Earth, Wind & Fire Lyrics (1970s) Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...for awhile, we paid no mind to the past; we knew love would last..."

Answer: After the Love Has Gone

"After the Love Has Gone" peaked at #2 on both the Pop chart and the R&B chart in 1979. Certified gold, the song won two Grammys: one for "Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus" and one for "Best R&B Song". Taken from the double platinum LP, "I AM", the song has continued to be a favorite on Adult Contemporary radio.

By the way, Earth, Wind and Fire formed in 1969 in Chicago, Illinois. Drummer Maurice White founded the group, which was originally known as "The Salty Peppers". White renamed the group in honor of his astrological profiles.

2. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...there are times, when you're bound to cry; one more time, head to the sky..."

Answer: Mighty, Mighty

A straight-ahead, no-holds-barred funk tune, "Mighty, Mighty" was the first single from the platinum LP, "Open Our Eyes", which came out in the spring of 1974. The song hit #4 on the R&B chart and # 29 on the Pop chart, and it featured the group's powerful horn section.

3. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...for you, here's a song, to make your day brighter..."

Answer: Devotion

A concert favorite, "Devotion" reached # 23 on the R&B chart and # 33 on the Pop chart in the fall of 1974. Written by group members Maurice White and Philip Bailey, who sings the lead vocal, "Devotion" was the third single from the platinum LP, "Open Our Eyes". It is also featured on the group's mostly-live-in-concert LP, "Gratitude".

4. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...give yourself what you need..."

Answer: Sing A Song

"Sing A Song", a cheerful, upbeat, positive tune, was the first single released from the double LP, "Gratitude", which was certified double platinum. The single, which was certified gold, hit # 1 on the R&B chart and # 5 on the Pop chart. Written by group members Maurice White and Al McKay, the song began as a 'sound-check jam'. According to the book, "A Touch of Classic Soul 2: The Late 1970's" by Marc Taylor, Maurice White said that he would have an idea; the rhythm section would play, and he'd sing: trying to get a sound on the mike.

He'd sing melodies, and often a song would result.

5. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...If you look way down, in your heart and soul..."

Answer: That's the Way of the World

"That's the Way of the World", the title song from the LP of the same name, was the second single released from the LP. In the summer of 1975, the song peaked at # 5 on the R&B chart and # 12 on the Pop chart. The LP, which began as a soundtrack to the film of the same name, sold well over five million copies. It helped to establish the band as mainstream artists.

6. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...daylight deals a bad hand, to a woman that has laid too many bets..."

Answer: Boogie Wonderland

A duet between the group and the female vocal group, The Emotions, "Boogie Wonderland" hit # 2 on the R&B chart and # 6 on the Pop chart in the spring of 1979. It became the group's sixth gold single. Taken from the double platinum LP, "I AM", group leader Maurice White called the song, "the band's contribution to disco".

By the way, the song also won a Grammy for "Best R&B Instrumental Performance".

7. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...our voices will ring together, until the twelfth of never..."

Answer: Fantasy

The second single from the triple-platinum LP from early 1978, "All 'N All", "Fantasy" hit # 12 on the R&B chart and # 32 on the Pop chart. The song received a Grammy nomination for "Best R&B Song". The LP received a Grammy for "Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Duo or Group".

8. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...would you mind, if I looked in your eyes 'til I'm hypnotized, and I lose my pride..."

Answer: Love's Holiday

Though the song was never released as a single, "Love's Holiday" was considered one of the group's finest love songs. Written by group member Maurice White and Skip Scarborough, the song, which is featured on both the "All 'N All" and "Greatest Hits" LPs, was originally entitled, "Would You Mind?".

9. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...you can't shake me the way I feel today; come tomorrow, I'll feel the same old way..."

Answer: On Your Face

Though "On Your Face" peaked at # 26 on the R&B chart in 1977, the song was always a fan favorite. Featured on the double-platinum "Spirit" LP, the song was written by group members Maurice White, Philip Bailey and the band's co-producer and arranger, the late Charles Stepney. Stepney died of a heart attack while the LP was being recorded. It is dedicated to his memory.

10. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...temperature's rising, I don't want to feel I'm in the wrong place to be real..."

Answer: Reasons

Though "Reasons" was never released as a single, it has remained a concert favorite, and it is included on the group's "Greatest Hits" compilations. According to the book, "A Touch of Classic Soul 2: The Late 1970's" by Marc Taylor, group leader Maurice White described the song as being, "like the lover's national anthem".

11. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...my thoughts are with you, holding hands with your heart, to see you..."

Answer: September

"September", a gold single from the fall of 1978, hit # 1 on the R&B chart and # 8 on the Pop chart in early 1979. The song is featured on the quadruple platinum "Greatest Hits" LP.

12. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...life is just a day, livin' games we play..."

Answer: Saturday Nite

"Saturday Nite" was written by group members, Maurice White, Al McKay and Philip Bailey. The song hit # 1 on the R&B chart and # 21 on the Pop chart in the fall of 1976. The song is featured on the "Spirit" LP, which was the first LP recorded under Maurice White's 'Kalimba Productions'.

13. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...gives you strength to carry on, yeah. Make your body big and strong..."

Answer: Shining Star

The first single from the 1975 LP, "That's the Way of the World", "Shining Star" hit # 1 on both the Pop and R&B chart in the spring of 1975. A million seller, the song won a Grammy for "Best Vocal Performance By a Duo or Group".

14. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...you didn't run, you didn't lie, you knew I wanted just to hold you..."

Answer: Got to Get You Into My Life

An updated remake of the classic Beatles song, "Got to Get You Into My Life" was featured in the 1978 film and on the soundtrack recording, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". The song was written by the late John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Certified gold, the single hit # 1 on the R&B chart and # 9 on the Pop chart.

It won a Grammy for "Best Arrangement for Accompanying Vocalist(s)".

15. Name the song that the following lyric is from: "...watch for the signs that lead in the right direction, not to heed them is a bad reflection..."

Answer: Getaway

Another hit featuring the band's powerful horn section, "Getaway" hit # 1 on the R&B chart and # 12 on the Pop chart. Certified gold, it was the first single released from the double platinum "Spirit" LP. The song, which was written by Beloyd Taylor and Peter Cor, is reportedly about Transcendental Meditation (TM).

Source: Author TC1261

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

For this quiz, I'll give you a portion of an Earth, Wind & Fire song lyric; you pick the song that it's from. All chart information is from "Billboard Magazine"'s Top 40 Pop and R&B chart. Please note: Not all songs were singles.

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