Songs In The Key Of Life

He's a genius and icon, but not my cup of tea.

nice clean production. will listen to again - some interesting bits in here that I'd like to return to and further digest. also gangsters paradise

OK, I like Stevie Wonder. I'm familiar w/ a lot of his big songs. I grew up hearing him on the radio, & seeing him on Sesame Street and even as a special guest on The Cosby Show (yeah yeah, we didn't know back then). \"Isn't She Lovely?\", \"Sir Duke\", and \"As\" -- I've heard all those before. But my jaw hit the table when \"Pastime Paradise\" came on. Wait- this is... COOLIO? WHAT? It's like growing up with MC Hammer & then hearing Superfreak for the first time. Overall? Some good songs, some filler. It's looong (nearly 1.5h, longer if you include the \"bonus\" 7\" EP tracks), and some of the synth sounds are definitely dated. If you dig that 70s sound, go for it. If you're just getting into Stevie, maybe go for more of his 80s (or later) stuff.

love stevie wonder and there are some classics on here. didnt hit how i thought it would though. realized this is where gangsters paradise is sampled from !

I’m ashamed to admit I went into this expecting it to be mediocre. To be honest, I don’t think I could’ve named a song by Stevie Wonder before listening - I’ve heard the hits, of course, but I didn’t put a name to them. All that to say, it’s a really, really good album. I seriously wavered on giving it a 5, which is probably what it deserves, but I do think it was a little too long. Maybe I’d bump it up on a second listen.

very cool and consistent, just not for me

A couple things surprised me about this album. First, this is his 18th studio album. I had no idea he had so many. Second, more times than not, 2 hour albums have a lot of fill. This album was very good to great all the way through. Going from some beautiful songs to songs that just make you groove in your seat. This album had plenty of both. I bet many heard Pastime Paradise and thought, "this is a Coolio song." No, this is a Stevie Wonder song and the more you listen to 70-80's funk/soul/hip hop, the more you realize most the stuff from the 90's and 2000's were samples or just the music of the original's. And it most cases, the originals are much much better. So many good thing to say and I could probably spend a few minutes talking about each song. Definitely remember a few songs from the radio as a kid like Sir Duke and Isn't She Lovely. A few other songs really stood out for different reasons, but these a few of my favorites; I Wish, If It's Magic, All Day Sucker and Saturn. But again, there was something to appreciate is just about every song. A couple negatives and I'm getting a little nitpicky here, but I seem to do that in these reviews. It was a little long and maybe a few songs could have been cut short. Yea, I know, nitpicky, but my biggest complaint was the song Another Star. What's with all the flute? Great artist, great singing style and some awesome songs. These are the kind of albums I enjoy, realizing a good artist has some much great material you may have missed and you are happily reintroduced. This is a solid 4 for me. Put this album on, let the genre play out through the day and you will have a good day of listening to music. 4

4 Okay, right out of the gate, I have to touch on the fact that I previously mentioned in my Fulfillingness' First Finale review that one of the songs gave me Super Mario 64 vibes, but holy shit, Sir Duke here is quite literally the Bob-Omb Battlefield theme from the same game. What the hell is going on? Is the Super Mario composer just a big Stevie Wonder fan, or is there a larger conspiracy at play? Anyway, that out of the way - I gotta say, I thought the last two Stevie Wonder albums that we had were decent, but this really showcased for me what people love about him. Every song out of the 21 here just has a fun energy to it and is unique both musically and topically, really highlighting Stevie's diverse skillset as a songwriter and performer (it was also super cool hearing the origin of Gangsta’s Paradise). Honestly, my only real complaint about the album is that it’s just a touch too long, though it’s really not an issue with the number of songs present (there isn’t a single one I would point to as being a skip or removal-worthy), but I do think a few tracks - as great as they are - go on just a bit too long. Don’t get me wrong, my favorite stretch of songs here was Isn’t She Lovely to Black Man, but I think each (as well as a handful of other tracks) could stand to have maybe a couple minutes cut off of them. It’s probably sacrilege to say that about any song on this album or by Stevie Wonder for that matter, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have the thought. Also, I guess the last four songs that are included on Spotify aren’t technically on the album per se, as they were originally put onto a bonus EP bundled with the vinyl, and though they aren’t an unwelcome addition by any means, I don’t think they do a lot to add to the album or outshine anything already heard. Still, absolutely nothing bad here for a near two-hour album, which isn’t something I think a lot of artists could pull off, especially as someone as deep into their career as Stevie already was here. It’s not quite the kind of thing to register as a 5/5 in my book (at least not at this point in time), but I gotta say, if you hate this, then I would question if you hate music.

Hit after hit

Really enjoyed this intro to Stevie wonder, he has a magnificent voice. Saved a decent amount of these.

Another surprise. A Stevie Wonder album which is listenable, but actually really good? Yes. Some bangers on here like 'Pasttime Paradise', who'd have thought it was turned into 'Gangstas Paradise' by Coolio! One learns a new thing every day. 'As' is a beast too. This whole album lives up to the expectations which Wikipedia gives it. Really enjoyed this and it was nice to sway my head to in a very odd way while listening to it. A mid 4.

great album, another star is an amazing closer

Really enjoyed. Stevie Wonder has a great voice. I can’t really describe why but I just really vibed with this album. Also learned about Pastime Paradise and that blew my mind.

It was a great experience, wasn't really a fan of this kind of music but I think that Stevie Wonder transfers a very joyful and happy sentiment to the listener

Magical 🧙

songs in the key of life... sounds like gospel music in a good way some of these songs are kinda romantic, and maybe it's my 18-year-old self but i don't like romantic songs. bc i listen... and then i think... and then i get uncomfortable. (loving someone in a non platonic way?? ew) contusion...ate. that was a good song. I (on my iPhone now) I hear a lot of familiar sounds so either people have sampled this album a lot or this album used a lot of familiar samples Knocks me off my feet is good! His voice is really good Pastime paradise??? Okay this is weird. So many songs are based off this album (I’m assuming they’re inspired by him because it would be weird for this gentle loving guy to do a spinoff on a song called “Gangsta’s Paradise” Summer soft reminds me of Romeo and Juliet Baz Luhrmann ver idk why.

Buen álbum, incluye una conocida canción que me gusta y que no sabía cómo se llamaba

Iconic album that has been so influential and is a joy to listen to!

This album contains the number one song played at weddings. Even weddings where English isn't spoken. That should rate it as a five, right? Right?

Though it is definitely a bit long for my tastes, there's a lot of solid stevie wonder content here. Melodic, soulful, smooth pop. At times, I'm not as into the funky-jazz angle (Contusion, Black Man), but also all the rest is easy to enjoy, with a few world class hits. Definitely enjoyed.

Love this album. As is my favorite.

Yllättävän hyvä, saattaisin laittaa soimaan uudelleen

Funky

Growing up in the 1970’s, my school friends referred to me as a closet Stevie Wonder fan. That’s because we were all long haired heavy rock fans and it wasn’t cool to like Stevie. That being said, I never owned this album. Nor did I ever have the chance to listen to it in its entirety. I am familiar with a number of the tunes but listening to all of them as part of an album is awesome. I was lucky enough to have seen Stevie perform in the 1970’s in a free concert at the L.A. Street Scene. He was fantastic. I boldly profess I am officially out of the closet.

Hits and little knowns.

A classic

Cool enough. It got better after "pasttime paradise"... wonder-ful

Today we have another Stevie album. Every time I’ve been generated one so far, I’ve commented that his best song (Sir Duke) wasn’t on it. Today, I can’t say that. Huzzah! Let’s give the whole double album a listen and see if it’s as good as I hope. Songs I already knew: Sir Duke, Isn’t She Lovely, As Favourites: Sir Duke, Isn’t She Lovely Thankfully, this was every bit as good as I wanted it to be. It’s funky, catchy and generally fun from front to back. My only critique is that it is a little too long for my liking, but it is a double album so it would be silly to not expect that. Sir Duke does stand above everything else, but it would be reasonable to say that if you like that track, you’d probably like everything else here.

Absolute classic, has so many different genres in the one album and not a bad song on it

Was def dreading a nearly 2 hour listen, but there’s so much good packed into this. The songs I’ve heard a million times it turns out they’re pretty damn good if you haven’t heard them in awhile.

Oh, there are going to be a lot those, right? Albums that I kinda know and respect and the significance of which I understand but which have little to me? This one could very well sit in my collection, though, bought 2nd hand early naughties. The inner sleave would have a pencil scribble "floor: d3 (d4)" for the occasional djing. ... and now I took some time writing this, while listening. It should have more significance to me. 4/5

Favorite tracks: Love’s In Need of Love Today, Sir Duke, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Pastime Paradise, Isn’t She Lovely, All Day Sucker Rating: 4/5

so many songs i couldn’t listen to all but some real bangers. the themes are the themes.

wild maximalist journey. an album containing every song ever written. didnt like the opening few too much but it turned around sir duke and was then bop after bop. sooo much of this album is soo influential. listening to it in its original context would be insane. fav track: actually had a really hard time with this. sir duke slaps. pastime paradise also. i did not like the first half of as too much but i think the second half might be my favorite moment on the album it goes soo crazy. isnt she lovely is just a classic and its so crazy that he wrote it about fia before she was ever borned

Songs in the Key of Life is a timeless masterpiece. An album overflowing with musical brilliance, heart and soul. Listening to it is more than just enjoyable, it feels like a full experience. The depth across this record is astonishing. It moves effortlessly between joy, celebration, reflection and social commentary. The arrangements are rich, the melodies unforgettable and the musicianship is on another level. Yet for all its scale and ambition, it never loses its warmth. Sir Duke is pure joy. An exuberant celebration of music and the legends who shaped it, bursting with energy and one of the most uplifting horn lines ever recorded. In complete contrast, Village Ghetto Land is delicate and deeply moving, with its sharp social commentary and beautiful, almost haunting arrangement. That balance between light and shade is what makes the album so special. There genuinely is not a weak track here. Every song feels purposeful and adds something to the whole. It is joyful and profound at the same time, and it is easy to understand why it is regularly cited as one of the greatest albums ever made. Favourite song: Sir Duke Least favourite: None. Every track earns its place. Album artwork: Striking and iconic. Bold, warm and perfectly reflective of the music inside

It is impressive to hear a 1hr 45 min album this strong and with so many huge hits. I can appreciate the skill and musicianship, but the songs do not speak to me.

не вижу причин ставить 5 концовкой испортили Isn’t She Lovely

I have not heard this album before but I know of Stevie Wonder’s existence. I recognized a few songs: Isn’t She Lovely, Sir Duke, and Pastime Paradise. Some songs that stood out to me for being catchy/likable were: I Wish and All Day Sucker. A song I could go without hearing again is Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call). The songs in this album are on the longer side with many instrumentals. I think I would listen to this album again but I wouldn’t integrate it into my regular playlists as it’s not my ideal taste in music.

Es handelt sich um ein ganz brauchbares Album, das den Sound der siebziger, authentisch rüberbringt Highlight sind das allseits, bekannte Mister Duke, aber auch das unerwartete Stück… Dass man gar nicht in der Originalfassung Stevie Wonder zugeordnet hätte. Insgesamt ist das Album zur Wiederholung geeignet.

Loved the album. Great tunes and beautiful composition of songs.

Super long, it’s movie length, but it’s undeniably good. So many tracks on here that have been super influential on modern music, but there were a few that just weren’t to my personal taste (in particular Village Ghetto Land) Best tracks: Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise, Isn’t She Lovely, Love’s In Need Of Love Today

Wonderful album.

great stuff

Bass. Bass. Bass.

I liked the overall feel of Innervisions better and felt some of the songs were too long, yet this album deserves its classic status. TIL that Gangsta’s Paradise sampled a Stevie song. How did I not know that?! 4.2

Like, it's well composed and a good album. A double album is always jsut too long for me.

Ja heel goed album met een aantal bekende hits pastime paradise big so

Undeniable classic, but way too long.

Not big on the first 3 songs but I loved Contusion and the classics Sir Duke and I Wish. I was shocked when I heard Pastime Paradise. Had no idea Ganga's Paradise was an homage to Stevie! Overall I enjoyed the funk elements of this album but wasn't big on some of the slower romance songs. I can totally get behind this album being on the list. It's clearly a very diverse and influential piece of art. Stevie has a ton of range which works in his favor although the album feels disjointed at times. Maybe it's the length or the genre skipping but it almost feels like the whole album is on shuffle.

Plenty of Hip Hop Samples on this album. From Wild Wild West, to Gangsta's Paradise.

Easy listening, Pastime Paradise was really good.

The album length made me think about how I evaluate whether an album is good or not. As a listening experience, it was great, but can I pick out individual songs and add them to the rotation of Liked Songs? Possibly. I don't know if I would listen to 8 and 7 minute long songs on the regular. I like the album cover. The production was great and fun to listen to. Lot of good songs. Overall great album.

feel like most of the songs ran a bit long, there’s a few I really liked tho

Some great songs, but felt a little disjointed as an album

Was not in the mood for Mr Wonder but def like most of these songs. Also like Vardaan said it’s rly long

pretty good, some bangers but was kinda long. got a little bit bored in some of the songs 7/10

Liked it, I will revisit

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this album. Some excellent tracks and lots of classics that didn't realize were Stevie Wonder songs. There is a bit of filler in this double album and I wish this site would stop posting double albums haha.

Contusion is awesome. Zulu on Ncigulela! Many samples, much influence. Wow.

Absolutely incredible album, high quality throughout. Each song demonstrates enormous creativity, boldness and passion. Production was great, musicianship astounding, instrumentation spot on. How does he do it?! While I know the basic Stevie Wonder hits, it’s the first time I’ve listened to a whole album start to finish from this master of music. Tracks like Have A Talk With God knocked me off my feet. Side note - it’s crazy that Isn’t She Lovely WASN’T a single! If I could venture just two small criticisms it would be this: with each song often being so different from the last, it loses some of the flow that albums have the potential for, one of the main incentives to listen to whole albums. Likewise, maintaining concentration to listen to a double album is always hard, towards the end I was definitely not giving the songs the same attention I was at the beginning. That said, there are some bangers right towards the end that being back the focus - All Day Sucker I’m looking at you. All in all great album, great listen experience and one I plan to come back to.

70s is good!

The first time I'd listened to it since I was sixteen. Great album. If not a little long winded.

-lyrics -spiritual -uplifting -culturally/historically crushing -great, well-known songs and a few sleepers -I don't feel it needs to be a double album

Very groovy, makin’ me dance a lot, great vibes Pastime Paradise very much caught me by surprise, had no idea Gangsta’s Paradise was a heavy interpolation of this song, it’s great. A couple of the songs drag on a bit too long.

Was initially feeling this was somewhere between a 3 and 3.5, but it grew on me as the album went on. Excellent production and excellent performances.

die zweite CD ist der Hammer. Was war aber bei der ersten los? Neues Keyboard und mal alle Soundeffects ausprobiert?

nice poppy jazzy saxaphones

Softer Sound, nur bedingt mein Ding

Some amazing songs but sooooo long

This album not only has a bunch of my favorite Stevie songs, but some of my favorite songs period.

Knew about the ballads but not the faster-paced songs with synthesizer, almost Yes-ish. Sir Duke is a classic. I almost feel like I shouldn't be listening to this at work... Waaaay more songs than I thought this album had! 4 sides! How in the world have I never heard Pastime Paradise? No idea Gangsta's Paradise took from another song.

Too many songs but some of them are like top 50 best songs of all time. Really hard to rate it. I would give it 8.5

Double album, all great stuff. The guy is a genius.

A superlative Steve Wonder album. Coming in at 21 songs not every track will be for everyone. But Sir Duke is on this as are several other bops. I'm a major fan of this era of Stevie Wonder, and even though this isn't my favorite of those records, I'll take it.

Pretty, pretty, pretty good

Hit after hit

Incredible album. Recognized a ton of samples and influence this album had on other works. Too many good songs to pick a favorite.

A remarkable album

One of the Best, Which is saying a lot, Stevie Wonder LP's. Rock, Soul, Funk, everything you want from this Musical Genius

Knocks me off my feet, för mig ny låt som va väldigt bra Ture tyckte summer soft låter mycket som nujabes, håller med, speciellt introt.

Previously listened to for this list: Innervisions (4/5) ************************************ Just listened to Innvervisions last week. Songs in the Key of Life is a very low 4/5. Rated highly for some amazing songs, Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely, Pastime Paradise, I Wish. Some other songs, and the album as a whole, especially sides 3 and 4, go on way too long. A couple are pretty cringeworthy and I'd definitely skip them if I listened to this again.

Insane production. Stevie’s voice like silk. Not my favorite genre

I had no idea that Pastime Paradise inspired other songs, which is obvious. Very surprised to hear those strings, I wasn't expecting it at all.

Loved how the first three songs of disc two rolled into one another. Stevie Wonder is great, I love Sir Duke but I didn't love every song.

Some really good moments and some that weren’t my cup of tea. Realized that his song pastime paradise was the sample for the coolio song! Enjoyed some new to me songs like summer soft

This was an album with a lot of mixed emotions for sure. The length of it seems to be a whooping 105 (!) minutes, which is absurd for an album in my opinion. The first quarter is way too much religion centric for my taste. Almost all songs seems to be about Jesus or God in some form - not my cup of tea. Not all songs keep the same quality, but you can't deny that there are quite a lot of bangers here. What's more, there are also a handful of songs that have been sampled and you recognize from other famous songs as well. 'I Wish' seems to be the main song in Will Smith's 'Wild Wild West', 'Pastime Paradise' has been covered and sampled loads of times, and there might be more that I missed. Still, for an album to get a 5 star I would like it to be a bit more even throughout, and it would probably reach that level if like half of the songs were cut. Strong 4 it is!

Pretty awesome stuff! I was surprised to hear pastime paradise and I REALLY liked Contusion and Sir Duke

Quite original and personal

What a great album. I probably listened to it 4 times today. I was already familiar with a few songs like Sir Duke, I Wish, Passtime Paradise, Isn't She Lovely, and As. But by the 3rd listen I was really getting into some other ones like Knocks Me Off My Feet and Saturn.

Some undeniably great songs by an undeniable great. Album drags at times though.

Some bangers for sure, but a bit long and noncohesive for my taste

songs in the key of life was stevie wonder at his peak, and he created a double album as a result. stevie created such amazing music, and "sir duke" and "as" (among others) are prime examples of that. i don't think a double album was necessary, but it was also not unnecessary. this album could've been trimmed, but i didn't hate listening to it! this album is full of beautiful music after beautiful music. how could i be mad? there's something about the way wonder creates music. that combination of r&b, soul, funk, pop, jazz, all while he plays keyboards. he does this as if it's magic, truly. how does he do it??? i don't know, but i do know it makes for a damn easy listening experience. i've mentioned this in a previous stevie review, but forgive me. stevie wonder makes noteworthy music, but it's easy for him to be only considered as the king of romantic songs--which is absolutely accurate and fair, but he doesn't let us forget he's a black, religious man. "have a talk with god" and "black man" forces us to understand who stevie wonder is. not to mention, "village ghetto land" allows wonder to include a political song, too, which isn't unheard of for him, but i admire it all the same.

This is definitely Stevie Wonder at the top of his game, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that this album truly has something for EVERYONE. There's jazz, soul, funk, pop, R&B, and more here. He fuses everything together so delightfully on this album (again, no doubt due in part to him being at his peak). It's just nearly impossible not to find something (or multiple things!) to enjoy here. It's also truly a marvel and a testament to Stevie Wonder's ability that he could produce content for a double album like this and keep things from dragging or going stale. It felt fresh the entire way through. Simply put, Stevie just expresses such master musicianship here, defying genre and decade. This music is timeless. This was just such a pleasant lesson, all the way through.

I would like to describe the guy who really really enjoy it as a good taste, but this guy won’t be me

Very interesting and enjoyable record, showing all the sides of Stevie greatness. In my opinion, some of the songs in the second half of the record extend their duration unnecessarily.

4 the opening melody really took me, it's really spacial.

pretty perfect except every now and then it slides too close to jazz fusion for me to take

I felt long, but there were some highlights that I hadn't heard before

Essential! More to it than well constructed pop. Experimental at times.

Good, but a lot

Nice easy listening. A few classics in there.

Yes.

I've loved songs from this album at different times of my life. I think everyone has heard Sir Duke more than anything. What's special about this one, Dolores and I had our first dance to As at our wedding. Good memories.

First album!!! Giving this a shot, cannot wait to expand my musical horizons :) some absolute gems here, amazed at how many songs on this have been sampled over the years. Does go on too long, in numbers of songs and the songs themselves. But they cover a really wide range of styles, and now interested in what else stevie made over the years.

Fantastic album, so many good songs

I've been meaning to listen to this album for a long time now; what a fantastic album title. Despite the length, I was surprised at the variety on the album and how well it flows. Contusion reminded me of Herbie Hancock or Jimmy Smith jazz fusion, followed by a damning social critique on Village Ghetto Land juxtaposed with light hearted instrumentation. I don't have anything smart to say about any other tracks but "As" was probably my favorite that I didn't know before. A great album but I'm maintaining an arbitrary rule of "5 star rating means I would never skip a single track".

This album has only 1 negative. It’s too long. The first 11-12 songs are an absolute masterpiece. Incredibly produced, everything still holds up today. You can hear melodies ripped from Stevie in multiple songs. 8.9/10

Some great tracks!

I held off listening to this for a long time, it's almost two hours long after all. That was a capital M Mistake, this album slaps.

Timeless work. You can clearly hear how this has influenced so much music.

liked it more than i thought i would - some songs i knew but didn't know that i did and didn't know the song titles. Very cool couple of songs that were brand new to me - lots of different styles of music. Knocks Me Off My Feet was great - love the piano in the beginning

Great album, very long. A few songs lost my attention as the album went on.

Lots of rappers samples songs from this album. Sir Duke is one of my all-time favorite songs by any artist ever. So good. But - this album is too long. They can't all be bangers, Stevie.

this was an enjoyable listen, even for a double album! stevie knocks it out of the park again with some amazing tracks here and solid musicianship throughout. i definitely liked the first half more, but nothing felt like a bad inclusion here. favorites: sir duke, i wish, pastime paradise, summer soft, isn't she lovely

a fascinating mix of rock, jazz, disco, gospel, with progressive elements. songs about love, social progress, race relations. just a gorgeous well crafted album. tis a solid choice for this endeavor. highlights: “village ghetto land”, “sir duke”, “pastime paradise”, “joy inside my tears”…

- Listen Stevie, you're great but an hour 45 is too much - Okay this is actually insanely good - Great production quality, variety of song styles, and smooth lyrics - Would be a 5 if it was shorter, but a decent 4.5 for now

- fantastic joyful vibes - Sir Duke and Isn’t She Lovely are just so good - not sure you can say “red man” and “yellow man” anymore - could’ve been a 5 but a little too long

A great album with a nice flow, from a very talented artist!

Hmm... I like Stevie Wonder and I like some songs on this, but it's just too damn long and really starts to drag in the latter half. Given how I'm a stickler for long albums, unless they really make it work, I have to knock this down a bit for the length. 4.5/5

Pretty good album, some songs that are really popular that I’ve heard my whole life. Sir Duke is amazing.

I’m floored. I had no idea Coolio ripped off Stevie’s song “Pastime Paradise” and then had the nerve to get peeved when Weird Al released “Amish Paradise.” Also I didn’t realize that I really enjoy Stevie Wonder.

ah, the rare legitimate double album that actually works and has two distinct sides, which each thematically enrich one another. great stuff stevie amazing that this doesn't drag on despite its enormous runtime. best tracks: sir duke, saturn, knocks me off my feet

Super authentic funk. Really distinctive and mature voice. Great themes.

-- consistently relaxing instrumentals that have since become a bit cliché -- no obviously bad tracks, unified aesthetic, the instrumentals don't really change but the tracks mostly feel different from one another -- on second listen, definitely some catchy tracks

Often seen as Wonders magnum opus. This is a two album spanner with hits across its 21 tracks. Wonder waxes on Duke Ellington as well as a love song for his, at the time, infant daughter. Beautifully played and well produced…especially for the time.

Love’s In Need of Love Today has one of the smoothest instrumentals and is such a smooth way to start the album. Listening to Saturn on the Pacifica beach while the sun is setting is a whole vibe. Sir Duke, Isn’t She Lovely, and As are some of my other favorite songs. Although I’ve listened to this before, listening to it after listening to Talking Book last week made me enjoy it so much more. This man Stevie got the soullll.

Hh

I had huge expectations going into this album and while it took a couple songs to get going, the album really hit its stride. I really enjoyed this the more and more it went on. very cool

This was my first time listening to this album all the way through. Usually I've come to this one just for the singles. There are some other nice jams in this one.

Rediscovered this album after a long time. It’s just so beautiful!!

Some 45 minute albums on this list feel like like it's a three-hour listen. Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life comes in at a whopping 1:45 on two discs and feels like it's a 45 minute listen. That my friends is mastery of the art. There's many reasons a person of Stevie Wonder's stature can put out 18+ albums and SitKoL is a prime example. 4.5/5

Pop. Soul. Funk. Muy largo y muy bueno.

I went into this expecting some degree of bloat, it being a long double album. I guess it would be silly to say I was surprised at a Stevie Wonder Album being great, but I kind of was. There were a couple of tracks that didn’t hit me quite as hard and of course, some degree of cheesiness is just part of the Stevie Wonder experience, but overall, this is album is amazing.

Some stand out tracks for sure, but not loving the vibe all the way through.

pasttime paradise............mitävittua.REVELAATIO.. noh meikäläinen tyhmä juntti vaan...nyt toinen albumi herralta ja tuplaria vielä ja tajusin että en tykkää äänensävystä...älä mulle tuu tollattiin..He's basically responsible for modern R&B music MITÄH? MITÄH HELVETTIÄ... 0 TÅHTEÅ..kattelin tossa arvosteluja ja herrankuukkelis rauhassa siellä rauhottelappa vähän... JOJOO ON HYVÄ ALBUMMi...herran tuuttelis MIETIPPÄ OBJEKTIIVISESTI..... jaksa kattoa tollasta saatana. neljä kautta viisi. as

An absolutely incredible album with 1 star deducted because of Isn't She Lovely. 1) the song makes me feel really quite nauseous generally 2) it sounds like they've tacked on a recording of Stevie having a massive piss at the end of the track

A very good album with so many funky tunes on it. The songwriting and production are excellent. It's very long and it makes a bit difficult to listen to it in one sit, and I loved the second disc more.

Double albums can be a bit sprawling sometimes but this manages to maintain high quality all the way through.

A classic! Very long though and not as cohesive as I’d hope.

Again one the best

Honestly, what a wonderful voice. Should listen to Stevie Wonder more often.

A bit too long, but some very good songs on here.

Not my cup of tea so far tbh Okay okay okay have a talk with God is cooking CONTUSION IS COOKING Sir Duke that's all Bro is cooking GANGSTERS PARADISE IS A SAMPLE??????????? Peak album 8.5/10

This is the artistically and technically incredible album that isn't for me. I enjoyed listening to it enough, but I just can't connect to it on a higher level the way I see many people connecting to it. It's also neat listening to it and noticing how many different artists were informed by the wide range of sounds on the album.

great song writing, some songs stick with you longer than others and a couple don't hit personally

Isnt she lovely

Definitely some classic hits but they sit alongside some snoozers, too.

Stevie doing Stevie

TIL Gangster's Paradise was sampled off of Stevie Wonder. Made it through the first disc. It's ok. I get why it's famous and whatnot, but not my style.

So much on this album. His vocals are so styled and the musicianship throughout is genius. What a storyteller and innovator. Only one Stevie Wonder.

Конечно, человек с невероятной историей жизни и невероятным талантом. Не видел границ, да-да!) Ну просто настолько растворяешься в этом, в этих детских голосах, в этих вяжущих и тянущих мотивах, что не может собраться в кучу обратно потом. Единственное - длинновато. А так - шик.

A well crafted and produced effort. There is a sunny disposition and charming tone to this album. Great album to have on when out on the deck for an afternoon.

Again pretty fucking long, good points are bloodly great though.

Could do with a bit of a trim as with most double albums but still packed with bangers. Would be 4.5 if possible because Isn’t She Lovely makes me feel ill.

Really enjoyed it and was surprised by many samples that I didn't even know were samples until now

Wow so much variety in this one with so many classics. However- the songs I didn't like, I really didn't like. And that's what prevents the five. Some of those just sounded so synthy and cartoony. This album also has like 3 songs that are the base for other songs I didn't know about!!! Past time paradise?! Amazing

Some killer songs (I wish, past time paradise, as, and especially sir Duke) but just too long

Stevie Wonder is the only artist who can pull off naming his album "Songs In The Key Of Life" and not have it come off as pretentious or cheezy. A masterpiece for all time. 🎼🎼🎼🎼

All time classic. Love in Need of Love Today Sir Duke Pastime Paradise Isn't She Lovely As

One of the most influential soul albums of all time. Songs on this have been used in commercials, movies, television shows, and countless weddings. This also served as direct inspiration for the late Coolio's "Gangster's Paradise"

I know people love this album, and I enjoy it, but it's hard for me to get through. It's great background Sunday morning music for me, but on the day to day I don't really flow with it enough to be willing to get through the volume of creativity here. The hits are awesome and the lesser known songs are a great glue, but I just can't make it all the way through.

Interesting take on the different facets of the human experience. Some hits, some misses, but overall pretty nice.

Fantastic album all around... Does Stevie ever disappoint tho? Love hearing the original Gangstas Paradise sample on the album as well.

The Funk Bible.

Toimiva paketti! 4/5

Despite being very (very) long, this thing just doesn't let up. Amazingly strong from start to finish, with some Wonder's most adventurous compositions I have heard yet.

Very long but very strong. So many timeless classics.

Very good!

Another strong album from Stevie Wonder.

This is the one, brilliant

OKAYYY 8.5/10

ett bra album men för långt.

I was a little concerned that I just didn't get it with the first few songs on this album, with them not doing much for me, but Sir Duke and onward it was off to the races, with very few songs to slow it down. There are quite a few songs here I can't imagine I'll come back to too often, hence the four star, but otherwise an amazing album with some fantastic songs on here, such as the already mentioned Sir Duke, as well as Another Star, As, Summer Soft, and quite a few more. I'd say had the album trimmed the fat a little this would be a solid five for me, but as it stands still really good and I'm looking forward to the other albums present on the list.

Very good soul album with some funk influences but really draws from a lot of genres. Despite being extremely long making it hard to listen to in one listen, there are no real weak tracks at all and there is enough variety. I really enjoyed this.

I love Stevie and if anyone should do a double album (which there seems to be a lot of on this list!) it's him. The two albums are chock full of great songs and performances, but I did find myself drifting by disc 2. Am not a ballad type of guy, so that may be why. Admittedly, disc 2 has Black Man and As, but I would still prefer this as one amazing album rather than two - to me - very good albums.

Rich and heartfelt vocals - and that's just the backing. This was the ideal Friday afternoon music to help me wind down ahead of the weekend. Stevie does the message of love far better than The Beatles ever did. Sir Duke is sublime. This would have worked even as an instrumental with the big brass sound leading the way. A little too long to make it to five stars.

Feels wrong to only give 4 stars given the number of classics on the ablum, but it double albums rarley work.

Fantástico

Vahvaa nelosta paskonu tää kaveri ulos.. jatkena samalla linjalla.. pyyhkii hyvin kaverilla.. The railroads for trains Came on tracking that was laid By the yellow man Here me out Use of martial arts In our country got its start By a yellow man Who was the soldier of Company G who won high honors for extraordinary heroism in World War 1? Sing Kee, a yellow man Who was the leader of the first microbiotic center in America? Micho Kushi, a yellow man God saved his world for all men All people All babies All children All colors All races [Bridge] The railroads for trains Came on tracking that was laid By the yellow man yellow man... The yellow man! yellow man... The yellow man! yellow man... yellow man... The yellow man! yellow man... The yellow man! Huhhuh.. ei hupiukko ollu.. keltatautimies.. Vaan ei nähnyt keltaisuuttaan... Muut näki... Filosofia.. Havainnon subjektiivisuus.. Aisteihin ei voi luottaa..

Songs in the Key of Life is regarded by music journalists as the culmination of Wonder's "classic period" of recording, and even though he was one of the most popular recording artists in 1976, Stevie seriously considered quitting the music industry and planned to emigrate to Ghana to work with disabled children. An admirable guy! This is regarded as Stevie Wonder's magnus opus and is ranked #4 on the RS Top 500, the highest of any album I've listened to on my 1001 Albums journey. My personal takeaways: Stevie is soulful to a fault, Sir Duke is a staple, the message on Love's In Need Of Love Today is pressing and important 50 years after it was recorded, I loved Knocks Me Off My Feet a lot, too. Very soulful. I can see how this would mean a lot to a young artist. The start of a revolution!

Amazing album and honestly it has shockingly little filler considering it's 100+ minutes long but still... 100 minutes is too long too long to hold my attention. That's my only real complaint though. Otherwise it's such a fantastic listen. Maybe just best in 2 sittings.

Tiny bit of filler

What are these star ratings for? Like the list itself, sometimes they're about "objective quality + importance", sometimes they're reflecting something about *me*, sometimes literally *who the hell knows what's going on*, and sometimes I'm just being a little saucy. Anyway, I'll tell you who they're not for: Stevie Wonder. He doesn't need me to tell him he made something great. Four stars.

Funky

I mean my god. How the fuck was this man still producing absolute bangers by his 18th album. What the fuck.

Very happy album, I know this is one of my mum's favourites

Wow

Some ral great music and some duds. Wanted to love it ended up liking it.

I guess this is Stevie Wonder's magnum opus. Yes, there are several duds here, but also many songs that withstood the test of time very well and can best be described using the professional term "hits". I do appreciate the effort and the achievement, even if this genre of music is not my typical cup of coffee.

Soul progresivo, R&B. Está bien. Un 4.

good album. I recognized a few of the songs!

Great time, bit too long though

Brilliant

Already one of my favourite albums of all time, almost perfect from front to back, no skips. I would rate it 9.5/10

What can I say about SITKOL that hasn't already been said? It's an incredible album throughout. Strong singles, no filler. I think I prefer Innervisions, but this is still an absolutely classic album for a reason.

Fantastic. The funky instrumentals are unbelievably gripping, and the voice is so uniquely suited for it. Great album. Favorite track: Another Star

Zo veel classic hiphop samples die hieruit komen. Heel uitgebreide sound over het album verdeeld. Het is moeilijk de rode draad er in te vinden maar de meeste nummers zijn zodanig sterk dat ze op zichzelf staan.

Never heard the non-singles. Wow, Contusion is one of the best he's ever written. This deserves its reputation. Although.... most of the vamps go on like 2x too long, and it's a repeated problem so it gets kinda distracting. Ordinary Pain's vamp is great, the rest kinda go nowhere.

This album shows Stevie at the peak of his creativity and the songs still shine with originality, freshness, beauty and humanity.

Very long album, but with a lot of good stuff

They can feel it all oooooover

Great album that's just a little bit too long. It's good that the songs vary in character through the album so it doesn't become repetitive. The production is excellent.

Вот это да, ебать 1ч 45 минут, каждая третья песня хитяры Минусы- не может в классику, просто беспомощный Пытается там свои квази скрипочки и литавры Фу И тексты как с си эн эн списаны, но это тогда Но в своей теме, фанк и арнби он просто бог

Who knew he wrote Gangsta paradise I thought the hits were from the 80s

Back when albums were a proper length. Good background music, with a few big hits in there to catch your attention.

Had some timeless classics. Album was a double and a bit long, but overall very good. Adding a subwoofer helps a lot. This album was heavily sampled by warren g and Coolio. 4 stars

So good! I hate that I wish it was shorter though :/ My attention span is wrecked.

A classic. It had been a while and I never realized how long this was. Quite a few 10/10 songs for me on there but a few just okay ones as well.

Stivie Wonderful

Sometimes excess comes from vanity, sometimes from generosity. This is emphatically the latter. Here, genteel delicacy; there, hot-blooded exhortation. Loopy and mesmeric ballads give way to motorik funk cede to visions off a musical future that in the decades to come will be verified by the sheer number of hip hop samples grabbed from this record. A preternaturally gifted composer and protean performer rolling out the full extent of his talent.

Love Sir Duke and I Wish. They are absolute masterpieces. Isn't she lovely is sweeter than sweet. The album is full of other really great tracks as well such as Pastime Paradise, As, and my favorite unknown song from the album is If it's Magic. The album is funky, soulful and a joy to listen to. 4/5

VERY LONG so I didn’t get to listen to it all.Need to do that.But the songs I was able to listen to were amazing.So futuristic for the 70s it’s crazy.I understand why people say Stevie wonder is a genius.

Great album overall, enjoyed eveery second and it made me wanna dance a lot :) Sir Duke will always be one of my absolute favourite stevie wonder songs. 9/10

So much funk in one album, it should be a sin.

Undoubtedly a great album. I think it is a little too long though.

It’s a shame I grew up with 80’s Stevie Wonder. 70’s Stevie Wonder was very talented.

Was really looking forward to this, but it’s too long to really give it the time it needs. Clearly at least a 4 and likely a 5. Is the length too much? Not if all the songs absorb well. Need more time to make that call.

Some of my favorites are on this album

Pastime Paradise - every days a school day

Bought this one when it came out. An very good album.

Very long

All bops from one of the best but my guy 1:45 runtime, chill

An absolute beaut

Liked it a lot. I think I had this one built up too much from years of seeing it listed on top of greatest albums lists and such. Doesn’t quiet reach those heights for me. Pastime Paradise, Feel It All Over and Isn’t She Lovely are all timers.

