Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Gets a bit meandering (maybe because of the film soundtrack nature of it), but some fun songs on heere. Not sure how many of these guys were in the version of EWF I saw at Standon Calling a couple of years back, but they were some of the most talented musicians I've ever seen. That rhythm section was just incredible.
This band were the pinnacle of smooth & groove, the album is great and to think EW&F hadn't even peaked commercially at this point of their career. The musical arrangements in all of these tracks are impressive, they had a real dark art of creating a massive big sound with the brass whilst constantly driven by a very subtle but super funky bass line. After this album the band would go on to make some of the biggest danceable "bangers" ever released.
This is jazz and funk at its best So great, so fine They became even better later on in the 70s
Meh
One of my least favorite things is falsetto. I also just don’t feel 70s funk. So, this album was a no for me.
Il pleut des bangers ce mois-ci! Sept scores parfaits en 30 générations d’albums, du jamais vu! Peut-être qu’on a passé tout les mauvais albums de la liste pis il ne reste que le best du best? Le temps nous le diras, mais pour l’instant, attardons-nous sur le disco-funk d’EWF. C’est selon moi leur meilleur album (j’allais dire meilleur que Wild & Peaceful, mais ça c’est Kool & the Gang, ma faute, mon pêché), la balance soul et funk entre chaque tracks donne beaucoup de richesse et de variété à l’album, et on sens bien l’influence disco qui commence à s’emparer de la pop de l’époque. Bref, si tu veux être heureux, écoute l’album une fois par jour jusqu’à ce que la vilaine morosité t’ailles quitté, pis le ptit jesus va venir te faire des ptits bisou dans ton sommeil
Baroque in ornamentation, cool in execution. There's some great funk at times, excellent (ensemble!) vocal work and really wonderful production. Every performance element is perfectly competent and the sound comes through clean and clear. Something about this record just didn't grab me. Needed more funk. Whether I didn't get enough sleep last night or this is a me problem more generally, or maybe this does lack the hooks to bring me back, That's The Way Of The World gets the same score as every other terribly competent but emotionally un-resonant album on the list: 3/5. Based on the general critical consensus, it's a me problem. I can live with that.
Funky as always
Really nice funky album, quite fun to listen to
Strong album with a lot of diversity and for me, the main message of the album is love and positivity. It had disco-esque songs that are fun to sing and dance to, then the slower songs giving the classic R&B. First two songs are obviously the most notable ones. All About Love was interesting, maybe my least favorite. Not sure I understood the last 30+ seconds of it. Didn’t seem to fit exactly. But overall, I’d listen to it again!
Oh no, I'm a fan of disco. This album's pretty generic as disco goes, but nothing really turned me off, so a 4.
Listened through three times. Upbeat, fun, funky soul that can turn your mood around. It’s a big band sound mixed with disco, and it’s done so well. A bit slower and love-ier than their big hits but damn does it hit, Reasons, That’s The Way of the World, See The Light.. Time to go buy the vinyl.
Funky grooves! The first half has some real 10/10 bangers, but it takes a turn for the mundane during All About Love
easy listening but not for me
Que bandaza, que buen rollo. Funk, soul, jazz...
it's around a 3.6-3.7
From the first time I heard them, I've loved them. A lot of good nostalgic memories tied to this album.
Hell yeah, funky af
I liked it
juste parfait
I hate to say it, But this was disappointing. I just feel like I only know September so I was so ready to be excited and learn more of their songs that hopefully had the same vibe but no, I actually disliked it. I mean I can see why it is widely liked however I don’t really understand it.
First two tracks are absolute classics, which alone would probably be enough to push it to a 3 - then you add in the afro-r&b-fusion-funk aspects of much of the rest of the album and it's strong... Although/but while I am very pro Phil Bailey (if you are so jaded that you don't like Easy Lover then get bent) .... sometimes his nonstop falsetto is a bit much on mellow tunes. i.e. I'm not a huge fan of their 3rd hit "Reasons" Still an excellent listen - awesome musicians, good songs, and coming in at the right length (clocking in under 40 minutes). Keeper. 7/10 4 stars.
