Songs In The Key Of Life

"Hi, site admin? Yeah, I just listened to Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life', and I need you to take all of the 5 stars I've given up to this point and just toss those out because those albums don't deserve them anymore." Apparently this was Stevie's EIGHTEENTH album? Like, I think by the time you hit eighteen you're allowed to start phoning it in a little bit, you know, you've got to be running out of material, right? Not for Stevie Wonder; this magnificent bastard must have gone "Oh, actually, this one's going to be a double album because I'm just that damn creative. Actually, can we squeeze in three MORE songs on an EP and ship them all together? I need to get some of these tracks out of here, they're really cluttering up my house." That's what blows me away; despite the hour forty-five runtime, the songs never grow stale, and not a single track doesn't carry its weight. There's a scene in the Iliad where Hephaestus crafts a shield for Achilles, and the book spends like four pages detailing the intricate scenes that the God of the Forge is able to shape into this shield. Problem is, you'll never see that god-crafted shield, and words will never be able to adequately describe its divine beauty. With that in mind: you *can* listen to this album. 6 out of 5 stars.

After we'd lived in our current house for about 6 or 7 years, I found a taqueria 4 miles away that blew my mind. The burritos, the sauce - incredible. My first time eating it, it was so good that I wanted to punch everybody that lived around me in the face for not telling me about this hidden gem. I wasted the better part of a decade not knowing that the best green sauce I've ever had was right around the corner. There's really no excuse for not finding it myself, but why didn't you tell me about it, you jerks? That taqueria is this album. Best track: Sir Duke

Been spending most of my life… thinking Gangsta’s Paradise was an original

Yeah, it's great and all, but an hour and 45 minutes long? Hey! It's an album I want to listen to, not a movie! Who does he think he is? Stanley Kubrick? Also, people here writing reviews as long as the album. Guys, don't bother. Nobody ever reads those anyway.

Stevie Wonder is one of those widely and passionately loved musicians whose talent and work I can appreciate, and whose importance in, and influence on, music is absolutely huge, yet I just never really felt all that interested in what I was hearing. I don't dislike it, it just never clicked with me.

This is a serious contender for my favorite album of all time. I'm not sure how such a long album can be as consistent as it is. There are just so many of my favorite songs on this album, it's almost unbelievable. Love's In Need Of Love Today is a great start to the album and feels very 70s in the best way possible. Have A Talk With God features some great harmonica in the background and its a taste of what's to come. Village Ghetto Land is one of the many songs on this album that I think is underrated. It showcases Stevies's excellent political songwriting. The synth string orchestra also adds a lot and makes the song really unique. Contusion is so funky and fusion-y and demonstrates Stevie's instrumental songwriting ability. What can I say about Sir Duke aside from the fact that it is one of the greatest songs of all time? The horns, the groove, the chord progressions, it's perfect. Same with I Wish. Knocks Me Off My Feet also falls into that category for me. The hi-hat especially is just amazing. Pastime Paradise was a surprise the first time hearing it but I see why it was sampled for Gangsta's Paradise, it's great! Summer Soft is extremely underrated. The key changes are so flawless and I need to know the music theory behind it. Also I'm always like "can he sing that high?" and the answer is always yes. It's incredible. Ordinary pain is similarly underrated and a nice closer to disk 1. Isn't She Lovely is also one of the greatest songs of all time and occasionally my favorite song on the album. I feel like there aren't enough songs about parents' love for their children. Also even though I'm not the biggest harmonica fan because I think it's often mediocre and unnecesary, Stevie Wonder is the exception that proves the rule. His harmonica solo is damn good. Joy Inside my tears is a solid, catchy ballad. Black Man is not Stevie's best song about Racism and it definetely wouldn't be made today but it's a good song nevertheless and it's educational and has a good message even if the way its communicated is outdated at times. Ngiculela-Es Una Historia is a really good song but it can't even really compete with what's to come. If It's Magic is another hidden gem. It's so understated and beautiful and good detour from the high energy that most of the album bring. Then there's As. Another contender for my favorite song off of this album. The next three songs (Another Star, Saturn, and Ebony Eyes) are a batch of extremely underrated songs. There are just too many good songs on this album for them all to get recognition but those three deserve more, especially Saturn. Another Star is an upbeat, dancable track with a killer flute solo. Saturn is a ballad that has no right to be as good as it is. The synth is also heavenly. Ebony Eyes is almost 50s but with talkbox (I think) and of course I love the saxophone. All Day Sucker has a really interesting melody and nice guitar solos. The album ends with Easy Goin' Evening where the harmonica takes the spotlight. The song sort of feels like an outro, bringing you back to the real world after the incredible experience you just had plus the two harmonicas go together really well and the tune is interesting as always. I rated each of the songs below to justify my rating. There isn't much about this album that I don't like. It's just so good and certainly one of my favorite albums. Today was a good day! Song Ratings: Love's In Need Of Love Today: 10 Have A Talk With God: 9 Village Ghetto Land: 9.5 Contusion: 10 Sir Duke: 10+ I Wish: 10+ Knocks Me Off My Feet: 10+ Pastime Paradise: 9.5 Summer Soft: 10 Ordinary Pain: 10 Isn't She Lovely: 10+ Joy Inside My Tears: 9.5 Black Man: 9 Ngiculela-Es Una Historia-I Am Singing: 9 If It's Magic: 10 As: 10+ Another Star: 10 Saturn: 10 Ebony Eyes: 10 All Day Sucker: 9.5 Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call): 8.5 10/10

Bad double albums are an absolute chore to sit through. Good double albums usually comprise an amazing single album and then a load of filler. Great double albums? That’s an art form. That Stevie Wonder achieved that here as part of a run of absolute classics, and THEN stuck another stellar EP on top, is testament to his genius. Beyond the obvious hits we don’t even need to discuss in “Sir Duke” and “Isn’t She Lovely”, there’s a rich goldmine of material which many casual Stevie Wonder fans (let’s face it: who ISN’T one?) might never hear. Right from the off we hit the ground in soulful, expansive territory. “Love’s In Need of Love Today” is a fairly low key opener that didn’t do a lot for me at first, but the more I hear it the more I find to love about it. A timeless message, gorgeous harmonies and an endless chorus, it’s a thinking person’s “Hey Jude”. And that’s just track 1 of 21. “Village Ghetto Land” elevates the humble synthesiser to an orchestra. “Contusion” sees Wonder going all-out jazz fusion… and nailing it (I would die for those “doo-doo” backing vocals). “I Wish” is one of the bounciest, most irresistibly funky Stevie Wonder songs I know. “Knocks Me Off My Feet” and “Summer Soft” see his voice in its finest form, navigating key change after key change with stunning control and passion. “Ordinary Pain”‘s gear shift from electric piano ballad to hard-edged funk (with guest vocals from Shirley Brewer) is a brilliant moment and a thrilling way to close the first half. So far, so perfect: released on its own, it would have been an easy five stars. But Wonder gleefully goes further, stretching even the double album beyond its limit. In all honesty, the beginning of the second disc is where “Songs…” is most at risk of collapsing into excess. “Joy Inside My Tears” and “Black Man” are great at first but don’t need to be the length they are. (As a side note, it’s a slight niggle that he wrote an eight and a half minute song about equality between humankind and mostly forgot about women). Even the treasured “Isn’t She Lovely” suffers a bit from its length, with an extended outro in the album cut. “If It’s Magic”, though, brings us refreshingly back to earth with a gorgeously restrained harp-and-vocals only song. “As” and “Another Star” are the two epics (both glorious) taking us into the home stretch. In the past I’ve been fatigued at this point and often haven’t bothered with the EP, treating it as a bonus. But listening recently has made me realise what an incredible bonus it is! If anything is enough to tip this album into five star territory, it’s the fact Stevie Wonder could put the buoyant singalong “Ebony Eyes” and the stomping funk of “All Day Sucker” on a bonus EP, not even fitting them onto the main four sides of his eighteenth album. What a god damn man.

when pastime paradise came on

A brilliant sprawling mess of greatness with an immense legacy. Every R&B, hip-hop and soul album since owes something to this album. So does rock and pop really. And then there’s the house and dance music genres which have also borrowed liberally from this record. The breadth and depth of musical styles and emotions, and the way these are weaved together throughout and speak to us is why this album is so good and why it will always resonate. And that’s the key here. In a cynical world so often full of gloom and pessimism, anger and despair, love will always the save day and that’s what Songs In The Key Of Life is ultimately about.

An absolute masterpiece from top to bottom. Stevie sings with passion and soul and meaning, and his instrumentation is never better than it is here. The album is definitely front loaded with the hits but it’s also just a wonderful listen as an album. Top 20 all time for me, maybe top 10.

This is when I knew for sure I’d been over generous with my ratings. This is a five star plus! This album is one of the greatest accomplishments in human history- what a privilege to share the planet with this man. The music just pours out of him, reinventing music along the way. Searing social commentary, history lessons, love songs for your beloved (unsatisfied presenting one of the prettiest love songs ever written in Knock Me Off My Feet, Mr Wonder just adds another with the euphoric As), love songs for your baby, straight up dance tracks, autobiography, spirituality - is there a topic Stevie isn’t inspired to write about? And the album isn’t some hodgepodge - somehow these diverse tones find a consistency and cohesion from the beautiful production throughout and the quality of the musicianship. Songs in the Key of Life, indeed.

5.0 + For its production, songwriting, vocals, instrumentation and message of love and acceptance, this album lives on a higher plane than almost any other piece of music. I've listened to this album countless times, and it still inspires awe. He wrote and performed everything on here, and what's more, this album closes the greatest consecutive run of albums released by arguably any music act ever. Such sublime highs at every corner. For me, this might be my one desert island record.

This is the easily the easiest 5 star album I've heard so far. 1hr 40 of absolute perfection. The 60s was the birth of ROCK but the 70s was where it all really came together for everything else. Too think this was released in the same era of so much 70s perfection and stand up and deliver a faultless record is unbelievable. I've got so much more to say and so many more listens of this to get through. Genuinely the first time in 99 days I've been legitimately blown away.

I can do without ever hearing Isn't She Lovely ever again

Great album. Some straight up classics, and I was very impressed w/ the album cuts, especially the way Ordinary Pain breaks down into a funky clav showcase a quarter of the way through. But Sir Duke, I Wish, Isn’t She Lovely, As... The list goes on. The only reason it’s getting 4 stars is b/c I just know Talking Book and Innervisions are on here, and since I can’t give those more than 5, I have to give this slightly less. 4.8, easily, maybe even 4.9

I feel like it's really difficult to dislike Stevie Wonder's style therefore the album is enjoyable to listen to. However I don't think this album needs to be this long and it just didn't keep my interest the whole way through.

The epitome of uplifting. It would not be possible to overstate how deeply this album touches my heart.

I think it's safe to say that the 70s belonged to Stevie Wonder. Whereas any and all genres and trends and bands came, dominated, mutated and went, Stevie was that one nucleus that everyone relied on and said that he was worth the time spent listening to. After five albums in six years of sheer, relentless creativity unparalleled and unmatched in R&B/Soul, Songs in the Key of Life more than lives up to its title. There is hardly a bum note throughout the near two hours of audio bliss that is contained here. This album is ecstatic, triumphant, bold, colorful and even educational at points. If musicians listened to this album on the day of its release and realized that it wasn't worth matching up to or surpassing, therefore quitting their industry of choice, they wouldn't be blamed. If I had to give this ten stars, I would. Five doesn't do it justice. Spectacular album.

Inspired to have a great day because of this. We don’t deserve Stevie

Not too many great artists have ever had a roll as great as Stevie Wonder did in the '70s. SITKOL has never been my favorite of his classic albums—I always loved Innervisions and Talking Book more—but I thoroughly enjoyed it today. Frankly, it might be the first time I ever got through the whole thing. And no wonder. damn thing is an hour and forty-four minutes long. I get why people consider this his greatest album. It's ambitious and sweeping. And when it's great, it's brilliant. The run from Sir Duke through Ordinary Pain is fucking ridiculous. And Ebony Eyes, As, and Another Star just plain slap. But like with so many double albums, this one is bloated. Honestly, I've never cared for songs 2-4, and I wish he had chosen a different, more upbeat opener. And many of the songs go on too long, especially Black Man, Isn't She Lovely, As, and Another Star. (The end of Isn't She Lovely has always grated. It's such a good song, but it legit goes on for three minutes longer than it needs to and those baby sounds are like nails on a chalkboard.) I know this is heresy, but if he had cut this down to one disc, it would be unimpeachable. Sir Duke I Wish Knocks Me Off My Feet Pastime Paradise Ordinary Pain Isn’t She Lovely (cut in half) Joy Inside My Tears Ebony Eyes As (cut in half) Another Star (Cut in Half) Anyway, it still gets 4 stars because it's massively impressive. It's just too damn much.

Always a joyful and groovy album to spin from Stevie

I mean this is just a 5 star album through and through. Home of countless classic bops and grooves, I couldn’t help but smile or dance listening through the entire double LP. Literally walking while listening to it I think I had an actual spring in my step. There’s certainly a reason this album gets all the praise it does. For a man who had no sight, he sure had a whole lot of vision. Okay holy cow I get the Stevie Wonder hype completely now. Dang these are truly songs written in the key of life, it feels like in each of his songs he tunes into some part of my soul and just sits there and lets me explore it along to the bodacious vibes he so graciously gifts me.

Songs in the Key of Life I remember being slightly put off by the density of this when I first bought it, after I already had Innervisions and Talking Book, and being slightly underwhelmed by the lack of immediacy of the opening track. But the truth is Love’s In Need of Love Today is an excellent track, slowly working its charms, much like a lot of the album outside of the super catchy, Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise and Isn’t She Lovely. There’s some many tracks and so much stuff on here, but a few highlights outside the classics above are the spacey, squelchy unusual semi ambient sounds on Have a talk with God, the gentle balladry of Knocks Me Off My Feet and melody of Ordinary Pain, the strut and racial politics of Black Man, the classic laid back Stevie melody of As, the energy of Another Star, the synthy catchiness of Ebony Eyes, the funky All Day Sucker and the melancholy harmonica of Easy Goin’ Evening. There’s a lot to process and take in, but it is an incredible record, getting better with each listen, often songs that started out unpromisingly become favourites, and it has that same eclectic, scattershot feel of the White Album. It also feels like a final emetic burst of creativity and ideas and his high watermark, and that he was never quite as good after this, becoming more middle of the road and less interesting. I don’t think it can be anything but a 5. 🔑🔑🔑🔑🔑 Playlist submission: I Wish

Stevie Wonder's musical Magnum Opus, a double album that adds an extra 7" EP for a total runtime of over 100 minutes. Yet it still is considered to be one of the greatest and most entertaining Soul albums of all time with many even putting it in their number 1 spot. The album features incredible arrangements, talks about deep philosophical topics as well as modern societal problems and simply beautiful songs that switch from up-lifting and fun to introspective and relaxing without feeling off or repetitive. It is a wonderful album and an absolute staple of Soul music in general. The motivational and smooth Pop Soul opening track 'Love's in Need of Love Today' gets the album started with a lush and passionate groove that features incredible vocals by Stevie Wonder himself but also from the backing vocalists. Even with the 7 minutes of playtime, it flows beautifully within leaving no desires open, it satisfies them all. A beautiful and incredible song to start the album with and without a doubt a perfect song. It builds up with the slightly electronic 'Have a Talk With God' which can be seen as a Proto-Synth Funk and as cool as that name sounds, the song's even cooler. The instruments are a great mix between groovy and slightly silly and the incredible songwriting on top just perfects this song. I absolutely love this song and it's one of my personal favourite songs on the entire album and in Stevies catalogue in general, i just wished he extended this into 6,7 or even 9 minutes. 'Village Ghetto Land' goes a little bit more poetic and mellow with some very classical strings and a few added electronics, I just think the placement of it destroys the way the album build up so far. I was just dancing and this is too hard of a sonic cut for me to genuinely enjoy the song. It's not bad and I support the message of showing the real world that a lot of black folks used to live in with all my heart but I would've enjoyed it much more as a closing track. It's a good song but I cannot stand the way it ruins an incredible run of songs but that's just my opinion. The very Jazzy 'Contusion' is actually an instrumental that combines Jazz with the Funk and Soul elements of Stevies other songs and for not even featuring Stevies vocals this surprisingly works really well. The few background singers add a lot and I think the song turns out incredible. Just a very groovy and beautifully optimistic piece. Stevie returns with the vocals on 'Sir Duke' which most people point to as the albums best song and... yeah I absolutely see why. It's funky, has incredible and very entertaining arrangements and the songwriting is on point. It's just super fun and passionate with everything that it does and it's not hard to call this another perfect song. For me 'I Wish' is even better as it just feels like everything 'Sir Duke' did right but even catchier and a chorus that is just pure Funk greatness. It's such an eclectic song with so many great moments and songwriting that is just so great with all the added deatils in form of a few thrown in words and the bass here is just absolutely stunning. One of my all time favourite Stevie songs and Soul/Funk songs in general. 'Knocks Me Off My Feet' removes most of the Funk and just shows the beauty of Soul music. It's writing is absoutely amazing and the way it builds up the chorus and builds up from there even further is just incredible. The song is an incredible staple of how Stevie can pretty much try every possible way to make Soul music and succeeds in every one of them. Most people will know 'Pastime Paradise' for the cover 'Gangsta's Paradise' by Coolio & L.V. which is just an absolute masterpiece of Hip Hop music and in the same way, this song which was the blueprint is also a masterpiece. Its melody is easily memorable and the vocals are absolutely killing it with how they build the tension towards the chorus and slowly release them again. A masterpiece of music from start to finish (both songs). The great mix of Funk and Soul returns on 'Summer Soft' which has one of the most memorable intros on the entire album. The rest of the song is beautiful as well especially with how it builds up sonically towards the chorus by incorporating more and more Funk elements. The organ near the end also just really adds another layer of greatness. 'Ordinary Pain' closes the albums first half with one of the longer songs at over 6 minutes. The song's first half, while still having obvious Funk influences, is mainly a great Soul song which builds into a beautiful and lush chorus but out of nothing it trancends into pretty much pure Funk with mainly other vocalists shining with the singing. It's a genius way to mix up ideas into two different directions. The first half being more mellow, the second being very energetic and yet they still work perfectly together in one single song. 'Isn't She Lovely' starts the second half with a recording of a crying baby and turns slowly into a very groovy and fun to listen to Pop Soul song which has a total runtime of 6.5 minutes of playtime but it just doesn't feel like that. The song runs past you in the best way possible. Every moment is enjoyable, the chorus is memorable and catchy and the harmonica is a genius addition to the song. The return of the baby and family recordings return towards the end while the song is still playing and as the song fades out, more and more can be heard. It's a beautiful way to start this half of the album with. The slight psychedelic aspects of 'Joy Inside My Tears' adds to the songs atmosphere. It is genuinely a hypnotic piece the way it spirals to the chorus and continues and adds more and more depth into the song both musically and conceptually. It is an absolute masterpiece and I won't write much more because I want to enjoy the rest of this incredible song... The longest song 'Black Man' which comes out to nearly 9 minutes of playtime. It's a great mix of Synth Funk and a little bit of Jazz and a really cool "lecture" gimmick of a class being told about which great things were achieved by a black man or a black woman and also about other achievements other "colours" achieved and it feels super motivational to even me who isn't even black but as white as white gets. It's a song about freedom and how all races are a part of this world and how we should just live in peace together and share the achievements and cultures that wo all created in the thousands of years that we've lived here and I am all for it! Was anyone expecting that Stevie just randomly started to sing Spanish? I wasn't but 'Ngiculela - Es una historia - I Am Singing' is an absolute beast of Latin Soul and even adds some influences of Flamenco which really adds to the song. It's a really good song but I wish he did the whole thing in Spanish because because the second half is significantly more uninteresting. With that I mean that it's still perfect just that I wished that he'd extended the Spanish part. 'If It's Magic' goes very Baroque Pop and even a little bit Chamber Folk and although that style did work really well on 'Visions' on his album Innervisions, this time it's much less interesting. It's not bad, Stevie is still killer with the vocals and the songwriting but I just don't really feel this one to the extend I felt most stuff on the album. The slight Gospel parts on 'As' just make this Jazz-Funk masterpiece even better. It's groovy, catchy, very memorable, has some of the best background vocals on the entire record and doesn't even feel close to the 7 minutes that it's actually long. It is a masterpiece through and through and one of the best songs here in terms of passion, I mean have you heard the vocals that are on here? Incredible, absolutely incredible. The albums second half is closed with 'Another Star' but luckily it isn't the end because Stevie decided to add a 7" EP with 4 more songs which aren't just Bonus Tracks, no they are part of the album which extends this album even further. But back to this song. It's over 8 minutes and combines Latin Soul with Disco and some Samba parts to create a one of a kind mix of sounds that just perfectly work with the warm sound of the album. The background vocals are again absolutely incredible and the groove this song has is outstanding. It's a little bit too "heavy" in terms of the length it hits you with but it's still an absolute masterpiece and would've closed the album perfectly, if Stevie didn't want to add even more stuff! The "A Something's Extra" titled EP starts with 'Saturn' which has the cool addition of a Moog synthesizer which fits in neatly with the Progressive Pop Soul sound this song was going for. It's psychedelic, beautiful and simply incredible. It feels like the Soul version of Space Rock and my god, does this work beautifully. I do think that it isn't perfect, mainly because the second half gets a little bit unappealing when the chorus isn't playing but still, incredible. 'Ebony Eyes' on the other hand adds piano and makes a pretty well made Rhythm & Blues and Soul blend but it feels pretty silly and unfinished compared to the rest of the album. It feels more like they were jamming around a little bit rather than actually recording the song. It's too silly but not in the way where it would add to the song. I also feel like the song goes on for way too long and that all accumulates into easily the albums "worst" song which is still a pretty good song. The Rock influences on 'All Day Sucker' adds a lot to the Synth Funk style of it. It's genuinely an incredible song with a great melody and well made arrangements arround that. The song could've easily been on the "main" album. It's not a perfect song because it would've needed to go a little more adventurous with the songwriting and the vocals but the synth and the guitar do carry this thing very nicely. The full album ends with a nice blend of relaxed Soul and Jazz on 'Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)' which is a great song and closes the album in a very soothing and finalizing way. The harmonica adds a nice sound similar to 'Isn't She Lovely' but way slower. The song's good but it would've needed a little more too it, it feels to repetitive and the harmonica isn't really doing it all that much after a while. The song is nice and pretty good but after a while it just doesn't interest you as much anymore even if the final moments are really great for closing this beast of an album. favourites: I Wish, As, Have a Talk With God, Joy Inside My Tears, Sir Duke, Ordinary Pain, Love's in Need of Love Today, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Another Star, Black Man, Pastime Paradise, Summer Soft, Isn't She Lovely, Ngiculela - Es una historia - I Am Singing (that's a lot!!!) least favourites: Ebony Eyes, Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call), Village Ghetto Land, If It's Magic Rating: strong 9 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

I was in middle school when this came out. I played Sir Duke’s trumpet part in a talent show. This album has always been a part of my life. I probably listen to it monthly. Looking at Wikipedia for a list of albums released in 1976, there may only be a handful that I revisit like this one, and this is in my top 3.

This might just be my new favorite album!

I think it’s rather unfair to include a greatest hits on this list. What’s that? It’s a regular studio album? His 18th studio album?! Jesus! Stevie Wonder doesn’t miss a single beat on this monumental achievement.

holy shit, this album is INCREDIBLE, why haven't I listened to this?? instrumentals are lush, vocals are transcendent, what's not to love? A lot of diversity in songs as well, also found out gangster's paradise by coolio is clear heavily inspired by pastime paradise. One disc of 2 in and it's easily one of the best albums I've ever heard. Disc 2 doesn't slow down, immediately hits with "Isn't she lovely"

Wow! No fillers, each song was so strong.

This album is virtually perfect. Won album of the year over so many incredible records. This is truly art and arguably one of the best pieces of music ever made.

This is the best Stevie Wonder, hands down. Most Stevie joints fall a little flat to me. He's just so soft and light most of the time. But there's always at least two tracks on every album that just slap. Tracks where Stevie remembers that he's a funky badass. This album is almost entirely made of those tracks. It's still lighthearted, sure, but it starts funky and it stays funky and fun the whole way through. At an hour 45, it's a beast of an album, too. And I don't care. It's good from start to finish.

Excellent album. Great showcase of Wonder’s broad and confident musical abilities on numerous instruments. Each song provides not only a unique feel but an insight to the artist’s life.

