alberta_portal&inPS=true|title=Crucial Cuts|page=191|date=August 16, 1998|publisher=The Times|website=gale.com}}
| rev9 = Tom Hull – on the Web
| rev9Score = B+ ({{Rating-Christgau|hm3}}){{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|authorlink=Tom Hull (critic)|date=April 26, 2021|url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/2939-Music-Week.html|title=Music Week|website=Tom Hull – on the Web|accessdate=April 27, 2021}}
}}
Rolling Stone called Open Our Eyes "a pleasant miscellany of Africana, Latin rhythms, well-mannered funk, smooth jazz, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder and the Fifth Dimension". Dale Anderson of the Buffalo News declared "Open Our Eyes is worthy of the attention of progressive music fans everywhere". The Village Voice's Robert Christgau also described Side 1 as "A very pleasant surprise" and Side 2 as a complete "tour de force".
Music journalist Vince Aletti named Open Our Eyes in his ballot for The Village Voice's 1974 Pazz & Jop critics poll.{{cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj74.php|title=Our Own Critics' Poll|date=January 20, 1975|publisher=The Village Voice|website=robertchristgau.com}}
Track listing
=Original release=
{{track listing
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Mighty Mighty
| writer1 = Maurice White, Verdine White
| length1 = 3:01
| title2 = Devotion
| writer2 = M. White, Philip Bailey
| length2 = 4:50
| title3 = Fair But So Uncool
| writer3 = Rick Giles, Charles Stepney
| length3 = 3:39
| title4 = Feelin' Blue
| writer4 = Kenny Altman
| length4 = 4:28
| title5 = Kalimba Story
| writer5 = M. White, V. White
| length5 = 4:03
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Side two
| title6 = Drum Song
| writer6 = M. White
| length6 = 5:10
| title7 = Tee Nine Chee Bit
| writer7 = M. White, C. Stepney, P. Bailey
| length7 = 3:45
| title8 = Spasmodic Movements
| writer8 = Eddie Harris
| length8 = 1:50
| title9 = Rabbit Seed
| writer9 = M. White
| length9 = 0:31
| title10 = Caribou
| writer10 = C. Stepney, R. Giles
| length10 = 3:25
| title11 = Open Our Eyes
| writer11 = Leon Lumpkins
| length11 = 5:06
}}
=2001 Reissue=
{{track listing
| headline =
| title1 = Mighty Mighty
| writer1 = Maurice White, Verdine White
| length1 = 3:03
| title2 = Devotion
| writer2 = M. White, Philip Bailey
| length2 = 4:50
| title3 = Fair But So Uncool
| writer3 = M. White, Rick Giles, Charles Stepney
| length3 = 3:39
| title4 = Feelin' Blue
| writer4 = Kenny Altman
| length4 = 4:28
| title5 = Kalimba Story
| writer5 = M. White, V. White
| length5 = 4:03
| title6 = Drum Song
| writer6 = M. White
| length6 = 5:10
| title7 = Tee Nine Chee Bit
| writer7 = M. White, C. Stepney, P. Bailey
| length7 = 3:45
| title8 = Spasmodic Movements
| writer8 = Eddie Harris
| length8 = 1:50
| title9 = Rabbit Seed
| writer9 = M. White
| length9 = 0:31
| title10 = Caribou
| writer10 = C. Stepney, R. Giles
| length10 = 3:25
| title11 = Open Our Eyes
| writer11 = Leon Lumpkins
| length11 = 5:06
| title12 = Ain't No Harm To Moan (Slave Song)
| writer12 = M. White, Larry Dunn
| length12 = 5:21
| title13 = Fair But So Uncool (Walkin' In N'Awlins Mix)
| writer13 = C. Stepney, R. Giles, M. White
| length13 = 3:37
| title14 = Step's Tune
| writer14 = M. White, C. Stepney
| length14 = 2:33
| title15 = Dreams
| writer15 = M. White, C. Stepney, L. Dunn
| length15 = 3:23
Personnel
- Philip Bailey - vocals, congas, percussion
- Larry Dunn - Moog synthesizer, piano, organ
- Johnny Graham - guitar, percussion
- Ralph Johnson - drums, percussion
- Al McKay - vocals, guitar, percussion
- Maurice White - vocals, drums, kalimba
- Verdine White - vocals, bass, percussion
- Andrew Woolfolk - soprano saxophone, flute
=Production=
- Earth, Wind & Fire - Musical arrangements
- Maurice White - Producer (Original recording), Audio Mixing (12–15)
- Bruce Botnick - Recording Engineer, Remix
- Paul Klingberg - Audio Mixing (12–15)
- Leo Sacks - Producer (Reissue), Audio Mixing (12–15)
- Charles Stepney - Associate Producer (Original recording), Musical arrangements
- Joe Wissert - Producer (Original recording)
Charts and Certifications
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1974)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Billboard200|15|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 9, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 9, 2021}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1974)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1974/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1974|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=July 9, 2021}}
| 38 |
| scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1974/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1974|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=July 9, 2021}}
| 10 |
{{col-end}}
| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+ Singles |
| Year
! Single ! Chart ! Position |
|---|
| rowspan="6"| 1974
|rowspan="2"| "Devotion" |align="center"| 23 |
| Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"| 33 |
| rowspan="2"| "Kalimba Story"
|align="center"| 6 |
| Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"| 55 |
| rowspan="2"| "Mighty Mighty"
|align="center"| 4 |
| Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"| 29 |
=Certifications=
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Earth, Wind & Fire}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Earth, Wind & Fire albums
Category:Albums produced by Maurice White
Category:Albums produced by Joe Wissert