Reviews (page 3 of 14)
Truly a beautifully made album. Great production and instrumentation, plus the singing is top notch. Crazy this was made as "just" a movie soundtrack
I AM a shining star!!
5/5 record!! Perfect soul/funk album, full of life and love
Great dance music
I don't have too much to say about this album. This is another example of me not realizing how many songs by an artist I already know. Call it ignorance, or call it me taking this band and their music for granted. This band so well encapsulates the 70's funk, and some hot disco too.
This review may be a bit biased as I'm already a fan of EW&F, but this album is one of their best. Just gets that funky 70s sound absolutely right. From the good groovy dancing songs to the slowed heart-felt ballads.
What's not to love!
I knew "Shining Star" going into this and wasn't expecting a whole lot but out of all the funk albums we've been listening to this past week or so this one was by far my favorite. Great upbeat songs to lead off in the beginning before things get stranger towards the end, culminating with a great finale. Fuck it, it's a 5.
Had always heard they were a singles band and listened accordingly but wow this is just top tier funk and would throughout
fuck yeah this is what music is about
Great album!
Beautiful
Serious baby makin' Dad Yacht Funk, so you'll probably need to be in the right mood, but this is excellent even if it feels a little front loaded. A very tight and fun album with some nice surprises with the kalimba and keyboard work. Forgetting this was a soundtrack, I was hoping to hear vocals on 'Afrocano' but oh well. Gonna go ahead and round this one up.
Such a smooth and groovy album so far! Song 5/8 now
Pretty good. Was expecting somewhat cookie cutter 70s corporate stuff but there were some experimental things here as well.
Funk and old school fun.
This is a really nice album. I had only listened to September by Earth, Wind & Fire before, but some of these songs are just as good!
Funky, what a groove. Shining Star is such a great first track.
Pegadizo para bailar y ponerte enérgico con vibras positivas
No need to listen to any other funk bands, I’ve reached the climax of funk. 10/10
Harmony. This is the music they play when you find out you made it to heaven and so did your friends and family. In addition to just sounding good, this group has an emphasis on sending a good message through their lyrics which is a huge plus in my book. “Reasons” and “All about Love” are favorites. 9/10
Funky. Earth Wind & Fire are just so fucking good and smooth to listen to. Honestly the better the album is the less I have to say about it 9/10
This is the funk I crave. Inject this directly into my veins. I must become the funk. Banger album filled with bangers. I loved every song and find no faults in this masterpiece. Actually sad when it ended and I wanted more. 10/10
One of the greatest funk groups of all time. Some songs are new to me, as I've surprisingly never listened to a full album of theirs other than the '05 Illuminations album. It doesn't disappoint. Verdine White's bass playing is fantastic, and the horn section is on point. 5/5!
the whole thing is such a vibe not a single miss!! each song offers smth different, and much of the time that funk guitar is do smooth and the brass on top makes it so shiny — like a thinner big band sound. i adore it. - shining star - reasons
Outstanding. Definitely needed to hear this today, got me dancing 🕺
LOVED!
one of my fav groups. Shining star is a classic.
some of the best music ever recorded
So funky. I really liked it! I also liked the messages that the music conveyed. :)<3
Amazing. This should be in my rotation.
There a reason this band is the major elements of existence. This album is in fact ALL THE THINGS. It covers classic r&b, kicky funk, and elevated groove, seemingly effortlessly, and somehow IS the 70’s without all the parts of the 70’s that feel cringe now. For extra points listen while roller skating.
Funky bass line and good rhythm
There is something really fun, about a large collection of truly excellent musicians. They have their vibe down 100%. The bass work is great in particular. And they are confident in who they are, and it rules. The album starts with what most millennials know as "the Superbad song". The album slows down a bit in the later tracks. But overall, I loved it.
Fun funk/soul album to listen to but on the shorter side. Loved the latter half of the album, it felt so creative. Definitely something I'll come back to.
It comes out the gate swinging a hits a grand slam of funky goodness. It’s a masterclass of bass playing and a shining example of how tender and exciting this genre can be
Shining Star- 4.8/5 That's the Way of the World- 5/5 Happy Feelin'- 5/5 All About Love- 4.3/5 Yearnin' Learnin'- 4.6/5 Reasons- 4.8/5 Africano- 4.2/5 See the Light- 4.7/5 Total- 4.7/5
Great first listen, would listen again
Wonderful album!!
#2
Earth, Wind & Fire, soul, disco & funk.
Starting the album off with Shining Star is fantastic, gets the energy pumping from the get go.l this whole album is so full of soul, not normally my genre of choice but they make it accessible.
Quite classy and sassy ;)
Banger album Loved it
Yeah. So good. Shining Star? That’s a song for all times.