An incredible album with some extraordinary songs, but it's wayyyy too long. For all of Stevie's epic funk tunes like Sir Duke and Pasttimes Paradise there are a number of sappy duds. Still incredible just should have been n shorter

After diving into some challenging yet ultimately rewarding music, I was eager to immerse myself in Songs in the Key of Life, an album universally revered by critics and fans alike. While it feels audacious to critique a record that sold millions and earned Stevie Wonder an Album of the Year Grammy, I must admit this wasn’t quite what I expected based on the rave reviews. The choice to release a double album is considered financially fruitful today—double the songs roughly equals double the streams—but in 1976, this likely had record executives pulling their hair out. In that decade, everyone from The Stones to Zeppelin to Elton John took similar risks, making it fitting that Wonder released his own opus. A more concise album filled with pure hits might have been more effective, but for these artists, proving their prolific nature was a flex in itself. I was familiar with the massive singles that shine in Wonder's discography. "Sir Duke" is timeless, revealing new facets with every listen, while "I Wish" is pure joy, even getting me—the most awkward dancer in the world—on the dance floor. Among the deeper cuts, "Have A Talk With God" stood out with fantastic funk influences. However, the abrupt transition from the poignant "Village Ghetto Land" to the jazzy "Contusion" and then to "Sir Duke" can be jarring. It feels like Wonder is eager to showcase his myriad talents, and while he leaves his contemporaries in the dust regarding sheer musicianship and creativity, this ambition can sometimes result in musical whiplash, a theme that repeats itself throughout the album. "Knocks Me Off My Feet" pleasantly surprised me with its warmth, perfectly encapsulating Wonder's signature sound. Though it may not reach the heights of his big hits, it demonstrates his prowess in more subdued settings. "Pastime Paradise" is another highlight, with textured synths adding gravitas. Coolio's best-selling single in the '90s essentially samples this Stevie Wonder classic, illustrating Wonder's profound influence. Will Smith also scored a chart-topper with a carbon copy of "I Wish," showcasing Wonder's lasting legacy. "Summer Soft" offers a delightful moment, with jazz influences that allow the melody to soar. Yet, I find the pacing around this part of the album disorienting and somewhat unfocused. "Isn't She Lovely" is a sweet ode to his daughter that would have felt cheesy in the hands of another artist, but Wonder transforms it into a universal celebration of fatherhood, making it a track almost anyone can hum. "Black Man" is another standout, bursting with energy Jamiroquai’s entire persona was based on. At over eight minutes, it could feel excessive, but its liveliness and Wonder’s charismatic delivery keep it engaging. While I have immense respect for Stevie Wonder, the pacing of this release feels intentionally uneven. An alternative track listing might enhance the listening experience—though who am I to advise such a genius? At 105 minutes, fatigue inevitably sets in, making it tough to maintain focus—especially with the original LP editions that included a bonus 7-inch EP, A Something’s Extra, with four extra tracks. It raises the question: could some tracks in the latter half have been saved for future releases? This would have necessitated getting up to switch records at least three times. Yet, glancing at my score sheet, no track—except the slightly repetitive "Joy Inside My Tears" and "Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing"—scored less than 8/10. Perhaps more listens will help me embrace the album as a cohesive whole, as I clearly appreciate each track individually. Right now, though, I’m struggling to connect with it completely on an emotional level. That said, when the big hits play, it’s impossible not to smile, and those moments undoubtedly elevate the album’s overall score. Did I own this release? No. Does this release belong on the list? Yes. Would this release make my personal list? Currently, no. Will I be listening to it again? The hits are untouchable.

didn’t know his shit was this fire

There is no doubt that Stevie Wonder is an absolute musical genius. Incredible songs, incredible groove, incredible musicianship. I do feel that the album is way too long. The quality is there throughout, but it feels like it should have been split into two separate offerings. Also, I found the child noises throughout 'Isn't She Lovely' pretty annoying - they take you away from the music. Regardless, Stevie absolutely deserves his legendary status, and this album absolutely deserves to be on this list.

I guess the double album is an anachronism. The studio doubles in particular were fun to compare and discuss. I like to think about how good of a single album the band could have released. For example, Who's Next was initially going to be a double album called Lifehouse. That bad boy worked quite well as a single LP.  I wonder how good double LPs like Exile on Main St, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Sandinista! (a triple!)  would have been if half was left on the mixing room floor. Some doubles needed to be doubles to have time to  tell the story eg The Wall, Tommy and  Lamb Lies Down . . .  Finally, some, like London's Calling are so darn good I just can't think what to cut.  Songs in the Key is a beauty for sure, but I really think there was a 5 here if it were a single LP.

Look, it's not for me. There's no doubting the musicianship, talent and it's seminal place in music history. But I just don't really like it.

I'm not usually a fan of the genre but this was a nice surprise as I could listen to the entire album without fighting the need to skip songs. Nice as background music while working.

I'm having a hard time with Stevie Wonder albums. I think I only like the big hits. Everything else is just a style of music I'm not into at all.

