Reviews (page 5 of 13)
“Yearnin’ Learnin’” is clunky, but the rest are gold. Perfect groove. Love it. Enjoyed it. Will listen again. 4/5
Super chill, i really liked it
fun listen! i liked it a lot
I adored half of this album, the rest is only okay and holds it back slightly. Wasn't huge on the 2 "love ballads", the other 2 songs were okay but kind of forgettable. Always a band I liked though.
Excellent. Yes, it does sound very "Seventies", but there's a reason for that. So much better than modern RnB rubbish
Classic soul music, I loved it
Really enjoyed. Knew the first two songs. Loved the jams near the end. Would definitely revisit!
I own CD. Opens strong with 2 hits. Jazzy, bluesy, soulful. Album has good flow. Interesting (soundtrack) interludes - good but not necessary. Love Africano - groove and jam
Schon wieder Funk - gerne mehr davon ;-)
First two tracks go off, lots is strong grooves and smooth vocals. Consistently engaging hooks and instrumentation. Definitely one that will grow on me with each listen as I’m already looking forward to a relisten. Top Three Tracks : That’s the Way of the World, Reasons, See the Light Least Favourite Track: Happy Feelin’
Groovy, high energy, but not EWF at their best.
Great smooth R&B
This is my first time with this album all the way through. I was familiar with many of the songs. It was soulful and fun to listen to. I have never seen the movie, but I may give it a watch soon.
Honestly a really fun record. It is filled with great horn lines, funky grooves, and heartwarming melodies.
first listen truly a timeless record from an obscure film
Great album. It’s funky EWF goodness. Nothing not to like here.
Nice and smooth.
This was even better than I was expecting. I started out thinking I didn’t know too many songs on this album. I knew shining star, of course, but didn’t recognize a lot of the names of the other songs but once I heard them, they were familiar. I think sometimes earth wind and fire doesn’t get the respect thing earned and deserve when it comes their influence on music.
Coming out of Chicago then moving to LA EWF put together an amazing band. Did not know that there 3 brothers from the same family, White. Need to see the movie that this LP is associated with. Liked "Reasons", "Africano" & "Shining Star".
funky album, i like it
Wooooooo
I like this but don’t find any of it particularly memorable. Made sense now knowing it’s a soundtrack. Great musicianship with Verdine White’s bass standing out to me. Prefer the funkier number, some of the slower ones verge on the cheesy. 3.5
Solid funk album, feel like it just needs a little more on the hook side to bring it up to five stars.
It's not my favorite type of music, but I like some good funk and soul tracks now and then when I'm in the right mood. This album would be one I would listen to then, great production, excellent musicians, and great voices.
Une belle surprise !
Oh yeah
8/10
funky!
4 7/16 fort.
Du soul funk plus tight que mes pants. J'pense qu'y'ont des meilleurs albums mais y'a une coupe de tounes solides. 3.5 étoiles
Amo a este grupo y Africano representa lo genial que pueden ser, me sorprendió all about love con su letra más reflexiva y linda y su ritmo más calmado, así como see the light, son canciones interesantes en dentro del repertorio. Muy buen álbum
Fun!!! Best Song: That's the Way of the World Rating: 7.5/10 (Fun!) Stars: 4/5
# Playlist Track - Shining Star # Notes - A super fun and energetic album, with a couple of duds thrown in. - The opening track "Shining Star" is a blast, and it's followed by the super cool ballad that titles the album. - "All about love" then indicates that the album won't live up to its beginning and "Reasons" misses the mark on the overly dramatic vocals.\ - The rest is good. Not amazing, but not bad either. - Overall a pretty fun experience. Recommend!
I think I’ve only listened to compilations from the band before. It’s not easy diving into such a legendary group with so much music, some of it a bit hit or miss. And let’s be honest, their album covers aren’t always exactly inviting. But yeah, this one’s really good and I’m loving every bit of it (except « All about love » which sounds too Marvin). You can totally hear the lasting influence this band has had and still has. Prod and vibe are excellent.
Me mola su rollo
A little bit boring on the second half, but anyway if it was my life’s soundtrack, i'd be the happiest person ever
Lots of great stuff here. I cannot believe "Africano" hasn't been used for sampling.
Good funk like from a 70s cop show, heard it on the last attempt but great stuff,
Only knowing one song before, I had a narrow expectation of an album full of Septembers (which I wouldn't have hated tbh!) however what I got was a varied, funky, and memorable journey which I had on repeat all day.
Needed this in my life yesterday - pushing a 5 for “Shining Star”
Funky. Jazz/soul? Great drumming especially Happy Feeling and Africano. Some songs I recognize others I'm hearing for first time.
Classic. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Funky
Album 802 of 1089 Earth, Wind & Fire - That's The Way Of The World (1975) Rating : 3.5 / 5 Good listen. A few tracks that I remember well. One brings memories of the skating rink on Charlotte Pike in Nashville. Still waiting for Damone to come through with some tickets for the live show.
