Songs In The Key Of Life

Some really cool songs here but this album was too long … I wish it was shorter and I was left wanting more rather than wishing it was over ya know ? I listened to this on the 2am night bus, the drive went on forever and so did the album

I know there’s some classics here but man this just doesn’t do it for me. I think there’s something about the way Stevie wonder sings where it sounds as if he’s passionately articulating every single word and note, but so cleanly and consistently that the whole thing comes off as sterile. Obviously a hugely influential album, but it’s too shiny and too funky to convey much of a message to me.

He discovered every instrument on the electric piano including flute and harmonica. Straight disco and jazzercise.

Over rated

See, I'm basing my star count on how much I ENJOY these sounds. Some times I'll give a star for talent, but not usually.. I don't like this guy's music, partly because it's overplayed. I know it's talented tho. 2 stars

Absolute quality. Many individual tracks are essential listening for any music fan, and the whole thing also works as a cohesive body of work. It takes you through every emotion, and frequently makes you want to dance. A genuine classic.

A torrent of imagination and creativity, though the heavy-hitters stand above the rest, all of the album is still fully satisfying to listen to But you don't need me to tell you that about Stevie Wonder

10 out of five. 15 out of five. This is an amazing album.

Hermoso

No notes. No words.

Yes

wild wild west *and* gangsta's paradise came from here? this has gotta be the blueprint for hundreds of good songs. ridiculously fun to listen to and the goal that all music should aspire to

jeez, 2 perfect albums in a row here. this may be a trend

This one is widely considered the best record that Stevie put out, and I can understand why. I am a huge fan of his voice and his music overall, so I am very subjective, but this album is beautiful! It has slow moments, upbeat moments, and some of his best songs ever. I mean, Sir Duke is one of the best hooks in the history, Isn't She Lovely is just the most beautiful piece written for his kid, and Pastime Paradise gave us one of the most recognizable rap songs of a whole generation. Amazing from start to end.

A straight-up masterpiece.

i’ve already listened to one of the songs from this album!! “As” is in my Spotify liked playlist so I hope I like this album, i’ll edit this after I finish 7/5/26 <3 edit: 7/6/26 as of 11:24pm rn i'm listening to the first disc and i really enjoy it ! so far village ghetto land is my least fave but i still like it and i wouldn't skip.

Is it a bit long? Yes but this is up there for best album all time. I understand why Apple Music has it rated so high. I probably won’t listen to it again but it was great

absolute smash, loved the first few tracks of the album but i kinda js put the rest on the background but yeah i heard a few weird noises in the middle of listening (idk which) i think it was on "saturn" i dont remember. but TOP TRACK? definitely love's in need of love today.

This is a fantastic album.

Beautiful, just beautiful

A peak, Himalayan magnificent.

I could pretend I have an intricate rating system replete with algorithms. I could take off a quarter star because it’s too long and another quarter star because there are a few indulgent tracks that miss. OR I could recognize that the hit songs are legendary and everyone across generations can sing them from memory. I might remember that this is Stevie MFin’ Wonder, the music genius, and one of the most respected albums of all times. So, maybe my thoughts on the second My Bloody Valentine album might offer insight (they don’t), but there’s nothing I will say here that you can’t feel for yourself in the music.

Everyone’s already said everything about this one. It’s great obviously. It’s funny that it’s his like 18th album. What the hell

All of its peak

I mean, it's Stevie Wonder! He's in a class all his own.

Bien.

I legitimately think this is in the top 10 best albums all time. So fun and groovy. It has like 4 of the best songs I’ve ever heard in my life. It’s so charming I forgive it when it commits the sin of running on for too long.

Una vaina bien funky, las texturas y las diferentes capas sónicas en algunas de las canciones me tienen flipando. Instrumentalmente es uno de los álbumes más impresionantes, instrumentalmente hablando, que he escuchado.

Masterpiece. Amazing production, lyrics, musicianship. Can’t believe I didn’t know gangsters paradise was a Stevie sample.

Only one disc in as of writing this bit , but WOW: this challenge is already immensely worth it. This album is so amazing. It is full of passionate vocals that feel like you're drowning in Wonder's soulful voice, whilst being accompanied by a very surprisingly proggy accompaniment, with some amazing bass guitar that is honestly super inspiring - I'll be checking out more of Nathan Watts' Stuff. The lyrics are also all really interesting, I love how Wonder pays homage to music as an art form in Sir Duke. Honestly, this could be considered a life changing listen for me, really really enjoyed this, and I've needed more joyful music in my rotation.

I just want to keep listening this album, I'm not ready to move on. All of the hits I knew before this are awesome here, and there are so many of them. And then so many more songs I'd never heard are just beautiful. Love's In Need of Love, Village Ghetto Land, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Summer Soft, As, and Another Star are all excellent. It's endlessly entertaining for its full duration. Some of the songs run a bit long, but the songs slap so who cares. If I could give it a bonus star for having the song we used for our baby announcement (Isn't She Lovely, of course), I would, but it already has an easy 5/5. Incredible album, one of my all time favorites.

A masterpiece

Sometimes you listen to a classic album and can clearly pinpoint one or two aspects of it that are the reason is it is lauded and beloved. Upon listening to this lauded, beloved classic my takeaway is simply this - this is really really good music. It's gorgeous and sumptuous and multilayered and interesting and funky and dank where it needs to be and gentle where it needs to be, it's perfectly played and produced and just floods ones pleasure zones from start to finish. Simple as that.

"Songs In The Key Of Life" was Stevie Wonder’s 18th album and was released 50 years ago, in 1976. When you consider that Wonder is still active as a musician, you can appreciate just how important he is. In the mid-1970s, he was at the height of his creativity, and “Songs In The Key Of Life” was the crowning achievement in a whole series of fantastic albums. The perfection of the recordings – both in terms of performance and sound – remains impressive, especially when you consider that, although 130 musicians were involved, the majority of the music was recorded by Wonder himself. In terms of production, only Steely Dan could, at best, keep up with Wonder’s perfectionism. Compositionally, Wonder showcases everything he has to offer: R&B, (progressive) soul, pop, rock, jazz and funk. Wonder explored the boundaries of black music and confidently pushed them further. The result is quite simply perfect. It grooves, it swings, it rocks; it features enchanting melodies and, with ‘Sir Duke’, one of the most complex arrangements in the history of pop music. A milestone.

Wow! What a great album. The one thing that this project is on course for achieving is to get this aging punk into Stevie Wonder big time!

isnt she lovely????

Bien.

Is I Wish the most perfect song ever? I'm not qualified to say but if I needed to nominate one for the fate of the world against imminent alien obliteration I could do much worse .

