This isn't really a major archival release, but that doesn't mean it isn't an enjoyable one, either.
Capturing a series of highlights from Earth Wind & Fire's breakthrough 1975 tour -- all selected by Maurice White -- That's the Way of the World may not have the ebb and flow of a proper live set, but it does have the advantage of burning bright consistently throughout the record.
This isn't just because of White's very selections, but because this is when EWF was at their peak as a white-hot funk band, laying down tight, monstrous grooves and turning out lively, interesting jams on top of that.
All of that is captured well on this nine-track live album (not counting the "Overture" and "Interlude"); even when the group brings down the tempo on "Reasons" and "That's the Way of the World," the music doesn't turn flaccid -- it still smolders.
This doesn't quite mean it's an earth-shattering release, but it's a fun record, something that the group's fans -- particularly those who loved the group's early peak years -- will surely dig.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OvertureMaurice White | Earth, Wind & Fire | Play | 00:56 | 2 MB | 4 MB |
| 2 | Shining StarPhilip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White | Earth, Wind & Fire | Play | 05:34 | 12 MB | 40 MB |
| 3 | Happy Feelin'Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Al McKay, Maurice White, Verdine White | Earth, Wind & Fire | Play | 05:37 | 12 MB | 42 MB |
| 4 | Yearnin' Learnin'Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White | Earth, Wind & Fire | Play | 04:55 | 11 MB | 36 MB |
| 5 | InterludeMaurice White | Earth, Wind & Fire | Play | 00:54 | 2 MB | 5 MB |
| 6 | EvilPhilip Bailey, Maurice White | Earth, Wind & Fire | Play | 03:01 | 6 MB | 21 MB |
| 7 | ReasonsPhilip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White | Earth, Wind & Fire | Play | 09:40 | 22 MB | 61 MB |
| 8 | Mighty MightyMaurice White, Verdine White | Earth, Wind & Fire | Play | 04:48 | 11 MB | 36 MB |
| 9 | That's the Way of the WorldCharles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White | Earth, Wind & Fire | Play | 08:29 | 19 MB | 60 MB |
| 10 | Sun Goddess (featuring special guest soloist Ramsey Lewis) | Earth Wind & Fire | Play | 07:37 | 17 MB | 55 MB |
| 11 | Kalimba Story | Earth Wind & Fire | Play | 06:58 | 15 MB | 50 MB |
| 58 mins | 134 MB | |||||
| 58 mins | 414 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philip Bailey | Composer, Congas, Group Member, Percussion, Vocals, Vocals (Background) |
| 2 | Steven Berkowitz | A&R |
| 3 | Stacey Boyle | Tape Research |
| 4 | Lisa Buckler | Project Director |
| 5 | Larry Dunn | Composer, Group Member, Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Synthesizer Programming |
| 6 | Earth, Wind & Fire | Arranger, Primary Artist |
| 7 | Simon Fowler | Photography |
| 8 | Howard Fritzson | Art Direction |
| 9 | Michael Harris | Percussion, Trumpet |
| 10 | Ralph Johnson | Drums, Group Member, Percussion, Vocals (Background) |
| 11 | Matthew Kelly | Tape Research |
| 12 | Paul Klingberg | Concert Producer, Mixing, Producer |
| 13 | Ramsey Lewis | Guest Artist, Primary Artist, Soloist, Vocals |
| 14 | Jon Lind | Composer |
| 15 | Art Macnow | Direction |
| 16 | Cameron Marcarelli | Assistant |
| 17 | George Massenburg | Engineer |
| 18 | Patti Matheny | Artist Coordination |
| 19 | Al McKay | Composer, Group Member, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals (Background) |
| 20 | Don Myrick | Group Member, Percussion, Saxophone, Soloist |
| 21 | Steve Newman | Design |
| 22 | Woody Pornpitaksuk | Authoring |
| 23 | Michael Putland | Photography |
| 24 | David Redferns | Photography |
| 25 | Retna | Photography |
| 26 | David Ritz | Liner Notes |
| 27 | Leo Sacks | Concert Producer, Producer |
| 28 | Darren Salmieri | Artist Coordination |
| 29 | Richard Salvato | Direction |
| 30 | Louis Satterfield | Group Member, Percussion, Trombone |
| 31 | Charles Stepney | Arranger, Composer |
| 32 | Chuck Stewart | Photography |
| 33 | Mark Unterberger | Packaging Manager |
| 34 | Chris Walter | Photography |
| 35 | Maurice White | Composer, Concert Producer, Drums, Group Member, Kalimba, Percussion, Producer, Solo Instrumental, Soloist, Timbales, Vocals, Vocals (Background) |
| 36 | Verdine White | Bass, Composer, Group Member, Percussion, Vocals (Background) |
| 37 | Mark Wilder | Mastering |
| 38 | Kyle Wofford | Artist Coordination |
| 39 | Andrew Woolfolk | Flute, Group Member, Percussion, Saxophone |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |