From Maurice’s 1985 Solo Release, “Invitation”

From Maurice’s 1985 solo release, here’s the track “Invitation.”

Maurice:
…I became excited about doing a solo record. I felt no strain or urgency, nothing that would encourage my high-strung nature. I felt free, as if I were at the beginning of a new romance. With Martin Page and Brian Fairweather, I felt I was on to something different energetically and creatively. I knew for sure that I didn’t want to use the Complex to record my solo record. I had to break out of the inertia of the EW&F world. I did a lot of recording at Soundcastle Studios in the Silver Lake area of LA, all the way in the northeast part of town…

I recruited some great musicians for the record.

I didn’t criticize Columbia at the time, but I did feel they could have done a more across-the-board campaign – a less segregated approach to the promotion of my album.

Of course I was disappointed with that album’s lack of success, but I am proud of it. Still, I was more hurt than I ever let on. I wish I had done a few more solo records.

– Maurice White. My Life With Earth, Wind & Fire, by Maurice White with Herb Powell, 2016.

“Invitation”
Written by Maurice, Wayne Vaughn, Wanda Vaughn, Gerald Brown

Produced by Maurice
Arranged by Wayne Vaughn

Maurice: Lead Vocals, Vocoder, Percussion
Ricky Lawson: Drums
Gerald Brown: Bass
Sheldon Reynolds: Guitar
Wayne Vaughn: Synthesizers
Peter Wolf: Synthesizers
Paulinho da Costa: Percussion
Brian Fairweather: Vocoder
Jerry Hey, Bill Reichenbach: Horns
Background Vocals: Maurice, Maxine Willard, Julia Tillman, Wanda Vaughn, Brian Fairweather