“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
Lit.
fun listen! i liked it a lot
Música de negão para se ouvir sintonizado no pó mais branco que tiver.
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.
Pour commencer cette critique, je dois rendre à César ce qui appartient à César. La production de l'album "That's The Way Of The World" de Earth, Wind & Fire, orchestrée par le visionnaire Maurice White, est d'une richesse et d'une ambition folles pour l'époque. Chaque morceau est un ensemble sonore complexe, tissé de lignes de basse hypnotiques, de guitares "wah-wah" millimétrées et, bien sûr, de la section de cuivres légendaire des Phenix Horns, qui éclate de mille feux à chaque intervention. La virtuosité des musiciens est indéniable. Le single phare, "Shining Star", est une leçon de groove, un concentré d'énergie positive qui a légitimement conquis le monde. Comment ne pas admirer la performance vocale stratosphérique de Philip Bailey sur la ballade "Reasons", atteignant des notes en falsetto qui semblent défier les lois de la physique ? Le morceau-titre lui-même, "That's The Way Of The World", est d'une beauté soul envoûtante, avec ses arrangements luxuriants et son message d'espoir universel. Objectivement, tout est là : le talent, les compositions, l'innovation et le succès. Mais malgré toutes ces qualités, la magie n'opére pas ou plutôt elle n'a jamais opéré sur moi. Je suis tout simplement hermétique à cette perfection, à cette exubérance sonore si caractéristique du funk des années 70. Ou peut être que, pour simplifier je suis hermétique à certains groupes, à certaines sonorités, à certains genres musicaux des années 70 mais ceci est une autre histoire. L'opulence vire rapidement à la surcharge. La production, si brillante soit-elle, me paraît aujourd'hui terriblement datée, prisonnière de son époque. Les harmonies vocales, bien que complexes et magnifiquement exécutées, me donnent une sensation de "trop-plein", d'une propreté si lisse qu'elle en vient à manquer d'aspérité, de cette faille ou de cette rugosité. L'énergie implacablement positive et l'optimisme qui se dégagent de chaque sillon, bien que signature du groupe, finissent par me laisser de marbre. En conclusion, "That's The Way Of The World" est un paradoxe personnel. C'est un chef-d'oeuvre incontesté du funk, un album d'une ambition et d'une exécution technique exceptionnelles que je peux analyser et respecter intellectuellement. Cependant, sur le plan émotionnel, c'est un rendez-vous manqué. Mon évaluation de 1 sur 5 ne sanctionne pas un échec de la part d'Earth, Wind & Fire, mais plutôt mon propre échec à pénétrer leur univers. Pour les amoureux de la funk, de la soul et de la musique des années 70, cet album est et restera une oeuvre essentielle, un disque-soleil irradiant de talent et de générosité. Pour les autres, comme moi, il risque de rester une vitrine impressionnante mais hermétique, un témoignage flamboyant d'une époque révolue dont le langage ne nous est plus tout à fait accessible. Un classique, certes, mais pas un classique pour tous.
Getting down with your bad self and dancing to this is album like a madman is not a recommendation, it is a legal requirement when you begin. It starts off with an absolute banger right out of the gate with “Shining Star” and then slows down ever so slightly the rest of the way. Besides the first song, “Happy Feelin’” is also a favorite of mine. This is some Grade A funk right here. You’re a shining star, right on!! Have Mercy!! The Funky 70’s catchphrases are all here, and they truly add to the experience considerably.
Excellent. Yes, it does sound very "Seventies", but there's a reason for that. So much better than modern RnB rubbish
A delightful journey into the world of funk that I enjoyed just as much as I thought I did. For a band that (in the public consciousness) is mainly known for singles, they sure could make a consistent record.
My soul is so dark, this type of feel good groovy funky music leaves me cold and uninterested. It is probably objectively good, but I can't recall a song from it, or a motive, or anything of note on the next day after listening to it.
this wasn’t as funky as I was expecting or hoping it to be. I liked it, but the last 2 songs were great. I wanted it to be more like that!