Very pleasant funk, genuinely enjoyed listening to this - EWF have always been a band that I thought was mediocre oldies- station fodder, but this was actually much better than expectations! Well definitely be looking out for any more of this coming my way :)
Wells E, W& F isch. .
SOOOOOOOOO natürliiich isches smooth shining star isch sehe en coole ihstig ines album s xylophon gaht ja crazy bi happy feelin' hahahahaha all about love findi zwar na schön aber nüt weltbewegends AHH BLÖSER UND HINDERGRUNDGSANG OK OK jaap aber chli z vill cheese reasons kenntmer oder? so oder so findi d strophe hammer, de striicherteil eneer hmmm HE GOT SOME PIPES GODDAMN mit africano hani wenig chönne ahfange ohh cooli perkussion chli im hindergrund bi see the light mengisch hani sie chli verlore aber ganz klar es 4i! ahja und happy birthday luca! das isch mis gschenk!!
Funky cool
Pretty sure if everyone on Earth set their alarms to Shining Star we'd reach world peace fast than you know!
I've never listened to much of Earth Wind and Fire. I know the hits like September and Let's Groove, and they are good songs, I just never really dug into their catalog. Super glad this popped up as my next choice, though. This record was a very fun listen. Maurice White and Philip Bailey both have excellent voices and that alone would have made this really enjoyable, but the musicality of the group makes this great. I enjoyed different songs for different reasons on this record. Shining Star is a really catchy song with tight, good harmonies. That's the Way of the World has a nice groove to it. All About Love is a well constructed ballad. Reasons has some great vocals. Africano felt like an exercise in "how fast can we play and still sound musical" - like listening to great jazz musicians, just pure talent. Two things keep me from rating this a 5: Yearin' Learnin' I didn't really care for and I didn't think See the Light was that great a song as a closer. 6+ minutes and it felt longer. That said, the rest of this album was great for me and a fun find.
That’s the Way of the World is smooth, soulful, and just plain easy to enjoy. If there were a Mt. Rushmore of Yacht Rock, Earth, Wind & Fire would absolutely have a spot carved out — maybe even front and center. This album is the definition of laid-back listening, but it’s never boring. The grooves are tight, the harmonies are buttery, and it’s got just the right mix of funk, soul, and soft rock to keep things interesting. It’s the kind of record you can put on and just vibe to — whether you're cruising down the highway or just relaxing at home. Favorite song: Shining Star
I really enjoyed this album. I only know their hits, so it was fun to get album tracks. I loved the song “Reasons.” It gave such strong Prince vibes, and I have to believe they were an influence for him.
Very enjoyable listen. Lots of great instrumentals on top of the vocals. Also, lots of progressive and creative artistic ideas.
Cool that this is a movie soundtrack
Legendary for a reason, a good 70s funk makes the day go so much better!
Enjoyed this a lot; super funky. I loved Happy Feelin' - amazing bass playing.
3 good
It jams pretty hard Will I listen to again: 59%
Funky and fresh. Fun throughout, but didn’t quite spike it as stellar.
This music puts a smile on my face :)
I know when an album is great when I hear it. "TtWotW" is one of them. This album proves that Earth, Wind & Fire is more than a few nice hits. I like how there's no filler on it. Here's to another fine album! 4 stars for "That's the Way of the World".
8.5/10
It’s hard to sit still when these songs play.
Typical EWF, upbeat and fun to listen to.
"That's The Way Of The World" is one of those albums that could be classified as a hidden gem - which, I'm starting to feel, it's a pattern between some 1970s works. Not a lot of albums have it all - consistency, innovation and the abillity to connect emotionally - but this one surely does. First of all, there are no trully bad songs! Everything here is well-built and has its uniqueness. Since it's not an overlong album, it's considerably easier to enjoy all of these tracks. They flow naturally to one another and create a masterpiece of cohesion and immersion. I also must give credit to their boldness and creativity (I think I've even spotted some John Coltrane in one of the tracks). It clearly follows a sonic pattern, but that's far from a flaw as long as you are able to create something rich and compelling within that chosen world. Here, that world is a powerful fusion of disco, soul and a bit of jazz. 9/10 - close to a masterpiece
Funky, fun, danceable. Didn’t love All About Love (First Impression) in the middle of the album but the rest is banging.
I enjoyed this album, it was fun and upbeat. However, I prefer my Funk a little weirder.
Fav song: Shining Star Joyful and upbeat album. I cannot say everything was to my taste but it was a fun listen. "Shining Star" is a great song. Listening makes me think about the '70s, the decade of my birth. I'm fascinated by the decade because it was rough in terms of world events, but the music was fun and uplifting. People had to get through somehow.
Had the privilege of owning this on vinyl! Great side A vibes, kinda drops off a bit towards the end though, but a party indeed 4 stars, almost a 5
crisp
Hell. Yes. Great stuff here.
