Getaway (Earth, Wind & Fire song)

"Getaway"
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album Spirit
B-side"Getaway (Instrumental)"
ReleasedJuly 7, 1976
Recorded1976
Genre
Length3:47
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bernard "Beloyd" Taylor, Peter Cor Belenky
Producer(s)Maurice White, Charles Stepney
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"Can't Hide Love"
(1976) 		"Getaway"
(1976) 		"Saturday Nite"
(1976)

"Getaway" is a song by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1976 on Columbia Records as the first single from the band's seventh studio album Spirit.[1] The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2][3] "Getaway" also peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Dance Singles charts.[4] A remixed version appears on the soundtrack for Gran Turismo 4.

Overview

"Getaway" was produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney and composed by Beloyd Taylor and Peter Cor Belenky.[1]

An instrumental version of "Getaway" was included as the single's B-side.

Critical reception

Joe McEwen of Rolling Stone said "'Getaway', a current pop smash, is EWF at its best. The theme is in line with urban escapist classics like 'Up on the Roof' and 'World of Fantasy', with pyramid mumbo-jumbo temporarily laid aside. A propulsive funk track laced with dizzying changes makes the song one of the most sophisticated pop hits in recent memory".[5] Record World said that "A tapestry of electronics and syncopated vocals provides an inertia that should send the song skyrocketing to the top."[6] Ed Hogan of AllMusic described "Getaway" as a "fantastically frantic jam". He also noted that "listen to the opening horn blasts which could be termed assaultive if this wasn't such a cut as well as the earth-shaking energy that's released on the track, it's easily one of the band's most sensational sides."[7] Music Week declared that the song "opens proceedings in fine style, with Philip Bailey's falsetto sweetening its funky rhythms".[8]

Chart history

Chart (1976–1977) Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles 29
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 12
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 12
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Samples

References

  1. ^ a b Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway. Columbia Records. 1976.
  2. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway (Hot 100)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  3. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  4. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway (Dance Club Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  5. ^ McEwen, Joe (December 16, 1976). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Spirit". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 3, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  7. ^ Hogan, Ed. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  8. ^ "Product Reissues". Music Week. London. 26 September 2014. p. 53. ProQuest 1693679438.
  9. ^ "American single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Getaway". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire". the-breaks.com.
  11. ^ "10 of the Best Earth, Wind & Fire Samples in Hip Hop Songs". BET. BET. February 5, 2016.