Ramsey Lewis with Earth, Wind & Fire ~ Sun Goddess 1974 Jazz Funk Purrfection Version

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This song turned me on to Earth, Wind & Fire in late 1974 the year I first heard it on a Saturday afternoon while I read the funnies. Maurice's spoken direction (hey, wanna solo) to the band stood out so much it ran shivers down my spine and then I felt the luxurious bliss of the music envelop me....I had those earphones on in an instant and laid on the floor and listened. I got the shivers again listening to that saxophone solo, it was like it was right in front of me.

Not much music is as calming as this remix here and Kool & The Gang's "Summer Madness" can be heard these days. Music can be a very inspiring experience and Maurice White knew that. He had a dream about Earth, Wind & Fire years before he actually created the group that inspired him.

Philip Bailey brought me to church with his heavenly vocalizing. I was taken away to a golden place where the Sun Goddess ruled, taken there on the gossamer wings of guitar strums and hypnotic synthesizers. For me, it is pure bliss.

A stellar example of Jazz Funk, a new sub genre that included artists like Donald Byrd, Bob James, Roy Ayers, Herbie Hancock and Ramsey Lewis. The fusion of jazz with soul and R&B all came together at the same time disco was taking shape on the AM radios of the nation. It had a very strong accent on the bass drum with drum kits giving the song energy and a 4/4 tribal beat.

"Sun Goddess" has this hypnotizing shuffle beat that meshes so wonderfully to each instrument, it never fails to calm me.