Funky music
Fun, soulful and funky. I've not heard this side of EWF, I'm definitely more familiar with all the amazing disco songs they put out. This was a very good listen though, and it had a nice mix of slower ballads and more upbeat funk jams. Amazing instrumentation too - Verdine White is a bass god, and I love a good kalimba! Favourite: Happy Feelin'
Great Melodious Fun Vibe!
Banger after banger after banger, amen.
Exceptionally sexy and groovy, the best to ever do it.
All time favorite
iconic 10/10
A true testament to the signature EW&F sound.
Earth, Wind & Fire is of another kind. This soulful ensemble doled out hit after hit. Their music and their energy has aged wonderfully over these years and have inspired many. The first track, "Shining Star," crushed records and is instantly recognizable despite being decades old. And That's The Way Of The World.
Absolutely BANGS
Man I love me some disco-funk. The way all the different instruments fuse together, the keys, the horns...it's impossible not to feel the groove in this album. I thought I was just gonna like the funk in this album, but the soul, All About Love, was my favorite song here. 10/10
awesome
Every song is a bop. Interesting sound choices throughout. Great messages to all the lyrics. Wanted to start over the moment it ended. Just lovely all around.
You don't get more classic disco than this. I wish I could hear this with fresh 70's ears and be as blown away as it deserves. This is clearly immaculately produced and masterful. So smooth. So Funky. So lovely. So cool.
The definition of SOUL music. There's nothing more to be said. A classic and euphoric listening experience no matter what she you are or whatever year you get to find this treasure. Neverending. Timeless. Legendary. 5 out 5 stars.
Loved it
ggrrroooooovyy
Sooo much soul! This is perfect for the end of the work day or right after work, maybe with an outdoor fizzy cocktail. I tried listening in the morning, and it was just to not right to get the day started. Almost every track I loved from the start. I thought from the start I'd hate the track Yearnin' Learnin', but it won me over.
Álbum intricado, bem fechadinho e muito gostoso de se ouvir
I mean, Earth, Wind, and Fire has always been that kind of music that makes the world a little brighter. In my opinion, it's hard to hate. Thing everything is performed wonderfully, the harmonies add a huge amount of warmth throughout. Favorite tracks: "Shining Star", "That's The Way of The World", "Yearnin' Learnin'"
my mind is fucnjng blown 6/5
Not all disco sucks!
Fed disco album. Mange fede musik stykker
An extremely solid funk album with just enough pop fusion just create really approachable, rememberable, sing-a-long-able hits
Absolutely flawless Rating: 5/5 Special shout out to Happy Feelin for being one of the most euphoric tracks ever recorded
I freaking love Earth, Wind & Fire
Loved it, love disco, love this band, however at one point it felt like the intro to I'm a Celeb
Smooth and funky in equal measures, so great.
EW&F do it like no other. This album was top to bottom hits. And I don’t even know if it is even their best album. I think it might be in just how consistently smooth and funky it is. If you’re looking for an aphrodisiac, this is it.
A great mix of soul, funk, and R&B. These guys are amazing. And the production values, for the time, were unmatched. This is a great album.
Groovy
Nao tem setembro mas ta bom
Another great album by this soul-funk band.
Amazing! Africano is my favourite.
While this is more of a 4.5 star album, it broke my heart to consider giving it only 4. Maybe it isn't perfect, but it's real close. This is some masterful funk and soul. Beautiful when it needs to me, but groovy as hell all the way through. A great listen that I'd be happy to put back on as soon as it ends.
🪩 😍
Classic!
Very funky and fun
Thank you 1001 albums for a new discovery! Earth, Wind and Fire, it's been a pleasure to listen to your music.
all time
Loved it
Maurice White can write songs. Each track is a composition, and each track is enjoyable. 5
5/5 like a greatest hits album. party from start to finish. guitars horns soaring vocals. what’s not to love?
They really are the real deal - complex, surprising music but also catchy, fun and lively. I wish every band was so spectacular!
It’s great
Great album, lots of favorite songs!
Fantastic album
Great album from start to finish. Very funky.
One of many classic EWF albums. There is a lot of great music on the first five EWF albums. Head to the Sky is also 5 stars for instance and striongly commendable, but this one (album number 6) is the first one that is really perfect from beginning -> end. Soul / funk music combined with proper, high-quality song-writing played very skilfully.
Perfect album when you’re in a funk. Every song peaked my interest and made me want to get up and move. Cleaned my house to it and appreciated the dynamic complexity.
Really enjoyed this. The whole album from front to back was engaging and really fun. Funky bass lines and a really cool tone on the guitar mix perfectly with well timed horns and keys. There are times where I wish the drums demanded your attention, but I'm nitpicking. This album makes me nostalgic for a time I wasn't even alive. This was my first time listening to this and I'll come back to it regularly. Favorite track - Shining Star Least favorite track - See the Light
I've always been a big fan of 70's soul/funk (stevie wonder is my favorite artist of all time), but I've never checked out a full album from Earth Wind & Fire. I went into this thinking it would get a solid 4 stars from me but there's literally nothing to dislike about these songs. It's perfect, the recording is pristine without sounding over-produced or flat, the songs have personality and stick out from the others, and there's never a dull moment. I really love this album and I'm glad it came on rotation.
