Studio Album · No. 6

That's the Way of the World Songwriting Credits by Earth, Wind & Fire

1975 Columbia 8 tracks 38:23

Produced by Maurice White, Charles Stepney  ·  Engineered by George Massenburg

Columbia SoulFunkProgressive Soul
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 8 of 8 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 8 / 8 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 8 tracks with documented writers, by whether Earth, Wind & Fire carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
8 trackswritten by Earth, Wind & Fire 0 tracksoutside writers
Earth, Wind & Fire's roles on this album

Share of the 8 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

8
Tracks
7
Lyricists
2
Producers
1
No.1 Single
1975
Released
Data Insight

Maurice White is on seven of the eight, with Philip Bailey and Larry Dunn on five each. It is the most evenly shared record of the classic run, and it produced their only number one.

That's the Way of the World came out on Columbia in March 1975 as the soundtrack to a film nobody watched, and became the band's biggest album.

Track Listing & Credits 8 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Shining Star #1
Philip BaileyLarry DunnMaurice White Philip James BaileyLorenzo Russell DunnMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
2
That's the Way of the World #12
Charles StepneyVerdine WhiteMaurice White Charles StepneyVerdine Adams WhiteMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
3
Happy Feelin'
Al McKayVerdine WhitePhilip BaileyLarry DunnMaurice White Albert Phillip McKayVerdine Adams WhitePhilip James BaileyLorenzo Russell DunnMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
4
All About Love
Larry DunnMaurice White Lorenzo Russell DunnMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
5
Yearnin' Learnin'
Philip BaileyCharles StepneyMaurice White Philip James BaileyCharles StepneyMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
6
Reasons
Philip BaileyCharles StepneyMaurice White Philip James BaileyCharles StepneyMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
7
Africano
Larry DunnMaurice White Lorenzo Russell DunnMaurice White Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)
8
See the Light
Louise AnglinPhilip BaileyLarry Dunn Louise AnglinPhilip James BaileyLorenzo Russell Dunn Maurice WhiteCharles Stepney Earth, Wind & Fire (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 12 contributors

MW
Maurice White
Writer · Producer
On this album7 written
LD
Larry Dunn
Writer
On this album5 written
LR
Lorenzo Russell Dunn
Writer
On this album5 written
PB
Philip Bailey
Writer
On this album5 written
PJ
Philip James Bailey
Writer
On this album5 written
CS
Charles Stepney
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
VA
Verdine Adams White
Writer
On this album2 written
VW
Verdine White
Writer
On this album2 written
AM
Al McKay
Writer
On this album1 written
AP
Albert Phillip McKay
Writer
On this album1 written
LA
Louise Anglin
Writer
On this album1 written
EW
Earth, Wind & Fire
Performer
On this albumGuest

More from Earth, Wind & Fire

1971 100%
Earth, Wind & Fire
Warner Bros.
7 tracksProd. Joe Wissert
1971 80%
The Need of Love
Warner Bros.
5 tracksProd. Joe Wissert
1972 64%
Last Days and Time
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Joe Wissert
1973 67%
Head to the Sky
Columbia
6 tracksProd. Joe Wissert
1974 55%
Open Our Eyes
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Maurice White
1976 78%
Spirit
Columbia
9 tracksProd. Maurice White
1977 91%
All 'n All
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Maurice White
1979 78%
I Am
ARC / Columbia
9 tracksProd. Maurice White
1980 93%
Faces
ARC / Columbia
15 tracksProd. Maurice White
1981 78%
Raise!
ARC / Columbia
9 tracksProd. Maurice White
1983 100%
Powerlight
Columbia
9 tracksProd. Maurice White
1983 63%
Electric Universe
Columbia
8 tracksProd. Maurice White
1987 40%
Touch the World
Columbia
10 tracksProd. Maurice White
1990 53%
Heritage
Columbia
18 tracksProd. Maurice White
1993 81%
Millennium
Reprise
16 tracksProd. Maurice White
1997 82%
In the Name of Love
Pyramid / Rhino
11 tracksProd. Maurice White
2003 50%
The Promise
Kalimba
17 tracksProd. Maurice White
2005 0%
Illumination
Sanctuary
13 tracksProd. Maurice White
2013 80%
Now, Then & Forever
Legacy
10 tracksProd. Philip Bailey
2014 15%
Holiday
Legacy
13 tracksProd. Philip Bailey

Frequently Asked Questions That's the Way of the World

Who wrote That's the Way of the World?
Maurice White on seven of the eight tracks, with Philip Bailey and Larry Dunn on five each and Charles Stepney on three.
How high did the singles chart?
"Shining Star" reached number 1 on the Hot 100 and the title track number 12.
How did it sell?
The discography publishes certifications rather than a sales figure for it.
Who engineered it?
George Massenburg.
Who produced it?
Maurice White and Charles Stepney.
Was it a soundtrack?
It was written for a film of the same name that the band appeared in, and the record outlived it.
How long is the album?
38:23 across eight tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: That's the Way of the World Wikipedia: Earth, Wind & Fire discography Wikipedia: Earth, Wind & Fire Wikipedia: Shining Star Cover Art Archive: That's the Way of the World by Earth, Wind & Fire