Studio Album · No. 18
The Promise Songwriting Credits by Earth, Wind & Fire
Produced by Maurice White, Wayne Vaughn, Gregory Curtis, Preston Glass
Kalimba
R&BFunkNeo Soul
50%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 8 of 16 tracks · 1 not yet documented
Authorship Breakdown 8 / 16 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether Earth, Wind & Fire carries a lyricist or composer credit.
8 trackswritten by Earth, Wind & Fire
8 tracksoutside writers
1 trackwriters not documented
Earth, Wind & Fire's roles on this album
Share of the 17 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist47%
Composer47%
Producer100%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
17
Tracks
20
Lyricists
4
Producers
2003
Released
Data Insight
White has eight of the seventeen and the rest is spread across a dozen collaborators. It is the last album he wrote a substantial part of.
The Promise came out on Kalimba in May 2003, the band's first album on Maurice White's own label.
Track Listing & Credits 17 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
All in the Way
|
Wayne VaughnWanda VaughnMaurice White | Wayne VaughnWanda VaughnMaurice White | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)The Emotions (Featured Vocals) |
| 2 |
Betcha'
|
Preston GlassMaurice White | Preston GlassMaurice White | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 3 |
Wiggle
|
Preston Glass | Preston Glass | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 4 |
Why?
|
Gregory CurtisMaurice White | Gregory CurtisMaurice White | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 5 |
Wonderland
|
Chris RodriguezTommy Sims | Chris RodriguezTommy Sims | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)Angie Stone (Featured Vocals) |
| 6 |
Where Do We Go from Here?
|
Bill MeyersRoss Vannelli | Bill MeyersRoss Vannelli | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 7 |
Freedom
|
Maurice White | Maurice White | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 8 |
Hold Me
|
Tim KelleyBob Robinson | Tim KelleyBob Robinson | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 9 |
Never
|
Gregory CurtisMaurice White | Gregory CurtisMaurice White | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 10 |
Prelude
|
Not documented | - | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 11 |
All About Love
|
Sheila HutchinsonWanda VaughnWayne Vaughn | Sheila HutchinsonWanda VaughnWayne Vaughn | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 12 |
Suppose You Like Me
|
Scott StorchPino PalladinoJames PoyserQuestloveJames Bailey | Scott StorchPino PalladinoJames PoyserQuestloveJames Bailey | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 13 |
The Promise
|
Raymond CrossleyRalph JohnsonMaurice White | Raymond CrossleyRalph Randolph JohnsonMaurice White | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 14 |
She Waits
|
Marc HarrisTommy Sims | Marc HarrisTommy Sims | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 15 |
The Promise (Continued)
|
Maurice WhiteRalph Johnson | Maurice WhiteRalph Randolph Johnson | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 16 |
Let Me Love You
|
Gregory Curtis | Gregory Curtis | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
| 17 |
Dirty
|
Maurice White | Maurice White | Maurice WhiteWayne VaughnGregory CurtisPreston Glass | Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 24 contributors
MW
Maurice White
Writer · Producer
GC
Gregory Curtis
Writer · Producer
PG
Preston Glass
Writer · Producer
WV
Wayne Vaughn
Writer · Producer
RJ
Ralph Johnson
Writer
RR
Ralph Randolph Johnson
Writer
TS
Tommy Sims
Writer
WV
Wanda Vaughn
Writer
BM
Bill Meyers
Writer
BR
Bob Robinson
Writer
CR
Chris Rodriguez
Writer
JB
James Bailey
Writer
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78%
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40%
Touch the World
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53%
Heritage
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Millennium
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Illumination
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80%
Now, Then & Forever
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15%
Holiday
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Frequently Asked Questions The Promise
Who wrote The Promise?
Maurice White on eight of the seventeen tracks, with Gregory Curtis on three and Wayne and Wanda Vaughn on two each.
Did any single chart in the Hot 100?
No. "All in the Way" and "Hold Me" both missed the chart.
How did it sell?
The discography publishes certifications rather than a sales figure for it.
Are engineering credits published?
No. The album article names the producers and no engineer.
Who produced it?
Maurice White with Wayne Vaughn, Gregory Curtis and Preston Glass.
Who guests on it?
The Emotions return on "All in the Way", twenty-four years after "Boogie Wonderland".
How long is the album?
56:42 across seventeen tracks.
Data note: The 40-second "Prelude" carries no writing credit. The album article leaves its writer field blank while crediting every other short track on the record, the Discogs US CD lists nothing against it, and MusicBrainz holds no work relationship for the recording