That's the Way of the World

Occupation

That's the Way of the World is the sixth studio album by American band Earth, Wind and Fire. It is also the soundtrack to the film of the same name, had in the various band members cameo appearances. The music magazine Rolling Stone chose it in 2003 at No. 493 to its list of the 500 best albums of all time, yet the album sold in the U.S. alone over 3 million times.

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In 1974, work began on a film directed by Sig Shore, with whom he wanted to expose the music industry. Harvey Keitel played the head of a record company, the members of Earth, Wind & Fire a naive inexperienced newcomer band. The participation in the film was limited to a smaller voice for Maurice White and some cameo appearances of the band. Parallel to the shooting saw the band in a studio in Nederland, Colorado, in September and October 1974, the songs that should be used in the film. When the band saw the finished film, they feared that he would be a flop and decided to release the album before the official film release. For the band, the album was a major turning point:

" This was an important album - one did signaled Whether we would go on and become a mainstream group or just be on the R & B act. At time ... did Particular, Which is different than radio today, They Did not really cross a lot of black acts over to mainstream radio. We already had two gold albums - Open Our Eyes and Head to the Sky - but still, most of the mainstream did not know who we were. "

" It was an important album - the one that decided about whether we can establish ourselves as a famous band or whether we have a R & B Act remain. At that time ... that was completely different than it is today, many black artists were not really playing on the radio. We had two gold albums - Open Your Eyes and Head to the Sky - but most of the mainstream did not know who we are. "

While the film as feared a failure was gained the band with the album a place among the most important bands of the time. The band- typical sound, which they consolidated with this album, is characterized as " slight tango rhythms with James Brown -like bass lines, combined with delicate Latin American beats and hard funk improvisations ". The lyrics are influenced partly religious, Maurice White thus overcome the limits of black America and his message, to find peace, love and harmony in itself, is directed at each listener anywhere.

Title list

Reception and achievements

The album received mostly positive reviews. Gordon Fletcher of Rolling Stone criticized in his contemporary review that the " lousy production " only works with the faster ones, while the slower pieces and ballads have no room to unfold. The Billboard Magazine, whilst praising the strong production and performance, with which the band could open up many new listeners layers. Hamish Champ points out in his 2004 book 100 Best Selling Albums of the 70's the great combination of soul, rock music and Latin rhythms produced.

In addition to chart success, the album in the U.S. reached gold status in 1975 and 1999 triple platinum. The album was in 1975 and 1976 among the nominees for Best Soul / R & B Album at the American Music Awards. The song " Shining Star " won the 1975 Grammy Award for Best R & B Vocal Performance.

Earth, Wind & Fire Record label Columbia Records Genre Singing Electric guitar Bass guitar Nederland (Colorado) Shining Star (Earth, Wind & Fire song)
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