Star (Earth, Wind & Fire song)

"Star" is a song by the R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as a single in September 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records.^[1] The single reached No. 16 on the UK Singles Chart. ^[2]

"Star"
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album I Am
B-side	"You and I"
Released	September 1979
Recorded	1978
Genre	R&B
Length	3:40
Label	ARC/Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Allee Willis, Eduardo Del Barrio and Maurice White
Producer(s)	Maurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"In The Stone" (1979) "Star" (1979) "Can't Let Go" (1980)

Overview

"Star" was produced by Maurice White and written by White, Allee Willis and Eduardo Del Barrio. The single's b-side was a song called "You and I". Both songs came from EW&F's 1979 studio album I Am.^[1]

Critical reception

Ace Adams of the New York Daily News called "Star" one of the album's "best songs".^[3] Simon Ludgate of Record Mirror exclaimed "You can take EWF on many different levels. Some call them disco, some see them as cosmic. Whatever, no one will deny they are excellent...That's all, nuff said."^[4] Allen Weiner of Morning Call found that "Star a follow-up to EW&F's smash "Shining Star" is a powerful, melodic song that out-boogies such masters of funk as Parliament Funkadelic."^[5] Cash Box called it a "crackling pop-funk number, which moves from a somber keyboard intro into a joyous, upbeat rhyme."^[6] Record World said that it has Earth, Wind & Fire's "trademark falsetto vocals, spirited horn charts and energetic dance beat."^[7] James Johnson of the Evening Standard proclaimed "the slightly curious cosmic overtones of their lyrics remain in evidence on..Star".^[8]

Personnel

• Writing, lyrics - Allee Willis, Eddie Del Barrio, Maurice White
• Producer - Maurice White

Producer

• Arranger - Tom Tom 84
• Programmer - Steve Porcaro

Engineers^[9]

• Engineer - George Massenburg, Tom Perry
• Mixing Engineer - George Massenburg
• Assistant engineer - Craig Widby, Ross Pallone

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979–1980)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10]	25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11]	9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12]	15
UK Singles (OCC)[13]	16
US Billboard Hot 100[14]	64
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15]	47

Year-end charts

Chart (1979)	Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16]	95

References

1. Earth, Wind & Fire: Star. ARC/Columbia Records. September 1979.
2. "Earth, Wind & Fire". officialcharts.com.
3. Adams, Ace (June 22, 1979). "Mini Reviews". New York Daily News. p. 321 – via newspapers.com.
4. Ludgate, Simon (October 6, 1979). Singles (PDF). Vol. 26. Record Mirror. p. 10 – via worldradiohistory.com.
5. Weiner, Allen (June 23, 1979). "Earth,Wind & Fire: I Am". The Morning Call. p. 52 – via newspapers.com.
6. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 8, 1979. p. 18. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
7. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 8, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
8. Johnson, James (June 14, 1979). "Pick An Album". Evening Standard. p. 27 – via newspapers.com.
9. "Jaxsta". jaxsta.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
10. "Earth, Wind & Fire – Star" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
12. "Earth, Wind & Fire – Star" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
14. "Earth, Wind & Fire Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
15. "Earth, Wind & Fire Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
16. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 8, 2021.