🎧Terrific stuff. Favorite track (aside from Shining Star): See the Light. “Lift me up when life's battles make me fall”
I don't like it as much as I should, in part because I wish it was "more". That's a personal flaw that can be corrected. Favorite track: Yearnin' Learnin'
So joyous and funky. Awesome vocal performance and the music is on point. Some songs just hit less I guess.
Very Funky, I liked it
The funk is real on this one. Starts off with the banger, "Shining Star" being the most famous song of the album. Slows you down with a soft, but still funky 2nd track, and speeds up majorly on "Happy Feelin'". "Reasons" might be one of my new favorite love songs. Album is also a constant reminder on why saxophones are great. "Africano", dude, pure funk at it's finest, my favorite song of the album by far. Would give this another listen, looking forward to hearing some of their other work.
Reminds me of being in the car with my dad. Incredible funk album. Thats the Way of the World is one of my favorites. The saxophone makes me miss playing mine.
Biased soul and funk fan here saying this record is great! Listening to this album just feels right (idk if that makes sense). I love the musicality, groove and falsettos throughout this album a lot. I'm not sure if they're necesarrily re-inventing the wheel at all on this album but the feeling you get while listening is undeniable. 4/5
I know Shining Star and September. I also know September will not be appearing since fun fact it was only ever a single and never on an album.
Lush and joyful. Top-shelf soul music that isn't too adherent to its genre. Verdine White does stunning work on bass.
My prior knowledge of EW&F is limited to September, sadly. This album starts so funky, I just know it will be a good time. This album is just so COOL, so much drip. It's weaker in the back half, but still enjoyable, 4* Highlights: shining star
Cool
Awesome
Fun Earth, Wind & Fire album. I enjoyed it.
This was great. Funky, catchy and still holds up. In going to round this one up to four stars. Just a solid record with songs I recognized. Great musicianship.
The bass...
This album has great harmonies and is a window into the 70s the first three songs are what it’s all about and the Classics. Surprising religious undertones I didn’t remember.
Classic Earth Wind and Fire, they are some funky dudes and they do more than just September.
good tunes on this
Solid album. Great positive messaging! Quite funky indeed!
mood lifter music, majority of the songs are cool and the less-important ones are still pleasant
EW&F is one of the great American bands. The ballads bring this down a notch, but still pretty fun.
The elements
Drifted a little from the funky, pre-disco vibe into 70s vocal soul towards the end but it was enjoyable throughout
Great instrumentals and funky asl
Earth, Wind & Fire and PIPES
WARNING!!! Spontaneously grew an afro.
A gdzie ich największy hit? Nie na tej płycie! Ogólnie jest to bardzo przyjemna muzyka. Taka z zaśpiewem, lekkim funkiem, przyjemnym rytmem. Do potańczenia, relaksu, raczej nie do głębszych przemyśleń. Idealna na słoneczny dzień albo gorączkę sobotniej nocy. 7/10
Groovy. I enjoyed the listen, not something I'll go back to often but EW&F are undeniably great in their genre! 4.5
Really happy to see something from Earth, Wind & Fire from the list. Really brings up the mood when listening to. The sound of this sits perfect, but I perhaps expected the track list to be a bit stronger. Right in the middle between a 3 and a 4 for me, but the supposed hit songs from this weren't as good as I expected, and it felt like it lacked punch overall. Still, I'd much more listen to this than some of my other 3 star albums, so a weak 4 feels correct.
A while back we had "Simple Red" and I noted I really disliked pop soul. This is the real deal though. Funky, soulful and a fun listen. I've spent most of my weekend listening to this. Perfect for parties, perfect for background music, just a fan overall. Best track is the opening "Shining Star" but I think but the whole album is good. My only gripe is there are no particular singles that really stand out.
This really isn't my type of music, but it's a solid album. Weirdly, and I think for the first time in over 900 albums, this one is too short. I'm giving it a 4, but it's probably my weakest 4 so far.
I'd never heard most of this. I didn't like the ballads, but most of it is worth listening to again.
Was not expecting all that kalimba on the album. It didn't win me over on the first listen but by listen 2-3 I was up to 4 stars
Yearnin' learnin' is a banger. Super catchy, very re-listenable. Happy Feelin' too. The other ones were all nice. If someone played them on a car ride, say, I'd not ask them to change it. But I wouldn't play it myself. Yearnin' learnin' and Happy feelin' are 5/5. Shining star is 4/5. The rest are 3/5 for me.
Good
Infectious. Groovy.
A couple of brilliant tracks that set the day up nicely, a fair bit of filler though
I dig this a lot. 4.5 stars.
Most EW&F I've listened to before this is a lot more pop-funk, so it's nice that this album leans into soul & funk. 1st 3 songs had a very similar feel so the 4th being more jazz was a welcome change.
01/04/25 Another album I have listened to before, another album I have enjoyed.
Fun groovy album. Definitely some better EWF albums but this was a fun one
I'm not surprised this album is as good as it is. Earth, Wind, and Fire is definitely a band that knows how to throw down. I can't give it 5 stars because there were a couple songs that were too weird and off-putting, such as "All About Love (First Impression)". I can accept one "auto-skip" on a masterpiece, but not more than one. Other than a couple total duds for me, this was so soulful in places, so funky in others. I loved it.
