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That's the Way of the World

 
Album Review: That's the Way of the World
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That's the Way of the World

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  • Artist: Earth, Wind & Fire
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1975 03
  • Total Time: 38:23
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Earth, Wind & Fire has delivered more than its share of excellent albums, but if a person could own only one EWF release, the logical choice would be That's the Way of the World, which was the band's best album as well as its best-selling. Open Our Eyes had been a major hit and sold over half a million units, but it was World that established EWF as major-league, multi-platinum superstars. Fueled by gems ranging from the sweaty funk of "Shining Star" and "Yearnin' Learnin'" to the gorgeous ballad "Reasons" and the unforgettable title song, EWF's sixth album sold at least five million units. And some of the tracks that weren't major hits, such as the exuberant "Happy Feelin'" and the gospel-influenced "See the Light," are equally powerful. There are no dull moments on World, one of the strongest albums of the 1970s and EWF's crowning achievement. [The 1999 CD reissue has five previously unreleased "sketches" from late 1974, including much briefer instrumental run-throughs of "Shining Star" and "That's the Way of the World," the first take alternate vocal of "All About Love," an alternate of "Happy Feelin'," and the jazz-oriented jam "Caribou Chaser" (the only one of the five not to be represented in a different version on the proper album).] ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Shining Star (Lyrics) Philip Bailey, Maurice White, Larry Dunn Earth, Wind & Fire (2:50)
That's the Way of the World (Lyrics) Maurice White, Charles Stepney, Verdine White Earth, Wind & Fire (5:45)
Happy Feelin' (Lyrics) Philip Bailey, Maurice White, Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Verdine White Earth, Wind & Fire (3:35)
All About Love (Lyrics) Maurice White, Larry Dunn Earth, Wind & Fire (6:35)
Yearnin', Learnin' (Lyrics) Philip Bailey, Maurice White, Charles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (3:39)
Reasons (Lyrics) Philip Bailey, Maurice White, Charles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (4:59)
Africano Maurice White, Larry Dunn Earth, Wind & Fire (5:09)
See the Light (Lyrics) Philip Bailey, Louise Anglin, Larry Dunn Earth, Wind & Fire (6:18)
Shining Star (Future Star) [Original Sketches] Philip Bailey, Maurice White, Larry Dunn Earth, Wind & Fire (1:05)
All About Love (First Impression) [Original Sketches] Maurice White, Larry Dunn Earth, Wind & Fire (3:12)
Happy Feelin' (Anatomy of a Groove) [Original Sketches] Philip Bailey, Maurice White, Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Verdine White Earth, Wind & Fire (3:31)
Caribou Chaser (Jazzy Jam) [Original Sketches] Maurice White, Larry Dunn Earth, Wind & Fire (1:39)
That's the Way of the World (Latin Expedition) [Original Sketches] Maurice White, Charles Stepney, Verdine White Earth, Wind & Fire (1:41)

Credits

Earth, Wind & Fire (Main Performer), Maurice White (Drums), Maurice White (Vocals), Maurice White (Producer), Maurice White (Mixing), Maurice White (Original Recording Producer), Steven Berkowitz (A&R), Paul Klingberg (Mixing), George Massenburg (Engineer), Charles Stepney (Producer), Mark Wilder (Mastering), Leo Sacks (Producer), Leo Sacks (Reissue Producer), Leo Sacks (Mixing), Norman Seeff (Photography), Norman Seeff (Back Cover), Norman Seeff (Cover Photo), Howard Fritzson (Art Direction), David Gahr (Photography), David Gahr (Inlay Photography), Joel Whitburn (Chart Information), Chris Walter (Photography), Joy Gilbert (Project Director), Steve Newman (Design), Michael Putland (Photography), Michael Putland (Inlay Photography), Shusei Nagaoka (Artwork), Richard Salvato (Director), Richard Salvato (Direction), Rick Collins (Mastering), Cameron Marcarelli (Assistant), Shawn R. Britton (Mastering), Mike Cimicata (Packaging Manager), Art Macnow (Direction), Robert Lipsyte (Liner Notes), Robert Lipsyte (Story)
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Wikipedia: That's the Way of the World
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
That's the Way of the World
Studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire
Released March 15, 1975
Recorded September 16, 1974 - October 2, 1974, Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado
Genre Soul, funk, jazz
Length 38:23
Label Columbia Records
Producer Maurice White, Charles Stepney
Professional reviews
Earth, Wind & Fire chronology
Open Our Eyes
(1974)		 That's the Way of the World
(1975)		 Gratitude
(1975)
Singles from That's the Way of the World
  1. "Shining Star"
    Released: February 13, 1975
  2. "That's the Way of the World"
    Released: June 18, 1975

That's the Way of the World is a 1975 album by Earth, Wind & Fire relased on Columbia Records. It was also the soundtrack for a 1975 motion picture of the same name which featured several of the band members in cameo roles. Included on the album was the single "Shining Star", which was a #1 U.S. pop and R&B hit. Another popular single was the title track, which reached #12 on the pop chart. The album spent three weeks atop the Billboard Pop Albums Charts and has been certified triple platinum.[1][2] That's the Way of the World was also the third bestelling pop album and the number one bestselling R&B album of 1975 respectively.[3][4]

Contents

Critical Reception

The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Billboard Magazine described the album as "a very tightly produced and performed package" and added in their review that "EW&F has some of the finest musicians in any band and the compositions are all top-notch".[5] Music crtic Robert Christgau noted that on the album "this unit can do so many things it qualifies as the one-man band of black music even though it has nine members"[6] and That's the Way of the World has also been described by Alex Henderson of Allmusic as "the band's best album" and "one of the strongest albums of the 1970s and EWF's crowning achievement".[7]

That's the Way of the World was nominated in 1975 and 1976 for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album.[8]

Track listing

Original release

Side one
# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Shining Star"   Phillip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White 2:50
2. "That's the Way of the World"   Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White 5:45
3. "Happy Feelin'"   Verdine White, Phillip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White, Al McKay 3:35
4. "All About Love"   Larry Dunn, Maurice White 6:35
Side two
# Title Writer(s) Length
5. "Yearnin' Learnin'"   Phillip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White 3:39
6. "Reasons"   Phillip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White 4:59
7. "Africano"   Larry Dunn, Maurice White 5:09
8. "See the Light"   Louise Anglin, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn 6:18

1999 reissue

# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Shining Star"   Phillip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White 2:50
2. "That's the Way of the World"   Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White 5:45
3. "Happy Feelin'"   Verdine White, Phillip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White, Al McKay 3:35
4. "All About Love"   Larry Dunn, Maurice White 6:35
5. "Yearnin' Learnin'"   Phillip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White 3:39
6. "Reasons"   Phillip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White 4:59
7. "Africano"   Larry Dunn, Maurice White 5:09
8. "See the Light"   Louise Anglin, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn 6:18
9. "Shining Star (Future Star) [Original Sketches]"   Larry Dunn, Maurice White, Phillip Bailey 1:05
10. "All About Love (First Impression) [Original Sketches]"   Larry Dunn, Maurice White 3:12
11. "Happy Feelin' (Anatomy of a Groove) [Original Sketches]"   Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Maurice White, Verdine White 3:31
12. "Caribou Chaser (Jazzy Jam) [Original Sketches]"   Larry Dunn, Maurice White 1:39
13. "That's the Way of the World (Latin Expedition) [Original Sketches]"   Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White 1:41

[9]

Covers and Samples

"Reasons" has been covered by Stanley Turrentine, Ramsey Lewis, Maxi Priest and other artists.[10] Reasons has also been sampled by Master P on Intro/17 Reasons featured on his album 99 Ways to Die.[11]

Appearances in other media

Reasons has been featured in the movies Love Don't Cost a Thing, Killer of Sheep and Hitch.[12][13]

Personnel

  • Bass - Verdine White
  • Co-producer - Charles Stepney
  • Drums - Fred White, Maurice White, Ralph Johnson
  • Guitar - Al McKay, Johnny Graham
  • Percussion - Al McKay, Fred White, Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Verdine White
  • Producer - Maurice White
  • Vocals - Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White

Charts

Album - Billboard
Year Chart Position
1975 Pop Albums 1
1975 Black Albums 1
Singles – Billboard
Year Single Chart Position
1975 "Africano" Disco Singles 1
1975 "Happy Feelin'" Disco Singles 1
1975 "Shining Star" Black Singles 1
1975 "Shining Star" Pop Singles 1
1975 "That's The Way Of The World" Black Singles 5
1975 "That's The Way Of The World" Pop Singles 12

Accolades

The information regarding accolades attributed to That's the Way of the World is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net,Soultracks.com and www.rockhall.com.[14][15][16]

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Pause & Play U.S. Albums Inducted into a Time Capsule, One Album per Week 2008 *
The Recording Academy U.S. Grammy Hall of Fame Albums and Songs 2004 *
Robert Dimery U.S. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005 *
Rolling Stone U.S. The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 2003 493
Vibe Magazine U.S. 51 Albums representing a Generation, a Sound and a Movement 2004 *
Rickey Vincent U.S. Five Star Albums from "FUNK: The MUSIC, the PEOPLE, and the RHYTHM *
National Association of Recording Merchandisers and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame U.S. The Definitive 200 2007 187
Soultracks.com U.S. The Greatest Soul albums of the 1970s 2009 1
(*) designates lists that are unordered.

References

General

  • Dimery,Robert. (2006) "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". Tristan de Lancey; Universe Publishing (first edition). ISBN 0-7893-1371-5\

Notes

  1. ^ Hogan, Ed. "Maurice White - Biography". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifqxqr5ldfe~T1. Retrieved 5 June, 2009. 
  2. ^ "RIAA Certification for That's the Way of the World". riaa.com. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Earth%20Wind&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. 
  3. ^ Billboard. com - Top Billboard 200 Albums of 1975
  4. ^ ^ Billboard. com - Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums of 1975
  5. ^ "That's the Way of the World Earth, Wind & Fire". Billboard Magazine. 1975. http://www.superseventies.com/spearthwindfire.html. Retrieved 5 June, 2009. 
  6. ^ Christgau, Robert. "That's the Way of the World Earth, Wind & Fire". .robertchristgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=1112. Retrieved 5 June, 2009. 
  7. ^ Henderson, Alex. "That's the Way of the World Review". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0ifpxqt5ldae~T1. Retrieved 5 June, 2009. 
  8. ^ earthwindandfire.com/bio_awards.
  9. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire - That's the Way of the World". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0ifpxqt5ldae~T0. Retrieved May 8th, 2009. 
  10. ^ Covers of Reasons on allmusic.com
  11. ^ Samples of Reasons on samplespot.com
  12. ^ Earth Wind & Fire on IMDB.com
  13. ^ Maurice White on imdb.com
  14. ^ Acclaimed Music - That's The Way Of The World
  15. ^ Definitive 200 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  16. ^ The Greatest Albums of the 70s on soultracks.com

External links

Preceded by
Chicago VIII by Chicago		 Billboard 200 number-one album
May 17 - June 6, 1975		 Succeeded by
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
by Elton John
v • d • e
Earth, Wind & Fire
Maurice White · Philip Bailey · Verdine White · Ralph Johnson
Studio Albums
Compilations and live albums
Singles
Other albums
Related articles
Lists

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "That's the Way of the World".  Read more

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