Some classics, some jammers, all around fantastic album.
I can almost smell my grandmother's cooking when I listen to this album. I've heard all of these songs 10,000 times just by simply growing up around my family and being black, really. Initially, I didn't want to give this album 5 stars because this isn't something I regularly come and listen to, but then again, I never NEED to come find this album to hear it throughout the year. You'll kinda just hear these songs everywhere as long as you exist on planet earth and don't live under a rock. Earth, Wind & Fire is a ubiquitous part of world musical culture.
It was dope.
Earth, Wind & Fire..whats not to like.
Hell yeah. One of my favorite ever music acts comes through again. Favorite track: Shining Star
EWF sounds like you're on the bus heading home on a perfect fall afternoon when you have no homework and you're blissfully unaware of the problems of the world. Just endless freedom. Best track: Shining Star
Great record. Pre-disco and surprisingly arty.
U N B E L I E V A B L E
Elaine dance song
Absolutely perfect.
Funky af
slayed the boots down houston im deceased
sonzao nask demais
Really enjoyed this apart from tracks #4 and 8, was just a bit lukewarm on those but they might be growers. Nice surprise as I only knew a couple of songs from this band. Soundtracked a chilly and wet trip to and from Galway, one listen each way. Also, top notch cover photo!
Disco - smooth mix of Uptempo grooves and low tempo slow dancing love songs
Pretty good songs
So dope Liked the last song a lot
Smooth funky goodness
Great!
Can not beat a bit of feel good funk
really funky album!
5/5. There's a reason this band has the reputation they do. Not my style but it's a perfect album.
I can't imagine giving this album fewer than five stars.
Classic
Almost perfect. Track 1 is a masterpiece.
niiiiiiice
This is delightful. It has an unselfconscious seventiesness to it that I love.
This album didn't contain my most beloved Earth, Wind & Fire songs, but I greatly enjoyed every track. Lots of fun and a light, warm spirit to it.
Delightfully uplifting. Super smooth. A great accompaniment to the day.
I love Earth, Wind and Fire so I was excited to set this. Never heard this album before but knew the first two tracks and they are excellent. The rest of the album? Loved it! I was surprised to learn that this was a soundtrack for a movie. Think I may have to check that out too.
Awesome funk/soul
Perfection.
A groovy experience through and through. It might not be the most complex album in the world, but I loved listening to it. Each song made me want to move my body, which is what I try and look for in songs. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly mine. Favorite track: Reasons
A melhor coisa do Album generator é me mostrar que o que diferencia um clássico de um som comum é a atemporalidade. Você escuta o Funk e o Soul de Earth Wind and Fire em Adele, em Amy Whinehouse, em Norah Jones, em Diana Krall... é fantástico...simplesmente fantástico. "That's The Way Of The World" tem a responsabilidade musical de ser todas as músicas de Marvin Gaye em 5:45min
If I lived in the 60s I would put this album on and be happy all day long 🧡
Sonzera, groovadão dá pra por no rolê dboas
tava doido pra dar 4 estrelas mas vou ser obrigado a dar 5
Best band of all time....FIRE
Can never get enough of such music!
They've got the funk. They've got it right here in this box. They found they could see around corners. Ohhh gimmi that funky milk!
what a vibe
Loved it! So bluesy and groovy!
Favourite so far!
Such a smooth listen, and not too long either!
Brilliant!
Oh incredible!
I really liked this one
Absolute banger start to finish
What you'd expect from EW&F + some prototypical party rap, wow
If you aren't absolutely grooving to Earth Wind and Fire, what are you even doing? EWF has had a special place in my heart for like 16 years at this point (half my life!). Side A is better than B, but Africano may actually be my favorite track. The origin of a bass line that literally SLAPS
Shining Star is a song I remember singing when I was a kid. This album reminds me of weekends when I was a kid, cooking with my mom.
Cool funk album
Todo bien
Сладенько и хорошо
Me encanto!
Good stuff
🥰loved them in High School and 😍them now. As l listened more carefully this time, I felt like they were a mix of Chicago and Elton John and Marvin Gaye all rolled up in one! Great Job Earth 🌍 wind & 🔥
So good
Absolutely fantastic. Pure funk. Head starts bobbing of its own accord. Not too sure about "All About Love" even though it has some good moments. Everything else is great though. Too short.
yessssssss
Shining Star and Reasons are so great. The whole album is just right on. Even the album cover is perfect.
These guys had it figured out.
false
I play bass, therefore I love Earth, Wind and Fire.