I appreciate Michael Harriot's comments on this album in the first chapter of Black AF History. I agree with his uncle Junior: "...Earth, Wind & Fire albums should only be played in their purest form, from beginning to end." Love, love, love.
A good listen, especially as background music
🤩
Pretty funk and proggy at parts I liked it but not.my.fav from earth wind and.fire
Feelsgoodman
Fav: That’s The Way Of The World Least Fav: All About Love (First Impression) As someone who only knew their big hits, this was a nice surprise
Tight as a ducks. Uberfunk. Who'd bank on a bunch of old jazzers knocking it out of the park?
7.5/10
3.5
This is brilliant. Few noodly bits and a couple of slightly lesser tracks, but on the whole it's a great listen. Disavowed me of the idea that Earth, Wind & Fire were just a singles band. You can hear bits and certain intonations that must have been an influence on Prince.
I mean, they’re timeless for a reason! Enjoyed the listening experience from start to finish - some of the best soul music I’ve ever come across.
Ca commence par de la funk très classique, puis ça part un peu dans tous les sens. Tout n'est pas parfait, mais ça donne souvent envie de sortir son meilleur déhanché.
Fun and funky with some unexpected soul. Only real criticism is that “All about love” had a strange production choice at the end where it sounded like the song was over and then it went back into the opening instrumental again for no reason. It would make sense if the intro but was an intro track and then this was the last track of the album and it was appearing to all start over but it didn’t make sense in the middle of the album. The track isn’t strong enough to be an opener so overall placement makes sense, I would have done away with the outro/intro revisit though.
I think I enjoy smooth soul music
smoother Sound der runtergeht wie Butter
EWF is a fun band. So I think that some don’t give them the credit they deserve for being a good band. A little Funk a little soul. Excellent harmonies and solid musicianship.
Dance-floor funk, with intervals of smooth R&B. Happy Feelin' & Africano.
And if there ain't no beauty, you got to make some beauty. Have mercy!
This was pretty fun. Started strong but I was less into it as it went on.
Everything about this is great. I could have done with a shorter version of See the Light, and without the weird synthesizer though 4
Catchy tunes with deeper lyrics than I would’ve expected.
Happy funk, with a mostly positive message. Sorely missed.
4 maybe 5
I did not use a private session for Spotify. There is a reason why "Earth, Wind & Fire" is played at every wedding reception I have ever been to, and that reason it's a lot of fun. It's fun, it's funky, and gets white people to dance.
sewwww good
1001 albums taught me I love funk. The joy, pleasure, and soul motivate me in ways these British bands could never.
Groovy 3.5
Fantastic. Feel good music.
Наудивление мелодичная и приятная уху соул музыка.
Sakadika con las lentejas
Compared to Parliament, it's just a level higher. I listened to it on repeat twice. Great groove, it lifts your mood instantly.
insane grooves
I liked the majority of this album. It had some variety and a couple of classic funk and R&B songs.
I usually listened to September by Earth, Wind & Fire, this one is definitively not as good as that but still has the vibes. I don't think there was a memorable song for me though.
I dig this a lot. 4.5 stars.
A great listen that clearly influenced a lot of what came after it. I really enjoyed the spoken word section on All About Love. Very Outkast.
Startin off with the stank, and then exploring the love. Powerful album with excellent musicianship.
i thought they were a one hit wonder band, but no. this is heat
Loved it - really soulful and great production
A delightful mixture of infectious boogying, expert balladry and dynamic jamming, That's the Way of the World is Earth, Wind & Fire operating at the peak of their powers. Anything that is wanted to be heard from the outfit is here and no one would feel left out by a lack of choice. A greatest hits album in all but name. Favorites: Shining Star, That's the Way of the World, Happy Feelin', Yearnin' Learnin', Africano.
прикольно.
Really like the jazz solos, songs like Africano Had real meaning
Everything I've ever heard from Earth, Wind, and Fire is groovy. It's no wonder this is one of the most sampled bands of all time.
4.0
I've given this list a fair bit of shite but one positive thing it's done for me is introduce me into my liking for soul/funk music. The main reason why I like this stuff is the bass, and Verdine White is one of the best in the business. The vocals and the harmonies are good too. All round nice album
Would listen again; damn this was fun; a well deserved round up from 3.5; favorites: shining star, africano
пойдёт
Me gustó bastante. 9/10 Top 3. That’s the way of the world All about love See the light
Pure soul. Man, I dare you too try to not have this elevate your mood after "Shinnin Star". I listen to this genre and compare to what is excitable by today's standard, [i.e. hip hop, pop] and am like... "Why?" Do your ears and soul a favor and listen
Uplifting, joyous and life affirming. Only really knew the band from September but this is really special. I don't think one listen alone will cut it and look forward to revisiting. Hymns to life lived through music
Such a great one to start with. I really like this group. I’ve always like Shining Star and Reasons, but I discovered All About Love with this listen, and it’s incredible. A theme I noticed for this album was self-love, which is evident of course with Shining Star, but this was reinforced through All About Love. It’s a great message, and I don’t know a whole lot about the culture of this decade aside from aesthetics, but I was surprised that this was a theme for this time. Doesn’t seem like it was mainstream as far as I know. The sound is timeless for many of these tracks…I’d believe you if you said they were produced recently. I love the jazzy and big band/marching band undertones. It makes it fun and positive for tracks like Shining Star, but romantic for All About Love (even if it’s about self love too)
Every song is good Peak funky soul Perfection
Great album of soulful funk. These are some very talented musicians.
"That's the Way of the World" is the sixth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire. Soul, funk, progressive soul and pop. Yes, sir! The album was a soundtrack for a 1975 motion picture of the same name. It was produced by band leader Maurice White and Charles Stepney. The bandmembers included Maurice White (vocals, drums, kalimba, percussion), Philip Bailey (vocals, congas, percussion), Verdine White (vocals, bass, percussion), Ralph Johnson (drums, percussion), Fred White (drums, percussion), Andrew P. Willfully (saxophones, flute), AL McKay (guitar), Ralph Johnson (guitar) and Larry Dunn (Moog synth, piano, organ, keyboards). Commercially, the album stayed at #1 for three weeks on the US Billboard 200 and, critically, had mostly favorable reviews. The album opens with their #1 hit "Shining Star." Bass and guitar to blaring horns. The groove gets a going. Maurice and Bailey on lead vocals. Great vocal chorus. Maurice said he was inspired to right the song by looking at the sky during the recording. "That's the Way of the World" is slower with gentle synths, horns and the beat. Bailey's falsetto. A bossa nova-esque beat. Very soulful. This is just a chillin' song. They give us a very Isley Brothers' like guitar solo jam. "Reasons" is another song in the ballad category. A love song at that. Bailey's falsetto again. Multiple backing vocals. Oh, and a flute. Speaking of the flute, "Africano" opens with an extended flute intro. Hey, it is 1975, this is prime time for 70's flute guy. Congas and other percussion join the flute and there is African vibe. Wait, the song changes again going funk with the pace picking up and a wah-wah guitar and horns added. I really like the variety in this album. There's funk, soul, dance R&B and romantic ballads with elements of bossa nova, African, Caribbean and jazz (progressive soul). They get a groove or soulful jam going and just set it on cruise control. No rush in most of these songs. This was released at an interesting time, after the early 70's soul and funk and just before the heights of disco. Regardless, the album would be good any time it was released. A definite recommendation.
Nothing outstanding but still some really solid funk that gets even better if you're already in a good mood
4.5 stars. So good, so groovy. "Africano" is unique, title track, "Shining Star" other standouts.
Not nearly as clever as they think they are.
loved it
It's funky bbq music for a lovely moment.
Groovy baby
8/10 Favorite Tracks: Africano, That’s The Way Of The World Least Favorite: None
That’s The Way Of The World ist mehr als nur ein Album – es ist ein Meilenstein der Musikgeschichte. Die Mischung aus virtuosem Spiel, mitreißendem Gesang und tiefgründigen Botschaften macht es zu einem unverzichtbaren Klassiker. Egal, ob man ein Fan von Funk, Soul oder einfach guter Musik ist, dieses Album gehört in jede Sammlung. Locker gesagt: Es ist schwer, nach diesem Album nicht optimistisch in die Welt zu schauen. Ein wahres Feel-Good-Erlebnis!
siempre suma
It's good. It's got hits and jams even if it is pretty dated.
4/5
It's weird to think that there was a time that this album didn't exist? This just feels like it's just always been in the background of everything. It exists and doesn't. It's good but not good enough to seek out? It's a classic in that it's the perfect example of middle of the road?
8/10
Funk
This has some classics. It sounds like Andre 3000 drew a lot of influence from this on The Love Below
Not as good as I Am but great album 8/10
Poderoso, ritmico e hipnotizante
know it well already! love it! 4 stars!
Groove. Funk. Not sure this is the album.
When it comes to funk (and, truth be told, most other forms of music, especially rock and roll), I lean towards the philosophy espoused by Gabe Roth of Daptone Records; shitty is pretty. Seriously, you should read Mr Roth's article: https://dustynuggets.blogspot.com/2009/04/shitty-is-pretty-by-gabe-roth_6324.html If I was going to nit-pick this album choice, it is too polished for my tastes. The ballads in particular are too syrupy for me. But funk is sadly under-represented on this list, and so I am rating this one high because it was a breath of fresh air after far too many prog and psych albums. Shining Star is a banger (I keep the 7" in my DJ crates) and I really dig Africano as well.
I overall really enjoyed this album, though would say I preferred the upbeat songs to the ballads. Still the ballads are good for the right mood I think. This has a good amount of funk. This album is definitely in line with reinforcing that I like funk and soul music more than I realized. It's not quite a 5 for me but it's definitely a strong 4.
