Free Life

When Earth, Wind & Fire were in their prime in the late '70s, you could have spent hours talking about all of the artists who were being influenced by the soul/funk superband. Artists who had no connection to EWF were claiming Maurice White and company as a major influence, and that influence was impossible to miss on albums by Deniece Williams, the Emotions, Pockets, and others who were part of the EWF family. An obscure nine-member soul/funk outfit, Free Life, brings a very EWF-influenced sound to this self-titled debut album, and that isn't surprising considering that the LP was co-produced by EWF's Philip Bailey (who also helped with the arranging and wrote or co-wrote several of the songs). Despite Bailey's presence, the little-known Free Life isn't a great album; it's a competent album, but not a great one. Even though EWF-minded tunes like "I Confess" and "Wish You Were Here" are likable enough, it's clear that Bailey was saving his best writing for EWF. This is an LP that simmers without ever burning or exploding. ~ Alex Henderson