The year was 1978; a mere 72 months before I would grace this home we call Earth with my presence. That didn’t stop me from learning to appreciate the value and importance of one of the premier genre-bridging acts music has ever seen.

Of course I’m talking about the elementally themed Earth, Wind & Fire, the Chicago soul, funk, gospel, jazz, pop, you name it act and composers of the perennial wedding favorite “September.” But they have a stockpile of cherished classics including today’s throwback, “Fantasy.”

Inspired by the sci-fi thriller Close Encounters of the Third Kind, this R&B cut off of the band’s eighth album All ‘N All comes strong with a smooth groove and fascinating harmonies [that Philip Bailey falsetto gives me chills].

And like many greats before and after, this has received the chop shop treatment; sampled by the likes of legendary hip-hop acts Nas, Puff Daddy, and on Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 2 heater “As One.”

So join me and take a ride in the sky, on their ship fantasii: