Best Of My Love – The Emotions | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#1), R&B (#1), and Dance (#11) ; 1977

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Earth, Wind & Fire’s leader, Maurice White, first encountered the three Hutchinson sisters – Wanda, Sheila, and Jeanette – in the early 1960’s when they were singing gospel as the Heavenly Sunbeams.

In the late 60’s, the girls switched to soul music, sister Pamela replaced Jeanette, and the siblings – now called the Emotions – scored a dozen chart singles, including the R&B #3 So I Can Love You.

When their label folded, White brought the Emotions into his production company. On their first outing together, the group landed a double-sided hit on the R&B list; the #13 I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love and the #16 Flowers.

For the trio’s next single, White and EW&F guitarist wrote Best Of My Love. With White producing, various EW&F members playing, and Wanda singing an octave out of her range, Best Of My Love was a flat-out masterpiece. It became a platinum seller and won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a 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
• Clarence McDonald

Lyrics Written by:

• Maurice White
• Al McKay

Awards:

• Won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1977
• Won an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single
• Top 40 Weekly Top Songs of the 70s Chart Position: #11