Earth, Wind & Fire

That’s the Way of the World

First released1975

That's the Way of the World was recorded in 1975 at various studios including the Record Plant in Los Angeles, with production led by Earth, Wind & Fire's leader Maurice White alongside co-producer Jeff Wald. The album featured the band working with engineer John Fischbach and showcased their sophisticated use of multitrack recording, blending live instrumentation with studio production techniques that were cutting-edge for mid-1970s R&B and funk. The recording sessions took place during a period when the band was at peak creative confidence following their commercial breakthrough, allowing them to experiment with elaborate horn arrangements, complex percussion overdubs, and layered vocal harmonies. The album's polished production sound became a template for disco and funk music of the late 1970s and reflected the technical possibilities of analog multitrack recording combined with meticulous arrangement and performance precision. Released in March 1975, the album became both a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and spawning the hit single "Shining Star."