"Getaway" is a single by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire released in 1976 on Columbia Records.[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 also appears on the soundtrack for Gran Turismo 4.
| "Getaway" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Earth, Wind & Fire | ||||
| from the album Spirit | ||||
| B-side | "Getaway (Instrumental)" | |||
| Released | 1976 | |||
| Recorded | 1976 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul, funk, disco | |||
| Length | 3:47 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bernard "Beloyd" Taylor and Peter Cor Belenky | |||
| Producer(s) | Maurice White, Charles Stepney | |||
| Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Overview edit
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 the single's b-side. Getaway also came upon EWF's 1976 studio album Spirit.[1]
Critical reception edit
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 edit
| 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 edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[9] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Samples edit
- Getaway was sampled by Poor Righteous Teachers on the song "Strictly Ghetto".
- The song was also sampled by Papoose and Sheek Louch Featuring Busta Rhymes, Raekwon and Young Chris on the song Power Cypher.[10][11]
- It was also sampled on the Boards of Canada album Music Has the Right to Children, on the track Sixtyten.
Cover Versions edit
- 1977: The Salsoul Orchestra released an instrumental cover
- 1999: The Getaway People was released in Muppets From Space when the Muppets free Gonzo and try to escape from the cops. It’s also released in the soundtrack
References edit
- ^ a b c Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway. Columbia Records. 1976.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway (Hot 100)". billboard.com. Billboard.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway (Dance Club Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
- ^ McEwen, Joe (December 16, 1976). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Spirit". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 3, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ Hogan, Ed. "Earth, Wind & Fire: Getaway". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
- ^ "Product Reissues". Music Week. London. 26 September 2014. p. 53. ProQuest 1693679438.
- ^ "American single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Getaway". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire". the-breaks.com.
- ^ "10 of the Best Earth, Wind & Fire Samples in Hip Hop Songs". bet.com. BET. February 5, 2016.