The song, ‘Fantasy’, was originally recorded by Earth Wind And Fire in 1977

Maurice White (1941-2016), Verdine White (b.1951) and Eddie del Barrio (b.1937) of American group Earth Wind And Fire wrote the song “Fantasy” for their eighth studio album “All ‘n All” in 1977. The track was released as the second single in January 1978 and made No.14 in the UK and No.32 in their home country. It was also a top 40 charting song in Australia, Canada and across Europe, and is said to have been inspired when Maurice saw the film ‘Close Encounters Of The Third Kind’.

Italian producers Daniele Davoli and Valerio Semplici aka Black Box recorded the song for their 1990 debut album “Dreamland”. As we now know, what you see is not always what you get and the vocals on this track were laid down by Weather Girl Martha Wash, although ‘fronted’ on promos as ever by Katrin Quinol. The track was the fourth single from the “Ride On Time” hitmakers, released in October 1990 and this time it went to No.5 in the UK and No.3 in Australia, and was a top twenty hit across mainland Europe.

But which version is the best? EARTH WIND AND FIRE’s original or BLACK BOX’s cover?

Take a look at some of the other posts in this series and don’t forget to follow the playlist.