Red Mosquito

A thread for the genius that is Stevie Wonder. It's long overdue.



Let's do this, kids...

He shares a creative arc with The Simpsons.

Superstition is somewhere in my top twenty of all time.

bart wrote:He shares a creative arc with The Simpsons.

His run from 1972's Music of My Mind through 1976's Songs in the Key of Life is possibly the greatest run any modern artist has ever had. I'd actually include 1971's Where I'm Coming from and 1979's Journey Through the Secret Lives of Plants (a criminally underrated, obscenely ambitious record) as well. He was almost perfect for the entire decade of the seventies.

Stevie Wonder is one of those artists that, again, I should've given more time to over my life, just never did. Then I saw you tweet that Songs in the Key of Life was 'perfect' and I had to find out. Turns out you were right. Amazing. I think I preferred Innervisions to Talking Book overall, but only because the latter is a bit more complex, with some longer songs, and will require some more concentration (in spite of its length, Songs in the Key of Life has more immediately accessible songs in my opinion). But all three albums you've leant me are stellar. These songs are uplifting in the best way, and I'm also happy to see he has a barbed satirical edge which encompasses politics and social justice too, namely African-American civil rights. Perfect. I just love how 'Village Ghetto Land' sounds like an old English folk song. Anyway, at the moment I have plenty of favourites but this one is striking me every time as a special song for me:

I think if I absolutely had to pick a personal favorite, I'd go with Innervisions, but there are plenty of times when I prefer Talking Book or Songs in the Key of Life. Songs in the Key of Life is definitely the most amazing achievement of all of them though.

Love's In Need of Love Today is such a stunning song. It sets the scene for the rest of the album so perfectly.

Lament wrote:I think if I absolutely had to pick a personal favorite, I'd go with Innervisions

Me too.

I love Stevie, seeing him play live a few years ago was wonderful.

Also, now I have a go-to drummer for when describing what I want my drumming to sound like.

Birds in Hell wrote:I love Stevie, seeing him play live a few years ago was wonderful.

Oh man, that must have been so awesome. By all accounts he still sounds pretty fantastic to this day. I really need to see him if I get the chance.

Lament wrote:A thread for the genius that is Stevie Wonder. It's long overdue.



Let's do this, kids...

This was 31 minutes well spent. Need to fill this blindspot in my music library ASAP.

Glad you dug it, man. Check your PMs.

'Black Man' is so awesome Can't help wishing it mentioned some women but this was the 70s.

looks like he'll be playing tonight with Daft Punk

Grammy

The Grammys are really bringing it in terms of performing acts this year.

I love him specially Songs in the Key of Life. That right there is a masterpiece.

psychobain wrote:looks like he'll be playing tonight with Daft Punk

Grammy

Awesome.

harmless wrote:

psychobain wrote:looks like he'll be playing tonight with Daft Punk

Grammy

Awesome.

It was fantastic.

psychobain wrote:looks like he'll be playing tonight with Daft Punk

Grammy

this was pretty great