Earth, Wind & Fire That's The Way Of The World

2014 Stereophile Magazine Record to Die For!
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - Rated 420/500!
180 Gram Virgin Vinyl! One of the Strongest Albums of the 1970s! EWF's Crowning Achievement! Includes "Shining Star", "Yearnin' Learnin'," "Reasons," "Happy Feelin'," "See The Light" & More!
During the 1970s, a new brand of pop music was born one that was steeped in African and African-American styles particularly jazz and R&B but appealed to a broader cross-section of the listening public. As founder and leader of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White not only embraced but also helped bring about this evolution of pop, which bridged the gap that has often separated the musical tastes of black and white America. It certainly was successful, as EWF combined high-caliber musicianship, wide-ranging musical genre eclecticism, and 70s multicultural spiritualism. I wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before, Maurice explains. Although we were basically jazz musicians, we played soul, funk, gospel, blues, jazz, rock and dance music which somehow ended up becoming pop. We were coming out of a decade of experimentation, mind expansion and cosmic awareness. I wanted our music to convey messages of universal love and harmony without force-feeding listeners spiritual content.
The inspiration for "Shining Star" (one of EW&F's most beloved singles) was gleaned from thoughts Maurice had during a walk under the star-filled skies that surrounded the mountains around Caribou Ranch, CO a popular recording site and retreat during the 70s. The track was originally included in the "That's The Way Of The World" movie that starred Harvey Keitel and was produced by Sig Shore (Superfly). "Shining Star" glittered at number one R&B for two weeks and hit number one pop in early 1975. It was included on their 1975 multi-platinum album "That's The Way Of The World" that held the number one pop spot for three weeks in Spring 1975 and earned them their first Grammy Award. The title track single made it to number five R&B in the summer of 1975. It also yielded the classic ballad "Reasons", an extremely popular radio-aired album track.
"...[I]t was World that established EWF as major-league, multi-platinum superstars. Fueled by gems ranging from the sweaty funk of 'Shining Star' and 'Yearnin' Learnin'' to the gorgeous ballad 'Reasons' and the unforgettable title song, EWF's sixth album sold at least five million units. And some of the tracks that weren't major hits, such as the exuberant 'Happy Feelin'' and the gospel-influenced 'See the Light,' are equally powerful. There are no dull moments on World, one of the strongest albums of the 1970s and EWF's crowning achievement." - Alex Henderson, allmusic.com

Features:

• 180 Gram Virgin Vinyl
• High Quality Pressing
• Pure Analogue Audiophile Mastering
• Gatefold Jacket

Musicians:

• Maurice White (voc, perc, dr)
• Verdine White (voc, b, perc)
• Philip Bailey (voc, cga, perc)
• Larry Dunn (p, org, synth)
• Al McKay (g, perc)
• Ralph Johnson (dr, perc)
• Johnny Graham (g)
• Fred White (dr, perc); u.a.

Selections:

Side A
1. Shining Star
2. That's the Way Of the World
3. Happy Feelin'
4. All About Love
Side B
1. Yearnin' Learnin'
2. Reasons
3. Africano
4. See the Light

Recording: 1975 at the Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado (USA), by Curt Wittig
Production: Maurice White