I don't know what it is exactly, but somehow this music is incredibly unappealing to me. I can't really find anything obvious to criticize, besides the album being so long (blessing or curse). Musically and technically great for sure, but 21 songs and there's not one I want to go back to? Am I blind, I wonder, or is Stevie blind, Stevie Wonder?

A terribly and highly overrated album with only one or two interesting songs.

always good. I tend to forget how immersive his albums are. Til we meet again Mr. Wonder.

Brilliant album.

Great album, it's a tad long but he must have been so incredibly inspired when he made this. 4.5, but definitely leaning towards the 5.

This may be the greatest soul album of all time. It's a near-perfect album!!!

It is so hard to have a double album of all killers but Stevie did it.

another perfect record

If this were the only album an artist made, it would still be legendary. But this was Stevie Wonder's eighteenth album, and the fifth of a string of 5 considered his strongest albums. And he was just twenty six years old. Take the phenomenal range of music he made for this album, the dense arrangements, the cutting edge technology he employed to produce the sounds, and the sheer volume of music that was released. He paid homage to his elders, he reminisced about his youth, he proclaimed his love for a woman and his love for all mankind. And he held a torch up to human cruelty. And that's just Side One! Favorite tracks: Contusion, Sir Duke, Ordinary Pain, and As. As can move me to tears, even after all these hundreds of listens. Ten stars. No notes.

C’mon

Absolutely floored by how many times these songs have been sampled, must be one of the most influential albums of all time. His magnum opus. 70s funk and soul, beautifully presented. A pretty perfect album.

Damn Stevie, leave some hooks for the rest of us! First album I'd not heard before that I instantly understood why it was special. Initially quite daunted by the length as I tend to prefer shorter, punchier, albums. But wow. A tour de force that just carries you through. A number of hits whilst having a coherent vibe. There are a number of times you can clearly see his influence on others.

Amazing artist, amazing album. Magnificent songs, relistenable front to back

Bunch of classics I recognized. Great album to listen to any time.

Sheeesh Stevie! I never listened to this whole album before. I just knew the hits but Damn son, this album is all just bangers! Shut up and take my money baby. Like seriously, how can an album come out in 1976 and just stand the test of time. Like I'm here in 2025 just absolutely blown away by this. I had no idea that Coolio's "Gangsters Paradise" was a sample from this. Like I wasn't even bored once and this is his 18th album too. Like settle down mate. We get it, You're a genius. This is why I signed up for this in the first place. I'm getting this on Vinyl. 5 stars!

This is a masterpiece. Some of the greatest pieces of music ever recorded. It’s funky, soulful, joyous, sophisticated. I remember listening to this for the first time, such a revelation. Didn’t know music can do all that.

Obviously, Stevie Wonder is a genius. Obviously, this album is a masterpiece. And obviously I'm giving it a five. But this album generator has taught me something I am somewhat surprised to learn. I'm just not that into Stevie Wonder. Weird.

Dancing and singing to songs in the key of life comes easily. Stevie is a master songwriter and performer

The man, the myth, the legend. It feels particularly a propos for Stevie Wonder. Never has a song outstayed their welcome in this album. Never have I complained about the length of the songs on here. Never has this album failed to make me smile after each song.

The man has a great voice, excellent groove and writes good lyrics with varied topics and fusions of genres keeping it fresh throughout. It loses some steam on a couple of the ballads but that is not enough to knock it down a point. Definitely gonna spend more time on this pastime paradise.

The sheer amount of material here and all of it at worst intriguing and at best timeless. 5 outa 5 all day long.

I've listened to this hundreds of times - it's an incredible album, musically interesting all the way through, fun, positive, and just genuinely beautiful.

S tier of S tier. Maybe the only double album that justifies every second of its existence

Top 10 album ever

Textbook

A definite Desert Island candidate! Every moment pulses with love, with beauty, with faith, with life!

Wow. Wtf is this album. I had heard a few of these songs and just LOVE "I wish". So much talent bundled up in 1 package. This album is like a fucking giant washing machine and throwing in R&B, funk, jazz, anything else you can think of. I had always heard about how they called him "Little Stevie" - the knickname of him in his crazy young years when he was starting to get recognized. But really only knew of him in his later "pop" radio years and never listened to a lot of his stuff NOT on the radio. The musical talent that inside this man's brain is absolutely INSANE. I cannot even comprehend the variations and arrangements of shit on this album. It is untouched as far as what so many other albums have. He is SO INSANELY gifted from a musical perspective. His writing/arrangements/producing/vocals/melodies - JESUS!! It is NUTS. Loved everything on this album. - Village Ghetto Land - incredible/different - I Wish - just an awesome song - always loved it - how cool. Listening to this song and picturing people in a studio...how could you NOT be just smiling and bouncing around and loving every second of recording a song like this?! - Contusion - good luck trying to in your head anticipate where this song is going next - pure Jazz insanity and all over the place. Reminds me of some later Steely Dan feel honestly. Time signatures insane, unpredictable, just tight jazz. Crazy guitar leads in background Pasttime Paradise - did NOT know this was the origination of later hip hop lol - learn something every day. Summer Soft - great mellow song - reminds me a lot of some of his later stuff. What I could not believe honestly in listening to this album is how much of these songs kept reminding me of artists in the last 20 years. WOW!! How much influence this album had on others! I hear everything from Phish to Lenny Kravitz to hip hop - just crazy. This must be a highly respected album by so many later artists. I never realized it. Overall I'm must blown away by the production/arrangement of this and the song-writing. It is just not from a brain from this planet. Seriously. There are only a handful of artists I listen to and pay attention to the musical genius behind it - this is one of them. Elton is another. People that just do NOT write what you think you're expecting to hear next and play stuff that just is not supposed to go together...yet it does. His songwriting here is just unparalleled. So appreciative of what is on this album. Just absolute insane talent oozing out of everything put together here and written. Wow.

