Album Summary
Songs in the Key of Life is the eighteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder. It was released on September 28, 1976, by Tamla Records, a division of Motown. The double album has been regarded by music journalists as the culmination of Wonder's "classic period" of recording. The album was recorded primarily at Crystal Sound studio in Hollywood, with some sessions recorded at the Record Plant in Hollywood, the Record Plant in Sausalito, and The Hit Factory in New York City; final mixing was conducted at Crystal Sound.By 1974, Wonder was one of the most successful figures in popular music; Wonder's previous albums Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions and Fulfillingness' First Finale were all back-to-back critical successes. However, by the end of 1975, Wonder seriously considered quitting the music industry and planned to emigrate to Ghana to work with disabled children. Plans for a farewell concert had begun, but Wonder subsequently changed his mind and signed a new contract with Motown on August 5, 1975. This outlined a seven-year, seven-album, $37 million deal with full artistic control. At the time, it was the biggest recording deal in history.Songs in the Key of Life was released as a double LP with a four-song bonus EP. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart becoming only the third album to achieve that feat and the first by an American artist at the time. Both the lead single "I Wish" and follow-up single "Sir Duke" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Songs in the Key of Life spent thirteen consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the album with the most weeks at number one during the year. It was the second best-selling album of 1977 in the US. In 2005, Songs in the Key of Life was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Songs in the Key of Life won Album of the Year at the 19th Grammy Awards. It is the best-selling and most critically acclaimed album of Wonder's career. Widely regarded as Wonder's magnum opus and one of the greatest albums in the history of recorded music, many musicians have remarked on the quality of the album and its influence on their own work; indeed, some notable musicians have named it as the greatest album of all time. It was voted number 89 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums and ranked number 4 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2002, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2005, Songs in the Key of Life was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, which deemed it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
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Reviews
this could have been a better album if it went for half the time but because it didn’t, i hated it. it went for way too long to be enjoyed
A great singer with some familiar songs. This is really good but not a genre I listen to often or really have the desire to do so. Its something that fits a certain times and places but when it fits there is nothing better.
Excellent & very long
It’s my favorite album of all time Like it’s genuinely essential listening It’s life itself expressed through music like it really doesn’t get much better than this
3.5 (maybe a 3: I hate meandering endings to songs).
Some songs are weaker but really good for a double album
One thing I can say about Stevie Wonder is that his music is infectious. I love more that side with songs like Superstition, Sir Duke and I Wish. Not that I like his soul songs, but those are bangers. 4/5 Love’s In Need Of Love Today: 4 Have A Talk With God: 3 Village Ghetto Land: 3 Contusion: 4 Sir Duke: 5 I Wish: 5 Knocks Me Off My Feet: 3 Pastime Paradise: 5 Summer Soft: 4 Ordinary Pain: 3 Isn’t She Lovely: 4 Joy Inside My Tears: 3 Black Man: 4 Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing: 3 If It’s Magic: 3,5 As: 3 Another Star: 3
One of, if not the pinnacle, Wonder’s top albums. What a treasure the man is.
It might get funkier (hardly) than this but the production and the variety of sounds and melodies is outstanding.
Stevie Wonder's masterpiece and one of my favorite records ever. All the double albums released since SITKOL was released can be considered redundant.
Eh
Stevie's magnum opus and it's not even close
Amazing album, such consistent highs and some near perfect songs sprinkled in. 4.4
Top 5 oat covers mamy emotions and experiences aswell as sort of political opinions.
One of the best double albums of all time
Cmon man. Everything about this is amazing. Amazing vocals, amazing instrumentals, amazing songwriting, amazing instrumentals. All of the bad music in the world is worth it just for this to exist.
There are more musical ideas in this album than many artists create in their whole career. Everything from soul to jazz - and even prog rock!
I don't like double albums. I tried listen to this one before and I got bored, this time I liked it better. The best part for me it's the instrumentation when Wonder and his musicians seem to be having more fun. I'm not a fan of his singing and the lyrics can be very cheesy at times. Concussion was a weird track since it's a fusion jazz and it doesn't achieve as good of a result as when they just try to play funk-soul rhythms, that's the hight point for this albums. I understand why it's considered a great album. Why it tops the greatest albums list lately is still a mystery.
A classic 😁 Five stars…
This was a really long album, but it was fine. I knew a few songs. I really like the song Sir Duke. I can't listen to Pastime Paradise without wanting to sing Gangster's Paradise. I also can't listen to I Wish without wanting to sing Wild Wild West by Will Smith. It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I knew both of those songs sampled Stevie Wonder. I also knew Isn't She Lovely and As.
Peak.
Heard of artist: Yes Heard before: Some of the songs Absolute classic, can't deny its influence, obviously heard many of these before but never sat through the whole (nearly two hour long) album before. My first album in this generator!
It's a landmark album for a reason. Slow paced and long but the vibes and songwriting keep it fresh and interesting the whole way through. Rating: light 9/10
One of those absolutely venerated classics that just never clicked for me. A fresh listen didn’t do anything to move me once again. Not a hater, he’s a legend and an absurd talent, this just doesn’t do it for me beyond, “hey, that’s pretty good.”
4.1/5.
Brilliant. Obviously.
4.25 stars A great album with so many amazing moments. But it suffers from bloat and excess of an artist given the freedom to do whatever the fuck they want. I have this on vinyl and I had to put on a 7inch after the double LP to listen to all the track. And none of the 4 tracks on the 7inch record were worth it. That would cut like 17 minutes of the album (I didn’t even know they could fit that much on those small ones!). But it could have been cut even more. Still, even with that complaint, it sounds great, classic tunes, and I’ll still return to… much of it. Probably won’t play the last bit on my turntable again.
Positive, soul
Great
Ein tolles Album aus meinem Geburtsjahr. "Isn't she lovely" ist sehr bekannt. Alle Songs gefallen mir sehr gut und haben eine schöne Stimmung. 5/5
A ridiculously long album for the 70s, although digital sources list the additional tracks from the EP that I'm not sure everyone back in the 70s would get. Features a lot of classic big hits but also it's not all killer, some tracks are okay but sound like demos added later.
Stevie Wonder's voice is just nourishing for the soul
Very groovy
a very long album, but an incredible achievement much like all things must pass. a triple album with utterly no filter. perfect
Amazing Album - bummed I was not able to get tickets to his latest round of concerts meant to celebrate this album
Really not a fan of this album at all. 2 stars or D+.
Surprisingly incredible. Stevie has always been hit or miss for me but this, even with the length, was sublime.
Always a good listen!
Isn't this album lovely?
Just the kind of album I needed today
gangsta's paradise jumpscare
You know it's a classic.
Contusion Past time paradise Sir duke Isn’t she loveley
This felt like an eternity. Sure there was classics and can see the influence it has had for decades but after 40 minutes I needed something else.
When I first bought this record in the 90s, I thought it was trash. Now, it's fine, leaning towards cheese.
Too smooth. Knew a bunch. Very talented
If It's Magic... it's not. it is a good album though. I wish it was a bit shorter, or two albums but that's fine. I love many of the tracks but can live without a few 4.4
Good
4/10
This is the sort of music I'd expect to see in a Garfield movie when Jon was getting ready for a date or something. Really disliked this, maybe even hated it
Rating this anything under 5 stars is criminal. There is not a lull in this double album. Stevie at his absolute best.
enjoyed contusion the most, songs are soooooo long. good for when you want something chill
дуже гарний альбом загалом, але не для мене і не зараз
yes sir thats stevie wonder
fuck yeah
High quaility album from a high quailty musician. Though I felt it didnt need to be as long as it was and mostly relistened to tracks off the first disc. Favourite tracks: Sir Duke, I Wish, Contusion, As
Several fun songs, many more were too repetitive.
Bangers on bangers Perfect album!
ЭТО АЛЬБОМ НЕВЕРОЯТНОГО КАЧЕСТВА! Ожидания от него были высокие, я слышал про Стиви много, но все никак не слушал абсолютно ничего из его творчества и вот мои уши дошли и до него.. И то, что я услышал меня поразило! Невероятный тон всех инструментов, шедевральная работа с инструментами, сведение запредельного качества, неповторимое звучание инструменталов… Да и на альбоме нет проходных треков, слушать его одно удовольствие! Оценка: 5/5. Мог бы - поставил больше! Слишком много 5 я ставлю в последнее время…
Such a pluralistic record, pretty much influence all of noughties pop and rap. I think there’ll always be something new to find in there.
10/10 Favorites: Love’s In Need Of Love Today Sir Duke I Wish Knocks Me Off My Feet Isn’t She Lovely Saturn
This album is incredible. There's so many hits on here it makes me question what's even on his other albums. The worst thing I can say about Stevie Wonder is he can be incredibly corny. But I guess that's the cost of sincerity.
If there was an album that could randomly begin to emit smoke out for of headphones, I would not be surprised if it were this one. Frankly, I don't want to go on too much of a tangent with this record, but I will say that my decision to buy at a used-LP shop in 2022 paid off. The greatest R&B album ever released (10/10, 5/5 on this scale)
A huge feast of delectable soul music. It can be a bit bloated and Stevie can be cheesy, but it is very consistently great, an achievement for an album that is this long. The highs are extremely high and the lows are still very good, even though they are saccharine and corny. This is generally discussed as one of the best albums of all time and while I don't believe that it is perfect by any means, it isn't hard to see why.
I love Stevie...I was so happy to get this album.
🤙
Loads of great tracks and iconic melodies etc but not as good as Fulfillingness’.
An incredible feat of an album, and a variety of soundscapes to get lost in. An album of this sheer size is hard to rate based on a single listen, but there were enough sparks here to make me move my feet and snap my fingers.
Amamzing album love it Im a bit biased on this one. Maybe pne song I think should not have made the cut
Hard not to like this. Incredible production, songs that make you fall in love with so quickly, for a double album surprisingly high quality all the way through, I think it took to the last 4 tracks before I started losing interest. I have to give it 5 stars despite the length as this is such an iconic and important album I want to return to it over and over
#2 Before listening: never ever have I heard any album by Stevie Wonder. Moreover, I can't name any song by him. After listening: well, it was hard for me. It's a very long and very varied album. I can see why Stevie Wonder is a musical genius, but being a simpleton from Russia I just can't relate to his music.
1. 4.5 2. 4.5 3. 4.5 4. 4 5. 5 6. 5 7. 5 8. 5 9. 4.5 10. 4 1. 5 2. 5 3. 4.5 4. 4.5 5. 4 6. 5 7. 5 8. 5 9. 5 10. 5 11. 4
It's good but it's long. The big songs slap and then there's some just all right stuff in here. Might be sacrilegious but I don't think think this is Stevie's best album. Top tracks: "Isn't She Lovely," "Sir Duke," "I Wish," "As," "Black Man"
An absolute 5. One of the greatest albums ever created, so very close to perfect it's almost impossible to state its importance. The absolute fucking shit.
--Love's in Need of Love Today...schmaltzy but that tone is perfection --Have a Talk with God...funky spaceship song about god --Village Ghetto Land...title doesn't match the sound, feels like I'm walking through the Louvre. probably the point --Contusion...rocking instrumental. some tasty guitar licks --Sir Duke...classic --I Wish...totally stole Will Smith’s song (this is a joke) --Knocks Me Off My Feet...ballad that soars --Pastime Paradise...I already made a Will Smith reference so it would be in poor taste to mention Coolio. So, I will absolutely not mention Coolio --Summer Soft...funky, soulful, head-bopping perfection --Ordinary Pain...buttery smooth --Isn't She Lovely...Schmaltzy Stevie. hard to argue with its longevity, or the vocal ability --Joy Inside My Tears...more schmaltz --Black Man...magical bass line. the message is evergreen --Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing...there is something 8-bit Nintendo about this (laudatory) --If It's Magic...is that a harp? Stevie, you beautiful man --As...a complete song. just a beautiful soup. shout out to the George Michael and Mary J. Blige version --Another Star...5 FUCKING STARS. that god damned flute
Holy shit, two heaters in a row, I love Stevie Wonder, and this is far and away his best work 5/5
I would say neither disc is amazing but there are some good songs on them both
What a strange-in-a-good-way album. If you cut it down to a single disc, you could literally have a best-of compilation. So much of it is so ahead of it's time, like the music in Have a Talk With God. The almost baroque string arrangement in Village Ghetto Land, the funk rock guitar of Contusion... Sir Duke just being one of the best songs ever... I Wish also being that... Just an amazing collection of soul, funk, slow jams... and everything else. I can't do a play by play because each song is better than the last. The fact that Stevie Wonder basically invented the template for most of the music that came out of the 1990s, and in some instances his songs actually became big hits when altered, such as Wild Wild West by Will Smith doing his version of I Wish, and of course Passtime Paradise becoming Gangstas Paradise by Coolio. This is a remarkable album of literal genius. My only gripe is, as a double album, it's a bit bloated and too long. But saying that, I'm not really sure what you would cut to make it into a single album.
