Totally agree. I lived near Stevie (Morris) Wonder in NJ. Never met him but did scalp a $10 ticket outside his MSG show in the early 80's. I was in love with his music, and it was my salvation, from Fingertips Pt. 2/I was made to love her (Little Stevie) through Hotter he was always there for me I mean his music but there's really very little difference. He spoke the truth, a universal brand of truth, the truth and nothing but the truth, a very uncommon thing then and almost unheard of in today's morass of three chord go nowhere grooves. Ok Tyler Childers, there are thankfully always exceptions but the album in question got under my skin a tune I'm working on for GSO big band.
In Washington Sq. between classes Bob Marley was hot on the box in the personage of Stevie. When it came to MLK Happy Birth-Day! I played the first MLK day in Santa Rosa, but it was in April as in Bono's, In the name of... rightly changed to the actual date and commemorated by... is it any wonder? The other song that actually saved my life (he's the someone who saved my life that night) with Lately when I woke up/came down I started playing the piano (story for another time another place) and life went on. Of course, there's so many I believe when I fell in love with music and it stuck and made me pursue it endlessly no matter the score it was because of him.
The kicker was at that concert I moved up close because it wasn't at capacity and who came out for the extended encore? Guess... OK it was Michael and say what you will there was love there.
I’m not sure if this was the only Stevie Wonder album my parents owned but I remember it so clearly from my childhood - I was about 10/11 when it came out - it was a regular & favourite feature of those years. So many great songs! Thanks for the reminder, I must go and dip back into it.
Fantastic review of a criminally underrated record. It's among my favourite albums of his. I see Dan shared our discussion on this record. Hope you dig!
a great album that laid groundwork for the genius era of Michael, Lionel and Whitney
Absolutely — thanks for reading!
So true
Great deep dive into my favorite Stevie Wonder album. There are so many layered and satisfying tracks on it. Your analysis offers another reason why people should explore this one which is often forgotten about compared to his 70s work. (Plants aside!) I recently had a brief discussion about it with Andres on the Vinyl Room: https://open.substack.com/pub/vinylroom/p/vital-records-3-forgotten-gems?r=lru5s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Will defs have to check it out. Thanks for sharing Dan!
Totally agree. I lived near Stevie (Morris) Wonder in NJ. Never met him but did scalp a $10 ticket outside his MSG show in the early 80's. I was in love with his music, and it was my salvation, from Fingertips Pt. 2/I was made to love her (Little Stevie) through Hotter he was always there for me I mean his music but there's really very little difference. He spoke the truth, a universal brand of truth, the truth and nothing but the truth, a very uncommon thing then and almost unheard of in today's morass of three chord go nowhere grooves. Ok Tyler Childers, there are thankfully always exceptions but the album in question got under my skin a tune I'm working on for GSO big band.
In Washington Sq. between classes Bob Marley was hot on the box in the personage of Stevie. When it came to MLK Happy Birth-Day! I played the first MLK day in Santa Rosa, but it was in April as in Bono's, In the name of... rightly changed to the actual date and commemorated by... is it any wonder? The other song that actually saved my life (he's the someone who saved my life that night) with Lately when I woke up/came down I started playing the piano (story for another time another place) and life went on. Of course, there's so many I believe when I fell in love with music and it stuck and made me pursue it endlessly no matter the score it was because of him.
The kicker was at that concert I moved up close because it wasn't at capacity and who came out for the extended encore? Guess... OK it was Michael and say what you will there was love there.
Steve, as always, an incredible comment and anecdotes. Thanks for sharing!
I’m not sure if this was the only Stevie Wonder album my parents owned but I remember it so clearly from my childhood - I was about 10/11 when it came out - it was a regular & favourite feature of those years. So many great songs! Thanks for the reminder, I must go and dip back into it.
Thanks for reading!
Brilliant, you really capture the album so well.
Thanks Jon!
I don't think Stevie was capable of making a half-assed song that sucked.
He tested that theory a little bit later in the 80s lol but generally I’d agree 👍
Fantastic review of a criminally underrated record. It's among my favourite albums of his. I see Dan shared our discussion on this record. Hope you dig!