track listing credits maurice white -- vocals , kalimba , timbales , drums , producer , compilation producer verdine white -- vocals , bass , percussion philip bailey -- vocals , congas , percussion larry dunn -- piano , organ , synthesizer , programming ken yerke -- violin harris goldman -- violin rollice dale -- viola dennis karmazyn -- cello harry schultz -- cello fred jackson , jr . -- saxophone herman riley -- saxophone jerome richardson -- saxophone tommy johnson -- tuba harvey mason -- percussion paulinho da costa -- percussion beloyd taylor -- background vocals joe wissert -- producer charles stepney -- producer al mckay -- producer leo sacks -- compilation producer accolades the following accolades attributed to the essential earth , wind & fire is adapted from blender.com .