🐐

it’s so great and multi faceted with its sound; ironically i like isn’t she lovely the least, something about that song doesn’t do it for me. but that’s a nitpick on an otherwise very pleasant feel good album

masterpiece

++*: Sir Duke, I Wish, Ordinary Pain, Isn't She Lovely, Joy Inside My Tears, Ebony Eyes ++: Love's in Need of Love Today, Have a Talk with God, Village Ghetto Land, Contusion, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Pastime Paradise, Summer Soft, Black Man, Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing, If It's Magic, As, Another Star, Saturn, All Day Sucker, Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call) 10/10

My father didn’t have a lot of great albums from the 1970s, but he did have some Stevie Wonder. Both Songs in the Key of Life and Talking Book were part of his collection. I remember seeing them filed away among all the other LPs, but I can’t remember him ever actually putting either one on the turntable for us. Now, to be clear, we listened to a lot of Motown and Stevie Wonder in our house growing up. But more often than not, we were subjected to Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium I—a double CD, no less—which my dad mostly used as an excuse to show off his brand-new compact disc player in 1987. And by the way, it had these weird, watery soundscape segues between each song that always stuck with me. This was about as psychedelic as my dad got in the 1960s: owning two Stevie Wonder albums from the 1970s. That probably says more about my house and my upbringing than I can fully explain. So I was excited to see another Stevie Wonder album pop up on this list. The runtime, though, was a little intimidating. I love Stevie as much as the next person, but asking anyone to sit for an hour and forty-five minutes—even for what’s widely considered his magnum opus—is no small thing. That said, this wasn’t a difficult listen at all. In fact, it was incredible. There’s a reason this is considered his best work. And the fact that it was his eighteenth album, released in 1976, makes it all the more impressive—a staggering achievement from an artist already operating at an impossibly high level.

I’ve come to the conclusion that a five star rating system doesn’t suffice to express my love for this album. My only regret is that it only lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes

GOD DAYUM. UNREAL ALBUM. WOW

Classic. Perfect for summer listening.

Another Stevie Wonder masterpiece

I'd have given this 5 stars for "Sir Duke" alone. But the rest of the album is terrific. I've loved this album for a long time. Stevie at the height of his powers was something else.

Oooof this is good, a bit too long for my taste but there’s sooo many great songs on here. I do understand he couldn’t keep any of them for himself so thank you Stevie, for this masterpiece.

i remember the first time i listened to this album and i really understood why he is regarded as one of the best. this album is one of the rare ones i will classify as timeless- meaning it could have come out at any time and it would still be meaningful and enjoyable

What can I say that hasn’t been said yet? One of the best albums of all time in any genre. A true masterpiece by a man who has no equal. 5/5

Great album! Stevie is a legend.

i mean, doesn't it say everything that this is the only 90 minute+ album people don't bitch about the length of? and it's almost two full hours of music too! heavenly, wonderful, life-affirming music. Stevie Wonder's highest achievement and nothing comes close, even despite a really strong decade. deserves to be one of the 1001? yesssss!!!!!

Loved the excuse to revisit this. I haven't listened to the whole album since I gave my brother my vinyl collection 10 years ago. This is a masterpiece. It is Stevie Wonder at the peak of his creativity: packed with hits, overflowing with his personality and emotional range, and is stunningly beautiful in places. Songs in the Key of Life is one of those rare: "This song is on here too?!" albums where just about every song is as good as the last. Records like this are why this website exists.

Undeniably one of the most comprehensive albums of all time.

A masterpiece. Thank you Stevie! "Until the day is night and night becomes the day (Always)"

Another project I probably didn't look too far into because of its length, 21 songs and nearly 2 hours of music sounds intimidating. I can't imagine the effort of switching the speed on the 33 for the final tracks on an effort you're not already in love with. Luckily, this gem invites you to fall in love quickly. It has a lot of every day life, beautiful mixing of sounds, it ends up being more than music. But with stunning musical production. If you appreciate Stevie Wonder in a general sense, like me, there's a heavy handful of classics right here. The capacity this production has to literally move you is amazing. I had this one on during a busy city walk on a Saturday afternoon, it is nearly impossible to feel bad listening to I Wish as you walk down a crowded sidewalk. Try it. I'm docking a few decimals for length, it was a task to listen to this, despite its replay value. Definitely a masterful project I'll be playing in the future. 4.75/5

Everything has written everything possible on this album, so I'll just say this: I bought this album as a teenager, listened to a few songs, and never did so again. I don't think I was ready. As an adult, with a new family life, all of the album's themes are far more pertinent than they were before. The complexity of being human, of being together, on this planet. This music is not of this world. These melodies and vocal phrases and structures are indescribable. I've studied music and have no idea how one writes music like this. Stevie Wonder is a human being, flaws and all, but he truly believes what he sings and what he "sees" in all of us. That we are capable of something greater, of something greater than ourselves, that there is no act more daring than to love, and that spirituality is personal yet universal, that salvation comes to all who save each other, that humanity and nature is all we have in spite of our beliefs. Listened to this back to back for days, flabbergasted at everything. The drumming, the harmonica playing, the rich and textured mix, plus his singing turning into hollering from time to time. Left humbled and marveled. I can't believe that this was his 18th album, as he was just about to retire and head to West Africa to do more humanitarian work. It's one of the great gifts to humanity. We should be sending a copy of this into space. 5 million stars, and it's not even my favorite album of all time. No album compares.

In the running for GOAT album I don't give a fuck that it's nearly 2 hours long, it's amazing Fave track: Another Star

Stevie Wonder!

Turns out Stevie Wonder is good at music.

On kyl sairaat setit. Vähän vois olla lyhempi varmaan, mut yolotetaan.

joyous fun! i love sir duke

One of the greats - best Stevie Album

Beautiful record, I had never listened to it before.

Wonderful. An outstanding album from him at the top of his game.

First listened 4th December 2024. Favourite songs are Knocks Me Off My Feet and Summer Soft.

