That's the Way of the World

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This article is about the studio album. For the title track from the album, see That's the Way of the World (Earth, Wind & Fire song). For the live album, see That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75. For other uses, see That's the Way of the World (disambiguation).
That's the Way of the World
Soundtrack album / Studio album by
Earth, Wind & Fire
ReleasedMarch 3, 1975
RecordedSeptember 16 – October 2, 1974
StudioCaribou Ranch (Nederland, CO); Sunset Sound (Los Angeles, CA); Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, CA); The Burbank Studios (Burbank, CA)
Genre
Length38:23
LabelColumbia
Legacy (1999 reissue)
ProducerMaurice 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.[4] It was also the soundtrack for a 1975 motion picture of the same name.[5][6] The album rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts.[7][8] That's the Way of the World has also been certified Triple Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA.[4] In 2002, the band released live version of the album, recorded in 1975 – That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75.

Overview[edit]

That's the Way of the World was produced by both EWF leader Maurice White and Charles Stepney.[6][5] The album spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart.[7] That's the Way of the World also stayed on top of the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart for five weeks altogether.[8]

Singles[edit]

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.[9][10][11] The album's title track reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 12 on the Hot 100 chart.[12][13]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[14]
Variety(favorable)[15]
Village Voice(B+)[16]
Boston Globe(favourable)[17]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[18]
Vibe(favorable)[19]
LA Weekly(favourable)[20]
Stereo Review(favorable)[21]
Chicago Tribune(favourable)[22]
BBC(favourable)[23]

Stephen Curwood of the Boston Globe said "these guys are great and this is a sound you shouldn't miss".[17] Variety exclaimed "Earth, Wind & Fire turn their multi-voiced big soul sound loose on eight solid numbers".[15] 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."[23] Chris Albertson of Stereo Review described the band's performance as a "disco delight" and the recording itself as "excellent".[21] Alex Henderson of Allmusic noted That's the Way of the World is "EWF's crowning achievement".[14] 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."[18] LA Weekly called the LP "Serious romantic music to wear silk bellbottom slacks to."[20] 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."[22] 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."[16] 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".[19]

That's the Way of the World was nominated in 1975 and 1976 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.[24][25]

During 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".[26] For the 2020 update of the list, the album's rank climbed to number 420.[27]

Track listing[edit]

Original issue[28][edit]

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 (CK 65920)[14][29]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shining Star"Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White, Verdine White, Sonny Burke2:50
2."That's the Way of the World"Charles Stepney, V. 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
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
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)Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White4:56
2."That's the Way of the World" (Live in Houston, TX - 1982)Charles Stepney, Verdine White, M. White7:37
3."Happy Feelin'" (Live at the Civic Arena, Pittsburghg, PA- May 1975)Al McKay, V. White, P. Bailey, L. Dunn, M. White5:37

Personnel[edit]

Production[edit]

  • 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, CA).
  • Mastered at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA).
  • Art Direction – Howard Fritzen
  • Design – Stephen Newman and Shusei Nagaoka
  • Photography – Norman Seeff
  • Musical Arrangements – Earth, Wind & Fire and Charles Stepney[28][29]

Charts and certifications[edit]

Charts[edit]

Album
Chart (1975) Peak
position
US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard) 1
US Top Soul LPs (Billboard)
Canada RPM Top Albums 15[30]

Year-end charts[edit]

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[edit]

Country Award
US (RIAA) Triple Platinum[4]

Accolades[edit]

Publication Accolade Year Rank
Pause & Play Albums Inducted into a Time Capsule, One Album per Week[citation needed] 2008 *
Robert Dimery 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[citation needed] 2005 *
Rolling Stone The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time[citation needed] 2012 486
2020 420
The Recording Academy Grammy Hall of Fame[citation needed] 2004 *
Vibe Magazine 51 Albums representing a Generation, a Sound and a Movement[citation needed] 2004 *
Rickey Vincent Five Star Albums from "FUNK: The MUSIC, the PEOPLE, and the RHYTHM[citation needed] *
National Association of Recording Merchandisers and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Definitive 200[31] 2007 187
Soultracks.com The Greatest Soul albums of the 1970s[32] 2009 1
(*) designates lists that are unordered.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b c "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World". riaa.com. RIAA.
  5. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World". 45worlds.
  6. ^ a b Flans, Robyn (December 1, 2004). "Classic Tracks: Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star"". mixonline.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World (Billboard 200)". billboard.com.
  8. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com.
  9. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Shining Star (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire". Recording Academy Grammy Awards.
  12. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. ^ a b c Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  15. ^ a b "Music Records: EW&F, Heyward-Lodge, Byrd, Argent, West, Moon, Kershaw, Newberry, Toussaint Top LPs". Variety. Vol. 178, no. 6. 19 March 1975. p. 64. ProQuest 1285987120.
  16. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
  17. ^ a b Curwood, Stephen (July 18, 1975). "Records: Nelson, Earth etc., Bee Gees". newspapers.com. Boston Globe. p. 11.
  18. ^ a b Fletcher, Gordon (July 3, 1975). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
  19. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's The Way Of The World". Vol. 12, no. 9. Vibe Magazine. September 2004. p. 205. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  20. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World". newspapers.com. LA Weekly. August 16, 1984. p. 51.
  21. ^ a b Albertson, Chris (September 1975). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 35, no. 3. Stereo Review. p. 93.
  22. ^ a b Page, Clarence (March 23, 1975). "6". Soul that's wet, self contained and in boot camp. Chicago Tribune. p. 16.
  23. ^ a b Easlea, Daryl (2010). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World Review". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
  24. ^ "earthwindandfire.com/bio_awards". Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  25. ^ Rockwell, John (August 11, 1975). "Elton John and Dylan get rock prizes". The New York Times.
  26. ^ 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
  27. ^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rollingstone.com. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  28. ^ a b c Earth, Wind & Fire. “That’s the Way of the World”. Columbia. 1975.
  29. ^ a b c Earth, Wind & Fire: "That’s the Way of the World" (Remastered). Columbia / Legacy. 1999.
  30. ^ "Results: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  31. ^ "Definitive 200". rockhall.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-20.
  32. ^ "The 50 Best Soul Albums of the 1970s". soultracks.com. 8 March 2009.

External links[edit]

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