LA Weekly called the LP "Serious romantic music to wear silk bellbottom slacks to." Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune wrote "Their new album 'That's the Way of the World' [Columbia], exploits the moods, if not the explosive instrumental power, that made their last platter 'Open Our Eyes,' a smash hit." Robert Christgau of the Village Voice found that "Here ethnomusicology and colloquial homiletics are tacked onto the funk and soul and doowop and jazz, which makes for an instructive contrast -the taped-in-Africa Matepe Ensemble, whose spontaneous laughter closes out the coda, versus Maurice White, whose humorless platitutdes prove there's more to roots than turning a mbira into an ersatz vibraphone." Vibe also proclaimed "That's the Way of the World coursed effortlessly through a myriad of genres, from rock to jazz to funk to heavy African influences". That's the Way of the World was nominated in 1975 and 1976 for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album. EWF also won a Rock Music Award for That's the Way of the World in the category of Best Rhythm and Blues Album. During 2004 That's the Way of the World was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2012 Rolling Stone placed the album at 486 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, calling it "make-out music of the gods". For the 2020 update of the list, the album's rank climbed to number 420. Track listing Original issue Personnel Bass – Verdine White Conductor – Saini Murira (track 8) Congas – Philip Bailey Drums – Fred White, Maurice White, Ralph Johnson Flute, Soprano saxophone, Tenor saxophone – Andrew P. Woolfolk Guitar – Al McKay, Johnny Graham Kalimba – Maurice White Moog synthesizer, Piano, Organ, All Keyboards – Larry Dunn Percussion – Al McKay, Fred White, Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson, Verdine White Additional Saxophone – Ernie Watts Strings – Saini Murira & Matepe Ensemble (track 8) Trombone – George Bohanon Trumpet – Oscar Brashear Vocals – Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White<ref name="Worldlegacy" /> Production Producer – Maurice White (Original), Leo Sacks (Reissue) Co-producer – Charles Stepney (Original) Recording Engineer – George Massenburg (1-8), Curt Wittig (8) Mixing – George Massenburg (1-8), Maurice White (9-13), Paul Klingberg (9-13), Leo Sacks (9-13) Mixed at Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, CA). Mastered at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA). Art Direction – Howard Fritzen Design – Stephen Newman and Shusei