<i> Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five stars (a classic).</i> : ** 1/2: EARTH, WIND & FIRE “Heritage”Columbia

It’s been a long time since EW&F; was cutting edge. Middle-aged respectability--and predictability--have dulled the cosmic clout that this group wielded back in the ‘70s. At the height of EW&F;’s popularity, only George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic rivaled it for sheer audacity, originality and jaw-dropping musicianship. Back then, a new EW&F; album was an eagerly anticipated event. Today there are too many other groups on the rap, dance and pop scene who are performing fresher music with more impact. But EW&F;’s biggest challenge isn’t to surpass the efforts of contemporary music-makers, but rather to create new songs the equal of ‘70s classics like “That’s the Way of the World,” “Reasons” and “You Can’t Hide Love.”

A rugged dilemma, but one that’s just about met on “For the Love of You” (not the Isley Brothers standard), which features rap wizard M.C. Hammer, and “Anything You Want,” a ballad with real romantic bite. Philip Bailey sounds as sublime as ever on “Daydreamin’ ” ( not the Aretha Franklin hit), although it doesn’t pack the emotional whammy of “Reasons.” Actually, younger listeners might be more receptive to this entire album than the thirty- and fortysomething crowd who know what EW&F; was like at its cutting-edge peak.