Phyl Garland of Stereo Review wrote "In the Stone is less imaginative than many of Earth, Wind & Fire's previous efforts, but performing gusto compensates for the slim substance."[4][5]
Ace Adams of the New York Daily News called "In the Stone" one of the album's "best songs."[6]Cash Box said it was "an irresistable dancing cut" that "moves to a swinging mixture of catchy percussives and intricately woven harmonies."[7] James Johnson of the Evening Standard proclaimed "the slightly curious cosmic overtones of their lyrics remain in evidence on..In the Stone".[8]
Personnel
Writing, lyrics – Allee Willis, David Foster, Maurice White
French horn - Barbara Korn, Marilyn Robinson, Richard Perissi, Sidney Muldrow
Trombone – Benjamin Powell, Garnett Brown, George Bohanon, Louis Satterfield, Maurice Spears, William Reichenbach
Trumpet - Bobby Bryant, Elmer Brown Jr., Jerry Hey, Michael Harris, Oscar Brashear, Rahmlee Michael Davis, Steve Madaio
Viola - Barbara Thomason, Linda Lipsett, Norman Forrest, Renita Koven
Violin - Barry Socher, Betty Lamagna, Carl LaMagna, David Stockhammer, Haim Shtrum, Harris Goldman, Jack Gootkin, Lya Stern, Marcia Van Dyke, Mary D. Lundquist, Ronald Clark, Ruth Henry, Sheldon Sanov
Cello – Daniel Smith, Jan Kelley, Ronald Cooper, Concert Master, Janice Gower
^Holtje, Stephen (January 1, 1998). "Earth, Wind & Fire/Maurice White". In Graff, Gary; du Lac, Josh; McFarlin, Jim (eds.). MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 189–190.
^ abEarth, Wind & Fire: In the Stone. Columbia Records. 1979.