In the Stone

"In the Stone" is a song by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire issued as a single in 1979 on Columbia Records. The song rose to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.

Overview
"In the Stone" was produced by Maurice White, who composed the song with Allee Willis and David Foster. The single also came off Earth, Wind & Fire's 1979 album I Am.

Critical reception
Phyl Garland of Stereo Review wrote "In the Stone is less imaginative than many of Earth, Wind & Fire's previous efforts, but performing gusto compensates for the slim substance." Ace Adams of the New York Daily News called "In the Stone" one of the album's "best songs." Cash Box said it was "an irresistable dancing cut" that "moves to a swinging mixture of catchy percussives and intricately woven harmonies." James Johnson of the Evening Standard proclaimed "the slightly curious cosmic overtones of their lyrics remain in evidence on..In the Stone".

Personnel

 * Writing, lyrics – Allee Willis, David Foster, Maurice White
 * Producer – Maurice White

Production


 * Horn arrangement – Jerry Hey
 * String arrangement – David Foster
 * Programmer – Steve Porcaro

Engineers


 * Engineer – George Massenburg, Tom Perry
 * Mixing engineer – George Massenburg
 * Assistant engineer – Craig Widby, Ross Pallone

Performers


 * Saxophone – Fred Jackson Jr., Herman Riley, Jerome Richardson
 * Alto saxophone, baritone saxophone – Don Myrick
 * Tenor saxophone – Andrew Woolfolk, Don Myrick
 * Bass – Meyer Rubin, Susan Ranney, Verdine White
 * Drums – Fred White, Maurice White
 * Guitar – Al McKay, Johnny Graham, Marlo Henderson, Steve Lukather
 * Congas – Philip Bailey
 * Keyboards – Bill Myers, David Foster, Eddie Del Barrio
 * Percussion – Maurice White, Paulinho Da Costa, Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson
 * Piano, synthesizer – Larry Dunn
 * Timpani – Richard Lepore
 * French horn - Barbara Korn, Marilyn Robinson, Richard Perissi, Sidney Muldrow
 * Trombone – Benjamin Powell, Garnett Brown, George Bohanon, Louis Satterfield, Maurice Spears, William Reichenbach
 * Trumpet - Bobby Bryant, Elmer Brown Jr., Jerry Hey, Michael Harris, Oscar Brashear, Rahmlee Michael Davis, Steve Madaio
 * Viola - Barbara Thomason, Linda Lipsett, Norman Forrest, Renita Koven
 * Violin - Barry Socher, Betty Lamagna, Carl LaMagna, David Stockhammer, Haim Shtrum, Harris Goldman, Jack Gootkin, Lya Stern, Marcia Van Dyke, Mary D. Lundquist, Ronald Clark, Ruth Henry, Sheldon Sanov
 * Cello – Daniel Smith, Jan Kelley, Ronald Cooper, Concert Master, Janice Gower
 * Harp – Dorothy Jeanne Ashby
 * Vocal - Maurice White, Philip Bailey
 * Background Vocal – Maurice White, Philip Bailey