The Spot

On this day in music history: November 19, 1977 - “Serpentine Fire” by Earth, Wind & Fire hits #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart for 7 weeks, also peaking at #13 on the Hot 100 on February 11, 1978. Written by Maurice White, Verdine White, and Reginald “Sonny” Burke, it is the fourth R&B chart topper for the legendary R&B/Funk band led by drummer and vocalist Maurice White. Following the release of Earth, Wind & Fire’s seventh studio album “Spirit” and the extensive tour that follows, Maurice White takes a much needed vacation in early 1977. White visits Brazil during his sabbatical, soaking up the culture and the countries’ unique sounds and rhythms. Also having an avid interest in Eastern philosophy, metaphysics and all things spiritual, all of these influences  make their way into the bands’ music. Collaborating with his younger brother, bassist Verdine White and musician Sonny Burke, the trio come up with “Serpentine Fire”. The song is a metaphor describing a person’s life force, primarily their sexual impulse and energy. Issued as the first single from Earth, Wind & Fire’s landmark eighth album “All ‘N All” on October 5, 1977, it is an immediate smash. Like their previous R&B chart topper “Getaway” the previous year, “Serpentine Fire” is edited from its original recorded length (to fit the confines of the LP’s time limit) of 5:02 to 3:51. The unedited version is released on a white label promotional 12" single for club and radio DJ’s, and is belatedly issued commercially in 1989 as a CBS Mixed Masters 12" reissue (on the B-side of “Boogie Wonderland”). The chart topping success of “Serpentine Fire” helps to propel the accompanying album “All 'N All” to the top of the Billboard R&B album chart, and into the top five on the Top 200, driving its sales to 3x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

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On this day in music history: March 4, 1978 - “Flash Light” by Parliament hits #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart for 3 weeks, also peaking at #16 on the Hot 100 on April 22, 1978. Written by George Clinton, Bernie Worrell and William “Bootsy” Collins, it is the first chart topping single for the R&B/Funk band led by George Clinton. Originally intended for Collins’ band Bootsy’s Rubber Band, Bootsy will cut a demo of the track. When Collins decides he doesn’t like what he’s recorded, he’ll pass it on to Parliament. The track will be cut at United Sound Studios in Detroit, MI in the Spring of 1977. Highlighted by keyboardist Bernie Worrell’s innovative use of the Mini Moog synthesizer, “Flash Light” will be issued the second single from Parliament’s seventh album “Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome” in January of 1978. The song will also be released as extended promotional only 12” single clocking in at over ten and a half minutes, nearly doubling its original length. “Flash Light” will be an immediate smash on the R&B chart, and will also become Parliament’s highest charting single on the pop singles chart. Ironically, “Bootzilla” by Bootsy’s Rubber Band will unseat Parliament from the top spot on the R&B chart on March 25, 1978. “Flash Light” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

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On this day in music history: January 26, 1970 - John Lennon writes “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)”. Lennon will come up with the idea for the song over breakfast on the morning of January 26th, quickly writing the music and lyrics in under an hour. The inspiration for the song comes after a trip John and Yoko take to Denmark in December of 1969, to visit Ono’s daughter Kyoko who is living there with her father and stepmother. While in Denmark, Lennon will have a conversation with Melinda Kendall, the second wife of Yoko Ono’s former husband Tony Cox. Kendall coins the phrase “instant karma”, coming from the idea that the outcome of a person’s actions is immediate, rather than taking place over one’s lifetime. Enlisting the help of producer Phil Spector, they will go into Abbey Road Studios the next evening, recording the song with musical backing from George Harrison, Billy Preston, Klaus Voorman, and Alan White and a vocal chorus provided by a group people recruited from a local night club. The single will be issued just ten days later in the UK (US release is on February 20, 1970). Lennon and Ono will perform the song live on the long running British music show Top Of The Pops on February 11, 1970, just five days after the singles’ UK release. Issued just four weeks ahead of The Beatles own single “Let It Be”, both singles will be in direct competition with each other on the charts, with both residing the top five at the same time. “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” will peak at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 28, 1970 and #5 on the UK singles chart, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

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