I didn't expect to love this nearly as much as I did. I need to listen to more Stevie

Listened to on my Bose AE2 Soundlink. This is just a magical album, plain and simple. Stevie Wonder puts out a worthy-of-it's-length double album that is filled with creativity, variety, and a burning, authentic passion towards life, whether it's the joy found inside love that's long gone and the birth of a child, or the harsh youth days filled with struggle and wasted time on past reminiscing/future daydreaming. It's an album that is truly accepting of the human experience, and it makes it feel so both relatable and justified in it's overall positive outlook. It makes the good and bad of life feel both hand in hand, rather than positions at odd with one another and it's just plain comforting in that sense, which is astounding because of how strongly the moods can swing. Love playfully interpreted to the seasons of the earth and lessons taught in the history of non-white influence of life--American specifically--as we know it, don't feel at odds with each other. It is all true to the character of life. The album title might be one of the most elegant summations of an album ever released, and the musicality that links these lyrical ideas is nothing short of expert and exciting. Songs will often spin out above the six minute mark as the band sinks further and further into the grooves, and it somehow never gets boring. It really just pushes the listener deeper and deeper into the song, making my rhythmic walks and head nodding feel almost like I'm part of the band too, just everyone coming together to lay down something that you can really feel. To specifically note some absolute earworms: The harmonica of 'Isn't She Lovely', feeling so innocent and jovial which perfectly fits the song, the tight Jazz Fusion of instrumental 'Contusion' which is so gripping and hyper, feeling like a song perfect for the race track. The soft croons on opener 'Love's in Need of Love Today' which are delectably smooth and feel like a warm hug, the funk explosion of following track 'Have a Talk with God' which has this murky, swampy, almost disgustingly rhythmic synth work that sounds so futuristic. There is just such a strong identity to this album, in it's cohesive combination of overall album theming and musical expression of those concepts. Where Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get it On' felt to me like the exact instrumentation of various ideas of love, this album's composition feels like a totality of human expression. It's wildly varied, layered, pulsing in strong rhythm--it feels like a more abstract and broader extrapolation of human experience, which is compounded by the lyricism which also touches on a strong range of ideas. From concept to execution, this is one of the absolute masterwork musical pieces.

*all-time.

Rating: 5.0/5 Short Review: Joyful, spiritual, emotional, political, playful… somehow everything at once. Feels like Stevie Wonder trying to capture the full experience of being alive. Massive in scope, but still deeply human and warm. Favorite Track: “As.” One of the most sincere love songs ever written. Feels endless in the best way.

Muy bueno es tranquilo pero tiene una vibra que también te quiere hacer bailar

This record is utterly phenomenal. Packed with soul, groove and rhythm, it's expertly crafted and a masterpiece of it's time that takes you on a journey with so many layers. Stevie Wonder does mellow soulful tracks just as well as he does upbeat funky grooves, each song flowing beautifully into one another to create a genuine cohesion despite the mix of styles. It's packed with hits, energy and a confidence that has to be applauded. I sooooo nearly docked a point for it being 105 minutes long… I'm really not a fan of albums this long, but I've let it slide because of how good it is.

This was Stevie Wonders response to Houmous & Chutneys hit album Songs In The Key of Len 4.7 16/21 As

this is actually the greatest album ever, i listened to it 3x this week before it came up

1.

One of the best albums of all time.

I own it on vinyl that’s my review.

Simply amazing.

for me this is the pinnacle of Stevie Wonder’s output, this collection of songs is so great, and then you have impeccable production and a band that is firing on all cylinders.

It’s very long but it’s brilliant and eclectic. One of the all time greatest albums by one of the all time greatest artists. I knew it before this but I didn’t know it was his 18th album, no wonder he was getting burnt out and thinking of jacking it all in and emigrating. I’m glad he didn’t though and instead produced this at a stage in his career when most other artists, including some legends, had long since checked out creatively.

Tremendous

(7/7) a little long and jam heavy but the good moments are astounding

We had Prince’s Sign O’ the Times a couple of days ago and were large parts of that seemed self-indulgent and excessive, Stevie makes this just effortlessly cool. It is the perfect sunny spring morning album. ‘Sir Duke’ is obviously a standout, but that shouldn’t overshadow the other tracks. ‘Love’s in Need of Love Today is a brilliant opener and this level is sustained until we reach the aforementioned SD, when the roof is blown off. ‘I Wish’ nearly manages to maintain this impossible level. It’s hard for someone my age to hear Pastime Paradise without thinking of Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise, but his job was made so much easier by having an already classic track to build on. ‘ordinary Pain’ is a beautifully crafted song about heartbreak and perfectly closes the first part of the album. ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ shows you have to take something that should be sickly sweet and turn into a perfect pop song. ‘As’ is a beautiful pop song that delivers a soulful chorus that cant help but make you feel good.

Very awesome.

Tremendous stuff.

Some surprises with this one. First I’d assumed it came out a decade more later than its actual release date. Partly because it anticipates that smooth jazz sheen that so much music had in the 90’s, but also because Stevie was so ubiquitous back then. Second, there are several songs that are basically rip-offs from this album. I don’t care about the Wild West theme, but I’m so disillusioned about Gangsta’s Paradise. Anyway, obviously fantastic album. Unlike a lot of double albums, even ones on this list, it doesn’t feel bloated at all, and the track order flows perfectly.

Groovy!!!

Yeah one of the greatest things that’s ever blessed my ears

Nearly perfect album

Too damn good. Even the 'filler'* songs are head and shoulders above a lot of people's best work. *not really filler songs of course

village ghetto land--the lyrics and the music do not match. contusion--that's a jam session sir duke--and this is a bop i wish-- pastime paradise took an intermission at the end of disc one for lunch isn't she lovely--love this black man--i think i just gave myself whiplash by listening to this song while reading a statement from our supreme tangerine about immigrants. great song tho. if it's magic--great song. as--vocals: perfection. instrumentals: amazing. groove: impeccable. another star--there's only so many words i can use to describe this album as incredible. sorry, i'm not a music critic; i just enjoy it or not. saturn--depressing how this is just as applicable today as in '76. great song tho. ebony eyes--this one's a bop all day sucker--love some funkiness easy goin' evening--lovely instrumental outro easy 5/5. i think the album opened with the weaker songs and just kept getting stronger the further you go. not that any song was actually weak, just less strong than others on here. i wouldn't say the album as a whole was social commentary, but definitely some tracks were--black man, village ghetto land, saturn. intermixed well with songs about lighter things. the instrumentals were impeccable. the whole thing was just a groove, tbh. per usual, i think the long format probably works best in the context of having a physical copy, not so much on spotify where it autoplays the whole thing (hence my intermission, even tho i'm on spotify).

Stevie's best record hands down blending conscious, soul, and funk music

Stevie's opus Magnus. More evidence that he stands toe to toe with all the great songwriters, like Dylan and Lennon/McCartney.

I generally don’t like double albums, and before listening to this album, there’d only be two that I would be happy to listen to all the way through, which are the White Album and Tusk. Part of the reason why I like those albums are because it’s a pretty mixed bag across the runtime. For the White Album, you get the culmination of songwriters working on their own for months and putting it all together in a controlled mess. Tusk is more or less the same, where you switch from sorrowful and emotional ballads to weird and experimental fast songs. What sets this album apart is that while each song is distinct, it’s just all great songs through and through. It’s not beloved for the odd charm or how varied it is but the fact that it’s such a wildly strong album. Having a single album full of only good songs is already a feat to behold. Having a double album of them is unbelievable, but Stevie Wonder did it. It’s such a beautiful album about life, love, God, society, and basically everything. It’s groovy, it’s funky, it’s rhythmic, it’s too darn catchy. Most of all, it’s so easy to forget but this all comes from a blind man who despite being blind is able to see and communicate so much through his work. Just an absolute masterpiece.

i'm gonna lose my mind. i pulled up this album on youtube and the top result that youtube served under the same name and title was a dogshit acoustic guitar cover album by some guy named steve bruni. i just had it on in the background while working so i quickly forgot i was even listening to it thus why i got over my initial "oh i guess he's not immediately singing?" confusion. GOD. but the ACTUAL album!? it's stevie wonder. he fucking rules. "contusion", "isn't she lovely", "i am singing", "as", "another star", etc etc. so many flawless tracks here. i've joked a number of times for other artists along the lines of "no no, you gotta listen to his eighteenth album, that his best" except this legitimately is that good. a double album (or triple if you listen to the extra ep, i did not) that is outstanding start to finish. incredible work. we're so back.

D'you know how hard it is to make a great double album? One that I can listen through in one sitting, then go back for the best hits a second time round? It's hard! Not only does it require consistent killer songs, but it requires those tracks to have enough diversity to them to keep me hooked. Wow, does this do just that. Songs like "As" is 7 minutes of heaven, legendary keyboard work here. Every note feels like it was placed with purpose, and yet nothing feels sparse. Songs like Sir Duke is so god damn funky its impossible for me not to fall in love with this. So much breadth in style and genre is covered in this album and it is all done with unbelieveable consistency.

Insane album. Not a single thing yo say that hasn't already been said, ot deserves all the praise. 5/5, no notes

a really fun album to listen to, my go to for jazz or soul music

I mean, come on, what do I say here? If you don't like this album, it says more about you than it does Songs In The Key of Life. I love calling albums "human", I overdo it to such an extreme degree that I annoy myself with it, but this is truly one of the most "human" albums ever recorded. When you surround yourself with really miserable/upsetting/dark music (as I have, many times in the past, present and likely future), it makes records like this shine in a different way. Love's in need of love today, and every day. As essential as they come.

Stevie Wonder may not be blind, but goddamn this album slaps.

Hey man, 18 albums and you still put out an almost 2 hour album! Honestly… that’s just impressive. Magnificent album nonetheless, many bangers especially Sir Duke (and obviously Isn’t She Lovely).

Class

Have it on my list of albums I want, such a great album! From lyrics, music and melody, you can’t beat it.

Amazing album, wouldn’t have suffered by having maybe two songs less but from a full two disc album that’s amazing. 10/10

Obra maestra

Innovative and groovy.

When to listen: mood improvement. Stevie Wonder is a brilliant musician and I love this album so so much.

one of wonder's most popular albums, a complex, progressive, and gigantic... EXHIBITION of sound at play here, especially in the jazz and soul genres. absurdly smooth, peppy, and absolutely mesmerizing music here. every possible mood under the sun and back. does stevie wonder essentially have a "perfect" discography? the answer is unclear, but there's a reason why his music resonates with a lot of people across the globe. it's more than just the genre he composes in, he's one of those beethoven cases where despite a big hurdle in his life (being blind), he understands music in a deep level that most other people, let alone composers can't. imagine having no vision, but a brain and ears that are so full in sound everywhere, you essentially you discover sound as an essence that can be milked in such a way... it's insane.

Incredible! Will listen to again

So happy i got to listen to this again, an absolute masterpiece

Den gemte ikke mit review, øv. Men det er 5 (stjerneøjne-emoji)

Even better than I remember.

So goated so much sauce, quite possibly the best album of all time. Banger after banger, still sounds fresh. This album makes me feel things no other album can and makes me appreciate every aspect of my life. Definitely some songs that I don’t love, but too many bangers for me to really care. Stevie is the man

What can you say? This is the work of a musical genius and beyond critical appraisal. The greatest album of all time? Almost certainly.

The album is awesome! I like it

Not fully done but adding my review now in case this is my only chance. Not really my cup of tea, but man it’s good.

Classic very good no complaints

i can already hear it from folks "this album is too long", but ya know what, this album is jam packed with absolute JAMS. Contusion, Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise, Isn't She Lovely, Saturn... I mean this album is just consistently putting out bangers, and it keeps going. i look at this like it were to come out in 1976. its so much content, there are so many good songs, and this would honestly make me so excited for this album. some of his greatest hits, some songs that have been sampled and become absolutely incredible songs... yeah, this gets a 5 stars

Ya some of the songs go on for a bit too long but it really doesn’t matter. Theres so much variety here and so much groove. I wish is an all time song for me. Stevie’s vocals are just so pleasing all over this album. Also, someone needs to tell bob dylan this is how you play a harmonica. I could listen to the harmonica solo on isn’t she lovely forever

I was a little skeptical coming into this album. Sure Stevie Wonder is good, but a 1h 45m long album is going to loose at least one star just for it's length. I was expecting to rate this 3 stars (4 star album minus 1 star for the length). Man was I wrong! This album is awesome! I get the hype. I was engaged the whole time. There are hidden gems in here like "Pastime Paradise", and all time hits like "Isn't She Lovely". There are political messages about racial poverty and stereo types. There are easy going instrumentals and get on your feet dance songs. I was sleeping on this album for too long.

This. This is the Stevie Wonder I was wanting to hear. This album is pretty much perfect. Earlier in this challenge I had Talking Book and I was a little underwhelmed, as I expected something different. Well, Songs in the Key of Life delivered on every measure. I loved basically every single song which is a hell of a thing considering the length of the album. I would say there’s no filler here, it’s like each song has been crafted to perfection. It’s just so pleasing to listen to, so full of sound with exquisite production. An instrumental feast with a plethora of musicians having a hand in. This is album #181, and it’s not just a 5 star, it may be one of the best overall albums I’ve heard so far.

I feel like I have nothing intelligent to say about this but it was just one one groove after another! Which is probably a duh, but I have never listened to a full Stevie Wonder album before, and the flow between all of it was amazing and I loved it all! Contusion and Another Star were the 2 I felt compelled to shout out in my listening notes

Yeah so this is maybe the greatest album of all, right? It certainly has to be in the top 3? Absolutely insane that this is Stevie’s EIGHTEENTH studio album, but what makes it great is that it feels like one that he had to make (and by all accounts he was ready to pack things up? ((but that $220m was too good to pass up?))). It’s full of joy and anger and soul, and it all feels like it comes straight from the heart. Sonically, it’s expansive and groovy and you can hear its legacy so clearly. I preferred Disc 1 but I really don’t think that matters here. Stevie summed up this album so perfectly with one line; “isn’t she lovely, made from love?”

The back-to-back hit of Sir Duke and I Wish knocks me off my feet (pun intended). Also, I was today years old when I realized that Gangsta's Paradise is based on Pastime Paradise. And Black Man is a JAM.

Álbum clásico, para el día a día. Le pongo un 10 🫶🏼✨

Classic

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Masterpiece - What a run! This isn't my favourite album of all time but it is a staggering achievement. It's just overflowing with joy and compassion and beauty. One of, if not the most life-affirming album ever made.

It’s Stevie. From his classics period.

agora tudo faz sentido

When I listen to this album, I get the feeling that Stevie Wonder was born to make music. His eighteenth album is of this quality. 9/10

There isn't much else to say about this album other than it really is one of the greatest albums ever made. Is it long? Absolutely. And while I'd normally say a few of the songs are too long, after almost 2 hours worth of listening, this is one of those rare albums that you wish was longer. Just absolute classic Stevie with so many classic songs. And if you aren't a Stevie fan and think Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" is an original, you need to listen to this album!

This album is like a man coming downstairs the morning after a night out with mates. His lovely wife has cooked pancakes with extra syrup. He sits at the table and immediately feels the warmth of the morning sun shining through the windows. Outside, he can see his children playing together happily, and their laughter is the only sound he can hear, other than the occasional bird chirping. “Are you hungover?” His wife asks, as she pours himself a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Come to think of it, no, he isn’t hungover at all. In fact he feels great. The occasional memory of last night flashes through his mind every once in a while. All his friends were on good form, and everyone had a great time. As he finishes breakfast, his wife calls the children in and tells them it’s time to get ready for church. The man asks if they need to pick up his mother-in-law on the way to church, but he is told she has sorted a ride from someone else.

Amazing album with only a few off tracks. The musicianship on this is next level

Just an all around amazing album.

I love this album. I had already heard it before. Super groovy while also more chill, which is amazing. It fits every type of mood. I wish if probably my favorite song.

wonderfully pleasing

I don't even *have* to listen. Know this one well. It's gonna be five stars.

Loved as i expected, crazy to think about how much was sampled and well known that came off just one of Mr wonders Albums

# **Songs in the Key of Life** — In-Depth Album Review Released in September 1976, *Songs in the Key of Life* represents the creative apex of Stevie Wonder's "classic period." This ambitious double album (plus a four-song EP) stands as one of the most celebrated works in popular music history, winning Album of the Year at the 1977 Grammys and eventually being preserved in the Library of Congress for its cultural significance . --- ## **Overview & Context** After considering retirement to pursue humanitarian work in Ghana following back-to-back Grammy wins for *Innervisions* and *Fulfillingness' First Finale*, Wonder instead channeled his creative energy into this magnum opus. The album took approximately three years to complete and reportedly cost over $1 million to produce—an astronomical sum for the mid-1970s. Wonder famously purchased two Yamaha GX-1 synthesizers (at $60,000 each) during recording, demonstrating his commitment to sonic innovation . --- ## **Musical Composition & Production** ### **Genre-Defying Scope** The album hopscotches across an astonishing array of styles: R&B, soul, funk, jazz, pop, gospel, Latin, and progressive elements all coexist seamlessly. Wonder served as primary composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, essentially operating as a one-man auteur while bringing in session musicians (collectively dubbed "Wonderlove") to expand the sound . ### **Innovative Production** Wonder was among the first major artists to fully exploit early synthesizer technology. The album features pioneering use of synths to emulate orchestral instruments—notably the synthetic string arrangement on "Village Ghetto Land" that created an "uncanny valley" effect for 1976 listeners . The production maintains warmth despite its technological experimentation, with intricate percussion patterns, dizzying key changes, and complex harmonies that reward repeated listening . ### **Standout Instrumental Moments** - **"Contusion"**: An electrified jazz-funk instrumental featuring Michael Sembello's scat-like guitar solos and tricky time signature shifts - **"Summer Soft"**: Features so many key changes they become difficult to count, with rhythm sections that "go extra hard" - **"Another Star"**: Eight-and-a-half minutes of Latin dance fusion with "disco flute" and irresistible percussion --- ## **Lyrical Themes** ### **The Spectrum of Human Experience** The album's genius lies in its comprehensive emotional and thematic range: **Social Consciousness** - **"Love's in Need of Love Today"**: A plea for compassion in troubled times, functioning as the album's thesis statement - **"Village Ghetto Land"**: A grim tour through economic inequality, where "politicians laugh and drink" while the poor suffer - **"Pastime Paradise"**: A critique of privileged complacency—later famously interpolated by Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" - **"Black Man"**: A historical tribute to Black contributions to American society **Personal & Romantic Love** - **"Isn't She Lovely"**: An exuberant celebration of Wonder's newborn daughter Aisha (whose name means "life"), featuring actual recordings of her bath time - **"Knocks Me Off My Feet"**: A giddy, plainspoken love letter that captures the vulnerability of new romance - **"As"**: A cosmic declaration of eternal love using natural constants as metaphors, building from a slow simmer to a gospel-infused climax **Nostalgia & Reflection** - **"I Wish"**: Fond reminiscence of childhood mischief—impoverished yet simpler times viewed through rose-colored glasses - **"Joy Inside My Tears"**: Explores finding joy within sadness, distinguishing between fleeting happiness and enduring joy **Loss & Heartbreak** - **"Summer Soft"**: Personifies seasons as lovers who disappear, using meteorological metaphors for relationships - **"Ordinary Pain"**: A breakup song that shifts perspectives mid-track, with Shirley Brewer delivering a scathing response to Wonder's character - **"Another Star"**: Bittersweet celebration of lost love set to uptempo Latin rhythms --- ## **Cultural Influence & Legacy** ### **Immediate Impact** The album dominated 1976 commercially and critically, cementing Wonder's status as both a commercial powerhouse and artistic visionary. It proved that popular music could achieve artistic ambition without sacrificing accessibility . ### **Long-term Influence** - **Hip-hop**: "Pastime Paradise" provided the foundation for Coolio's 1995 hit; Wonder's harmonica lines have been sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg - **Contemporary R&B**: The album's fusion of jazz sophistication with pop sensibility influenced generations of artists, from Maroon 5 to Beyoncé (whose "Love on Top" explicitly channels Wonder's key-change techniques) - **Contemporary Christian Music**: Songs like "As" influenced the development of the genre through their spiritual messaging and gospel arrangements - **Library of Congress**: Inducted in 2005 for being "culturally significant" --- ## **Pros** | Strength | Description | |----------|-------------| | **Unprecedented Scope** | Successfully executes a double album where even deep cuts satisfy; virtually no filler across 17+ tracks | | **Musical Virtuosity** | Wonder's multi-instrumental prowess—particularly his drumming and keyboard work—remains breathtaking | | **Lyrical Depth** | Balances abstract poetry with blunt social commentary, romantic effusion with gritty realism | | **Innovation** | Pioneering synthesizer use that predated the 1980s synth explosion by years | | **Emotional Range** | Moves seamlessly from party anthems to spiritual meditations without losing cohesion | | **Pacing** | Expert track sequencing that builds from somber openings to euphoric closers | | **Timelessness** | Themes of love, social justice, and human resilience remain relevant nearly 50 years later | --- ## **Cons** | Weakness | Description | |----------|-------------| | **Opening Trio** | The first three tracks ("Love's in Need of Love Today," "Have a Talk with God," "Village Ghetto Land") are comparatively subdued and may require patience; some listeners find them "stilted" or "limp" compared to what follows | | **Runtime** | At nearly two hours, the album demands significant time investment that may challenge modern attention spans | | **Occasional Indulgence** | Some tracks (like the extended vamp on "Isn't She Lovely" featuring baby sounds) can feel self-indulgent | | **Dated Elements** | Certain synthesizer tones on tracks like "Ngiculela" sound distinctly "futuristic" in a 1970s way that hasn't aged gracefully | | **Uneven Distribution** | The second disc generally features longer, more experimental tracks that may lose listeners seeking immediate gratification | | **Lyrically Dated Language** | "I Wish" contains period-specific terminology that hasn't aged well | --- ## **Conclusion** *Songs in the Key of Life* represents that rarest of achievements: a commercially successful, critically acclaimed double album that actually earns its length. While the opening tracks may test some listeners' patience, the album rewards commitment with an emotional and musical journey that encompasses virtually the entire spectrum of human experience. Wonder's synthesis of technological innovation, compositional sophistication, and raw emotional honesty created a template for ambitious popular music that remains influential across genres—from hip-hop to contemporary R&B to jazz . The album's greatest strength is its conceptual unity: despite touching on love, social justice, spirituality, nostalgia, and heartbreak, it maintains coherence through Wonder's distinctive voice (both literal and artistic) and his unwavering belief in music's power to heal and unite. It is, as one critic noted, "a number one for political production, album production, conceptual production [and] lyrical production"—an achievement that "checks all the boxes" . **Overall Rating**: A landmark achievement in popular music, essential listening for anyone interested in the intersection of artistic ambition and commercial appeal.

