Track Listing

1. Shining Star
2. That's the Way of the World
3. Happy Feelin'
4. All About Love
5. Yearnin', Learnin'
6. Reasons
7. Africano
8. See the Light
9. Shining Star (Future Star) [Original Sketches]
10. All About Love (First Impression) [Original Sketches]
11. Happy Feelin' (Anatomy of a Groove) [Original Sketches]
12. Caribou Chaser (Jazzy Jam) [Original Sketches]
13. That's the Way of the World (Latin Expedition) [Original Sketches]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17407 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
While not quite in a league with Stevie Wonder's best '70s albums, That's the Way of the World finds Earth, Wind & Fire taking a similar path to good effect. Melding rock, funk, jazz, and African influences, the group also works its positive messages--belief in oneself, understanding of others--into each track. "Shining Star," one of the greatest singles ever, leads off the set, but the title track, "See the Light," and "All About Love" keep the good vibes flowing with a minimum of sappiness. This excellent remaster contains a passel of bonus demo versions. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

The Right Way
That's The Way Of The World was the soundtrack to film that featured a young Harvey Keitel as a record producer and Earth, Wind & Fire as a band with big potential. The band is dropped in favor of what record company executives feel was more commercial group and they gone on to major success. The film mirrored EWF themselves as the album propelled them to the top of the charts. After several years of moderate success despite making excellent records, this soundtrack album showed all the band's talents and mixing of jazz, soul, funk and positive themes. "Shining Star" opens the album with a pumping beat that set it up to the number one position of the charts. The title track starts off with a slow, smooth beat and then erupts into a harmony-fueled explosion. "All about Love" has some jazzy elements while "Africano" explores some world rhythms. "Yearnin', Learnin'" is an underrated song in their catalog and "Reasons" is a powerful ballad. That's The Way Of The World tanked at the box office and was quickly forgotten, but the album hit number on the charts and made EWF superstars.

Decent SACD Remaster
Though it's not the stellar mind-blowing sound of the two SACD live albums "Gratitude" and "...Alive in '75", this remaster is much richer aurally. In comparison the regular CD version sounds harsh and has less fidelity at higher frequencies. The SACD version reminds me a lot of the sound quality from a very good LP setup.

Worth it for the re-mastering and extra tracks
This album was originally a soundtrack for a long forgotten film. In fact I have never seen the film. However, the songs have been quite the opposite - unforgettable classics.

Earth Wind and Fire have always been extremely talented musicians and posses amazing vocal harmonies. What is not always realized is just how out in front they were with combining the elements of jazz, and horns, infused into smooth R&B dance tracks and ballads.

This CD contains some of their best work - namely the songs "Shining Star" and "That's the Way of the World". Both are classics and are worth the price on their own.

The additional, previously unreleased, tracks are excellent, with my only complaint that they are too short. Of particular interest is the track "Caribou Chaser (Jazzy Jam)", which showcases the ability of this band to play jazz with the best of them.

Most everything they released from the early 70's through the mid-80's is simply classic music from one of the best bands ever. Now that these great albums are being re-released with extra bonus tracks, its time to revisit them again.