1001 Albums Summary

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."

Day 2! Off the Wall by Michael Jackson, 1979. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ His first solo record, I think? I knew most of these songs already and liked them. The album does drag for me toward the end, the last two tracks could be anyone doing music with Quincy Jones at the time. But when the album works, boy does it work for me. Great production obviously. The cover of Wings' "Girlfriend" is horrible, though. I added five songs from this album to my music library: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "Rock with You," "Workin' Day and Night," "Off the Wall," and "She's Out of My Life."

Day Three - Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke, 1964. ⭐️⭐️ It's hard when you listen to something and you know it's important and formative, but it just doesn't hit for you. Part of it is the arrangement used for these songs, which is a little generic and a disappointing background for his very powerful voice. I knew a couple of the songs from this album, notably "Cry to Me" and "If You Need Me," but at the end of the day, for this kind of gospel-tinged soul I would prefer a female singer. I did not add any songs from this album to my library. Side note: the covers of Woody Guthrie's "Hard, Ain't It Hard" and "He'll Have to Go" popularized by Jim Reeves are so out of place here for me and lowered my review from 3 to 2. :/