That's The Way Of The World

The Artist

Earth, Wind & Fire was founded by Maurice White, a Chicago session drummer who had played on Chess Records sessions and toured with the Ramsey Lewis Trio before moving the project to Los Angeles. The band fused funk, soul, jazz, gospel, and African musical ideas into a big, horn-driven sound built around Philip Bailey's soaring falsetto and Verdine White's elastic bass lines. White framed the group's music with a spiritual, uplifting worldview that set it apart from much of the era's funk. That's the Way of the World was their sixth studio album and the record that turned them from a respected live act into one of the biggest bands in America.

The Album

The album was recorded in 1974, largely at Caribou Ranch in Colorado, with Maurice White producing and arranger Charles Stepney shaping its lush orchestration. It began as the soundtrack to a film of the same name about the music industry, which starred Harvey Keitel and featured the band. Released in early 1975 ahead of the movie, the album went to number one while the film quickly faded. "Shining Star" also topped the pop charts and won a Grammy. The record balances funk workouts with ballads about love, faith, and holding on to your ideals in a cynical world.

Listen For

The A Cappella Ending. "Shining Star" strips away its band at the very end, leaving only the group's stacked voices. Notice how the sudden emptiness makes the harmonies hit harder.

Falsetto Front and Center. On "Reasons," Philip Bailey's falsetto carries the melody into territory few male soul singers attempted. Listen to how much control he keeps at the top of his range.

Spoken Word Interlude. "All About Love (First Impression)" breaks from singing for a stretch of earnest, sermon-like talk. Consider how it shifts the album from performance into direct address.

Jazz Fusion Detour. "Africano" is an instrumental that leans into extended jazz soloing and percussion. It shows the musicianship the hits only hint at.

Stepney's Arrangements. On the title track, strings, horns, and layered voices build gradually around a mid-tempo groove. Track how each layer enters without crowding the vocals.