Continuing my look at the albums of 1975…
The genre-hopping band Earth, Wind & Fire released its sixth studio album, the funk soul classic That’s the Way of the World, in early ’75. The album served as the soundtrack to a film of the same name in which the band portrayed a fictional act championed by a record producer played by Harvey Keitel.
The album made a much bigger impression than the movie, going triple platinum and reaching #1 on Billboard’s albums chart. It also gave the band its only #1 song on the Hot 100 in ‘Shining Star,’ today’s SOTD. I would have guessed that distinction belonged to ‘September’ or ‘Let’s Groove,’ but those songs reached only #8 and #3, respectively.
As with most of the artists I’ve featured this week, I’m not familiar with Earth, Wind & Fire beyond the obvious hits. This album certainly goes down easy, delivering healthy doses of soul and funk in a compact, 38-minute package. This isn’t my genre, but I can appreciate when it’s done well.
Yeah, hey, hey
[Verse 1]
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams will take you very far, yeah
But when you wish upon a dream
Life ain’t always what it seems, oh, yeah
What you see on nights so clear, hey?
In the sky so very dear, yeah?
[Chorus]
You’re a shining star
No matter who you are
Shining bright to see
What you could truly be
(What you could truly be)
[Verse 2]
Shining star come into view
To shine its watchful light on you
Give you strength to carry on, yeah
Yeah, 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
Bless it now
I’ve got my own
Oh yeah, oh yeah
So, if you find yourself in need
Why don’t you listen
To these words of heed
Be a giant or grain of sand
Words of wisdom
Yes, I can
[Chorus]
You’re a shining star
No matter who you are
Shining bright to see
What you could truly be
You’re a shining star
No matter who you are
Shining bright to see
What you could truly be
You’re a shining star
No matter who you are
Shining bright to see
What you could truly be
[Outro]
Shining star for you to see
What your life can truly be
Shining star for you to see
What your life can truly be
Shining star for you to see
What your life can truly be
Meet Me In Montauk 
I would add “Boogie Wonderland” and “After the Love Has Gone” to the hits I know from Earth, Wind & Fire. All good stuff!