music is love

Fantastiskt album! Texterna och musiken tillsammans skapar magi! Låtar som As, Another Star (magisk!), Pastime Paradise (Gangstas Paradise är baserad på denna), I Wish, Sir Duke hur bra som helst. Det enda är väl att jag kan tycka att albumet är i det längsta laget. Men herregud... Det är en petitess, albumet är skitbra och förtjänar en solid 5:a!!!!

A personal fave

272/1089 less than a minute into the first track and i already have goosebumps i never knew that Gangster’s Paradise was an interpolation/interpretation but hearing Pastime Paradise just made it make sense, like of course it came from a Stevie Wonder song Disc 1 down and i’m in awe a bit, this is exceptional so far. I love going into a beloved album and immediately understanding why it has that status. of the first 10 tracks i only didn’t save 3 Contusion (which i loved but didn’t save yet bc no vocals), Village Ghetto Land and Knocks Me Off My Feet both of which i still liked a lot but not to the same level didn’t like the baby crying sounds at the start of Isn’t She Lovely this was such a great experience, i saved 12/21 tracks and just overall had such a rich and rewarding time with it faves: Pastime Paradise, As, Summer Soft, Saturn, Another Star 88/100

Unexpected gangsta's origin Batman!

TOP TOP ALBUM!! loved the vibe so many favs cant name them all

10/10 flawless masterpiece

OUTRAGEOUSLY good

MASTERPIECE

The best album by one of the all times geniuses. No other way around it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is NUTS for an 18th album. The first two tracks were a little weak for me so I was worried I was about to sit through 2 hours of some weak sauce but no… Village Ghetto Land hit and then things just kept getting better for the album’s entire runtime. This is such a cool album man… Favorite Song: Another Star Least Favorite Song: Have a Talk with God

Debated here. 4 or 5. It is Stevie. Some great songs among lesser known songs. But it is Stevie.

On peut faire remonter mon Stevie Wonder awakening au visionnage répété de Happy Feet à partir de 2006, à partir de là impossible de mettre autre chose que 5 étoiles à cet album, même si c'est une fois de plus purement subjectif

huge album. it's ok.

Gonna be hard to beat this one, there’s not a low moment on this album… One of the most legendary albums of all time.

Classic album. Various different styles all executed excellently. There were some songs that I wouldn’t listen to again so I’d probably give it a 9 or 4.5 but I’m rounding up to 5 because it’s definitely better than zeppelin 3

perfect record no notes. This album makes me sad to know that one day Stevie will be taken from us. In the darkest of days we live in, it is at least comforting to know that so much love can live and be expressed in music.

Incredible album with chill music

I don't love every track on here but the ones are do, which is most of them, are soooooo good. Rare to hear such a mix of luscious, catchy and yet innovative and interesting songs. Also a 6/5.

Epic stuff

Typically, when you tell me that an album is almost two hours long, I'm not going to be excited about the prospect of having to listen to something that long. But when you tell me I'm listening to almost two hours of Stevie Wonder at his creative peak, my response is "how come I only get two hours?" It's not my absolute favorite album of all time (though it's certainly up there), but it's got a very strong argument for being the *best* album of all time.

If this album was just the first half, it would still be 5 stars. The songwriting on the first half is just one banger after another. The second half gets a little slow at times but Stevie's singing, playing, writing, and arranging are top tier all time great all the way through. Mfer plays DRUMS on a bunch of the tracks. Is there nothing he can't do? Has been a fav of mine for many years. The state of the art 1975 synth sounds are so tasty.

It's hard to make a truly great double album but this is a prime example. It's great all the way through even though I wish it had been two separate albums.

Great Vibe and truely legendary tunes.

Not just a great LP, but a template for so much stuff that came after it. Is it possibly a bit too long? Maybe. Does it matter? No.

Stevie's a genius and it's a pleasure to listen to this

Great album! A must have on the list and a must listen. Favorites the whole album

I think people throw around the word genius a bit too much when they talk about musicians, but Stevie is the real deal and this is his greatest work.

So musically diverse while still feeling like one album. Just so full of funk and soul.

This is amazing

I had already listened to the first recommended album

Latterligt godt

Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? I know a lot of the songs How do I feel about this artist? I like Stevie Favorite song(s)? Sir Duke, As, I Wish, Have a Talk with God Overall Thoughts: The hits are fantastic. There is absolutely no filler in this album. Every song belonged. Yeah it’s long, but it all works together.