Classic soul music, I loved it
The vibe is slick, no doubt. Funk, soul, and gospel all show up. But I kept waiting for a moment that made me move. It's all very well-done. Great musicianship, lovely harmonies… I just didn’t get the itch to hit repeat. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Shining Star - That's the Way of the World - Reasons
This album is just not funky enough for me. They have better albums.
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.
It’s a decent disco album. I feel they have better music out there. 3/5
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.
Not their best work, decent but it's no Let's Groove Tonight or September.
Music to light your body and mind.
Honestly a really fun record. It is filled with great horn lines, funky grooves, and heartwarming melodies.
Favorites: That's the Way of the World, Yearnin' Learnin', Reasons
first listen truly a timeless record from an obscure film
Some of the greatest hits of the era. A bit disco/saxaphone heavy.
Funky
Great album. It’s funky EWF goodness. Nothing not to like here.
Nice and smooth.
3 out of 5. As good as their vocals are the instrumental track, Africano, is a banger. Also I learned Shining Star came from this album.
7/10
Cool. I only know the hits and don't know those all that well. I think I'll enjoy this. Washed over me just a little bit first time. Maybe the production isn't 100% for me. Enjoying it a little more second time - there is some good funky stuff here. Africano slaps.
Boooooooomb ass album.
Gold Jerry, Gold!
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.
6'5/10
Obvious easy listening and soulful as hell but I can’t imagine anyone out there genuinely puts earth wind fire as their favorite band ever or this album as their favorite ever. All about love is a snoozer til that horn line comes in. See the light made me very angry in a way I can’t explain other than I thought the album was over and then it was a 7 minute okay-bad song. Way more indifferent to this album than I thought I’d be.
Was excited for this album, but it was kinda mid. Shining Star is a song that I grew up on. My mom loved playing it, but I didn't think there were many other strengths to this album besides that. It was easy to get funky to it because there were some nice grooves, but nothing super special. 3
Started strong and then lost me. Funky mess of a mix. Soft 3/5
Shining star is fantastic, rest of the album is fine ig. Only 38 mins which really surprised me
wonderful fun, good vibes i love the instrumentals nice Best tunes: shining star, happy feelin', africano
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
Exactly what I expected, good summer day music
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
Eh not my type of music
Good voices, I get why people like it. Not really my thing. Can't ding em though. 3.
this album feels inconsistent to me. I probably have expectations that EWF are all dance all the time, which I'm 100% here for (sad dancing is a thing!). but this album has a few dance songs and mostly not dance songs including one sermon/spoken word track that I skipped on my second listen.
Not really for me
This was what I expect It to be
Such amazing music. Jams a plenty.
Está bien, la primera canción sobre todo, la verdad es que es corto y se pasa en un momento, he vuelto a escuchar las 3 canciones que en Spotify están entre las más oídas, pero al final no me voy a guardar ninguna en favoritos. Interesante como cultura musical. Un aprobado de 3 estrellas.
Solid funk album, feel like it just needs a little more on the hook side to bring it up to five stars.
“Shining Star” is a classic.
Enjoyed the foray into disco but not my vibe, especially the back half of the album
The first track was immediately compelling. By track two I was bored. I recognize the musicianship and creativity but I don’t have nostalgia or a taste for this era of 70s music. So, this is like a good record, but I’m not really into it.
First time listening to Earth, Wind & Fire intently. This really slaps. Perhaps it caught me on the right day. I can see it being over the top and cheesy and annoying when not in the mood. It feels like every member is a master of their instrument. The funk falsetto is off the charts. It feels like a time capsule to the 70s soul scene. A lot of fun, though not something I'd always listen to.
Great!
70s movie soundtrack. Og funk/soul. Great production. The definition of funky.
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.
10/10 where all my EW&F sluts at?
As much as disco/funk is not my style it’s hard to listen to this album without a smile on your face. Africano is a 100mph jam fest moving so fast it has no choice but to fade out. You simply can’t stop a song with that much momentum. Don’t tell my bros but…I might dig Earth, Wind & Fire??3/5
Pretty good -- sounded like the transition from funk to things that are a bit more dance oriented. The hits are absolute classics.
It was a fun listen while me and the boys had a board game day. 7/10
Une belle surprise !
Oh yeah
I was never a fan of Earth, Wind & Fire at the time, but I can say I heard much more than what appeared on the radio during the disco era. It is what it is, some groovy, upbeat soul that is so infectious, it's hard not to bust a dance move. This might be nostalgic, but why not try to enjoy music from 50 years ago? My younger self would disagree, but I want to hear more E,W&F now!
8/10
It's fun.
gave it a go but could not connect - has not aged well in my opinion.
It was great
That’s some upbeat, positive Funk that is! Familiar with Shining Star and That’s the Way of the World as both were big hits at the time. Hadn’t heard any of the other songs until this listen, but they’re all good. Africano near blew me away on first listen, by far the best cut on the album - jazzy and too long for mainstream radio, but still cool twenty five years later. Familiar with EWF, but this album really took me by surprise. (4.7*s) should have ended with Africano…
Earth, Wind, and Fire is like the Wu-Tang clan of Motown...there are like 40 members. This helps with the many instruments and solid musical ensembles they put together. That's the Way of the World is a half good album. Odd songs groove, even ones are skippers. "Happy Feelin" steals the show with a down right funktastic bassline and supporting xylophone. A take it or leave record...2.06 stars.
I wasn't aware of a movie named That's The Way Of The World nor that the soundtrack was by Earth Wind & Fire. I was a little skeptical because its not easy to thread the needle of combined soundtrack/album, especially one that sounds like a completely cookie-cutter 70's music business drama with an overbearing record executive. I hoped EWF might be able to churn out a couple hits and some slower jams to fill a mostly forgettable album. I guess I got pretty much what I expected as that's how I would sum this up. It's not a bad listen, but about half of the album is good and half is bad. I might throw Shining Star or Africano on sometime in the future but the album doesn't do enough to make me come back to it. Earth Wind & Fire did what they are known for in bringing some miscellaneous funk/groove but these tracks don't have the same magic that some of their other hits capture. It's a serviceable album but nothing special for me. 2.43 stars
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
That's The Way Of The World is just an okay album in my eyes. When it comes to Earth, Wind & Fire, i typically know them more for their heavy disco tracks so it is a bit of a surprise to see them do something with more of an R&B twinge to it. This was also the soundtrack to a movie of the same name which makes it the fourth film soundtrack i have done. The songs themselves are alright, they get the job done and don't do anything that terribly but there isn't really anything all that memorable. I guess it is good that it is a pretty short album but other than that, i don't think i have much else to really say about this album. Best Song: That's The Way of The World Worst Song: Africano
3 stars I’m glad I’ve found a good EWaF album. I never took the time to listen and this was quite enjoyable. I’d say some tracks don’t stand out as much, but none of it is bad and it’s pretty brief. A fun record!
I suppose if this is what you want to listen to, this would be a good choice. Not really something I'm going to seek out
# 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!
Cool sound
I would like to like it but something too polished refrains me to...
Good musician but I can't stand these songs. Barely listenable for me.
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.
2.5 rounded up
The hits are great, and Africano I liked. The rest — meh.
In my head, “shining star” was kinda cheesy, but I was wrong. Maybe I never paid attention beyond the chorus before. The verses are really fun. I didn’t know “that’s the way of the world” was called that or that it was by EWF. I thought it was called “hearts afire” and wasn’t written by any single band but had more or less always existed in the collective consciousness. Loved those first two songs! Then there was the rest and this fell from “potential 5?” to “at least a 4?” to “3.5, rounded down.”
Meh. Starts off good good in typical, upbeat fashion, but then dies off quickly. Not one of their better albums in my opinion.
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of soul, but I found this album really fun and whimsical to listen to. Put this on while walking around town or doing your daily chores and it’ll have you feeling like you’re the main character in a movie.
