Written by group members Maurice White, Larry Dunn and Philip Bailey, "Shining Star" was a #1 hit on both the R&B and Hot 100 charts. While many hits of the disco era were fun but meaningless, Earth, Wind & Fire considered all their songs meaningful, and this one projects a positive message in a turbulent time. To get a better idea, check out this quote from Maurice White from a 1975 Blues & Soul interview:
"There are certain disciplines we apply to our life in respect of diet and living, the way we live. There are certain aspects which have to be kept clean, things that relate directly to the Creator. By adopting a totally positive approach to our life, we can reflect this in our music - we won't allow it to reflect any negative vibes or thoughts. All our music is 'up' in the sense that it is intended to bring people to that state. It is truly gratifying to know that we are finally getting to people, they are accepting us."
That's The Way Of The World was the soundtrack to a movie of the same name starring a young Harvey Keitel as a record producer and Earth, Wind & Fire as the group he worked with. The movie was a colossal flop, but the album was a huge hit, capturing the sound of the band's successful stage show on vinyl.
The failure of the movie didn't drag down the band thanks in part to Maurice White refusing to let the album be labeled a soundtrack. When the film was re-issued in America, it was with a new title: Shining Star.
Earth, Wind & Fire wrote and recorded the That's The Way Of The World album at Caribou Ranch studio in Nederland, Colorado, outside of Boulder. Maurice White said he came up with the idea for this song after taking a walk one night and seeing a shining star in the sky. He took the phrase and directed it toward a positive message for the lyrics.
Caribou Ranch was a popular place to record because of the scenery and the lack of distractions. Elton John's album Caribou is named after the studio.
Earth, Wind & Fire formed in 1969 and released an album every year from 1971 to 1977. By their fifth album (Open Our Eyes in 1974) they had built a reputation for their invigorating live shows had notched a few hits along the way. They were more focused on artistry and enlightenment than on hits, but with "Shining Star," they fell into the emerging disco trend and hit the sweet spot with their sound.
"Shining Star" has been used in a variety of movies and TV shows. Among them: Glee, Seinfeld (used in a classic scene where Elaine tries to dance), Austin Powers in Goldmember, My Name Is Earl, and Muppets from Space. From: https://www.songfacts.com/facts/earth-wind-fire/shining-star