Album of the soul, every single song

Genius at work

I LOVEEEE THIS SHIIIIIIIIIIIIII

We could only be lucky to have a life this in tune.

This is one of those albums that’s been on my list forever, but I’ve never taken the time to sit down and listen to all 1 hour and 45 minutes of it. Now I’m wishing that I had made the time, because this album is a revelation. It’s completely brilliant, not just musically, but there’s a brilliancy and brightness to the way the music makes me feel. I think it’s hard to overstate the influence this album had on hip hop, funk, pop and even house music. It’s so lush, smooth, beautiful, and musically flawless. An absolute masterpiece.

Another piece in Stevie's immaculate run.

Songs in the Key of Excellence

Álbum excepcional!

Maybe a bit too long, but damn so many bangers!

Belter

I want to give it 6 stars.

Absolute legend 🔥

Listened to the first 20 minutes. Good vibes, I can tell lots of other music was inspired by it.

Incredible album. A full range from beautiful, deep melodies to fast, complex instrumentals. I believe Stevie Wonder truly may have created The Key of Life with this album.

I came into this knowing who Stevie Wonder was of course. I knew the big hits. I was also pretty intimidated by the nearly 2 hours of run time this monster carried. Wow was I wrong to feel that way. After listening to the album I feel like I have a deeper understanding of him as a person and music in the general sense as a whole. It's at the point that I'm making songs fight over each other for a space on my main playlist. I don't want to add 75% album even though it deserves it. Stevie Wonder volleys ballads, creative song ideas and lyrics back and forth with total foot tappers, the grooves that get you moving around, that WILL brighten your mood. I had a wonderful time listening to this and I will recommend this album to everyone who claims to be a music lover. A true work of art. Being transported back in time to listen to this album released only 3 years after my own father was born, I can STILL hear the inspiration in modern music. Absolutely stunning. (My listening notes) Disk 1 1. Intro was pretty good. 2. Unexpected fire. Didn't expect those unique detuned sounds and rhythms. 3. Stevie wonder, I was unfamiliar with your game. A moving piece for having only strings accompany his vocals. 4. Japanese rock vibes. Before that was established? Mr. Wonder may be a pioneer. 5. Try to listen and NOT tap your foot. Fun to hear a classic in here. Also this is when Stevie brings back his insane deep voice thing that's growing on me. Thought it was silly in the intro but now... I'm in. 6. Alright I'm convinced the accusations are in fact true. Stevie Wonder is a musical genius. Man lost his sight and gained the soul sense. 7. Thought this would be a ballad but the turn it took was nice and groovy. 8. Gangsters paradise?!?!?! I had no idea this was the sample. They just straight ripped the entire song. Special shout out to the gong. 9. Good song. Wouldn't bump this one but I enjoyed the listen. 10. That break down was incredible. My new best friend Stevie put 2 songs in one. If this ended here I would give it a 5/5. I'm hoping Disk 2 is just as strong. Disk 2 1. STRONG OPEN! Wowzers. Absolute bop. Imagine having to switch out the vinyl and this shit starts playing as you sit back down on the couch. 2. A little slow. Cant complain. Enjoying the vocal range. 3. Some political music to get the juices flowing. Easy to groove to. I'm not sure how I feel about having a history lesson shouted at me but I think its a good message none the less. 4. Didn't really expect this one. Totally different and still coherent with the accompanying songs. 5. Transition from track 4 on this disk was fantastic. Stevie does another slow song well. A very creative style. 6. Nothing this man makes is filler. I can definitely tell this disk is where he put his jammy jam songs on. We got a whole verse in the deep voice! Go off deep voice. 7. Immediately started dancing while making dinner. Absolute legend. Those horns are awesome. A total jam sesh. 8. Love this one too. This may have cemented this album as a 5 if it wasn't already. 9. (SAXAPHONE RIGHT HERE) Total banger. 10. He can't keep getting away with it. How does he keep getting away with it!? This was made in 1976... HOW is it so good? That is such a catchy chorus. 11. A slow almost childish end to an excellent ride.

Magic, amazing, no words needed, I love all of it. No skips 5/5

that´s one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard, love it TODAY'S BIRD: Golden Pheasant

A total MASTERPIECE.

*1976. Double album. *What a great Sunday morning album. Some big hits here (Sir Duke, Pastime Paradise and Isn't She Lovely), as well as plenty melodic, happy, lovely songs. *I thought 1 hr, 45 mins was going to be excessive, but I listened to the whole thing while working. RATING - 8/10

feel like there were no bad songs on this - great vibes all round

i've heard a few cuts off this album, but never heard the full album. the length makes me a bit nervous but i don't think i'll be disappointed. it's Stevie Wonder, after all Love's in Need of Love Today - 5/5 Have a Talk With God - 5/5 Village Ghetto Land - 3/5 Contusion - 5/5 Sir Duke - 5/5 I Wish - 5/5 Knocks Me Off My Feet - 5/5 Pastime Paradise - 5/5 Summer Soft - 5/5 Ordinary Pain - 4/5 Isn't She Lovely - 5/5 Joy Inside My Tears - 4/5 Black Man - 5/5 Ngiculela - Es una historia - I Am Singing - 4/5 If It's Magic - 3/5 As - 4/5 Another Star - 5/5 Saturn - 4/5 Ebony Eyes - 4/5 All Day Sucker - 5/5 Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call) - 3/5 Average score: 4.4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay, Here we go. This album is not a 5/5. It's bigger, a 10/10. A miracle of a piece of art. Stunning from start to finish, virtuous, lush, ambitious but so fucking engaging. Arguably, not only one of the best ever made- it can be considered for the top spot.

I don't know what I could possibly say about this album that hasn't already been said. It's easily Stevie Wonder's magnum opus, with nearly every song being a classic. There are clever stylistic shifts and genre changes throughout, but Stevie always keeps the funk grooving as the album keeps going. This is the kind of record that makes you glad that music as an art form exists.

Kontexten må ha nämnts otaliga gånger men tål att upprepas. På sin 21-årsdag skulle Stevie enligt kontraktet få fullständig konstnärlig frihet. Det han levererat fram till dess är naturligtvis fantastiskt i sig. Motownsoul när den är som allra bäst. Men det som skulle komma nu var något annat. Det börjar redan med 1971 års Where I’m coming from (får man inte gåshud av I never dreamed you’ll leave in summer, bör man omedelbart uppsöka läkare) och når sitt crescendo i Songs in the key of life. Det är nästintill omöjligt att inbördes ranka de sex album han släpper här. Alla är av yppersta klass. Beträffande Keys kan förstås den ständigt återkommande invändningen, ”hade han sållat bland låtarna till ett enkelalbum, då jävlar” höras till och från. Brukar själv hamna i de tankarna rörande många dubbelalbum. Men så inte här. Varje låt behövs. De funkiga, de jazziga och de soulmässande. Jag älskar groovet i Black man, hur han bygger och bygger i As och bönen om en värld där vi tar hand om varandra i ”Love’s in need of love today” (Egentligen är det otroligt att ett så i grunden platt uttryck kan låta så självklart när Stevie tar ton). Gång på gång, albumet igenom ser Stevie till att ”Knocks me of my feet”. Betyget då? Ja, det är väl en ickefråga.