This funk has the right balance of sweet and heat, and the sermon on "All About Love" is nothing if not uplifting. So good. The "yeows" in the vocals might be one's favorite sound of the '70s, the horns slap repeatedly and the cooing backing harmonies couldn't be richer (or creamier). Opener and title cut are great and "Happy Feelin'" very much delivers on promise of title. The scat-singing/spoken-word bits are first rate and awfully good fun (on "All About Lovin'"). The criticism would be that it's a bit baroque, but bonus points for the costumes, which more than makes up the difference.
I am not sure where to place EW&F in terms of genre and significance, but their talent is evident. Emergent disco at its best!
very funky - fav is shining star
4-
- That's The Way Of The World is a beautiful song, the harmonies are just so gorgeous, and is truly timeless - Of course Shining Star is a great track too - Africano, my god what a track
Shining Star is fantastic and I also really enjoyed most of the other upbeat songs on here. There were a few too many slow ballads for me but the highs are high. Best tracks: Shining Star, Happy Feelin', Africano
Uno creería que Earth, Wind & Fire, con el estatus de "legacy act" no tiene mucho con lo que sorprender a quienes investigan su gran catálogo, sin embargo, quedé boquiabierto tras escuchar este LP. Los vientos, las armonías, los sintetizadores e inclusos las psicodélicas pistas de interludio hacen de este LP unos 38 minutos que se disfrutan a cabalidad. Un poco de jazz en mi funk, y un poco de armonías en mis voces es todo lo que necesito para dar 4 estrellas o más. Escúchelo, por favor.
I was excited to see earth wind and fire album. But it did disappoint a bit. Overall not terrible.
4/5
This was a good album. It's still not my preferred style of music, and I'm not sure I'll ever go back to it, but I can't give it below a 3.5, because the songwriting and musicianship is just too good. The whole album is smooth while having funk and is cohesive.
My first album in the 1001 albums! I really enjoyed its upbeat and lighthearted yet funky and experimental sound.
First listen. Pretty good.
Excellent groove, sound, everything, just missing that real catchy immersiveness
Loved the instrumentation. Really loved the interludes.
Played it during social studies and my student said- Are you listening to Granddaddy’s music?? He’s going to be mad at you.
4.5 Stars. Yearnin Learnin and Africano were my favorite tracks, but really not a bad song on the whole album. Love me some horns.
Really really good album. I love the sound of it with the funk
4.0
Gostei
Pretty good. Fairly or unfairly, I think of EWF as wedding music. Being the soundtrack to happiness is a nice achievement, I suppose. A couple mega-strong songs on here, and the rest are decent.
Vibrant, sophisticated funk
First 2 songs are legendary (Shining Star, That's The Way Of The World), but I'm not familiar with the other songs on the album. Yearnin' Learnin' is upbeat...keeps your body moving. Reasons...another classic! Africano starts like playing around in the studio...then a nice jam ensues. The rest of the songs don't do much for me...but the good ones are GREAT!!!
Soulful funk music. What's not to like. Great stuff.
I was privileged to have a crazy choir teacher in high school... he was white but sported a huge afro and had absurd amounts of energy. He had us singing all sorts of wild stuff, like tunes from Hair the musical... and this in a small town in rural eastern Washington state, population 3,000. Claude, thank you for exposing so many folks to new music and new attitudes. I was already well on my way, as I was DJing and hanging out with people who played a lot of soul and funk records, but Claude was a fantastic influence all the same.
Not the best Earth, Wind & Fire album I've heard, but still fun. Some of the falsetto is a little grating, mind.
Obvious 5 stars but one deducted cause its kinda boring
Not my favorite album by them, but a winner nonetheless.
78/100. While not the artist's best work, this album remains a beautiful and fun addition to their discography. It captures the essence of its genre.
General impression: fire Detailed review: I really need to fucking catch up so I’m giving myself permission to be short. This album was a jam. Great sounds and bops. Another listen could maybe upgrade it to a 5, but also maybe not. Deeper thoughts (context): gonna listen to more of them Score: 4.2 Number of albums left to review: 946 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 32 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 23
A great band. I have an aversion to Earth, Wind & Fire because of wedding bands but that's not their fault. Their versatility and fusion of styles is the most striking thing in listening to the full album. They are at their best when they are boogie-ing (Shining Star, Happy Feelin', Africano). The ballad-y stuff is OK but not great. Takes a LOT of swag to do a spoken word interlude in "All About Love" but I'm not a 60 year old black woman so it doesn't get a full "amen".
Lighthearted and genial grooves with some interesting arrangements and occasionally hokey flourishes. Sounds very much of its time, but not in a limiting way. the vocals are perfect, and the songs only occasionally lean into standard disco tropes. A bit of 70s schlockishness holds this back from greatness, but still a solid album and a really fun time.