What a beautiful double album.

Different Stevie Wonder than what I knew, which was admitedly little. Also, unlike today's albums this had an extended lenght.

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this...obviously I know the name Stevie Wonder and I recognized a few songs.

Love this, but bloody he'll its a long one.

Yes

I really struggled with this one, partly because there’s so much to say about it and I’d never heard it all the way through before. But also partly because I’m aware of it’s stellar reputation but didn’t think it lived up to it. It’s not that it’s bad- in fact in many ways it’s brilliant- but it’s not my style, and in my opinion has some flaws. Had to listen to it a few times, and I do t have a coherent review but here’s a few thoughts. Wonder himself is a brilliant singer- he has a wonderful timbre and powerful projection in the middle of his tenor range. And he can extend that pretty well into the upper registers. This CD mostly features strong backing vocals throughout, and they complement Stevie well- I especially like the rich backing parts on “Have a Talk with God” and “Pastime Paradise”. Curiously, though, on some places where he could really use it- like the chorus of “Sir Duke”, which stretches his range to the max and lacks the deep instrumental color of the verses- the backing vocals are totally absent. They’re also absent on some of the other singles (“My Wish” and “Isn’t She Lovely”, the latter of which Wonder carries just fine by himself), which is just an odd pattern- rich chorus on the deep cuts, none on the hits. There’s also some really superb composition and production throughout. Starting with the production, the album has a deep, crisp sound with a very diverse sonic palette. Every song seems to feature a different instrument - from the electric guitar on "Contusion" to the (I think it's a) kazoo (??) on "Isn't She Lovely." And Stevie just has a wonderful way with musical color - "Sir Duke" is a clinic on it, he even manages to successfully (one might even say "brilliantly") employ a slide whistle about halfway through. "Sir Duke" is probably the strongest track in terms of harmony and composition, but virtually track has some interesting turns - lots of jazzy extensions, lots of transpositions into minor (e.g. on "As"). So what's not to like about it? The main thing is the pacing - it's way too slow and way too long. It opens with three straight slow ballads followed by an instrumental (granted it's a banging instrumental). That's way too much lead-in, we need to get to the action faster. And it really has a ton of ballads - I get that Stevie is a piano-based singer, and piano-based singers love slow ballads, but this is way too many. On a 17-track, hour-and-a-half CD, there's really only three rockers totaling about 10 minutes ("Sir Duke", "I Wish", and "I Am Singing"). I'm sorry Stevie, but 80 minutes of slow ballad just cannot hold my attention that well. Even some of the hits like "Isn't She Lovely" are simply way too long - that song just drags on and on long after it's made it's final point, and both "As" and "Another Star" are longer still and have fewer interesting musical points to make. "Sir Duke" it totally brilliant, a 10/10, and "I Wish" and a few others are good as singles as well, but when you get right down to it, even for a double-album (which have inherent problems) it has a pretty low hit rate. Wonder should've probably cut half the songs on here. I liked listening to it and reviewing it, and I can see the qualities, but for me it can't get a perfect score.

Ok

4.0

4.5

Probably was in the wrong headspace for this one. It’s obviously good but wasn’t feeling it.

It's pretty clear why this album's on the list! Any number of people have extolled its virtues, and many rank it as the best (or one of the very best) of all time. I'd heard many but by no means all of the tracks before. Listening from end to end, there was a lot to really enjoy, but some songs I'd skip or at least consider background music only. Although some songs outstay their welcome (including the very first, at 8+ mins - never a good move), the variety just keeps coming with each song, especially when the bonus EP is included. The musicianship is consistently a treat, whether it's Stevie or others playing the tracks. I ran out of time for a second listen, which might have helped me decide between 4 and 4.5 stars - do the less appealing songs and occasional moments of (over?)earnestness grow on me, or grate? But I'll definitely be back, so for the official 4-point scale definitely a 4.

goes on a tad long, very lively and bright, didn’t really click for me though. Favorite track - As 4

Maybe the best album by Stevie Wonder enjoyable and interesting in every track with also great hits such as "Isn't She Lovely" or "Sir Duke". Phenomenal project, probably a bit too long, but still impressive.

Didn’t finish. Good cheerful morning music.

Great

Great if not very long. Still incredible stuff on here

Hits are hits for sure, some of the loosey jazz stuff is a little loosey...

Very long album, great hits but also meaningful soul throughout

Most of songs I knew already, full of classics. Including the original Gangsta's Paradise... Pleasant music.

Unfortunately, I was not able to give the the listen it deserves — just too many meetings and work yesterday and this morning. That said, I own this album, so it's not unfamiliar territory. This is a mammoth endeavor, and chock-full of amazing material. To my ear, the hits leap out of the speakers with a greater intensity than much of the other material, which is as much a commentary on the serious nature of so many of the songs here. The two-punch wallop of "Sir Duke" and "I Wish" are just awesome — Stevie is at his best when he matches fantastic riffs with rollicking melodies, and those songs have that in spades. But this is a lot to take in in one listen — it's like three albums in one. That, from one perspective, is a testament to the brilliance of this album. But it is part of what makes this less than five stars in my book. It's hard to take it all in at once. But a great talent at a high point in his career and one that certainly belongs on the list of albums you need to hear before you die.

cannot complain.

Very good. Don't listen loads but a stone cold classic.

Strong album! I didn’t know Pastime Paradise was the source for Gangstas Paradise; crazy how many amazing tracks Stevie Wonder managed to fit onto one album. Good stuff!

It's definitely an impressive album and has some amazing hits, but it definitely starts to drag on during the second disc. At almost 2 hours, its a real commitment to listen all the way through, and can be a bit of a struggle.

Good, but not 1 hour 45 good. However, this project has taught me that Stevie Wonder is better than I thought. I though he was all "Isn't she lovely", rather than "Pastime Paradise"

4.4/5 it's good but too long

really good

The range of this album is really impressive. It got off to a really hot start and even the less interesting tracks were carried by Stevie's voice. But man this album could've easily been 30 minutes shorter. So many songs in the second half had a good idea going and then ended by doing nothing for an extra four minutes. Would've been five stars without that

A masterpiece on so many levels I cannot really enumerate all the ways. Sometimes an artist will make an album that is special, in a class of its own, and head and shoulders above anything else their peers were doing. This is such an album. The fires of inspiration really cooked Stevie in the brewing of this critical and fan darling of a gem. There’s a lot more going on here than just bright, fun singalong songs. He deals with some pretty dark themes, exploring despair with the same energy he extols hope, and there’s quite a spicy mix of funk thrown into the soul.

