Welcome to Classic Cadillac Records!  I visually grade all my records as accurately as possible and will never grade anything above Near Mint unless it's still sealed.  Please note that a visual grade can differ from a play grade, and am happy to spot check a record upon request.   All orders are shipped within 1 business day (usually sooner) and packed with extra care to ensure fast, safe arrival.  Please look closely at all pictures, read all relevant details and ask any questions you may have before buying.  I offer a full 30-day return policy on everything I sell, so buy with confidence!  And most importantly, thanks for looking!
Raise! Cover art by   by  ReleasedNovember 14, 1981RecordedMay–September 1981StudioARC/George Massenburg Studio (Los Angeles, California),  (Los Angeles, California), , , Length38:08/ chronology
(1980)Raise!
(1981)
(1983) from Raise! ""
Released: September 1981 ""
Released: December 1981 ""
Released: January 1982 Back cover The back cover of Raise!

Raise! is the eleventh studio album by the American band , released on November 14, 1981, by /. The album spent 11 weeks atop the   chart and peaked at No. 5 on the  chart. Raise! has been certified  in the US by the ,  in the UK by the  and  in Canada by .

Overview

Raise! was produced by bandleader . The album marked the return of  , who last played upon 1972's .

The LP was also reissued in 2015 with seven bonus tracks.

Singles

Off the album came the single "", which reached No. 1 on the   chart and No. 3 on the   chart. A song called "" also got to No. 29 on the  chart.

Another song entitled "" rose to No. 15 on the Billboard  chart. "Wanna Be with You" also won a  for .

Critical reception Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingB−7/10B+

 gave a 3 out of 5 star rating, stating "And while there are no surprises here, the group offers another session of class music, fortified by strong melodies and appealing lyrics. The skilled blend of classic funk and mainstream values guarantees wide acceptance for this release. The groups shifts nicely from mellow ballads such as 'My Love' to upbeat material such as ''." With a 7 out of 10 rating Fred Dellar of  found that "White's production is impeccable; the vocals float and flare, the horns urge you onto the dance-floor and the rhythms make you stay there". Hugh Wyatt of the  described the LP as "a real gem". With a 4 out of 5 stars rating  of  said "With each new album, Earth, Wind and Fire remain relatively true to their original sound: elaborate, neatly orchestral funk, influenced equally by American and African sources. But the band also keeps its ear to the radio. Accordingly, Raise! reflects the current wave of street-gritty black pop, from  to . Most of the tracks crank up the bass and feature rattling percussion that scrapes against the beat." Tucker added "On Raise!, White’s romanticism is slinkier, more seductive." With a four out of five stars rating Alan Coulthard of  found that Raise! "sizzles from start to finish".  exclaimed EW&F's "New Age songs are ingenious sonic tapestries that blend tribal chants, zesty horns, brilliantly varied percussion, funky-flavored guitar rhythms and 2001-ish synthesizer sounds. Here an instrumental called Kalimba Tree melds into the LP's best cut, You Are a Winner, which has White's lead vocals bobbing and weaving with Philip Bailey's. The lyrics are mostly power-of-positive-thinking messages that might thrill  but are no match for the music’s complexity."  of  wrote "Paring away the overachievement of , EW&F return to something like their best form".  noted that "breathtaking production and a perscussive, non stop fusion of funk and rock power light up the entire album".  of  said "Raise! is a thundering collection of the best noises around, urgent, controlled and meticulously glossy. Horns pump and spurt in golden ecstasy, percussion stamps and cracks through the usual mass of nibbling guitars and synthesizers, and White's voice is as strong and soaring as ever". 's  proclaimed EWF "turn their sparkling harmonies and powerful groove into a pure, contentless display of virtuosity". As well  of the  wrote "Raise! puts Earth, Wind & Fire back on the  road".

Music critic  also placed Raise! in his ballot for the 1981 Village Voice  poll.

Track listing Side oneNo.TitleWriter(s)Length1."", 5:372."Lady Sun"Bernard "Beloyd" Taylor3:393."My Love"Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White4:354."Evolution Orange", Nan O'Byrne, M. White4:37Side twoNo.TitleWriter(s)Length5."Kalimba Tree"Maurice White, , 0:256."You Are a Winner"Beloyd Taylor4:097."", , 4:368.""Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White4:369."The Changing Times"Beloyd Taylor, Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White5:54