What a funktastic album, I've never heard it, yet feel it was already in my soul!! 🥰🔥🥰
Pretty fun! Easy to listen to. More instrumental tracks than I expected.
Imma be honest, the chimes in That’s the Way of the World sound like my apple watch notification; pretty impressive how they sampled that 40 years before it existed😎 Reasons is also a solid standout. Africano and See the Light are an interesting pair to finish up with, they popppingggg.
They didn’t even need to go this hard. Great stuff. The solos on Africano are very cool
Ahh so groovy and classic. Starts off strong, vocals are fantastic and really its the occasional growl and the a cappella ending of the first song for me. Loved Yearnin' Learnin', All About Love, and Africano. 4.5-5 stars
Earth, Wind, and FIRE. I'd probably put it as more of a 4.5 if I could, but a 4 just seems miserly.
Ok, die unmittelbare Gegenbewegung zum Abba-Tiefschlag ist abgeklungen. Trotzdem danke ich allen, die daran mitgewirkt haben mich zum tieferen Zuhören und einer relativ ausgiebigen Beschäftigung mit der Platte herauszufordern: das ist nämlich wunderbar warme, cremige und eben nicht zuckerwattige, sondern eher schokoladige Funk/Soul/Popmusik. Rhythmisch total auf den Punkt, aber auch gefühlig immer richtig dosiert, und in ihrer gesamten Mischung auf der Platte perfekt ausbalanciert zwischen Uptempo, Smoothness und Verführung. Wäre ne perfekte 4 gewesen, den zusätzlichen Punkt gibts für die Entdeckung.
Absolute bangers, all the way through. Probably my second favorite EWF album behind I Am, but obviously still amazing.
STRONG start and a real groove throughout. I've been into Nu Funk more this year and its beyond obvious how much those folks are trying to be modern EWF. Just cool cool cool all the way. probably a 4.5 but I'm rounding up ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I quite liked this album. I had only heard one or two songs by Earth, Wind & Fire previously, so it was nice to hear more by them.
Perfect funk album. Incredible.
Hot fire!
Complete classic. Songs I grew up with and reminds me of family. Great album to listen to while working.
Good times.
smooth, easy listening with great voices
Funky Funky Funky Funk
God, where are we in the world today. 9/10 Likes: 'Shining Star,' 'Happy Feelin', 'That's the Way of the World,' the horns of 'Yearnin' Learnin',' dear god 'Reasons' is a perfect masterpiece, best song on the album, fight me, is 'See the Light.' Dislikes: First half of 'All About Love,' though that synth part is phenomenally mesmerizing, Y'all know this is just my opinion right?
It's a beautiful album. Short and nostalgic somehow
I don’t think you have a soul if you don’t enjoy this on at least some level
Shining star ✨
Shining Star was the most fantastic choice to kick off this album. Gorgeous vocals, groovy, funky and soulful beats, it all flowed so well. 4.5 Top tracks: Shining Star, That’s the Way of the World, Happy Feeling, Reasons, Africano
I’m a fan. 4 Boolean: True
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.
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)”
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
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
Mega chill and funky
nice and groovy
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.
everyone should listen to this album
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!
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!
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
Great
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.
Not usually my vibe, but this soul/funk is pretty good
Very groovy right off the bat. Icons for a reason. Would listen again
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.
Great and energetic start Muddle middle Upped tempo towards the end with a strong finish
Loved it
Great Album to keep me in a good mood for a work day, especially a Monday.
4/5
I've never felt this happy listening to an entire disco album before
EWF have got what it takes! Yeah!
Groovy. I liked it a lot.
A lot of it so good, a lot of it so bad lol
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
Happy feelin Shining star Yearin learnin Thats the way of the world
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
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
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
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.
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 😂
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.
Loved it! never really cared for Shining Star but it's a perfect opener and there are some really great songs on this one.
I feel like this would put me in a good mood whenever
Esta muy guapo y me recuerda bastante a las voces de MJ
I really enjoyed this one. Weirder than I expected, in a great way.
8/10
Damn the percussion on this thing is amazing. Still not my favorite Earth Wind and Fire but an amazing record nonetheless
Reasons was my dad's high school slow dance song. Clas-sy
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
Great record and vibe. You can't hear that this was a soundtrack.
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."
I had a backlog and saved this one as a pallette-cleanser. A wise decision.
3.5
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
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
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
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
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"
Very nice
super nice and smooth
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
Good vibes, good times. First time I've heard them outside of September but I dug it.
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
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
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
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
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.
Really enjoyed this! I was surprised. Some great songs and great chill out music.
Almost made me religious
годно
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
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
Прикольний альбом кльовий бас
Groovy and funky with no filler. 3.75/5.
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
Really funky and good dance music.
Aku sukabamget sama musik disko fi album ini
Solid fun
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.
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.