Editing Earth, Wind & Fire (section)

==== Hiatus ====
Maurice thereafter decided the band needed a break, so he put EWF on hiatus in 1984.

During the hiatus, Maurice produced [[Barbra Streisand]]'s 1984 album ''[[Emotion (Barbra Streisand album)|Emotion]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Barbra Streisand: Emotion|date=1984|publisher=[[Columbia Records]]}}</ref> He produced Ramsey Lewis on his 1985 album ''[[Fantasy (Ramsey Lewis album)|Fantasy]]''. The album reached No. 13 on the ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' [[Jazz]] Albums chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Audio/Archive-Stereo-Review-IDX/IDX/80s/HiFi-Stereo-Review-1986-01-OCR-Page-0090.pdf#search=%22ramsey%20lewis%22|title=Album Reviews|page=88|issue=1|volume=51|date=January 1986 |magazine=[[Stereo Review]]|via=americanradiohistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox49unse_27/page/20|title=Top Jazz Albums|page=21|issue=27|volume=49|date=December 28, 1985|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|via=archive.org}}</ref> White released [[Maurice White (album)|a self-titled solo album]] in 1985 on Columbia. The album rose to number 12 on the ''Billboard'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top R&B Albums]] chart. A cover of [[Ben E. King]]'s "[[Stand by Me (Ben E. King song)|Stand by Me]]" got to No. 6 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B Singles]] chart and No. 11 on the ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary Songs]] chart.<ref>{{cite book|title= Maurice White (album)|year=1985|publisher=Columbia Records}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/maurice-white/chart-history/blp/|title=Maurice White (album): Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/maurice-white/chart-history/bsi/|title=Maurice White: Stand By Me (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/maurice-white/chart-history/asi/|title=Maurice White: Stand By Me (Adult Contemporary Songs)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> Another single, "[[I Need You (Maurice White song)|I Need You]]", rose to No. 20 on the ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary Songs]] chart and No. 30 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B Singles]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/maurice-white/chart-history/asi/|title= Maurice White: I Need You (Adult Contemporary Songs)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/maurice-white/chart-history/bsi/|title= Maurice White: I Need You (Hot R&B Songs)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> White co-produced [[Pieces of a Dream (band)|Pieces of a Dream]]'s 1986 LP ''[[Joyride (Pieces of a Dream album)|Joyride]]''. The album reached No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' [[Billboard charts#Albums|Traditional Jazz Albums]] chart and No. 18 on the ''Billboard'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top Soul Albums]] chart.<ref>{{cite book|title=Pieces of a Dream: Joyride|year=1986|publisher=[[Manhattan Records]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/pieces-of-a-dream/chart-history/jlp/|title=Pieces of a Dream: Joyride (Traditional Jazz Albums) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/pieces-of-a-dream/chart-history/blp/|title=Pieces of a Dream: Joyride (Top Soul Albums) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> He then produced [[Neil Diamond]] on his 1986 album ''[[Headed for the Future]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/20/arts/coming-home-to-perform-neil-diamond-takes-stock-of-life-at-the-top.html|title=Neil Diamond: At The Top|date=July 20, 1986|last1=Holden|first1=Stephen|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Neil+Diamond+&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=1986-01-01&to=1986-12-31&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=Neil Diamond: Headed for the Future|publisher=[[RIAA]]}}</ref> White later made a guest appearance on guitarist [[Lee Ritenour]]'s 1986 Grammy-nominated album ''[[Earth Run]]'' and produced Ramsey Lewis on his 1987 album ''[[Keys to the City (Ramsey Lewis album)|Keys to the City]]''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Lee Ritenour: Earth Run |date=April 1986 |publisher=[[GRP Records]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ramsey-lewis/chart-history/jcr/|title=Ramsey Lewis: Keys To The City (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Ramsey Lewis: Keys To The City|year=1987|publisher=[[Columbia Records]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/lee-ritenour/5631|title=Lee Ritenour|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences}}</ref>

Philip Bailey issued his second solo album, [[Chinese Wall (album)|''Chinese Wall'']], in 1984 on Columbia. What's more in 1984 his debut gospel album, the [[Grammy]] nominated ''[[The Wonders of His Love]]'' was released''.'' Bailey then made a guest appearance on [[Kenny Loggins]]' 1985 album ''[[Vox Humana (Kenny Loggins album)|Vox Humana]]''.<ref name="PB">{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/philip-bailey/1151|title=Philip Bailey|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|date=November 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Kenny Loggins: Vox Humana|year=1985|publisher=Columbia Records}}</ref> In 1986 Bailey released his third studio album entitled [[Inside Out (Philip Bailey album)|''Inside Out'']] along with his second Gospel LP, the Grammy winning ''[[Triumph (Philip Bailey album)|Triumph]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Philip Bailey: Inside Out|date=September 1986|publisher=[[Word Records]]}}</ref> Bailey later appeared on [[Stevie Wonder]]'s 1986 album ''[[In Square Circle]]'' and [[Ray Parker Jr.]]'s 1987 LP [[After Dark (Ray Parker Jr. album)|''After Dark'']].<ref name="PB" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Ray Parker Jr.: After Dark|date=August 25, 1987|publisher=[[Geffen Records]]}}</ref>

Ralph Johnson produced [[The Temptations]] on their 1984 album ''[[Truly for You]]''. Verdine White also promoted go-go bands such as [[Trouble Funk]] and [[Experience Unlimited|E.U.]] during this timespan<ref name="Nathan-1993" /> A compilation album dubbed ''[[The Collection (Earth, Wind & Fire album)|The Collection]]'' was released in 1986. The Collection peaked at No. 5 on the UK Pop album charts and was certified Gold by the [[British Phonographic Industry]].<ref name="OC" /><ref name="BPI">{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/6847-2049-2|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: The Collection|work=[[British Phonographic Industry]]}}</ref>