that's the way of the world

Earth, Wind & Fire struck a chord and created love desire with the elemental funk fusion of this sultry shining star.    After three albums ('Earth, Wind & Fire', 'The Need of Love', and 'Last Days of Time') on Warner Brothers Records, they moved to Colombia Records and began to catch on as their next two albums ('Head to the Sky' and 'Open Our Eyes') would chart at number two and number one on the R&B album chart respectively.  

'That's the Way of the World' was commissioned as the soundtrack to a film by Sid Shore that featured Earth, Wind, & Fire as 'the band'.  The album was produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney with engineer George Massenburg at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado and featured   Maurice White on vocals, drums, percussion, and kalimba;   Verdine White on vocals, bass, and percussion;  Philip Bailey on vocals and percussion;  Larry Dunn on organ and Moog synthesizer;  Al McKay on guitar and percussion;  Fred White and Ralph Johnson on drums and percussion;  Johnny Graham on guitar;   and Andrew P. Woolfolk on flute and saxophone.  

Maurice White would express:   “There are certain disciplines we apply to our life in respect of diet and living, the way we live. There are certain aspects which have to be kept clean, things that relate directly to the Creator. By adopting a totally positive approach to our life, we can reflect this in our music – we won’t allow it to reflect any negative vibes or thoughts. All our music is ‘up’ in the sense that it is intended to bring people to that state. It is truly gratifying to know that we are finally getting to people, they are accepting us. But as yet we have one-and-a-half-million listeners – and that’s pretty small in comparison to the number of people out there! We constantly need to get to more...No, we don’t deal in drugs in any way – it’s not necessary if your spirit is clear and your mission is positive. You attract to you what is within you and you can always get good out of any bad. Yes, it is true that a lot of entertainers don’t follow these kind of guidelines – that is may times because they are in it for the wrong reasons. You cannot have an ego and deal with it all and a lot of them misunderstand the whole purpose of their function as a performer. Yes, we do still have to deal with the industry as it is – but we are to an extent protected from it.”

'That's the Way of the World' reached number eighty four in Australia, fifteen in Canada, and number one on the US R&B chart and the US pop chart.  It sold over five million copies.  





http://www.earthwindandfire.com/










"That's the Way of the World" found its way to number twenty in Canada, twelve on the US pop chart and number five on the US R&B chart.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_TjT_ktsSY

Hearts of fire creates love desire
Take you high and higher to the world you belong
Hearts of fire creates love desire
High and higher to your place on the throne

We come together on this special day
Sing our message loud and clear
Looking back, we've touched on sorrowful days,
Future pass, they disappear
You will find peace of mind
If you look way down in your heart and soul
Don't hesitate 'cause the world seems cold
Stay young at heart, 'cause you're never, never old

That's the way of the world,
Plant your flower and you grow a pearl
Child is born with a heart of gold
Way of the world makes his heart so cold

Hearts of fire create love desire take you
High and higher to the world you belong
Hearts of fire love desire
High and higher, yeah yeah yeah
Hearts of fire love desire
Ahh higher

We come together on this special day
Sung our message loud and clear
Looking back, we've touched on sorrowful days,
Future disappears
You will find peace of mind
If you look way down in your heart and soul
Don't hesitate 'cause the world seems cold
Stay young at heart, 'cause you're never, never, never

That's the way of the world,
Plant your flower and you grow a pearl
Child is born with a heart of gold
Way of the world makes his heart so cold

Hearts of fire, love desire
High and higher, yeah yeah
Hearts of fire, love desire

"Shining Star" would reach number twenty-one in Canada, fourteen in the Netherlands, and number one on the US pop and R&B charts.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl-WSmryfSY

When you wish upon a star 
Dreams will take you very far, yeah 
But when you wish upon a dream 
Life ain't always what it seems, oh yeah 
What'd you see, on nights so clear 
In the sky, so very dear, yeah 

You're a shining star 
No matter who you are 
Shining bright to see 
What you could truly be 
(What you could truly be) 

Shining star come into view 
To shine its watchful light on you, yeah 
Give you strength to carry on, yeah 
Girl, make your body big and strong, yeah 

Born a man-child of the sun, yeah 
Yeah, saw my work had just begun 
Yeah, Found I had to stand alone, yeah 
Well bless it now I've got my own, oh yeah 

So if you find yourself in need 
Why dontcha listen to these worlds of heed 
Be a giant, or grain of sand 
Words of wisdom - "Yes, I can" 

You're a shining star 
No matter who you are 
Shining bright to see 
What you can truly be 

Shining star, for you to see 
What your life can truly be 








'That's the Way of the World' 
full album:

https://myspace.com/earthwindandfire/music/album/that-s-the-way-of-the-world-19043293

http://www.last.fm/music/Earth,+Wind+&+Fire/_/That's+the+Way+of+the+World


Side one
1. "Shining Star"   Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White 2:50
2. "That's the Way of the World"   Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White 5:45
3. "Happy Feelin'"   Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White, Al McKay 3:35
4. "All About Love"   Larry Dunn, Maurice White 6:35
Side two
5. "Yearnin' Learnin'"   Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White 3:39
6. "Reasons"   Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White 4:59
7. "Africano"   Larry Dunn, Maurice White 5:09
8. "See the Light"   Louise Anglin, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn 6:18




'That's the Way of the World' 
movie intro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxklLiNCNdk