Philip Bailey "Children Of The Ghetto"

[Deleted]

This was the closing track on the Earth, Wind & Fire member's 1985 solo album, that also spawned the hit "Easy Lover".  This wasn't a single but, to me, is the greatest moment of his solo career (and in my opinion all of his work but maybe that's because while I like them I'm not a massive EWF fan).  I love everything about this jam.  There's great jazzy piano bits, electric guitar, a slow burning beat, and great lyrics.  Mary J. Blige does a heart stopping live rendition.  She's wanted to put a studio version on one of her albums, but Philip Bailey always denies her permission.  The only thing I can think of is how she has the ability to put his version to shame because she puts even more feeling into his (well he didn't write it) words.

[620 Soul Train]

I was just thinking about the title of the song last week! I saw him perfrom this on Soul Train in 1985. Then in 1986 some other British cat recorded this song, and I remember my sister always singing the chorus line. I think someone actually performed this on Britain's short-lived TV series Solid Soul. Now that you mentioned that it was not a single has now been confirmed, I thought for sure that it may be at the time. The great news was that they were released as "B" sides on two different singles from the same album Chinese Wall, "Phonogentic Menory" (#61 R&B) & "Walking On The Chinese Wall" (#56 R&B), both produced by Phil Collins.

[Deleted]

joshjoel said:

I was just thinking about the title of the song last week! I saw him perfrom this on Soul Train in 1985. Then in 1986 some other British cat recorded this song, and I remember my sister always singing the chorus line. I think someone actually performed this on Britain's short-lived TV series Solid Soul. Now that you mentioned that it was not a single has now been confirmed, I thought for sure that it may be at the time.

I was thinking maybe it was a single but I've never been able to find any evidence of it charting or a vinyl release. If someone else can, that would be great.

[620 Soul Train]

The said:

I was thinking maybe it was a single but I've never been able to find any evidence of it charting or a vinyl release.  If someone else can, that would be great.

I checked on the used record store website "Musicstack" and there it is evident that he did release this as a single but not in the US, in the UK instead. Then British jazz singer Courtney Pine has a song of the same name released during that saem era.

[areyoureadytojump]

[Dreams]

This is fabulous and one of my favorites from his solo work. The production and orchestration is so meticulous and just immense.

[Deleted]

My favorite solo song by him. I LOVE it!