That's the Way of the World

That's the Way of the World
Soundtrack album / Studio album by
Earth, Wind & Fire
ReleasedMarch 3, 1975
RecordedSeptember 16 – October 2, 1974
StudiosCaribou Ranch (Nederland, Colorado); Sunset Sound (Los Angeles); Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood); The Burbank Studios (Burbank, California)
Genres
Length38:23
LabelColumbia
ProducersMaurice White, Charles Stepney
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
Another Time
(1974)		 That's the Way of the World
(1975)		 Gratitude
(1975)
Singles from That's the Way of the World
  1. "Shining Star"
    Released: January 21, 1975
  2. "That's the Way of the World"
    Released: June 17, 1975

That's the Way of the World is the sixth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on March 3, 1975, by Columbia Records. This was also the soundtrack for a 1975 motion picture of the same name.[4][5] The album rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts.[6][7] That's the Way of the World has also been certified Triple Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA.[8]

Overview

That's the Way of the World was produced by both EWF leader Maurice White and Charles Stepney.[5][4] The album spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart.[6] That's the Way of the World also stayed on top of the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart for five weeks altogether.[7]

That's the Way of the World was reissued in 1999 with a new song called "Caribou Chaser (Jazzy Jam)". As well as four bonus demos and three live tracks. A live version of the album, recorded in 1975 and entitled That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75, was released in 2002.[9][10] The album took nine months to record and mix.[11]

Singles

The single "Shining Star" reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts. "Shining Star" went on to win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards.[12][13][14] The album's title track reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 12 on the Hot 100 chart.[15][16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStarStarHalf star[17]
Variety(favorable)[18]
Village Voice(B+)[19]
Boston Globe(favourable)[20]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[21]
Vibe(favorable)[22]
LA Weekly(favourable)[23]
Stereo Review(favorable)[24]
Chicago Tribune(favourable)[25]
BBC(favourable)[26]

Stephen Curwood of the Boston Globe said "these guys are great and this is a sound you shouldn't miss".[20] Variety exclaimed "Earth, Wind & Fire turn their multi-voiced big soul sound loose on eight solid numbers".[18] Daryl Easlea of the BBC wrote "Seen as a meditation on the rules of living, the album is nothing less than a spiritual soul masterpiece." He added "leader Maurice White synthesised all the elements of the group so far – straight-up funk, African mysticism, jazz and sublime balladry, and made a brief, focused album."[26] Chris Albertson of Stereo Review described the band's performance as a "disco delight" and the recording itself as "excellent".[24] Alex Henderson of Allmusic noted That's the Way of the World is "EWF's crowning achievement".[17] Gordon Fletcher of Rolling Stone said "Lousy production works to this LP's detriment — Maurice White has surprisingly chosen to have the entire album sound hot." Fletcher added "Great tunes (particularly the dynamic "Africano") and great musicianship are not what this one lacks — hopefully the next time out White will be able to tone things down accordingly in the places where a little under-statement is appropriate."[21] LA Weekly called the LP "Serious romantic music to wear silk bellbottom slacks to."[23] Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune wrote "Their new album That's the Way of the World [Columbia], exploits the moods, if not the explosive instrumental power, that made their last platter 'Open Our Eyes,' a smash hit."[25] Robert Christgau of the Village Voice found that "Here ethnomusicology and colloquial homiletics are tacked onto the funk and soul and doowop and jazz, which makes for an instructive contrast -the taped-in-Africa Matepe Ensemble, whose spontaneous laughter closes out the coda, versus Maurice White, whose humorless platitutdes prove there's more to roots than turning a mbira into an ersatz vibraphone."[19] Vibe also proclaimed "That's the Way of the World coursed effortlessly through a myriad of genres, from rock to jazz to funk to heavy African influences".[22]

That's the Way of the World was nominated in 1976 and 1977 for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album. EWF also won a Rock Music Award for That's the Way of the World in the category of Best Rhythm and Blues Album.[27][28]

In 2004, That's the Way of the World was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2012, Rolling Stone placed the album at 486 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, calling it "make-out music of the gods".[29] For the 2020 update of the list, the album's rank climbed to number 420.[30]

Track listing

Original issue

Source:[4]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shining Star"Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White2:50
2."That's the Way of the World"Charles Stepney, Verdine White, M. White5:45
3."Happy Feelin'"Al McKay, V. White, P. Bailey, L. Dunn, M. White3:35
4."All About Love"L. Dunn, M. White6:35
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Yearnin' Learnin'"P. Bailey, C. Stepney, M. White3:39
6."Reasons"P. Bailey, C. Stepney, M. White4:59
7."Africano"L. Dunn, M. White5:09
8."See the Light"Louise Anglin, P. Bailey, L. Dunn6:18
1999 Legacy reissue[10]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shining Star"P. Bailey, L. Dunn, M. White, V. White, S. Burke2:50
2."That's the Way of the World"C. Stepney, V. White, M. White5:45
3."Happy Feelin'"A. McKay, V. White, P. Bailey, L. Dunn, M. White3:35
4."All About Love"L. Dunn, M. White6:35
5."Yearnin' Learnin'"P. Bailey, C. Stepney, M. White3:39
6."Reasons"P. Bailey, C. Stepney, M. White4:59
7."Africano"L. Dunn, M. White5:09
8."See the Light"L. Anglin, P. Bailey, L. Dunn6:18
9."Shining Star (Future Star) [Original Sketches]"L. Dunn, M. White, P. Bailey1:05
10."All About Love (First Impression) [Original Sketches]"L. Dunn, M. White3:12
11."Happy Feelin' (Anatomy of a Groove) [Original Sketches]"P. Bailey, L. Dunn, A. McKay, M. White, V. White3:31
12."Caribou Chaser (Jazzy Jam) [Original Sketches]"L. Dunn, M. White1:39
13."That's the Way of the World (Latin Expedition) [Original Sketches]"C. Stepney, M. White, V. White1:41
That's the Way of the World Live
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shining Star" (Live 1975)P. Bailey, L. Dunn, M. White4:56
2."That's the Way of the World" (Live in Houston, Texas - 1982)C. Stepney, V. White, M. White7:37
3."Happy Feelin'" (Live at the Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - May 1975)A. McKay, V. White, P. Bailey, L. Dunn, M. White5:37