I was expecting disco from Earth, Wind and Fire but this is more like a soul record. Quite liked it - I'm between a 3 and a 4, the pluses are the funky bass playing, great singing (particularly Philip Bailey) and positive vibes. On the other hand I wasn't completely grabbed by all these songs. I don't think a lot of it was that memorable. I think it's 3* for me
Got distracted halfway through Happy Feelin' then made 100 crab rangoons with my friend alex. When I got back I restarted from that one. I don't remember any of the songs. I liked it. 10/10
get that SOUL FOOD mass
Great album. One of my favorite albums to sample. So many interesting grooves and drum breaks.
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
Like any sane person, I really do love "September" but unfortunately, that's not on this album. These songs never really rose above the level of "fine" to me; nothing really stood out or gave me any reason to think about returning to this album later. Sorry guys, but maybe I'll check out one of the other albums sometime!
Lots of great stuff here. I cannot believe "Africano" hasn't been used for sampling.
Graaand.
Not bad but deffo should re listen- job for plane to Doha
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...How you feelin? Classic Lp, Amazing band.
The funky songs are fun, but there are too many ballads that I just don't care for. High 3.
Not a single bad track. A very engaging and memorable listening experience!
Good funk like from a 70s cop show, heard it on the last attempt but great stuff,
Funky. Shallow, but funky.
Fun, but didn’t blow my mind.
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”
Disco and funk. None of the big hits on the track list.. are there any hidden gems? Some soul and ballads too. Not exciting me much Jazz mixed with funk on instrumental Africano Best track - Africano 3 stard
Funky. Jazz/soul? Great drumming especially Happy Feeling and Africano. Some songs I recognize others I'm hearing for first time.
This type of music is not for me.
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.
Reading the wiki page for this album, I really don't see what everyone thinks is so great about it. EWF are good, but this is fairly bland funk with some African sound thrown in.
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. .
shining star isch extreeem geil. aso i kenns obvio aber baaaaanger mann. thats the way of the world sooo guet! chranks solo soo guet uiiii. happy feelin und all about love chlii weniger geil aber mueni glaub nomel lose. yearnin learning wieder soo es geils arrangement. und sini stimm isch soo geil well sie so krass duresticht. reasons wieder en ballad woni bim erste mol chli schnulzig find aber die chooords aaaaaaaah. oke nai d blöser slapped hert i love it. africano isch de titel? okay. aha s goht insane dumm? okay. see the light wieder falsetto time und huere fusion mässig? WAS MACHEDS IHR? hä?? aha jetz strophe noch 1.5 minute. und was sind die harmonie im refrain??
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!!
Enjoyable. Skilled musicians creating a pleasant listening experience. Suffering through the drivel on this list puts this at a solid 3.
Stone classic. Takes me back to, like, summer of '77, windows rolled down in the Beetle, feeling the breeze cut the heat, doing the airplane thing with my arm out, and "Shining Star" comes on KJR and... "yeahhh... YEAHHHH..."
Funky cool
Squeaky voice
Pretty sure if everyone on Earth set their alarms to Shining Star we'd reach world peace fast than you know!
First 3 tracks keep me in a groove. 'Shining Star' only suffers from the fact that it was used in so much media that I was bombarded by it as a kid. I would like to have heard it for the first time in 1975 because I'm sure it would have been in rotation a lot for me. 'All About Love' makes me want to listen to something else but I kind of like the meandering spoken word part Honestly while this is well recorded and not bad at all it doesn't stand out as something that should be one of 1001 albums to hear before I die. As more music comes out this should probably fall off the bottom, no disrespect
Good mix of funk and soul, generally preferred the more uptempo songs over the slower, more ballad ones. Standouts: Happy Feelin', Yearnin' Learnin', Africano
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
Cool sound
Nämä on kovia levyjä. LP kamaa jolloin fiilistellä kunnolla
I like when an album on this list is in my vinyl collection so I can cue it up and reminisce. I might have paid something like $3.99 for it and that probably works out to $0.00000001 per play. And 50 years later, albeit way worse than I think it sounds, I can still belt out my Maurice White falsetto with every song. No doubt on the rating here. 'And if there ain't no beauty, you got to make some beauty.'
