Philip Bailey (2)

This book was published before Maurice White passed away (2016). Bailey says he was raised Catholic by his mother and mentions that he made his sacrament of Confirmation. He says he became born again after a conversation on a plane turned to his lack of a “personal relationship with Jesus”. As Bailey incorporated faith into his life he found new direction for his career and better reliance on God to care for he and his family. Bailey chronicles how he formed the band with Verdine White, and Maurice White. He also describes how the band disintegrated when Maurice had a new contract stipulation regarding wages and costumes. The new contract focused on Maurice’s solo career although the band was put on hiatus. The hiatus was actually a permanent status. This is a common but sad tradition in music when a new contract comes up or a new manager inserts himself to instigate a solo career and leave the band behind for session players instead. Bailey had to recoup and start his own solo career by taking any suitable job to remain relevant in the business. Bailey then had one of his biggest successes with Phil Collins on “Easy Lover”. Collins was an EWF fan, and their collaboration was finished off with Collin’s lyrics. This was a successful song and allowed Bailey to stay in the entertainment game. Bailey was a supreme singer of elevated vocal range and equal only to Andy Bell of Erasure, in my opinion.
It is strange to see how history of music ends up focusing on certain songs from musical groups. Of the many songs by Depeche Mode, they are most known for “Enjoy the Silence” and “Personal Jesus.” Most fans could list 20 other songs just as much appreciated. EWF are known today for “Boogie Wonderland” “September”, and “Shining Star”. They have others which are equally memorable but newer music has edged out their other hits. Bailey mentions how Michael Jackson took over music in the 1980s, not by doing concerts (the way EWF owned the large, staged arenas) but by music videos which expended enormous amounts on production costs to create. EWF put their money into elaborate stages, costumes, and large horn sections. Bailey says it was White’s decision to do that, but he was satisfied with White’s direction at the time. This book is badly organized but still worth reading. Most memoirs by musicians are some of the best books in my personal library. This book by Bailey was difficult to get through (even at 235 pages) but worth reading for the second half. Bailey is from Denver, Colorado but lived in Los Angeles for many years (Culver City, West LA). I have seen EWF at The Forum, Los Angeles, and more recently in San Bernadino with Chicago which Bailey talks about in the book. Whenever The Showtime Lakers are depicted in books or movies they usually show EWF or play excerpts of their music for the soundtrack.
Index, B&W Photos, No Discography.… (más)