After The Love Is Gone – Earth, Wind & Fire | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop & R&B (#2); 1978

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

One of the most exciting and successful rhythm, jazz, and rock outfits of the 1970’s was Earth, Wind & Fire. The band was formed in 1969 by former Chess Records session drummer and Ramsey Lewis Trio member, Maurice White.

White’s group recorded an album as the Salty Peppers before moving to Los Angeles, where White changed its name to Earth, Wind & Fire, after his astrological chart. (In truth, White’s chart contained “air,” for which he substituted “wind.”) From 1971 to 1974, EW&F notched up a couple of R&B Top 10’s before blasting to #1 with the crossover single Shining Star.

Over the next few years, the band continued its R&B streak, however, its pop chart performance was tepid until 1978 when Got To Get You Into My Life moved to #9.

Three more gold singles followed: September, Boogie Wonderland, and After The Love Has Gone. The latter record won Grammy awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance – Group.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

• Maurice White

Lyrics Written by:

• Bill Champlin

Awards:

• Certified gold in the US by the RIAA and silver in the UK by the BPI
• Nominated for the Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1980