Although I’d heard this album before it was still a great listen all about love is my favourite song and Philip baileys singing on reasons hitting those high notes falsetto I think.
It was good but it felt the same throughout kinda
Yeah I liked this funky disco soulful album but she didn’t speak to me.
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.
Now this is what I'm talking about! What an album. My dad always loved them and played them all the time.
Very enjoyable listen. Lots of great instrumentals on top of the vocals. Also, lots of progressive and creative artistic ideas.
Fucking kick ass. Some of my favorite bass playing ever. The songs production and performances are just top top top top tier
Started SO strong and then fell off a little unfortch. Think I’ll give this one a 3.5. Beach drive with Jane and joe.
Pretty magical
Cool that this is a movie soundtrack
ya! pretty fun!
What a treat. Holy shit I don't even know where to star-t. This album is stunning down to every last detail, Philip absolutely ate to his heart's content on this thing. One of the best funk albums without a doubt. Maybe I'm the cheesy one and maybe shit just hit me when I needed it too but I loved every song on this album. Wonderfully rich passages, triumphant horns, gorgeous group vocals, intimate spoken word sections to impart wisdom and love. Could just be my bias towards spiritual woowoo stuff too but this album does it right and gentle. Every song is super tight, I didn't have any that became drags or anything like that. I definitely consider myself a proper Earth, Wind & Fire fan now. The transitions are perhaps not the smoothest ever but I can forgive that because the songs themselves are super strong tunes without needing to meld too much. The vocals can be as fierce as a laser beam but if you saw the dripped out album cover I'm sure you can excuse the power on display here. Immaculate.
Legendary for a reason, a good 70s funk makes the day go so much better!
Great funk sound. Groovy, interesting, exciting, danceable.
disko šlageri, ne znam, nije mi sjelo
Shining Start is an all timer - the rest of the album was good at best, soft.
Enjoyed this a lot; super funky. I loved Happy Feelin' - amazing bass playing.
3 good
Now this is more my genre. Unfortunately, I don’t think this is the strongest album, and I probably won’t listen to it again. Standout songs: Shining Star
Eh
Damn good
It jams pretty hard Will I listen to again: 59%
Ich mag den Vibe und den Sound total gerne, auch wenn es nicht ganz mein Genre ist. Toll instrumentiert, toll gesungen. Könnte mir mit mehreren Durchgängen bestimmt mehr zusagen, das groovt schon toll.
Like the hits and the bass playing and sound in first half of album is phenomenal. Back half of songs don’t do anything for me.
I have a positive prejudice towards these guys. I loved it.
This is just perfectly fun. Who the hell am I to have notes on this?
Nice!
Couldn't finish. So not my thing.
Half of this album was somehow more sophisticated than I expected. And the other half was just as, if not more, cheesy as I expected. Putting it square in the “meh” category.
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".
Familiar with the band, and some of their songs. None of them are on this album, so it's a fresh listen. It's alright, great musicianship. I like track 1 and 3 but nothing memorable.
5 estrelas . Funk funk funk !!! Verdine White rules! Bailey and M.White sublimes! "That's the Way of the World" foi 'chupada' pelo cara de pau canastrão de uma figa do LKravitz kkkk // "Africano" é um track típico de filme blacksploitation //
8.5/10
Oh my God that's some funky shit - Beastie Boys - Prodigy - Me
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
I don’t know about anyone else, but when I see this lots band name I always begin to consider the scientific elements of life. Obviously, they substituted air for wind. This must’ve been a conscious decision made by a band mate as a joke when suffering from the effects of a Keema Madras the night before. Having experience this myself, this may be all well and good, but what about water? Isn’t water the most important element to sustain life? Fire is very nasty so why not Earth Wind and Water? This has a nice ring to it so I think they missed a trick here. By the time I stopped staring into space and contemplating all this the music had stopped and I realised that the album had passed me by. It had made no impression unlike the elements of life which are essential building blocks and values that sustain our bodies, shape our purpose, and connect us to the world around us. 1/5 19/5/25
Funky, fun, danceable. Didn’t love All About Love (First Impression) in the middle of the album but the rest is banging.
