Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)

To a backing chorus of a gospel choir, Stevie starts this joint by singing, "Good morn or evening friends/Here's your friendly announcer." Then, for the next 106 minutes, he proceeds to give us the news. And what a newscast it is. As the album's title suggests, the music and lyrics try to cover as many facets of life as possible: pop, funk, jazz fusion, soul, ballads, and baroque synths frame songs about love, childhood, politics, religion, culture, racism, and music. In his 20's, Wonder was in his prime and couldn't stop the creative flow. Instead of releasing two or three albums in the late '70s, he opened the floodgates and let us have this creative burst all at once. Even though many of the tracks are just Stevie on vocals and all the instruments, a total of 130 people worked on the album. I do, however, have a complaint. I think of Stevie Wonder as the greatest harmonica player I've ever heard and there's simply not enough harmonica playing here.

The list price for the LP set in 1976 was $13.98 (adjusted for inflation, that's $55.94 in 2012), but that high cost didn't keep it from debuting at #1 on the album charts, where it spent 14 weeks. This album always makes an appearance every time a new "Greatest Albums Of All Time" list is compiled. In 2008, this album was voted the "Top Album of All Time" by the Yahoo! Music Playlist Blog, using a formula that combined 4 parameters - Album Staying Power Value + Sales Value + Critical Rating Value + Grammy Award Value. A masterpiece.

Update: In its 2020 list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Rolling Stone ranked this album at #4.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "The album is a gorgeous communication from a genius soul at peace with itself."
• Stereo Review: "a disappointment"
• Robert Christagau: A
• CashBox: "a frighteningly excellent LP"
• Rolling Stone: "The album offers something fresh at each listening, something right for every mood."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #1 (14 weeks between Oct 16, 1976 - Jan 29, 1977)
• Billboard R&B: #1 (20 weeks)
• CashBox: #1 (12 consecutive weeks)

Tracks: Without a doubt, my favorite track here is As (with Herbie Hancock on the Fender Rhodes), followed closely by I Wish (who can resist that bass line?). But there are plenty of gems here: Love's In Need Of Love Today, Contusion, Sir Duke, Pastime Paradise, Saturn, Isn't She Lovely, Black Man, and Another Star. There is no filler. I repeat: there is no filler.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: This music reminds me of the summer of 1977. I'm sure that's the case for most people - if a radio was playing in 1977, chances are you would hear Stevie Wonder. I remember being in my bedroom with my clock/radio on, waiting to hear the opening horns of Sir Duke.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Talking Book (1972)
Someday At Christmas (1967)