That's The Way Of The World

Classic. How can you not love it?

Excelente album! Penso que ele deveria sim estar entre os 1001 albuns para ouvir antes de morrer. Os pontos altos são as conhecidas faixas 01, 02, 06, 07 essa é instrumental que não conhecia e que me surpreendeu muito e a 08 que achei maravilhosa.

Do you remember! The 21st night of September! is not on this album

Some of these songs are kinda proggy and it rips!

Earth, wind, AND fire? In this economy??? What a delightful groovy sexy silky smooth way to spend a Monday, thank god. So lush and funky and joyous. Disco is only dead if you let it die in your heart 🫶 Sad when no ba-dee-ya on the 21st of September :/ Second act montage needle drop in my biopic: “All About Love (First Impression)”

Obviously amazing! I love Earth wind and fire

very nice! zippy and beautiful, nice groove. I wonder if they did earth wind and fire because yesterday was September 21st but this isn't the album with that on it.. Likelihood that the members of the band lezzed out IMO: 3/5 I can see it, I like their outfits, there are also so many of them I feel like statistically.....

my mom played a lot of ewf for me when i was a kid, this was really fun to listen to today. happy 21st night of september everyone lots of bangers on this record, was blown away by the absolute shredding on shining star, i don’t know how i never really noticed that before. maybe because the vocals are so catchy. really dig the title track too, the kalimba (?) solo is veryyyy nice tickled my brain. for a 38 minute album it dragged the tiniest bit for me, i feel like it could have done with one less ballad and one more big banger but overall i really enjoyed the range of this album. lots of psych rock feel and some proggy moments? definitely have been limited to listening to ewf in a ‘best of’ capacity until this point but i’m looking forward to digging into more of their actual releases

yes, this is perfect. 38 minutes of unreal funk with a production ahead of its time.

Great grooves and really warm vocals. Very easy to enjoy this.

Fuck I gotta stop accidentally wiping the reviews I write for these albums. Gist of my thoughts was that this was a great funk and soul album, first and foremost, and clearly much less disco than whatever album ‘September’ is on, a song I’m not a huge fan of and what I expected this album would sound like. Very similar to a group like Parliament with its clean and glitzy production, with giant soulful love ballads and tight, percussive funk tracks making up a majority of the record. ‘Happy Feelin’ is my favourite song and it balances both these sounds, and I love when the whole thing just pulls-back to make way for this really melancholic sax melody. Great song and great album honestly.

You can’t go wrong with this band, but like most people, I know the hits and not the albums. Shining Star is always welcome, with the slow initial build and then the explosion of sound. The rest of the album was more exotic, more intricate with fewer hooks. Even though their pop songs are top-tier, it’s nice to hear compositions that weren’t intended for the radio. If I’m not mistaken Shining Star was their first big hit, so this album is a nice snapshot of their transition.

just. GOOD

I was surprised I didn’t love this more! Definitely went in with pre-conceived notions and was a little surprised how jumbled up it felt.

Mega chill and funky

nice and groovy

Man hører ikke at dette egentlig er soundtracket til en film ingen har hørt om. Helt sikkert en god ting. Ingen av hitza er her, men er nice blanding av funk & soul. Mer raffinert enn jeg forventa fra gruppa.

Dette blir noget for smooth for meg

Yaow! *Horn noises*

I looooove Earth, Wind, and Fire. Even though my bread and butter is prof metal, disco (thanks to my father) have a special place in my heart. So obviously, there was a lot of EWF in the house. That’s a Way of the World wasn’t an album I know much. I’ve in a past listened to it one time, but that’s probably it. First half is very good, but the second half is ok at best. Lots of experimentation on that album. I’ll give a 3/5. Not my first choice for a EWF album. Shining Star: 4,5 That’s the Way of the World: 3,5 Happy Feelin’: 4 All About Love: 3 Yearnin’ Learnin’: 3,5 Reasons: 3 Africano: 3 See the Light: 3

reasons was already in my rotation so i enjoyed hearing the context of the album. i feel like it was on par with the disco era music of the times. very enjoyable with a few classics.

Great vibes, classic!

everyone should listen to this album

look these dudes have some fucking talent but good this album goes absolutely nowhere while nothing interesting. 1* feels generous.

Its a fun album. Not amazing by any means. I liked the voices and the multiple singers. I also really liked the instrumental songs. But the album has a lot of filler and some really generic and/or dated pop songs.

I wish the whole album was as good as Shining Star, because it hits so good. Not saying the rest of the album is bad, its also pretty good but just cant reach the same high. EWF always put out reliable funky gold, and you cannot go wrong listening to this. This was perfect for a highway drive. 8 tracks, steady funk had me weaving all over the road.

Great album but if their album “I Am” isn’t on this list then this inclusion is bullshit. The first two songs are iconic as is Reasons. The rest are good but not very memorable. Shining Star is a bop!

A good listen but didn't have any of their best songs. After a couple of listens Shining Star and Reasons are my favourite and I found the spoken word on All About Love quite funny.

Fantastic funk fusion from one of the greatest bands of all time

I'm a big fan of Earth, Wind & Fire, so this album was always going to be one that I liked. Just everything about this album shows you exactly how in their groove and flow Earth, Wind & Fire were. Each song is funky, fresh, and I imagine if I had been alive at the time, it would have gotten me dancing at the disco. I absolutely love funky and Motowny albums such as this. Definitely on the repeat list. 8/10.

Groovy! Grand! Fun!

Yes great vibes put me in a good mood on my way to uni

Such a fun album and super tight. Listening on the bus and this makes me want to get up and start dancing in the aisle

This album just oozes the musical talent. I always knew of Earth Wind & Fire's ability but this album really showcases it. Really great funky jazzy tunes and the vocals and percussion are next level

Funky goodness

That's the Way of the World by Earth, Wind, and Fire was an achievement in crossover success in basically every genre of popular music in 1975. The triple platinum Billboard darling earned its success with well crafted songs that strike a chord in the listener, making you feel connected to the music in a way that most records can't conceive of. The harmonies are crisp, the beats are funky, and mid-70s cool flows through the speakers. My biggest issue with That's the Way of the World lies in the production, specifically the way the brass was handled. For the most part Maurice White and Charles Stepney nailed things down with great use of space and crystal clear vocals, but they failed to address high end clipping caused by the trumpets pretty every time they're used on the record. The static caused by the volume topping out is distracting and a glaring deficiency in an otherwise flawless production. Just to be fair and make sure it wasn't me or my equipment I tested it on two services with multiple headsets and the issue was universal. As such, it had to be accounted for in the score. Them's the breaks 🤷‍♂️

I love Shining Star, but the rest of this feels like muzak you'd get stuck on a smelly elevator with.

This was not for me.

3 stars

First time listening to their album and I had a really good time. And getting their album in September? Epic (song in question not included though) 3/5

Helt grei bakgrunnsmusikk.

AMEI simplesmente good music

It was nice! Not enough of a slam dunk to get a very high score, but a nice listen. My favourite song was probably the penultimate one which was instrumental.

Not a bad album, just not for me at all

A great good-feeling band. Always made the times better!

Great

A solid album. I wasn't inspired to write anything while I listened, but I enjoyed it.

7/10 Earth, Wind & Fire are a band that I absolutely love. At their very best, their music is an unbeatable combination of groove and hook, funk and soul. But I’ve never found them to be a band with any albums that are absolute top tier. They have some great deep cuts to go with their stack of absolute classics, but to my mind, I don’t find any one of their albums to be completely consistent and up to the obscenely high standard that they’ve proved themselves capable of hitting. That’s not to say their records are bad, per se, but in a similar vein to a band like Queen, the hits are really a step above the albums. The first couple of tracks on this album come absolutely flying out of the gate. Shining Star is an exceptionally funky piece of work that’s so stuffed with hooks and grooves that’s it’s impossible to deny. Then we get the flip side of the band, dipping into some über smooth soul that leans back from the opener and delivers music that changes pace but not quality. It’s brilliant stuff. The third track nearly matches the opening two, to be fair, but after that, things start to slide, and we get moments that drift a little too far into cheesy territory, resulting in a slight dip in quality compared to the opening cuts. It’s worth noting that this record is a slightly odd one, in that it’s a soundtrack album for a film in which the band actually appeared as a fictional version of themselves. Because of that, there are a few track outros that appear to be incidental music from the film, rather than coherent sections of the songs they’re attached to, which doesn’t particularly help to maintain the flow of the record. Throughout, the band are so tight and fluid at the same time, summoning groove after groove, and so many gorgeous pieces of musicianship that it’s hard to highlight anything in particular. On pretty much all of the tracks, if you’re listening closely, there will be a moment in which some lick or flourish will pop out of the groove and force a grin onto your face. It’s that infectious sense of fun that does so much to endear a listener to EW&F, and this album doesn’t skimp on those. But it also isn’t without those lulls and deeper cuts that don’t just tickle me in the same way as the absolute choicest moments. This wouldn’t be my number one pick of their albums, as it happens, but it’s still an enjoyable listen that’s definitely worth your time. It’s just a shame that, for me, they never managed to quite pull together a single record that’s an all time classic from start to finish. Shining Star - It’s a classic. The funky staccato guitar and bass lines for the intro set the tone, and then we slide into an effortlessly engaging groove. There are hooks galore and an incredible amount of personality. The horn punctuation is superb, and there are so many moments of soulful flourish from each of the band members to enjoy. Just listen to the little guitar riffs and moments of vocal playfulness as the track progresses, and you’re guaranteed to have at least a little grin. Lovely, lovely work. That's The Way Of The World - And now we drop into a super-smooth soul number. Again, the lead vocal is brilliant, and the arrangement of the different vocal lines is incredibly well managed. I think the instrumental star here is probably Verdine White on the bass, who strolls around his lines with such poise and control, while sounding so free and chilled in his delivery. Again, there’s actually quite a lot of superb moments that pop from each band member, but it all serves the song so well, which consistently delivers a body-moving groove from start to finish. Lush. Happy Feelin' - Verdine White is at it again. What a cool bass line. There’s a little less instrumental depth and freedom in the first half of this track, but as we get into the instrumental section that broadens out. There are some cool hooks and instrumental moments, with some superb drumming in the second half, but while this is still a solid, funky number, it doesn’t feel quite as consistent as the opening couple of tracks. That is a pretty high bar though. All About Love - This is a fairly straight ballad that has some very strong moments, but does fall a bit too far on the cheesy side of the ledger for me. The spoken word section in the middle doubles down on that element and while the instrumental performances are very good, there isn’t the playfulness and freedom present in the earlier tracks that made them shine. I don’t think they really managed to capture the same quality of hook here either. That’s not to say this is bad, but it’s just a bit more bland than the power of what’s come before. As with the last track, we also get some synth noodling at the end, which I presume is some incidental music from the film this is a soundtrack of, but feels a pretty disconnected as part of an album. Yearnin' Learnin' - We’re back cookin’ again now. the guitar, bass and piano work here gives an incredibly funky foundation that’s locked into the pocket of the drums beautifully. The horns give things texture and dynamic range, and there’s a top notch swagger to the vocal delivery, particularly when they start layering over one another. It doesn’t quite find the hooks of the first couple of tracks, but the groove is all the way there, and there’s so much soul and touch to the playing that it’s another excellent cut. Reasons - It’s a funky soul groove now that’s got a great push and pull to the rhythm, enhanced by some cool dynamic work. Philip Bailey pushes his falsetto to it’s limit and is possibly a touch high in the mix, so it does feel a tiny bit shrill in places, but the backing vocals do balance it a bit better. I think the strings add a cinematic vibe to the overall feel of the track, and while the rhythm takes a bit less prominence as the track progresses, it’s still an enjoyable slice of pop-soul. Africano - The prominent percussion is excellent here, and this leans more towards the cinematic funk the Curtis Mayfield was exploring in Super Fly. It’s nice to get an instrumentally focused track that lets the band members have a bit of fun and show off their skills. They’re as tight as a Dolphin’s butt, and the sax solo is great fun, and just works as an flamboyant finishing touch to the work of the rest of the band, who sound like they’re having an absolute ball. If you don’t at least tap your toes to this groove, I’m afraid you’ve no soul at all. See The Light - There’s some really fun moments in this, but it does feel a bit chaotic at the beginning. When things settle down, the vibe is chilled with a cool groove and some quality bass work again. There’s some cool 70s synth work and some other nice instrumental moments too, but it feels a little bit like a song that’s not quite found its central hook. Again, nothing here is bad, it just feels like it lacks the focus and centre that the band deliver at their best.

Pretty enjoyable, but not typically my favorite era of music.

Not usually my vibe, but this soul/funk is pretty good

Very groovy right off the bat. Icons for a reason. Would listen again

I mean, we all love shining star, but I’ve never listened to the album in full. VERY 70’s, monologues mid-song and all. The middle of the album didn’t excite me, personally. BUT the last 2 songs were great! Africano is an instrumental masterpiece

An all time album opener with Shining Star. The rest of the album doesn't hold the same level, but it's a smooth listen.

- .... 5 for "Shining Star" & the piano on "Yearnin' and Learnin'" ..... -

Tracklist 1. Shining Star 2. That's the Way of the World 3. Happy Feelin' 4. All About Love 5. Yearnin' Learnin' 6. Reasons 7. Africano 8. See the Light Notes - J’aime bien le côté entraînant et solaire de la musique mais honnêtement ça s’arrête là. - Je trouve que ça se ressemble beaucoup, pas tant de variétés. La deuxième moitié de l’album est assez anecdotique. - C’est pas nul loin de là mais ça me laisse de marbre. - J’ai peut-être encore un peu du mal avec ce genre que je n’ai quasiment jamais écouté ! Il y a sûrement d’autres albums, à la revoyure !

Vaca catch up

Because a friend of mine was into Earth, Wind & Fire before this album, I was already familiar with them but this is the album that broke them into the mainstream. The funk along with the hooks and the harmony makes these guys rockstars just as much as any rock group. I saw them twice and what a show. Twirling drummers and flying bass players but the real star of the show was the music. They were infusing their music with different cultures way before Paul Simon's Graceland. Top tier.

This initially seemed like something of a left field choice for the only Earth, Wind & Fire album on this list. It’s actually a soundtrack album for a long forgotten film where the band played a thinly disguised version of themselves (as “The Band”) and it sounds as if it follows the usual beats of a musical faux-biopic drama of this sort. The end result is satisfyingly funky, with commanding bass rhythms, some noodly synth lines that wouldn’t be out of place on a Herbie Hancock album and some diversions into straight up afro-beat that I really enjoyed. I might listen to the “Best Of” album at some point, but I think that this is one that I will enjoy revisiting, and I’ll make a mental note to watch the movie if it should ever show up on a streaming service that I have.

Listened during run, very suited for it. Great "live life to the fullest vibes".

Boa energia, estava à espera que tivesse a september, mas também não conhecia outra

Muito catchy

ya arranca con toda con shining star. qué temazo. uplifting total. muy buenos grooves, buen balance entrelas canciones más movidas y más lentas. puedo ver cómo este puede haber sido una gran influencia para silk sonic. terminado el album me puse a escuchar I am porq I just cant get enough of them.

Neutral. Feel like I have lived a lot of life since listening to this.

Music I imagine being played at a chill bar. Dimmed lights, a cool drink and Earth, Wind and Fire in the background sounds like a great evening. There's no one song to pick out and listen on repeat though.

I wonder who the guy that got cut off on the left of the album picture is. That's the type of picture I would put up on my wall or on my desk.

Opening track is so great, worth a listen for that!

A good balance of funky and smooth, but I don't really feel any emotional connection to it. Around three and a half stars feels right.

What the funk is this

I swear I'm not high. But listening to this record today, I was like "man, I'm here. Like, this is life, for better or for worse, I'm a person and I'm here in the universe with all these other people and animals and trees and rocks and, like, the earth, wind and fire." I'm not even joking (though why they left water out we may never know). Isn't that the peak music experience? Isn't it weird that this random funk album from the 70s was the one to do this to me? Even a bit embarrassing? Like, this one doesn't even have "September" or "Boogie Wonderland" or, indeed, any song I recognized. Yes. Yes to all three. I listened to this at work and just loved it though. TL;DR: Record opened my third eye; five out of five.

3 stars, I didn't hate the album but I'm not sure that its my thing

There are so many elements of this I enjoy, it’s tough to narrow it down. I love how the different instruments and vocals all come together in this really great cohesive piece that’s still has individuality between the songs. Nothing sounds quite the same but they all go together. Infectious. It’s smooth in a way that’s just really good on the ears, kind of like a balanced diet on the stomach with a really good dessert; I feel like I’m being spoiled I have no reason to not give this a five. There is nothing I can find wrong with it. Just a super pleasant experience, and I don’t even listen to this kind of music often. So so good. Wow.

Brought back memories of riding the bus to volleyball games in High School

Some good tracks at the start

Great and energetic start Muddle middle Upped tempo towards the end with a strong finish

Pretty fun and funky.

Loved it

Great Album to keep me in a good mood for a work day, especially a Monday.

The way of the world!!!❤️

Shining Star is a very good start A head bobber for sure Kinda fell off towards the end but it’s Earth Wind & Fire I have to give it a 5

Didn't dig the slow songs as much

Legends. Songs that touch on self-support, love, faith, and joy. Cross jazz improvisation with funk bass and percussion, and then run through the soulful vocals of Maurice White, Philip Bailey, and Verdine White. Impossible to listen to without smiling and bopping your head. Any album can be a record of its time; the masterworks, like this one, are timeless.

Turns out maybe I don't like funk that much...? Boring.

3.5/5

A lovely journey through the 70s.

A masterful tour de force of funky soulful grooves. Africano is a great funky instrumental that stands out. The first two songs two songs on this album represent some of their best work.

4/5

I like EWF one of those bands I need to be in the mood for, but always a good time

Había arrancado mejor que el disco anterior que escuché. Muy buen primer tema. Después empezó a decaer para mi gusto y no me terminó convenciendo tanto.

I've never felt this happy listening to an entire disco album before

A few funky riffs, otherwise it’s so over produced it reminds me of a Glen Campbell record.

Fun

EWF have got what it takes! Yeah!

8/19/2026: First album!

EWF has been an obsession of mine since I was a kid. No one makes music like this anymore. They're all talented musicians and the vocals are awesome. 10/10.

Funky!

When I started I really wanted to give this album a 1. Cause I fucking hate how overplayed September has become. THIS THO, not Bad EW&F, Not bad at all!

Groovy. I liked it a lot.

A lot of it so good, a lot of it so bad lol

funky and good

album #119 i simply did not care for it that much. groovy bass lines though. ꩜ average track rating: 2/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): yearnin' learnin' ꩜ least favourite track(s): reasons ꩜ album rating: ★★☆☆☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 970 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 53 ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 24 ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 95

half of the songs on here are all timers and that's a great hit rate! i don't want to see the movie this was the soundtrack to but i do want to listen to phillip bailey sing reasons again

Holy Funky❤️‍🔥

I enjoyed this, its kind of on par with steely Dan.

Absolutely yes

Happy feelin Shining star Yearin learnin Thats the way of the world

A surprising gem. This is why this list exists. I’d never given these guys a second listen. But they’re great.

Bee Gees do it better

Expecting more but not getting much out of it. That really is the way of the world fr.

Good funky disco. There are some great songs and some meh songs. Overall a decent album but not something I would ever throw on. Africano was probably my stand-out song on the album.

Álbum muy bueno chill y antidepresivo

This was really nice. Fun to hear some of the hits

Not horrible.

I love me some Earth, Wind, and Fire. I need to listen to this again to form some more thoughts, but my first thought is it’s a flat 4.

Great album

This is a classic album that showcases the remarkable talents of Maurice White. The harmonies of this group are outstanding.

Not quite as good as All 'N All, but it's still got some very funky bangers.

⭐⭐⭐⭐+ Engagerande och positiv funk och soul jag älskade att lyssna på. Väldigt musikaliskt och kul. Flyter mellan olika genres som soul, funk, disco och lite jazz. För mig är de funkiga delarna en femma men för att få en 5a hade jag önskat några absoluta toppspår så det blir en stark 4a. Bäst är Shining star, That's the way of the world, Africano, See the light

Sweetened funk. Large band. Phillip Bailey: incredible singer. Shining Star: incredible song. Vocals and harmonies outstanding. That’s the way of the world. Outstanding song. Phillip Bailey’s vocals amazing. Best songs are the upbeat ones. Good sax. Phillip Bailey’s vocals carry the album. Some weak songs but overall a good album. Four stars

Earth, Wind, Fire, and ……Poop

Great vibe throughout the whole album

nice one but didn't resonate. It just was.

Highlights: Shining Star, That’s The Way Of The World, Reasons. 3.4

Good album. Every song was at least decent. Shining Star (which I’ve always enjoyed) is probably the worst song here.

Sterk start her. Smidig overgang fra nr.1 til 2. To låter med veldig ulik energi. Nr.3 er vi inne på en god funky energi, liker det, noen spenstige mellomspill her. Nr.4 vil de la oss høre hva de tenker om kjærlighet altså. Liker VELDIG godt de lignende og noe kaotiske synth avslutningene på 3 og 4. Dette albumet har gjort meg i bedre humør allerede. Gjennomsyret av herlig 70-talls energi

охеренно!

meh décevant

I don't think I've ever heard a whole Earth, Wind & Fire album and That's The Way Of The World seems a good a spot to start as any. Absolutely stacked with hits as well as songs that just fucking riiiiip. There's a nice variety in songs, too. Great vocals, great songwritiing, just great. I'm shocked by how much I dig this.

An excellent, smooth and funky record. Love hearing the non-September tracks and getting a better sense of the group. 8/10

A good, funky, upbeat record with great instrumentals

Barry White meets the Ohio Players? Smooth and silky, but quite funky at the same time. I remember first hearing this as a suburban teenager. It sounded like nothing else on the radio, seeming to come out of nowhere, and landing like a bomb for me. I remember really liking “Shining Star” at the time. After only modest success in the early 70’s, this album made them superstars for the rest of the decade. The album flags a little bit in the middle, and overall does not sustain the magic of the first two tracks. Nonetheless, this is a good listen. Four stars for me.

Favorite song: That's the Way of the World Least fave song: All About Love (First Impression) The highs are HIGH on this. Shining Star as an opener is a crazy hook in, and following it up with That's the Way of the World only sees it get better. But starting off with it's two strongest, catchiest songs make the rest of the listening experience feel like it is chasing a euphoria you won't achieve again. That being said, I love the instrumental interlude Africano provides before diving back into a solid closer. Plus a 39 minute run time is perfect - especially considering it is only an 8 track album. None of the songs feel rushed/like shells of themselves, although maybe some could be cut down a little. 3/5

It's fine

This one surprised me. From the singles, I was expecting it to be a disco album rather than a soulful funk album. Not bad. A solid three stars.

Decent. Funky

Нормас движуха, но ухо ни за что не цепляется.

The sound on this album is so consistent and so full of almost church-like solos that I was surprised when it was over! I wasn’t specifically familiar with any of the songs on the album but felt like I had heard them all before and singing along. One listen should show you why they’re still touring 😂

Funky, fresh, an absolute delight to listen to.

Un clásico :D

Finally getting the chance to hear some of their deeper cuts after years of the memes and the obvious hits is really lovely. Just popping with energy and passion from the get go. A blast to listen to.

enjoyable listen, "all about love" is pretty sweet (lyrics carried) and some melodies were cool unfortunately not taking any of these songs with me for now, but maybe revisiting some other time in life, like any other 3+ star album discovery possibly?

Loved it! never really cared for Shining Star but it's a perfect opener and there are some really great songs on this one.

Pretty solid, overall great musically but a lot of the album didn’t do a lot for me 3

Its a great listen! Love the voice and the chill vibe that comes with it! Soulish vibe!

I feel like this would put me in a good mood whenever

nice and goofy sound

Blind album, I loved the transitions between each song honestly, thought it was very cool. But Shining Star was a clear hit, but after hearing this, I wanna check out Questloves documentary on the band.

Funky funky funky. The album starts off with a banger, but struggles to maintain that strength throughout the rest of the project. The songs start to blend together. Beyond the opener “Shining Star”, only “Yearnin’ Learnin’” and a saxophone solo on “Africano” reached that same high point. Not bad, just a lot of “meh” between the highs.

Esta muy guapo y me recuerda bastante a las voces de MJ

carino

I really enjoyed this one. Weirder than I expected, in a great way.

8/10

Classic, almost stereotypical soul-funk grooves are abound on this release. There's some very good sequencing on display here, as the slower ballads lead very well into the energetic tracks. The ballads are treacly sweet with plenty of dreamy lovey-dovey lyrics that go in one ear and out the other. The funk tracks are where it's at on this album, because oh man do these groove! These songs are the antidote to the constant fearmongering, rage baiting media we all consume incessantly these days. I wish more music had that genuine escapist quality. This album was apparently a soundtrack to a movie, but you would never know it as the band has made absolutely no reference of it here (possibly because the movie wasn't all that great...? I wouldn't know, I've never seen it.) That said, nothing stands out particularly here. EWF did better on other albums, and the singles are definitely the most worthwhile tracks. EWF are deservedly represented on this list, but I wonder why this album was chosen over the other, much better material they have in their catalogue. Key Tracks: Shining Star, Happy Feelin,' Africano

No es mi estilo

Damn the percussion on this thing is amazing. Still not my favorite Earth Wind and Fire but an amazing record nonetheless

I don't rate this album very high. Way to slick for my liking and even the hits on this album are not among their best. They certainly are good musicians but this album lacks the adventure and energy to make it the thriling album it should have been.

Нелюблю музыку соул, но послушал этот альбом в качестве рекомендации и эксперимента. Все еще не могу переваривать смесь соула, джаза и госпела. Духовная гармония, радость, единение конечно хорошие и добрые чувства, но не в такой оболочке. Мне прям душевно тяжело дослушать это до конца… бесы лезут наружу

Started at a 4 with the first few hit tracks but by the end of it, I forgot why and just felt like a solid "good" album

Started with one of the most legendary opening riffs and stayed pretty funky throughout. The slow songs dragged a bit, sadly.

🥁 🙌🏻

Reasons was my dad's high school slow dance song. Clas-sy

Groovy

first but maybe not only album on this list that exists because of a sig shore production

This was a very good album! Love me some earth, wind and fire and this was such a quick upbeat album that it just flew by

Funky og proggy. Fantastisk album

Smoooth. Synes ikke de stille numre var noget særligt, ellers fed

Great record and vibe. You can't hear that this was a soundtrack.

Listened 7/24/26

me gusto mucho el bajo

This album just exemplifies that sound of the 70s that's just fantastic. This is not a perfect album, but it is an album that's wonderfully enjoyable.

That's the Way of the World by Earth, Wind, & Fire. 1975. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a great pull for Day #1! You can't be unhappy with this band playing, or I can't anyway. Highlights for me: Larry Dunn's beautiful, subtle work on piano and keyboards (there's nothing showy, leaving lots of space, popping up just when needed), Phillip Bailey's vocals on "Reasons," great horns, beautiful layered background vocals. I added three songs to my music library: "Shining Star," "That's the Way of the World," and "Reasons."

Honnête

I had a backlog and saved this one as a pallette-cleanser. A wise decision.

Smooth £0s vibe

Dancin' the night away, well mid- morning actually

Can some something be grooovy and a bit dull at the same time?

Some great up tempo tracks but the rest of it is much of a muchness. . A generous 3 *

Nope.

I like the peak 70s aesthetic. Plenty of different things to listen to and it's well produced, but there are some stinkers on here.

3/5 - 1, 2, 3, let's soul.

Will revisit

Opening incredibly strong with the two best tracks, this record is very front-loaded. Opening with the upbeat and funky single "Shining Star" before slowing the vibe down with makeout jam "That's The Way Of The World", there's quite a sharp drop in quality with the remaining six tracks. It goes from excellent to satisfactory very quickly. For a band so closely associated with disco, I was quite pleased with how much funk was all over this. Listening to this made realise that Earth, Wind & Fire are a singles band and a rare case where you are better off getting a greatest hits compilation instead of listening to individual albums.

3.5

5 star album with a bunch of 5 star songs, not a single dull moment in the album. Favorite track: That's the way of the world other picks: reasons, shining star, happy feeling

It‘s interesting for sure, just not for me. Very jazzy, very funky, most songs are slow paced and only some are faster paced. I liked listening to it, but i doubt i‘ll give it a listen again.

