Reasons (Earth, Wind & Fire song)

"Reasons" is a love ballad by Earth, Wind & Fire from their sixth studio album, That's the Way of the World. The song features the falsetto singing on lead vocals of Philip Bailey.[1][2]

"Reasons"
Song by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album That's the Way of the World
RecordedAutumn 1974
GenreSoul, R&B
Length4:59
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White

The ballad is considered a love song by listeners and fans and as such, is often played at weddings - a fact that surprised band members, since the song and lyrics tell a story about a one-night stand ("Longing to love you, just for a night"). After the couple makes love, disillusionment strikes. ("After the love game has been played / All our illusions were just a parade / And all our reasons have to fade.") [3]

Critical reception

Alex Henderson of AllMusic called Reasons "a gorgeous ballad".[4] When reviewing the album, Rolling Stone's Gordon Fletcher described the song as among their ballads cut from The Four Tops/Tavares mold.[5] Over twenty years later, one album guide described it as one of the group's seminal hits.[5]

Reel Tight version
"Reasons"
Single by Reel Tight
from the album Back to the Real
Released1999
GenreR&B
Length4:30
LabelG-Funk Records
Songwriter(s)Maurice White, Charles Stepney, Philip Bailey
Producer(s)Warren G (exec.), Larry Dunn
Reel Tight singles chronology
"Reasons"
(1999)		 "I Want U"
(1999)

During 1999 R&B group Reel Tight released a cover of "Reasons" as a single on G-Funk Records. The song reached No. 22 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[6][7]

Overview

Reel Tight's version of "Reasons" was produced by Larry Dunn and executively produced by Warren G.[8]

Other covers and samples

"Reasons" has also been covered by artists such as The Manhattans on The Manhattans (1976), Miki Howard on Love Confessions (1987), Maxi Priest on Maxi, and Nelson Rangell on Far Away Day (2000). Musiq Soulchild also covered the song on the 2007 Earth, Wind & Fire tribute album, Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire and Omarion on his 2017 album Reasons.[9][10]

Reasons has been sampled by Master P on Intro/17 Reasons featured on his album 99 Ways to Die and by Shabba Ranks on the song "Muscle Grip" from his album X-tra Naked. The song was also sampled by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on "Budsmokers Only" from their LP E 1999 Eternal, by Cam'ron on "More Reasons" from his album Purple Haze, and by E-40 on "Seasoned" from his album Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire.[11]

References
  1. Jordan, Mark (July 21, 2008). "Concert review: Earth, Wind & Fire rocks the Garden". Commercial Appeal. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  2. Easlea, Daryl (2010). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World Review". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
  3. "Why Earth, Wind & Fire's "Reasons" is Inappropriate for Weddings".
  4. Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  5. "That's the Way of the World". superseventies.com. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  6. Wade, Clyde (April 1, 1999). "Warren G's New Group Reel Tight, Too Short, Top Ten CDs, Da Rangaz & More". offbeat.com. Offbeat.
  7. "Reel Tight: Reasons (Adult R&B Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  8. Reel Tight: Reasons. G-Funk Records. 1999.
  9. "Reasons by Earth, Wind & Fire". secondhandsongs.com.
  10. Scarano, Ross (June 16, 2017). "Omarion Premieres His Cover of Earth, Wind, and Fire's "Reasons"". complex.com. Complex.
  11. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Reasons". genius.com. Genius.com.
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