That's the Way of the World

That's the Way of the World was produced by both EWF leader Maurice White and Charles Stepney.[2][1] The album spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart.[3] That's the Way of the World also stayed on top of the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart for five weeks altogether.[4]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[6]
Billboard	(favorable)[7]
Village Voice	(B+)[8]
Boston Globe	(favourable)[9]
Rolling Stone	(mixed)[10]
Vibe	(favorable)[11]
LA Weekly	(favourable)[12]
Stereo Review	(favorable)[13]
Cashbox	(favourable)[14]
BBC	(favourable)[15]

Stephen Curwood of the Boston Globe called That’s the Way of the World "a sound you shouldn't miss".[9] Billboard described the album as "a very tightly produced and performed package".[7] Daryl Easlea of the BBC called the LP as a "soul masterpiece."[15] Stereo Review described the band's performance as "excellent".[13] Alex Henderson of Allmusic called the LP a "crowning achievement".[6] Robert Christgau of the Village Voice noted on the album that "ethnomusicology and colloquial homiletics are tacked onto the funk and soul and doowop and jazz, which makes for an instructive contrast".[8] Vibe also proclaimed "That's the Way of the World coursed effortlessly through a myriad of genres, from rock to jazz to funk to heavy African influences".[11]

That's the Way of the World was nominated in 1975 and 1976 for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album. EWF also won a Rock Music Award for That's the Way of the World in the category of Best Rhythm and Blues Album.[16][17]

In 2012, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album #486 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, calling it "make-out music of the gods".[18]

The single, "Shining Star", reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts. "Shining Star" went on to win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[19][20][21] The album's title track reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 12 on the Hot 100 chart.[22][23]

• Bass – Verdine White
• Conductor – Saini Murira (track 8)
• Vocals, Congas – Philip Bailey
• Drums – Fred White, Maurice White, Ralph Johnson
• Flute, Soprano saxophone, Tenor saxophone – Andrew P. Woolfolk
• Guitar – Al McKay, Johnny Graham
• Kalimba – Maurice White
• Moog synthesizer, Piano, Organ, All Keyboards – Larry Dunn
• Percussion – Al McKay, Fred White, Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Verdine White
• Additional Saxophone – Ernie Watts
• Strings – Saini Murira & Matepe Ensemble (track 8)
• Trombone – George Bohanon
• Trumpet – Oscar Brashear
• Vocals – Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White[24][25]

• Producer – Maurice White (Original), Leo Sacks (Reissue)
• Co-producer – Charles Stepney (Original)
• Recording Engineer – George Massenburg (1-8), Curt Wittig (8)
• Mixing – George Massenburg (1-8), Maurice White (9-13), Paul Klingberg (9-13), Leo Sacks (9-13)
• Mixed at Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, CA).
• Mastered at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA).
• Art Direction – Howard Fritzen
• Design – Stephen Newman and Shusei Nagaoka
• Photography – Norman Seeff
• Musical Arrangements – Earth, Wind & Fire and Charles Stepney[24][25]

The information regarding accolades attributed to That's the Way of the World is adapted from acclaimedmusic.net, soultracks.com and rockhall.com.[26][27][28]

• List of number-one albums of 1975 (U.S.)
• List of number-one R&B albums of 1975 (U.S.)
• Billboard Year-End

• That's the Way of the World on discogs.com