50 Years of Soul Power

Posted February 20, 2013 by J Matthew Cobb in Features

Earth, Wind & Fire
That’s the Way of the World
(Columbia; 1975)

Many great albums surround the massive EW&F library, but their musical contribution to the Sig Shore-directed box office flop remains a soul masterpiece. The juicy two-minute display of “Shining Star” sets your ears up for the smooth soulfulness of the endearing title track that’s to come. Riveting grooves like “Yearnin’ Learnin’” and “Africano” keeps the momentum of the album alive, while “Reasons” proves to the birthplace of the first real Quiet Storm staple. Thanks to their spiritual leader Maurice White, falsetto king Phillip Bailey and the overlooked Charles Stepney, this album transcends the barriers of soul music, revealing that black bands could dominate a genre that’s been forever trapped in the hands of solo vocalists.