Released March 15, 1975 Label Columbia Artist Earth, Wind & Fire | Length 38:23 That's the Way of the World
(1975) Gratitude
(1975) Release date 15 March 1975 | |
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Recorded September 16, 1974 - October 2, 1974, Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado Movie That's the Way of the World Genres Funk, Soul music, Rhythm and blues, Jazz Producers Maurice White, Charles Stepney Similar Earth - Wind & Fire albums, Rhythm and blues albums | ||
Earth wind and fire that s the way of the world
That's the Way of the World is the sixth studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire, released on March 15, 1975 by 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, five nonconsecutive weeks atop the Soul Albums chart.
Contents
- Earth wind and fire that s the way of the world
- Critical reception
- Covers and samples
- Personnel
- Accolades
- Songs
- References
That's the Way of the World was also the third best-selling pop album and the number one best-selling R&B album of 1975 respectively and has been certified triple platinum in the U.S by the RIAA.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 493 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2012, on a revised list by the magazine, the album listed at #486.
Critical reception
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Billboard 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". Music critic 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" 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".
That's the Way of the World was nominated in 1975 and 1976 for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and also won a Rock Music Award in the category of Best Soul Album.
Covers and samples
"Reasons," the album's breakout love ballad, has been covered by Stanley Turrentine, Ramsey Lewis, Maxi Priest and other artists. "Reasons" has also been sampled by Master P on Intro/17 on his album 99 Ways to Die. In 1988, saxophonist Najee covered the song from his album Day by Day. In 1999, Groove Armada sampled the drum intro of "Happy Feelin'" for their song I See You Baby.
Personnel
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.
Songs
1Shining Star2:50
2That's the Way of the World5:46
3Happy Feelin'3:16