ðə bˈændz lˈɔŋ tˈaɪm kəlˈæboːɹˌeɪɾɚ tʃˈɑːɹlz stˈɛpni dˈaɪd ɪnðə mˈɪdst ʌv ɪts ɹᵻkˈoːɹdɪŋ sˈɛʃənz, mˈɔːɹɪs wˈaɪt wɛnt ˌɔn tə mˈoʊstli ɚɹˈeɪndʒ ænd pɹədˈuːs ðɪ ˈælbəm.
The band's long time collaborator Charles Stepney died in the midst of its recording sessions, Maurice White went on to mostly arrange and produce the album.