Earth, Wind & Fire Sign To UMe, Team With ‘Babyface’ And Lucky Daye
The first release under the deal will be a reimagined version of EW&F’s 1976 hit ‘Can’t Hide Love,’ retitled ‘You Want My Love,’ with Grammy-nominated Lucky Daye.
Soul greats and nine-time Grammy Award-winners Earth, Wind & Fire have signed a new global agreement with Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). The pact will see the storied band, whose global album sales total more than 100 million, making a new album with lauded producer and hitmaker Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.
The first release will be a reimagined version of their 1976 hit “Can’t Hide Love,” newly retitled “You Want My Love,” with Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Lucky Daye. The single will be released on August 20, and can be pre-ordered now.
Classic and contemporary
The track features Daye’s topline vocal performance from rising singer-songwriter Lucky Daye with guitars by Edmonds, who produced the track with Demonte Posey (Toni Braxton, Tori Kelly, Jesse J). “You Want My Love” is a blend of contemporary R&B styles with the classic Earth, Wind & Fire spirit and sound, which has made them one of the most constant forces in soul music over more than 50 years.
As “Can’t Hide Love,” the EW&F single was on the studio side of the band’s double set Gratitude, which topped both the US R&B and pop charts. The track itself was a No.11 R&B and Top 40 pop hit, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Arrangement For Voices in 1977.
“I am super hyped about this all-star collaboration – Earth, Wind & Fire, Lucky Daye, and Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds producing,” says Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey. “It was an honor to join forces with these two superstars, and I truly believe we’ve created a winner all the way.”
Adds Edmonds: “This project has been fantastic to work on. We really wanted to bring a tremendous, iconic song that is unmistakably Earth, Wind & Fire into the contemporary world of Lucky Daye. The goal was to create a reimagined version of this classic song that reflects Lucky’s unique voice and musical style, while still honoring the original.”
‘When I first got the call, I flipped’
Daye enthuses about working with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: “When I first got the call, I flipped. Artists like me only dream of moments like this. I’m honored to be a part of the Earth, Wind & Fire legacy. I love these guys, man.”
On Saturday, August 21, Earth, Wind & Fire, Daye and Edmonds will perform on the Great Lawn in Central Park at WE LOVE NYC: The Homecoming Concert produced by New York City, Clive Davis and Live Nation. The all-star event will celebrate the city of New York’s reopening, alongside an all-star lineup of performers. The group and their collaborators will perform “You Want My Love” as part of this special event, which will air live worldwide exclusively on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and unauthenticated on CNNGo beginning at 5pm ET.
UMe President and CEO Bruce Resnikoff says of the group’s arrival at the company: “We are pleased to welcome Earth, Wind & Fire to UMe. UMe’s global team are honored to connect this iconic band and their music with lifelong fans, while engaging newcomers to discover and experience their trailblazing sound.”
Pre-order Earth, Wind & Fire’s “You Want My Love,” featuring Lucky Daye, which is released on August 20.