Excellent. Such a great mix of funk, r&b, and pop. The band is so tight, and the songs are excellent. Apparently, I really enjoy funk. But why wouldn't you, with songs like "Shining Star," "That's the Way of the World," and "Reasons." Turns out, "Reasons" is the song Bone Thugz sampled for "B.S.O." Fun times. So - not every album needs a book's worth of text to explain how good it is. EW&F makes those kinds of albums. Everyone should hear this. FOUR STARS

Fav track: Reasons

Very fun listen, not a dull moment on the album! Top Songs: Shining Star, Happy Feelin', Yearnin' Learnin', Reasons

I was expecting to like this album more, given the strong groovy start! Part of what informed those expectations was my affinity for loud, boistrous, funky music that makes you want to move. That being said, there was a place for the slower tracks (Reasons, See the Light, All About Love). They offer the band an opportunity to showcase their range. Reasons, although it was slow for me, had incredibly arranged instrumentation that were paired so perfectly with the layered vocals. That was a theme through much of the album - each song felt intentionally crafted and curated. Favorite Tracks: Shining Star That's The Way of The World Africano

You're A Shining Star 1001 Albums Generator 310 (7/21/2026) Groovy, funky, and soulful disco that at times becomes dangerously cheesy. But it's really good for the most part. Shining Star is an all-timer track. 4/5. Favs: Shining Star That's The Way of the World See The Light Least Fav: All About Love

Shining star is a monster song. I first heard it on a funk compilation my dad got me as a joke. The other stuffs fun - lots of nasal y'all's, and an hilarious spoken word bit. But a bit more generic than shining.

This is our first (so likely only) earth wind and fire album on the list, so I was shocked that it doesn't include September. Guess it was more interesting than your average soul, I really liked the build up of the very last track, and was mostly ambivalent about the rest. Like a lot of soul, I can sort of appreciate why people might like it from afar but except in rare cases its not for me. Let's say 2.5, it was fine.

Doesn't contain Fantasy or September, but does have Shining Star, with its insane, super funky intro. Would have preferred a different album, but pretty joyous and snazzy.

I can appreciate that this is good, it's just not for me. Did not have any of their tracks that I would be familiar with either. 2

Sweet grooves, soulful singing & great vibes from start to finish, a very relaxed listen. One for a chilled sunday morning. FT: Happy Feelin’ Rating: 4/5

You could probably afford to put on a few more Earth Wind & Fire albums on the list based on vibes alone

Perfect heatwave music.

70

not my cup of tea

I liked some of the uptempo funky ones, but the ballads…? Not so much.

paar Abschnitte klangen ganz cool, aber nicht so sehr mein Geschmack songs like happy feelin' are too maximalist for me I guess? see the light schon wieder (dolle) Mario kart vibes?

Cool musik av känt band. Vibey disco-chill-bakgrund

Pretty good really relaxing and soul soothing.

Soooo, the album's nice, might not just be my cup of tea:)

Обожаю рнб

low cortisol

Pleasant BG music. 4/5

Loved this. I bet the movie is super weird. Great horns and horn lines. Great bass and bass lines. Smooth, disco, funk, goodness

First song was bumping, rest were good but a little boring

Very much enjoyed this album. The instrumentals at the end got a little boring but still 4/5

Not as crazy about this as jojah is but some was fun to listen to

Enjoyed this album on my afternoons drive in the car, such a great sound, got me in a good mood before the football, England 2-1 Norway, World Cup 2026 ⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Like many, the main song from this album I recognized was Shining Star. That being said, the album itself was a gem. This level of feel-good, upbeat, and optimistic funk isn’t as common anymore. Aside from the funky soulful tracks, the use of percussion, bass, drums is felt and appreciated throughout the album. “Africano” delighted me in its beautiful use of instrumentation. “All About Love” made me smile with its genuine, heartfelt lyricism. This album a delightful jam from beginning to end. As my first album of the 1001 albums, it’s a good standard for what’s to come.

This started out on its way to a 5 and then to a 4 and then to a 3 but got it's way back up to a 5. 2 of the songs just let this down. I'll give a 4

This is a lot of fun, which we could maybe use a little more of today. There is a lot of depth here, and some good tracks (although none of them quite measure up to the band's biggest single, "September"). Also, "Shining Star" is featured in "Muppets from Space," so it's got to be a pretty good album based on that fact alone. Favorite track: "Reasons"

The Title Track ("That's the Way of the World") ​The centerpiece of the record is an absolute masterclass in arrangement. Maurice White and Charles Stepney crafted a song that feels incredibly light and airy, yet carries massive emotional weight. It represents the absolute pinnacle of Earth, Wind & Fire’s artistry. It perfectly balanced commercial appeal with complex, boundary-pushing musicality. Decades later, its warmth and optimism still feel entirely fresh

Love it 超级美放克 爵士 rnb等

immaculate

ohhh this FUCKS

The gentlemen in this band have amazing chops and the interlocking parts of the arrangements are a wonder to behold. That being said, the material on this record is uneven - the first third is great but the remainder of the record is second-tier material (except for the instrumental "Africano", which cooks).

Perfectly fine soul/ funk

what if we combine jazz and disco? yeah, what if...

I am loving this groove at ten am, waking me up exactly the way I need. Africano, number 7 on the tracklist, is fire!!!

Very nice

Kinda front loaded but it’s nice. It’s Earth, Wind & Fire. There’s worse ways to spend a half hour.

