Studio Album · No. 7

Spirit Songwriting Credits by Earth, Wind & Fire

1976 Columbia 9 tracks 36:32

Produced by Maurice White, Charles Stepney  ·  Engineered by George Massenburg

Columbia SoulFunkDisco
78%
Authorship
Songwriter

Holds writing credit on 7 of 9 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 7 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Earth, Wind & Fire carries a lyricist or composer credit.

78%
7 trackswritten by Earth, Wind & Fire 2 tracksoutside writers
Earth, Wind & Fire's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist78%
Composer78%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
9
Lyricists
2
Producers
1976
Released
Data Insight

Maurice White has seven of the nine and Stepney two, his last work with the band. The record is dedicated to him.

Spirit came out on Columbia in September 1976, made while Charles Stepney was dying.

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Getaway #12
Peter CorBeloyd Taylor Peter CorBernard Taylor Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
2
On Your Face
Charles StepneyMaurice WhitePhilip Bailey Charles StepneyMaurice WhitePhilip James Bailey Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
3
Imagination
Charles StepneyMaurice WhitePhilip Bailey Charles StepneyMaurice WhitePhilip James Bailey Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
4
Spirit
Larry DunnMaurice White Lorenzo Russell DunnMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
5
Saturday Nite #21
Al McKayMaurice WhitePhilip Bailey Albert Phillip McKayMaurice WhitePhilip James Bailey Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
6
Earth, Wind & Fire
Skip ScarboroughMaurice White Skip ScarboroughMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
7
Departure
Larry DunnMaurice White Lorenzo Russell DunnMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
8
Biyo
Maurice WhiteAl McKay Maurice WhiteAlbert Phillip McKay Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
9
Burnin' Bush
Jerry Peters Jerry Peters Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 14 contributors

MW
Maurice White
Writer · Producer
On this album7 written
PB
Philip Bailey
Writer
On this album3 written
PJ
Philip James Bailey
Writer
On this album3 written
CS
Charles Stepney
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
AM
Al McKay
Writer
On this album2 written
AP
Albert Phillip McKay
Writer
On this album2 written
LD
Larry Dunn
Writer
On this album2 written
LR
Lorenzo Russell Dunn
Writer
On this album2 written
BT
Beloyd Taylor
Writer
On this album1 written
BT
Bernard Taylor
Writer
On this album1 written
JP
Jerry Peters
Writer
On this album1 written
PC
Peter Cor
Writer
On this album1 written

More from Earth, Wind & Fire

1971 100%
Earth, Wind & Fire
Warner Bros.
7 tracksProd. Joe Wissert
1971 80%
The Need of Love
Warner Bros.
5 tracksProd. Joe Wissert
1972 64%
Last Days and Time
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Joe Wissert
1973 67%
Head to the Sky
Columbia
6 tracksProd. Joe Wissert
1974 55%
Open Our Eyes
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Maurice White
1975 100%
That's the Way of the World
Columbia
8 tracksProd. Maurice White
1977 91%
All 'n All
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Maurice White
1979 78%
I Am
ARC / Columbia
9 tracksProd. Maurice White
1980 93%
Faces
ARC / Columbia
15 tracksProd. Maurice White
1981 78%
Raise!
ARC / Columbia
9 tracksProd. Maurice White
1983 100%
Powerlight
Columbia
9 tracksProd. Maurice White
1983 63%
Electric Universe
Columbia
8 tracksProd. Maurice White
1987 40%
Touch the World
Columbia
10 tracksProd. Maurice White
1990 53%
Heritage
Columbia
18 tracksProd. Maurice White
1993 81%
Millennium
Reprise
16 tracksProd. Maurice White
1997 82%
In the Name of Love
Pyramid / Rhino
11 tracksProd. Maurice White
2003 50%
The Promise
Kalimba
17 tracksProd. Maurice White
2005 0%
Illumination
Sanctuary
13 tracksProd. Maurice White
2013 80%
Now, Then & Forever
Legacy
10 tracksProd. Philip Bailey
2014 15%
Holiday
Legacy
13 tracksProd. Philip Bailey

Frequently Asked Questions Spirit

Who wrote Spirit?
Maurice White on seven of the nine tracks, with Philip Bailey on three and Charles Stepney on two.
How high did the singles chart?
"Getaway" reached number 12 on the Hot 100 and "Saturday Nite" number 21.
How did it sell?
The discography publishes certifications rather than a sales figure for it.
Who engineered it?
George Massenburg.
Who produced it?
Maurice White and Charles Stepney.
What happened to Charles Stepney?
He died during the sessions in 1976, and White finished the record and dedicated it to him.
How long is the album?
36:32 across nine tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: Spirit Wikipedia: Earth, Wind & Fire discography Wikipedia: Earth, Wind & Fire Cover Art Archive: Spirit by Earth, Wind & Fire