Beautiful album with a lot of great production. The music is bright and cheerful. It's definitely a weekend album, and I think listening on the week day dulled my experience. There's a reason Stevie has done so well!

The very first song bored me, but then the album opened up hugely, music was almost experimental at times. great fun and groovy.

Full of passion with talent to back it up, 4/5 Highlight- "Ebony Eyes"

ALBUM RATING: 3.53 ALBUM GRADE: B- TRACK RATINGS: 1. Love’s in Need of Love Today - 3 2. Have a Talk With God - 4 3. Village Ghetto Land - 3.5 4. Contusion - 4 5. Sir Duke - 3.5 6. I Wish - 4.5 7. Knocks Me off My Feet - 3 8. Pastime Paradise - 4 9. Summer Soft - 3.5 10. Ordinary Pain - 4 11. Isn’t She Lovely? - 3.5 12. Joy Inside My Tears - 3 13. Black Man - 4 14. Ngiculela - Es una Historia - I Am Singing - 3 15. If It’s Magic - 3 16. As - 4 17. Another Star - 4 18. Saturn - 3 19. Body Eyes - 3 20. All Day Sucker - 3 21. Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call) - 3

Long ass album mr wonder but very good

I haven't really listened to Stevie Wonder beyond the singles, so the amount of freedom and experimentation was surprising to me. I love how Ordinary Pain just completely sheds it's pop song opening about a third of the way for an aggressive driving battle of the synth solos. And the pop song "intro" just never comes back. That's the song now. Cool. Joy Inside My Tears could have been a bog standard anthem, but someone had license to add synth elements under it that just add so much interest. That synth bass on Black Man. The delay on the synth on Ngiculela. Maybe I should have known that all this cool shit existed, but I didn't. Thanks 1001 albums. I'm not a big fan of the saccharine and preachy songs, but there are so many songs on here that skipping those ones still leaves more than a regular album full of great tracks.

A lot of great tracks (shout out to Isn't She Lovely), but also just a LOT of tracks. Not sure this needed to be a double album, but still had a good time listening to it.

Didn't care for first two songs but everything after was good and it was cool to see how influential this album has been. Recognized a lot of songs from samples being used elsewhere

This is hard because it's clearly very good but a lot of it I'm just not into. I love the idea of some of these songs positivity and love, but in practice I never wanna hear songs about that, lmao. Definite 5 for legacy/talent, 3 for enjoyment. 4 It is.

sir duke!

I like Stevie Wonder - but never listened to this album in total. While some parts are a bit slick, and others a bit dated, overall it is pretty fantastic. There's also a lot to take in - I'll be coming back to this

Not my favourite, but obviously a few really amazing, classic tracks here

One of my favorite albums in my vinyl collection.

Très bon album. Malgré la longueur on ne s'ennuit pas puisqu'il y a très peu de moment faible. Définitivement un classique

Awesome way to start

Starts out strong. Some great songs though a bit preachy at times.. Then the album continues and keeps on. Lots of filler though no really bad songs. Probably just an hour longer than it should have been.

It’s a solid 4

STEVIE

Legal , diferente do q esperava

klassse

Long. Angry!

Sir Duke has such a perfect groove, and that lead horn is divine. This is a great album. There's a bit of cheese leftover but glad I gave this another listen.

Ça réveille

point fort : super titre

How does his voice go that high?

Such a fantastic album. I never gave Stevie Wonder a chance before, but after hearing this album I am glad I did!

Eighteenth album and he nearly threw in the towel? Well, I'm certainly glad he didn't. This is a side of Stevie I wasn't familiar with and certainly keen to keep on the playlist. Faves: As, Saturn, All Day Sucker

I'd say this guy deserves the label "musical genius." I don't always love his softer, sappier music, but when he gets a little funky watch out. This is a great album. Also, little known fact, but the song "Isn't She Lovely" wasn't meant as a rhetorical question. He was asking whether she was really lovely, because he literally had no idea. 4 stars.

Stevie Wonder is great. This album is good and has plenty of hits. Since it is two discs, it is over an hour and 40 minutes. There are some songs that are little long and others that are just kinda meh. Disc 1 is better than Disc 2 and almost all of the hits are located on Disc 1. Disc 2 has some good songs and a couple that were recognizable. You can definitely hear how his music has influenced other artists. I don't think I would listen to both discs again back to back, but listening to disc 1 only is more likely.

Great album - perhaps a bit long, but it has some excellent songs.

Stevie's one of the great

very good album, unique sound, kinda too long- 8,5/10

Seriously impressive group of songs with some absolute classics in there. And he played most of the instruments himself. Super

good! 4 star because there were a few moments that were too much but still

A classic!

Thoroughly surprised with the album. Funky beats and classics throughout. I found a few tracks to add to my "liked" playlist

I have this on vinyl. Was considered a must-own. Listened to bits here and there, didn't catch on. Reviews here again raved. 5s across the board. I must be missing something. So...I was, somewhat. My first listen start to finish unearthed a lot of well-known songs and sampled-songs. But it's very, very long. And many songs feel much longer than they need to be. I will be generous with a 4.

Nice but a bit lengthy

Some classics! Not managed the full album yet but enjoyed most of what I heard

4.75

Amazing! Stevie convinces me with the first two songs. (I mean all the good songs would have fit on one album).... (8/10) FT: I Wish, Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely, Pasttime Paradise, As, Another Star

Prima, erg lang, sommige nummers te langdradig

Liked this more than "Talking Book" - there was less overly-sugary sweetness. Fave track - "As" is badass. Also enjoyed the educational "Black Man"...

This was a truly enjoyable listen, if a bit overly long. I was already a fan of Stevie Wonder's radio hits, but I found I liked some of the deeper cuts even more. "Contusion" was a standout for me, a cool instrumental interlude that reminded me of some of Frank Zappa's instrumental numbers. 4/5 stars, would have been higher if they had cut a few songs.

Upbeat, positive messages. Fun

This came as a breath of fresh air to me. It’s such a peaceful record that treats very important themes. I love everything about this piece of art. The music, the vocals, the lyrics. Everything is in perfect harmony with each other. I was pleasantly surprised and I am glad I came across this record.

A true classic