Falsetto funk

super nice and smooth

Well, i have to come back and change my review. I listened to the album again outside in the blazing summer sun and boy, that was a wonderful experience. This album was made to feel alive while listening to it, to feel the warmth live can give you. Earth, Wind & Fire masterfully craft songs that range from dance-inducing grooves to soulful ballads and make it sound so easy yet so unachievable for anyone else. They interweave such greatly textured instrumentals that ebb and flow with the intensity of the songs with stunning vocal arrangements that drip like honey into the ear-canal and will stick there for a long time. I’m amazed by the craftmanship, the passion and the cohesion of this album. My favourite tracks (as of now) are the faster-paced once, namely Happy Feelin’, Yearnin’ Learnin’ and Africano (AFRICANO!!!). But that doesn’t mean the other tracks are weaker. All eight songs are essential to this album and to its message drained in spirituality. And now I’m simply happy and excited that I have many more EWF albums to dive into and enjoy.

Funky. Very Stevie. Definitely should listen to on vinyl. 4/5

tasty funk, smooth jams. 4/5

There’s not enough YEEEEEAAAAAAAs in music these days yaknow 4.6/5.0 Best Song: yearnin learnin

очень яркое и богатое звучание энергия излучается лютая сам коллектив хороший альбом твердый 3.7

Good vibes, good times. First time I've heard them outside of September but I dug it.

I’m having trouble reviewing this because it feels like generic “music” not to say it is bad, it’s just so pervasive in culture. I watched the recent documentary about them, which was great, but it seems they ride this line of their sound being listenable to everyone as well as cosmically intangible, with some sultry love songs in there. I love how strange EW&F is, but cannot contain them

Expected something more funky. Started off strong but faded into schmaltz

My feelings about this album (before listening): I'm not familiar with the soul genre at all, so I have no idea what this album is going to be like!! (I haven't heard anything about this band or album either) About cover: It's cool tho. But that part on the left side, where the hands stick out, is a bit bad look. I think the font are also beautiful. But it is not among the iconic covers! (Respectfully) ____________ After listening: I realized something important, I don't like soul music very much! Honestly, it was very difficult for me to listen to this album, I don't know why (!), but it was. I think it's just not for me. The songs I liked were Africano, Reasons and See the Light.

Didn't like the slower songs as much, but still a good album

Another soul/funk record which was a real joy to listen to. 7/10

All fillers no bangers

2.3 2x not my style

Frekar leiðinleg plata en samt ágætis stuð. sumt fínt annað frekar boring.

Its good funk. A little too poppy for my tastes but its still funky. Like i could see this doing well with disco heads at the time too. Just a little too wide of a net. But there are good grooves and soulful vocals. Its just all atound good. No September I guess but shining star is also a good one. Not too much left to say its just worth thr time

Pretty solid Fav tracks: Africano, Happy Feelin'

Si los 70s sonaran a algo, seria a las voces y sonidos y melodías y ritmos de Earth, Wind & Fire. Canciones favoritas: *Shining star (la había escuchado en una película de Lizzie McGuir cuando era niña, no sabia que era un cover!!!!!! Esta canción se siente cuando eres adolescente y te estas preparando para algún evento muy emocionante) *Thats the way of the world (mi favorita del album, que canción tan preciosa y que ritmo tan nostálgico y 70ero y cargado de sentimiento. Es como para una película) *Reasons (preciosa, muy romántica aunque aún no he leído la letra)

near constant stank face. lots of sample potential!

favs: shining star happy feelin’ yearnin’ learnin’ reasons africano see the light rating 3.7/5

Fab!

funky. good for the gym

This is a great album to just sit back and listen to the groove. I like the funk more than the soul, but it's all good.

Absolute banger

Good listening, nice rock flow. Not blowminder.

First Listen: What a perfect song to start the album. On every level. And that ending where all the reverb cuts... The second track is so smooth. The epiano, the guitars, the vocals. Thank you black gay people for disco. Vibraphone solo is so sexy. This shit is perfect. I'm loving these wierd outros. Vibraphone again! Another 8 song album that's insanely consistent. Love how short and sweet this is. OVERALL: This has been on repeat for the past couple of days. Everything is so layered and detailed, but the groove still cuts through. I expected a disco album, but this is so much more varied than that. What a great album. 9.5/10 T3: Africano, Happy Feelin', Yearnin' Learnin'

Fire, Fire, & Fire! The album is starting great; Shining Star is a song I've heard so a good sign that it's good. The rhythm and tempo of Shining Star is perfect. This whole album is a masterful combination of jazz, pop, and funk. The jazz instrumentation were probably my favourite aspect from the album as they blended with the pop-elements of the tracks. The vocal performance was something I thought I wouldn't vibe as much I thought I would or at least kind of get tired of. I'm dumb as' for that. The sax and keyboard go crazy in Happy Feelin'. The opera singing in All About Love is what saved the song for me, along with the trumpets but was really the only track that I didn't really vibe with. Bass work in Yearnin Learnin is so great and is one of my favourite. That upbeat attitude is felt throughout the whole album with Happy Feelin' being another example. Africano has to be mentioned for the atmosphere is provides while losing the upbeat performances and elegance the vocals in the other tracks have. Overall, the tempo and rhythm of most of the tracks hit all the marks for me. There were only about two tracks that I still liked but likely won't return to at any point. T3: Shining Star, Yearnin Learnin, Africano

Songs went on way too long and they weren't that great to begin with. I found the talking just annoying as when I'm listening to music, I want to hear music and not someone talking even if there is music behind it, worst song: "All About Love". tentative best song: "Yearnin' Learnin'". Not a big fan.

Another first for me and very enjoyable. As soon as the first track kicked in I was like wait I do know this! Lots of fun and look forward to a re-listen.

Made the mistake of listening to this on shuffle so it's okay, but it might be better than okay, because when I was listening to it, I thought the sequencing was very odd!