Like all their work it’s pretty great. Shining Star was one of my favorites from my Middle School ipod nano tracklist and is fun to re-visit. Most of this album is very danceable and belongs on a wedding dance floor. The rest of the slower funk doesn’t hit quite as hard. Standout Tracks are: “Shining Star” and “Africano”
Enjoyed the funk songs but the R&B went my fav. Gets a 3 star overall
Solid
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
Hear some gospel. A lotta funk. A bit of fusion as well. Dug it.
Had quite a lot of fun listening to this one
This was a mixed bag. A couple of classics, some ballads I wasn't crazy about, but also some good instrumentals I wasn't expecting.
Um bom album, bem anos 70. Vontade de viver na decada de 70 e ouvir Happy Feelin', All About Love (First Impression) e Africano.
3,5
Not my cup of tea. Too bouncy be a laid back listen. Not rocking enough to even be a soft rock listen.
melodies over melodies
Not an album I knew. Enjoyed that 70’s soul tinged with funk. Not one of my favourite bands but certainly gives you a summer feel.
Super-smooth grooves... So smooth that this album just about slides its way to a five-star rating, even though there are a couple of tracks I'm not so keen on.
crisp
this album made me think about the bee gees
3.5
No wonder they are so iconic, this album is a great intro to Earth, Wind & Fire -- I really only knew September and Shining Star, so I am glad that I got more. The vocals are killer, incredible range, and the songwriting is super solid. The lyrics are so incredible and have a lot more meaning than the upbeat instrumental. The horns, drums, and bass are crazy on every single song. I want the instrumental injected in my veins, honestly. I am quite obsessed with the feeling this album brings on -- warm energy, dance, and positive vibes. They captured a beautiful summer evening into an album. **Africano may be my favorite track on this album. It's hard to pick a favorite, as this album is overall so groovy. **Another notable favorite is That's the Way of the World - I love the lyrics, and they especially speak to me at this moment in my life. **Help Them See the Light reminds me of the awakening of many Americans under the Trump dictatorship. I hope that we all can continue to help everyone see the light. In all aspects, political, emotional, and spiritual. I give this album 10/10! Starting the ratings off high.
Started strong and ended strong. Lost interest a bit in the middle. Had no idea this was a movie soundtrack
classic
Pretty funky but didn't do too much for me. Long songs, too.
Classic. Love every bit every time.
Hell. Yes. Great stuff here.
LOVE this band. Great upbeat and funky soul here. Impossible not to move when you hear this.
🎧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
Groovy funk. Not music a really listen to, but in the right mood I dig it. 3.5/5.
Alright. Hear me out. So That's The Way of The World is a fantastic album. Every track flows so well into each other that I dare anyone to try and skip any of it. The only lack luster track might be "See the Light" but even then I'm dancing to it. However, this has nothing on their 1979 album I Am. That's The Way of the World paved the way for literally every album they released after. Still a great listen all the way through. 7/10 (Still figuring out a grading. I don't know man. Just work with me here.)
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
Some pretty tight funkin' and some pretty wack balladin'
It's smooth, it's groovy, but it's very of its time. I mean just look at that album cover, that's the most 70s thing I've ever seen! I get why people like this, but me personally, I just can't get past how dated it is. Compared to other 70s soul like Marvin Gaye or Stevie Wonder this just really can't compete.
Avslutningen på All About Love va heilt sinnsjukt feit, har sikkert hørt på den 30 ganga i dag
Cool
I had fun listening.
Duh
I get the impact and like the sound for a few songs, but this album isn't for me.
Really fantastic listen. Groovy and engaging, with plenty of iconic songs and a few hidden gems. Surprisingly sophisticated arrangements that meld together in the best way. Great album with no real weak spots
Enjoyed listening to this album. Great sound.
4.5/5.0: Excellent
fun listen
3.5 stars. Some great funky songs . I enjoyed listening to this album
Fire album. Very relaxed.