Personnel

Production

  • Producer – Maurice White (Original), Leo Sacks (Reissue)
  • Co-producer – Charles Stepney (Original)
  • Recording Engineer – George Massenburg (1–8), Curt Wittig (8)
  • Mixing – George Massenburg (1–8), Maurice White (9–13), Paul Klingberg (9–13), Leo Sacks (9–13)
  • Mixed at Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, California).
  • Mastered at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, California).
  • Art Direction – Howard Fritzen
  • Design – Stephen Newman and Shusei Nagaoka
  • Photography – Norman Seeff
  • Musical Arrangements – Earth, Wind & Fire and Charles Stepney[4][10]

Charts and certifications

Charts

Album
Chart (1975) Peak
position
US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard) 1
US Top Soul LPs (Billboard)
Canada RPM Top Albums 15[31]

Year-end charts

Chart (1975) Peak
position
US Top Soul LPs (Billboard) 1
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1975 "Shining Star" Billboard Hot Soul Singles 1
Billboard Hot 100 1
"That's the Way of the World" Billboard Hot Soul Singles 5
Billboard Hot 100 12

Certifications

Country Award
US (RIAA) Triple Platinum[8]

Accolades

Publication Accolade Year Rank
Pause & Play Albums Inducted into a Time Capsule, One Album per Week 2008 *
Robert Dimery 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[32] 2005 *
Rolling Stone The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 2012 486
2020 420
The Recording Academy Grammy Hall of Fame[33] 2004 *
Vibe Magazine 51 Albums Representing a Generation, a Sound and a Movement 2004 *
Rickey Vincent Five Star Albums from Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One[34] 1996 *
National Association of Recording Merchandisers and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Definitive 200[35] 2007 187
Soultracks The Greatest Soul Albums of the 1970s[36] 2009 1
(*) designates lists that are unordered.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Strong, Martin Charles; Griffin, Brendon (2008). Lights, Camera, Soundtracks. Canongate. p. 365. ISBN 9781847670038.
  2. ↑ Breihan, Tom (July 15, 2019). "The Number Ones: Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 23, 2023. That's The Way Of The World is a rich and varied pop album.
  3. ↑ Coleman, Mark; Soults, Franklin (2004). "Earth, Wind & Fire". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 269–270. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Earth, Wind & Fire (1975). That's The Way Of The World (album). Columbia Records.
  5. 1 2 Flans, Robyn (December 1, 2004). "Classic Tracks: Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star"". Mix. Archived from the original on November 10, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  7. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World (Top Soul Albums)". Billboard.
  8. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World". Recording Industry Association of America. Recording Industry Association of America.
  9. ↑ Earth, Wind & Fire (2002). That's The Way Of The World: Alive in '75 (album). Columbia Records.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Earth, Wind & Fire (1999). That's The Way Of The World (Reissue) (album). Legacy/Columbia Records.
  11. ↑ Grein, Paul (February 16, 1980). "'Slick' Maurice White Says Perfection Goal Won't Change" (PDF). Billboard: 14.
  12. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  13. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  14. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire". Recording Academy Grammy Awards. May 19, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  16. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. 1 2 Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World". AllMusic.
  18. 1 2 "Music Records: EW&F, Heyward-Lodge, Byrd, Argent, West, Moon, Kershaw, Newberry, Toussaint Top LPs". Variety. Vol. 178, no. 6. March 19, 1975. p. 64. ProQuest 1285987120.
  19. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World". The Village Voice.
  20. 1 2 Curwood, Stephen (July 18, 1975). "Records: Nelson, Earth etc., Bee Gees". Boston Globe. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. 1 2 Fletcher, Gordon (July 3, 1975). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World". Rolling Stone.
  22. 1 2 Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World. Vol. 12. Vibe Magazine. September 2004. p. 205.
  23. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World". LA Weekly. August 16, 1984. p. 51 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. 1 2 Albertson, Chris (September 1975). Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World (PDF). Vol. 35. Stereo Review. p. 93 – via americanradiohistory.com.
  25. 1 2 Page, Clarence (March 23, 1975). "6". Soul that's wet, self contained and in boot camp. Chicago Tribune. p. 16.
  26. 1 2 Easlea, Daryl (2010). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World Review". BBC. BBC.
  27. ↑ "earthwindandfire.com". Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  28. ↑ Rockwell, John (August 11, 1975). "Elton John and Dylan get rock prizes". The New York Times.
  29. ↑ Wenner, Jann S., ed. (2012). Rolling Stone – Special Collectors Issue – The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. USA: Wenner Media Specials. ISBN 978-7-09-893419-6
  30. ↑ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Results: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  32. ↑ Dimery, Robert, ed. (2005). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 353. OL 27874280M.
  33. ↑ "Grammy Hall of Fame Award". Grammy Awards. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  34. ↑ Vincent, Rickey (1996). Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of the One (First St. Martin's Griffin ed.). New York: St. Martin's Griffin. p. sec. Essential Funk Recordings. ISBN 0312134991.
  35. ↑ "Definitive 200". rockhall.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  36. ↑ "The 50 Best Soul Albums of the 1970s". soultracks.com. March 8, 2009.
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