What an absolute bop to start the album. I dare you not to move to this track. The title track is all about those soulful vocals and harmonizing. That guitar made me levitate as well. Happy Feelin’ picks things up nicely but that xylophone is a little goofy. It overpowers the horns which is a no-no. My first impression of All About Love is that it’s a little too dramatic and corny with the vocals and lyrics. I did enjoy the instrumentation somewhat and when he starts “rapping” it put a smile in my brain. Trippy outro as well. Yearnin’ didn’t do much for me. It’s not a bad song by any means but I do feel it feels similar to other tracks on this that do it better like the opener. Reasons is a fun and cute track even if the vocals are a bit much. Also it could’ve been trimmed a little instrumentally. Africano may be just an instrumental but it goes hard, sounding like the soundtrack to a car chase in a grimy blaxploitation movie. And they really go out with a bang with the closer.

Really enjoyed this! I was surprised. Some great songs and great chill out music.

Вперше бачу. Схоже на диско. З першого треку клас - Shining Star сподобався. All About Love сексі трек з класною футуристичною музикою вкінці. Reasons теж зайшов, тут з жіночим вокалом.

Almost made me religious

I will always play this loud and dance. Great album!

Do denying that they captured the time, but great horn charts don't make up for disco

годно

I was a little bit disappointed with this one. I liked “Shining Star” and title track Everything else was just bland. It’s a good thing they got funkier and more epic two years later with songs like “Fantasy”.

If I was 16 in 1976, you would have to threaten me at gunpoint to listen to this. Looks kind of disco but I guess it more soul/fun. Know some of their hits from the radio but would never sit down to listen to it. Let's give it a go... And I'm immediately a little disappointed that I don't enjoy this. I thought it would be a fun up-tempo 40 mins or so. It is very bland and very dry. There is good musicianship but that's par for the course with soul and funk groups. What sets this apart is that it is so dull. No interesting arrangements. Nothing memorable from this LP at all. Couldn't wait for it to end. In summary: very lame and utterly uncool. I genuinely don't understand the high average rating for this album in this project.

That's The Way Of The World - very funky - "Shining Star" and "That's the Way of the World" are my fav at first listen - very fun and summery - fun disco and slower 70s love songs - this is what I imagine 70s sounded like in the club

What I heard on this was just nice loving groovin music of the 70's.

Can’t stop dancing

Funky

If smoothness could be described in one album, it would be this album. What a gentle, joyful ride. All the way from the beginning until the end. 5/5

This was great. A good mix of funky and groove, really good listen. A couple of tracks I didn’t vibe with but overall good

I liked the first song and Africano. The other are too ballades que and not funny enough for me.

Fine. Sometimes It’s a blurry line between poppy r&b and smooth jazz. It all sounds a bit cheesy.

Прикольний альбом кльовий бас

7/10 Buen album, me gusto. Buenos ritmos, buena voz, divertido de escuchar

Nah, not for me.

Discoooo, okej gillar deras andra grejer mer

Groovy and funky with no filler. 3.75/5.

Lekkere disco plaat, maar weet niet volledig te overtuigen

A great record. Super tight band, great singers, some surprising instrumentation. Side note: the Christgau review of this album is unhinged.

Cool and gave happy vibes

Nice Fav:shining star

Good but didn’t grab me.

Really funky and good dance music.

Aku sukabamget sama musik disko fi album ini

Solid fun

A fun album. I'd never done any digging on Earth Wind & Fire, but I always enjoyed their hits. This was interesting to hear their more funk-based sound and it left me wanting to check out more of their music in the future.

Cool and funky. A great album for gettin' it ohn 3½

I didn’t hate it, but I can’t say I enjoyed it, either. Background.

Very professionally put together and very catchy in places. However, only Shining Star really stood out.

I liked the singles this group produced over the years, but sadly I got a bit bored by the end of the album.

I don't really understand this, I know some Earth, Wind & Fire and I am aware of much stronger material than this. It sounds a bit town down to me, it's not the fun I would want out of it, and therefor I find it a bit boring to be honest. The songs are quite long and not in a necessary fashion, and I don't think they are that creative. I don't know, may be I'm missing out, but this one was not for me..

i love how groovy their songs are!!!

Album is in 3 parts for me, starts with a big time single and rolls into some cool funk soul tracks. The middle section is a bit weak for my taste, leans into the soul ballad style that I am not a fan of. Then it heats back up with Africano and ends on a strong note. Overall it is some cool afro psychedelic funk soul. Drop two songs in the middle and this might be a 5 star album for me.

Never listened. Expectations: High - Verdict: Good - Although I have never listened to this album I know Shining Star and love pretty much all EWF that I have heard. Shining Star is of course a wonderful opener. The title track is also good if nothing mind-blowing. Happy Feelin' has some good energy but All About Love is a bit stodgy for me. There is also something slightly murky about the production that doesn't quite allow the songs to flourish in the way that they otherwise might. Yearnin' Learnin' has a cool groove.

The high energy songs are great! The slow RnB stuff is not so good.

Starts with a mirror ball, ends with a mirrored ceiling. Yaoww

Starts with a song so good that it gets Elaine Benis dancing … Earth Wind and Fire can at times come across to a modern listener as campy cliched funk- disco ala Boney M . They are not And this album show cases funk that strays close to disco while being catchy and danceable along with more soulful songs like the title track . Pity “all about love ( first impressions)”drags the whole thing done - I’m only not dropping it a star as the horns on that song are great . Along with that spacey outro.

By some minor miracle, I have finally caught up with my album backlog and thus am listening to this on the day it was generated. Despite being busy for a bit, I still found time to listen to albums throughout most days. Definitely experienced some burnout along the way, but catching up has made me even more motivated to finish out the final quarter of this list. Enough about me though, let's listen to some EW&F! I don't know if this is the best album rep for EW&F, but I'm glad to see them on the list at all. They seem to never slow down as a group and always have some sort of highlight on each of their albums. "Shining Star" is the clear highlight here, but the rest is the usual high-energy stuff you'd come to expect from EW&F, as well as some tender & sultry tracks delivered nicely by Philip Bailey and the White bros. It's just a fun soul & funk album, right up my alley.

Good, uncomplicated disco music

long, but still good. not very innovativ, but still nice to hear