I rate the albums I listen to not on the basis of their musical quality (I'm not a musicologist, or an expert, or anything like that!) but on how much I like them and how they make me feel! This one came on a day when I needed something funky and it really made the day better, so my solid 4 It'll go on my 1001albunsgenerator favorites playlist, that's for sure ;-)
Ну такие, весёлые. Опять же большую часть слышала в тт
How can you listen to this and not feel good about the world?
I had a great time listening to this album. I don’t know that every track was my favorite, but it was hard to stay still listening to them. I would go back and give this another listen.
That was a trip that won my whole family over
I like it
Very solid
Shining star: Banger. Heard it first in Austin Powers but ended up a fav in my playlists for a while later, basically purely for the brass stings (at the start and throughout) and the guitar riffing through the whole song Who knows whats holding up the fella on his side in the bottom left. Must be magic. Right side fella is awfully confused or accusatory towards the cameraman, im sure he has a good reason. Made for killer background music while procrastinating on doing integration by parts. Africano went hard as fuck, you can hear motifs and riffs from the other songs mixed in all throughout it Can't believe this was a digitally mastered analog recording Big fan of See the Light being in 7/8. Wasn't expecting the style and time sig change to 4/4. If it sounds off, trust me, listen to enough stuff in odd time signatures for long enough and 7/8 sounds normal Was very confused when the album "ended" with 45 seconds left. Spoilers.
Great band but an album that I wasn’t especially aware of, previously. Predictably brilliant, funky stuff. Love it.
While this record did not include my all-time favorite EWF songs like "In The Stone" and "September", it introduced me to some new jams that will surely be in the rotation going forward. This album still included the quintessential EWF sound of funk mixed with R&B and even World music that they're known for. Super delightful and upbeat listen. Notable Tracks: - Shining Star - I'd be hard-pressed to find a better album opener on any record - That's the Way of the World - Yearnin' Learnin' - Africano - cool funk instrumental - See the Light 8/10
Funky goodness from way back. Easy to keep listening to.
What a breath of fresh air after having 6 albums in 2 weeks that were released between 1965-1969
I defy anyone to put on this album and *NOT* start dancing. Funk soul pop.
Felt like a warm hug
I liked it and I want to listen again. It's a good time album so looking forward to enjoying it in some sunny weather.
Really enjoyed this. The groove is infectious.
Weird outros on All About Love and See The Light. Banger of an album though.
Classic joint!
fuego hermano!
That’s the Way of the World, All About Love, Reasons, See the Light are too slow
Great album
Fantastic!
Ganska kort album. Det svänger ju något galet. Åter igen, musikerna är ju helt bissart duktiga och produktion och inspelning lika så. Det är jämnbra låtar genom hela albumet. Bra!
A couple of bangers but there’s some filler too IMO
Shining Star - 7.1 That's The Way of The World - 7.7 Happy Feelin - 7.0 All About Love - 7.5 Yearnin Learnin - 7.1 Reasons - 8.2 Africano - 8.0 See The Light - 7.4
Immaculate vibes, velvety voices. Very solid experience, probably the peak of 4*. Songs too long though.
Very good, recognized some songs. Good for a sunny day
Happy feelings was a jam. Overall enjoyed. Definitely a side of Earth Wind and Fire I’d never heard.
Happy Feelin pretty much as up this album. Even slower songs have feel the uplift when the exuberant break in. And when the party's already going on the horns take it into the stratosphere. Not a weak moment here.
Banging
That put the fun in funky!
This is amazing I wanna keep going into EWF. I need to pick a Disco Group and I think EWF will be it. I had heard this one years ago at a Barnes and Nobles before I moved to New York. Instead of talking about the record let me just tell that story. I had a journal that I filled with all my thoughts over 3 years. Well, that entry was the first time I had written in it seriously. I wrote about my goals and my love for Disco and how daft punk was influenced by EWF and ELO. Anyways I remember sitting at the table just thinking about where my life could go and how I was in a book store just mindlessly writing. I have been alone for so long it is nice to finally get past that.
Feel good soul/funk! Not their best album, but good!
Loaded with iconic tracks, though not all of them hit. I can see why it’s on the list.
Ja dit funkt wel! Soms net een beetje te saai, maar vaak genoeg echt lekker.
Pretty good soul album!
Enjoyed this a lot!
Very good album not my genre, fan favorite of the first two tracks, Shining Star and That's the Way of the World
first time listening have heard shining star reasons
8/10 - this album makes me feel indolent and yet full of energy at the same time. A perfect mix.
No fallan EWAF. Mi favorita fue That's the Way of the World. La escuche en el trabajo
Absolute classic, will always be down to listen to Earth, Wind, and Fire.
Favourite songs: Happy Feelin', Shining Star, That's the Way of the World, Africano, Yearnin' Learnin', See The Light Least favourite songs: All About Love (First Impression) 4/5
Really good. Better than I expected actually. Fav Track - Africano
Funk is not my primary genre, but there’s so many great tracks on this record. Some of the slower and sometimes seductive songs end up getting skipped, but it’s still a super solid Funk album.
Fun and catchy songs here.
Nice!
