guaranteed success. John Rockwell of The New York Times declared that "What is most interesting about Maurice White and his musicians..is their refusal to be locked into any stylistic format Mr. White's record will be labeled 'disco' in some quarters, and indeed parts of if, would not sound out of place in a disco. But, generally, Earth, Wind and Fire is closer to jazz, or to jazz‐rock, than to the thumping formulas of disco. And yet the group isn't afraid to slip in a ballad, either." Variety also described the album as "Another solid rhythm and blues session with one of the slickest acts of the genre, Earth, Wind & Fire, which always keeps it together. "A couple of instrumentals break up a lot of smooth, polished vocal instrumental trips." Isaac Hayes called Spirit one of Earth, Wind & Fire's five essential recordings. Rick Atkinson of The Record placed Spirit at number 5 on his list of the top 15 albums of 1976. Spirit was also nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album. A song from the album called Earth, Wind and Fire was also Grammy nominated in the category of Best Instrumental Composition. Track listing Original release 2001 Legacy reissue (CK 65739) Personnel Vocals - Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White Piano, Keyboards - Larry Dunn, Jerry Peters Organ - Larry Dunn Moog synthesizer - Larry Dunn Guitar - Al McKay, Johnny Graham Bass - Verdine White Congas - Philip Bailey Kalimba - Maurice White Timbales - Maurice White Drums - Fred White, Ralph Johnson, Maurice White Percussion - Fred White, Ralph Johnson, Al McKay, Andrew Woolfolk, Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Harvey Mason Saxophone - Don Myrick, Andrew Woolfolk Trombone - George Bohanon, Louis Satterfield, Charles Loper Bass Trombone - Lew McCreary Trumpet - Oscar Brashear, Charles Findley, Michael Harris, Steve Madaio French horn - David Duke, Arthur Maebe, Sidney Muldrow, Marilyn Robinson Tuba - Tommy Johnson Concertmaster - Charles Veal Harp - Dorothy Ashby Cello - Ronald Cooper, Marie Fera, Dennis Karmazyn, Harry Shlutz Viola - Marilyn Baker, David Campbell, Denyse Buffum, Rollice Dale, James Dunham, Paul Polivnick, Lynn Subotnick, Barbara Thomason Violin - Asa Drori, Winterton Garvey, Harris Goldman, Carl LaMagna, Joy Lyle, Sandy Seemore, Haim Shtrum, Ken Yerke Production Producers - Maurice White (Original recording), Charles Stepney (Original recording), Leo Sacks (Reissue) Arrangers - Jerry Peters (8-9), Charles Stepney (1-3, 5-7), Tom Tom