The Shake Out: The career of Earth, Wind and Fire’s Maurice White

This week on The Shake Out: spotlight on the career of Earth, Wind and Fire leader Maurice White, including his early days as a session drummer for Chess Records in Chicago, including work for the Radiants, Fontella Bass, Minnie Riperton and more. Plus we’ll hear his later production work for the Emotions, Deniece Williams and others. But first, we kick off the show with some great 45s, including Detroiters Joe Murphy, Marvin Gaye, and the Superlatives.

All new, all-vinyl episode of The Shake Out with host Dave Lawson.

The Shake Out Playlist for July 28, 2026

• “Shake” – Shadows of Knight
• “Go On and Have Yourself a Ball” – Mar-Vels
• “So Blue (Without You)” – Joe Murphy
• “Need Your Lovin (Want You Back)” – Marvin Gaye
• “Down Home” – The Jaynells
• “I Smiled Yesterday” – Dionne Warwick
• “Foolin’ ‘Round” – Patsy Cline
• “Ooh Ooh Here Comes the Dragon” – Marvin Holmes and the Uptights
• “Don’t Walk Away” – Superlatives
• “I Can’t Please You” – Jimmy Robbins
• “Shim Sham Shimmy” – Champion Jack Dupree
• “Wade in the Water” – Ramsey Lewis
• “Rescue Me” – Fontella Bass
• “Ain’t No Big Thing” – The Radiants
• “Sitting in the Park” – Billy Stewart
• “La La La” – The Salty Peppers
• “Wear It on Our Face” – The Dells
• “Les Fleurs” – Minnie Riperton
• “On Your Face” – Charles Stepney
• “On Your Face” – Earth Wind and Fire
• “Watching Over” – Deniece Williams
• “Love’s What’s Happenin'” – The Emotions
• “Uhuru” – Ramsey Lewis
• “Happy Feeling” – Earth Wind and Fire