Earth, Wind & Fire are easily one of my favourite bands. They just encapsulate so many elements so effortlessly: funk, pop, soul, disco, and R&B; and they somehow do it so well across nearly all of their albums. ‘That’s The Way Of The World’ is no different. I feel like picking this one out of the first batch of their works reveals them at a very focused level. The funky hit single ‘Shining Star’ is the perfect opener: infectious horns, uplifting lyrics, and phenomenal bass lines. The jazz-y, dance-y, and energetic ‘Happy Feelin’’. The laid back, cool, and wonderful love song ‘All About Love (First Impression)’. The song that gets stuck in my head beyond belief ‘Yearnin’ Learnin’. The absolutely gorgeous ‘Reasons’. And the phenomenal instrumental ‘Africano’ with its amazing flute work, fast horns, and build up nature. 8 tracks. 8 tracks spanning across 40 minutes and somehow it just doesn’t feel like enough. It flies by leaving you wanting at least another 15 songs of this, which is not entirely unusual for Earth, Wind & Fire albums. But this one is regarded as one of their best, and I would completely agree. Is it their absolute best? No. However, it is certainly in the conversation. If you were to recommend an Earth, Wind & Fire album to anyone looking to dive into their work for the first time, this is arguably one of the best places to start. It showcases the band's joyful personality, their incredibly varied musicianship, and positive uplifting lyrics at a very high level; and how they combine many elements to make their music so much fun to listen to without it seeming forced at all. 4/5
Solid!
Really enjoyed this album, funky and iconic. Perfectly fit 1975
Makes me want to get jiggy with it
Mix of mellow and soaring trumpet lines, mixed with some funky beats - highly enjoyable! Largely instrumental.
I play bass, therefore I love Earth, Wind and Fire. 4⭐️
85% Best: Shining Star; The Way of the World; Happy Feelin'; Africano Must-Hear? Sure
Love
Classic 70s disco and chill good sax in Americana
Cool feel relaxed
Nice to go beyond that 'best of' album!
Listening notes: Excited for this one! Have never listened to the album but respect EW&F. Shining Star: Didn't realize this was them! And ok wait that little intro guitar riff... did Stevie Wonder lift that for I Wish?? vice versa? Am I crazy? Hm. Well anyway this song rules. Happy Feelin': Loving this beat immediately Africano: Started slow but then picked up into a really fun instrumental track. Quick 8-track album that is a lot of fun to listen to. A little too much falsetto singing. Shining Star is the standout, but I would listen to this again any time. Liked it more the second listen through, increasing my score a bit. 3.7/5
That rhythm section tho
Cool as fuck, and super recognizable at its best
A fine soul album with some standout songs. Great arrangements, thoughtful lyrics and beautiful singing. Just not a genre that grabs me enough to demand my attention for a full album. 4 stars
Solid Mid ‘70s R&B with great musicianship and vocals.
Can’t say I really listened to the actual lyrics but it was a really fun listen while going for a drive
Great sounding early E,W&F tracks.
All About Love is great. I love when older songs take a minute to give you advice or a pep talk. Great sound. Great vocals and instrumental complexity. Enjoyed this one a good bit. Bit of a battle between a 3 and 4 on my vote. The pep talk brings me up.
Sets the bar pretty high starting with Shining Star. The production and compositions are above average. I think you get your money's worth in this 39 minutes Solid like 4.6
Very good 70s vibe...ripe with funk, soul, jazz, and on the cusp of disco. Very strong album But I prefer some of the later 70s albums by the same group.
4.1 - Yeah, some smooth groovy music
So smooth, a couple of great EW&F slow jams on this one, really solid all round album. Fave Tracks: Shining Star, That's The Way of the World, Reasons 4.4/5
Classic album with cool rhythms and vocals. Earth, Wind, and Fire is a solid 70's group. My only issue is the falsetto voices on some of their songs is just not my thing. However I understand their rightful place in the music world.
Cool
superbra superchill bästa låt: that's the way of the world, yearnin learnin
Skitnajs album Bästa låtar: That’s the way of the world, All about love
Great group of musicians putting out great soul music. I didn't recognize any of the songs on this album so I was happy to listen to it! See the Light stood out as my favourite, although I should probably listen to Shining Star again.
Everything here is great but Shining Star is an absolute banger.
My random connection to Earth, Wind & Fire- my wife taught music to Philip Bailey’s son.
Pretty much the definition of good vibes music. Tracks are brilliantly layered with an astounding variety of instruments. Very jammy (am I reviewing a wine?) There are a few rough spots on the vocal side in the beginning, but for the most part they also layer in very well, acting as another instrument. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Reasons, See the Light
Funky and fun
Earth, Wind & Fire made a soulful version of funk, characterized by expressive, harmonic vocals. That's the Way of the World was the band's sixth studio album, and the soundtrack to a film of the same name. The result is concept album, of sorts: an expression of the rules of life. The songs bass driven funk songs, with near-choral vocals as a consistent, defining element. The songs' messages are energetic and uplifting, and supported with a range of interesting rhythms.
fun