Some pretty good stuff but I wasn’t too amazed and felt a bit slow. 3 stars
Funky
Classic good, solid well written funk. The singles I knew, not the rest. Was enjoyable but not particularly memorable. I’d throw it on as background music for a party funk vibe but wouldn’t sit down for an intense listen. Still love the beats, the bass and the horns all over it.
Awesome
An amazing album. Only knew 3 songs but was unaware the album had less than 10 songs which is even more impresive. Super talented band and experimental adding instruments no one else was using in the funk music. Pretty impressed and happy to know this album exists.
Fun Earth, Wind & Fire album. I enjoyed it.
This was pretty pleasant but utterly un-inspired. there are much better EWF albums out there
Proto metal. Fuzz
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.
Far exceeded my expectations.
Pretty good. Listened to this while I was stripping wallpaper, it helped me get into a rhythm and I'm happy to report only a small portion of the original plaster is damaged, so that'll save me some money.
The bass...
..
Not one that I was expecting to like but it’s crammed full of soul funk goodness
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.
funky for sure. i wish i was alive during this time to go clubbing and boogie my heart out. as the album went on, just felt like background music.
Yes, this is an album.
Super fun!
Classic Earth Wind and Fire, they are some funky dudes and they do more than just September.
I thought I looked old school hip hop but this didn't really do much for me. There was some funky tracks in there and some classic tracks which I have heard samples from in Krafty Kuts sets. Africano is the best track, quite a funky beat and some nice changes.
Groovy, glat, opløftende, mangler måske lidt kant
Started well, I cared less and less though.
groooovey babeyy
good tunes on this
flippin' great. 5
Some nice songs but not my cup of tea. Too flowery.
Solid album. Great positive messaging! Quite funky indeed!
Koji vrhunski album, naježim se. Africano i Happy Feeling apsolutni favoriti, a mogla bih u krug slušati ovaj album još puno puta. ♥️ 5/5, 9/10
really gorgeous voices and arrangements but easy to tune out
Too funky for me, not a terrible album but couldn’t get into it. Better than The Police by far.
is chill
mood lifter music, majority of the songs are cool and the less-important ones are still pleasant
gotta hit ‘em with the easy 5
Pre-listening thoughts: fantasy is genuinely one of my favorite songs oat but it’s not on this one 😞 but still I am excited!!! Post/during listening thoughts: good lord I love this band. Horns! Slappy bass and guitar! HARMONIES! The smoothest instrumentation known to man. Funk and disco continue to impress me at every turn. 9.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: yes! But also everyone go listen to fantasy even tho it’s super popular it’s so good pls!!! Fav tracks: Shining Star, Happy Feelin’, Reasons (god this one was no skips too! I did try my best to pick some favorites fr tho) Least fav tracks: n/a
Cool, but I think it wasn't great the whole way through. I guess I had higher expectations.
Really not distinctive at all
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
Liked it, I wasn’t crazy about it though. I would play it again as a background, but nothing stood out from it, apart from Africano.
Great instrumentals and funky asl
It's alright, personally love "That's The Way Of The World"
Earth, Wind & Fire and PIPES
A cool and smooth funk/soul album. There is a lot to like about this album. The songs are easy going and soulful. The rhythm section is just butter, especially the bass, which is basically all fills throughout the album. The vocals come of great, clear and powerful. The lyrical themes are ones of love, faith and peace, they have almost a gospel like, preaching, feel to them. One thing I didn't like about the album is the mix, not sure if it's just the version I listened to, but the mix is quite harsh and too bright at times. Even the bass is strong, giving this a slight V, which is never good if you are after a neutral, revealing and clear sound. I was between a 3 and a 4, giving it a 3 in the end, because, even though I enjoy the genre, I am not sure I will listen to the album again.
WARNING!!! Spontaneously grew an afro.
Did they released any bad albuns?
Album didn't work for me, the tracks were fun for the most part, voices and lyrics didn't, IMO.
Loved it! Cool and funky
Gillade ingen låt tyvärr.
Funk soul, ništa specijalno. Čak pokušaji ženskih falseta su loše skrojeni u par pjesama i zvuče toliko neprirodno. Dosadna ponavljanja. 2/10