Brilliant. Songs of struggle, life, and love. Most artists can’t make a 40 minute album of music and Wonder gives more than twice that as the albums draws one in and paints vivid pictures through the perfectly interlaced rhythms and melodies.

I've always been relatively familiar with this album, but have never listened to it in its entirety. I opened it up on Spotify and thought that I must have opened some sort of re-release with additional material. Nope. This is a double album. Nearly 2 hours long. I thought that my previous enjoyment of some of the material on this album was now going to be scarred by having to dredge through this lengthy monstrosity. Boy was I wrong. What a masterpiece and a joy to listen to. I can finally see the entire appeal of this. Such a beautiful album, front to back.

Like this will be 5 stars from me, let's jot that down My First Stevie Wonder album did not disappoint, like this was a classic from start to finish 👏👌

i fw this album so bad why didn't i find it sooner realistically i'd give this album 4.5-4.7

Long ass album. I'd say this album fits smack dab into the category of ones you should listen to before you die, I don't love every song but I love a great deal of them.

I'm not usually a fan of soul music post-Otis Redding, but Stevie Wonder's 1970s albums represent so much more than that. Joy, melancholy, nostalgia and hope are predominant themes and love is the biggest thread through them all. Truly moving stuff.

Fantastisch. Man merkt wie hochwertig es produziert ist. Die Musik macht gute Laune und eine tolle Stimme. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Sir Duke

Truly one of the greatest albums of all time, and probably in my personal top 3. There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said.

This is the new standard for five star ratings. Outstanding.

As I was listening to this I started jotting down every track that stood out to me, then about half way through I had way too many tracks to add a list here. Insane hit rate on a double album - Stevie Wonder was really on fire here.

Excellent!

Wow, real source material type music. Hearing so many samples and classics. All in one album. Impactful lyrics and beautiful music.

pure bliss

soo funky

So many hits

still working through this, but so far I adore.

Awesome

It's absolutly brilliant.

Great stuff!

To think he was close to walking away from the music business before this album- imagine! The man is a genius, this album is sublime.

18th album Masterpiece

I mean what more could you possibly want from music. One of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time, singing his heart out on some of the very best songs he ever wrote, and it's funky and soulful as hell. I guess my main quibble is that the lyrics are odd and, on a lot of the songs, kind of impossible to retain/sing along with. But anyway. Disc One, on its own, would be one of the greatest records ever made. Dayenu. Aside from the unlistenable jazz-rock fusion track, it's like a greatest-hits album. Sir Duke - I Wish - Knocks Me Off My Feet - Pastime Paradise, all that in a row? That's 1990s Michael Jordan, but album tracks. Disc Two is a little more far-out and uneven, but it also rules! 7 stars.

Stevie Wonder's *Songs in the Key of Life* is nothing short of a musical triumph. This double album, bursting with creativity and soul, showcases Wonder at the peak of his artistry. The masterful blend of genres—soul, funk, jazz, and pop—creates an innovative and timeless sonic tapestry. Wonder's lyrics are profound, his melodies unforgettable, and his performances deeply moving. Few albums capture the human experience with such depth and joy. Truly, this is a masterpiece that transcends time. Absolutely essential.

This and Innerversions are pretty much perfect.

This album was so wonderful 😭🥹 I agree with other reviewers who said that they’ve had to second guess some of their previous 5 star reviews, because THIS is a 5 star album if ever there was one. I can’t even believe how many amazing songs are on here. Yes, it’s definitely long, and some of the individual songs run a bit long too, but that’s really just nitpicking, because this album is really one hit after another. Each song is special. And Stevie Wonder has such a positive sound. He was singing about some pretty heavy themes in a few of these songs, but he made sure that they were still listenable and enjoyable instead of just making a point. This has become one of my favorite albums of all time just like that. I loved it so much❤️❤️❤️

Great album love Stevie Another one I remember hearing on vinyl back in the olden days. Yeah it might get a little bit long and weird but its got the funk, jams and is just good

A classic.

Excellent - his best!!!

One of the most (the only?) essential double albums. Every song a masterpiece in itself.

This album is amazing!! Stevie Wonder is magician with music. I am definitely adding this entire album to my library. I already had several subs from it on my likes list, but this entire album is great!

Obviously incredible. Whats more to say!

Iconic from beginning to end!

Stone cold classic