What to say. This is absolutely perfect. Everything works. The writing, the instrumentals, the vocals, the deep themes. It is a heavy lift of an album, long and full, yet it feels happy and alive the whole way through. For me it is the best ever album. Stevie sounds completely free here. The songs move between joy, reflection, social awareness and pure musical pleasure without ever losing momentum. The arrangements are rich but never crowded. Bass, keyboards, horns, voices and rhythms all lock together with a natural sense of flow. Nothing feels forced. It just pours out. The production is warm and full. Every part sits clearly in the mix while the overall sound stays thick and human. It has scale without becoming cold or overworked. Songs in the Key of Life is the rare record that feels complete. Deep, joyful, endlessly replayable, and still unmatched.
Hm, never gave Stevie much attention so I'm not very familiar with him other than that he is blind. lol Alright I can't listen to this anymore. It's alright. 3 stars.
Pretty good!
So good
I'm normally not a fan of long albums or double albums, but this is an exception. Truly lives up to its reputation. Amazing album.
This is so much cheesier than I expected it to be. I never thought listening to this whole album would actually make me like Stevie Wonder less.
Sympas en fond
Wild swings while listening to this. By the time Isn’t she lovely came on I was considering 2 stars for puke inducing sentimentality. In general, many outros are overlong and self indulgent. Despite all that, it’s pretty good.
All killer no filler
I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT THIS IS THE PERFECT VIBE TO A VINYL LATE EVENING
such a great and powerful album, has meaning and feeling all throughout. beautiful
One of the best
It’s a 5 coz it’s Stevie though it’s long!
Obviously
a hot take but this is just good. I only really go back to 8 songs. strong 7/10. first listen tracklist ranking: 1. As 2. Isn’t She Lovely 3. Sir Duke 4. I Wish 5. Another Star 6. Pastime Paradise 7. Knocks Me Off My Feet 8. Love’s In Need Of Love Today 9. Ordinary Pain 10. Summer Soft 11. Contusion 12. Joy Inside My Tears 13. Village Ghetto Land 14. Black Man 15. Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing 16. If It’s Magic 17. Have A Talk With God
Stevie Wonder's magnum opus, which is really saying something for his body of work. Look, any album that is going to have Isn't She Lovely and As at the bare minimum is an automatic 5. If you hate those songs, you have no soul. Everything else is still really good, but those two songs are some of the best music America has provided to the world in the 20th century.
I mean it's ridiculous. Stevie Wonder is one of a kind, man. I won't say that I think this is completely airtight, but it's damn close, which is insane. There are some scathing social critiques, filled with desperation; there are some groovy masterpieces; but what he does better than almost anyone, and what stands out here (on a very appropriately named album) are the tracks utterly bursting with joy. These moments are so proud of the human experience in a way that's never cringey or awkward, probably because Stevie is also a fucking mastermind musician. This one will never get old. What a treat.
Ikoniskt album, hade bestämt mig innan jag lyssnade men man kan inte annat än att ge detta album 5 stjärnor.
A few of these songs just sound really dated. But most are fantastic. Best track: the bass line in every song.
Si no es el mejor album que escuché, entra en el top 3. Desde la primera vez que los escuché x recomendación de un ramdom en un reel, quedé flechado de stevie, sobretodo de este album. Sónidos únicos, el precedente de todo un ritmo y creación musical tan completa. No tiene canción skippeable. Obra de arte.
Peak
It's okay, I mean, it's Stevie Wonder. But I don't LOVE his songs.