Earth, Wind, & Fire is an excellent funk band that encompasses a little bit of soul. This album is primarily a live performance (taken from various concerts during the 1974-1975 American tour), but they also tacked on a number of high-quality studio recordings. The live stuff is surely enjoyable due to the great performances of songs such as "Devotion", "Sun Goddess", and "Reasons". Everything is quite clear and intelligible considering the larger venues where this was probably recorded. So I have no problem just sitting back and enjoying the enveloping surround mix. Music is up front, of course, and ambient noise, such as musical reflections and audience chatter, are in the back. As for the studio tracks? They have been mixed into 5.1 surround sound, too. And they're fairly discrete, yet tastefully done. Overall, a very enjoyable disc.
Note: "Gratitude" is one of the earlier non-hybrid SACDs. So there is no regular CD compatibility.