Pretty astounding.

I guess I am not familiar with Stevie Wonder. I was born a little too late or I'm from the wrong demographic. I've never really listened to him, except on here. This was a surprise. I know that it is universally beloved, but now I know why. the songs are interesting. They're fun but not fluff. I don't love long albums and was worried when I saw the playtime, but then I found myself listening to it all over again. Easy 5.

I think one time I listened to "Sir Duke" on repeat over 50 times in one day (I was a child)

top 10 of all time

Ridiculous amount of massive hits, easy 5

FANTASTIC

It's a great album, and I really enjoyed it. Each song is a perfect combination of Steve's vocals and the musical elements of the song. Each song is like a separate world. Before listening to the album, I thought that "Gangsta's Paradise" was an original song.

Really great! 5/5

Really nice. Sir Duke and I Wish are classics. 4.5/5

This is so good. Not just is Stevie one of the best singers of all time but the music is also fantastic. So many talented people worked on these kind of albums back in the day.

A coherent masterpiece of soul and musicianship

So many recognisable tunes that were sampled by others. I love his voice and lots of catchy songs

For all intents and purposes, this is a perfect album, specially if you dispense with the extra tracks that almost work as a "deluxe version". If you concentrate and stick with the album from start to end it will take you so many places musically and spiritually that you had no idea an album could take you. As has always been one of my favorite songs of all time across all genres. Isn't she lovely, Sir Duke and I Wish are classic unskipable radio tunes. Everybody recognizes Pastime Paradise for the Coolio song. Knocks me off my feet, Talk with God and Ordinary Pain are incredible deep cuts, love hearing Minnie Riperton on that last one. The begining track is not as strong as the finishing one, but that last one is so bombasticly funky and danceble, it makes up for any weakness the album could've had. Few albums in history reach the heights this one takes you.

Almost perfect

This breaks every rule I have for music I like and somehow it's perfect. Have I been wrong this entire time? (no. let's not get carried away here. my opinions are still good and correct) songs about how cool music is are almost always bad but Sir Duke is flawless Isn't She Lovely is a plague sent to ruin singing contests and karaoke nights but here on the album it's delightful double albums are usually a sign the artist can't self-edit but I wouldn't skip a single track I don't do religious songs but I'm willing to overlook it here just so good. also how is this someone's eighteenth album, how are you still creating good music after seventeen other albums

I've been jamming with this massive album for almost two hours, I'm completely blown away by Stevie Wonder's genius. It's this huge, ambitious thing that feels like the key to understanding life, mixing funk, soul, and jazz perfectly. Releasing 21 tracks this good as your 18th album? Crazy! I was really impressed by how musical it all is. from "Sir Duke" to "Village Ghetto Land", every song counts and tells this cool story about love and and life. You can feel the impact of this record everywhere, it's wild how many modern songs are based on it. Hearing "Pastime Paradise" or "I Wish" makes it obvious why so many rappers and R&B artists sample it. Yeah, it's long, but it doesn't feel boring, it just feels like he had so much to say. From "Isn't She Lovely" to "As", this album is super important and still inspires me. Five stars, no doubt, it totally lives up to its reputation.

One of the best albums ever made... Simple. I was going to make a "Stevie, if you're reading this..." jokes, but figured that was extremely poor taste.

I had no idea that Gangster’s Paradise was practically a cover of a Stevie Wonder song! Faves include As, Sir Duke, I Wish, and Black Man. I can’t include Isn’t She Lovely bc the baby crying creeps me out 🤷🏻‍♀️

ok that was a w album, i had my doubts in the first few songs but they disappeared quickly

There’s part of me wants to give it four on account of being far too long, but the sheer scope of it is the point. Banger after banger, there’s so much wonderful music.

It really does deserve all the five-star praise. It's the masterwork of a generational talent who spent a decade and a half building to this. It's still so, so enjoyable to listen to.

1ere écoute : Franchement c'est un album vraiment incroyable, et c'est à mon sens impossible de ne pas être marqué. Il y a forcément au moins un son qu'on retient et qui sait vraiment nous faire rentrer dans le projet. Personnellement j'ai préféré toute la première partie avec "Love's in need Of love today", "Pastime Paradise", "Village Ghetto land" et "Sir Duke". C'est une partie très dansante et maitrisée avec une quantité incroyable de hits et des moments très spéciaux et dépaysants comme avec le jeu, presque aux sonorités classiques de "Village Ghetto Land" ou le coté "arabe" de "Pastime paradise". En bref il y a énormément de sonorités et c'est vraiment ce que je préfère dans l'album. Après voilà ça veut dire que la suite, ou du moins le début du disque 2 m'as moins marqué. Mis à part "Black man", il y a vraiment presque aucun titre qui a retenu mon attention et As que j'attendais comme un des meilleurs sons a en fait été une énorme déception voir le pire titre de l'album selon moi. Après, j'ai vraiment trouvé la fin très réussie avec la longue balade de "Another Star", puis la partie piano plus émotionnelle et grandiose sur "Saturne", et enfin un rappel au côté dansant du début avec "Ebony Eyes" puis on cloture l'album sur un morceaux simple à l'harmonica, nan franchement c'est un très très bon album, je pense qu'on ne peut rien mettre d'autre que 5. 2ème écoute : Franchement, c'est un des meilleurs albums que j'ai écouté de toute ma vie. En effet je trouve que l'entièreté de la tracklist est excellente, en réussissant selon moi à marquer d'énormes temps forts en nous faisant passer par la joie avec "Sir Duke", "Isn't She Lovely" ou "Ebony Eye" , mais aussi la mélancolie avec "Love's In Need of Love today" et "Another Star", ou encore la colère dénonciatrice avec "Pastime Paradise". Le projet nous transporte donc en tant qu'auditeur, et montre une diversité incroyable de sonorités dans les instruments, que ce soit avec les solos de guitares, le piano, l'harmonica, les trompettes, les bass lines funky... Il y a alors une atmosphère extrêmement riche, qui sait néanmoins garder un fil conducteur clé : "la musique, dans la tonalité de la vie". Car oui, tout l'album est une ode à la vie, qui le rappelle dans tous les sentiments qu'il fait passer, dans les sujets de sociétés, les différentes "conditions de vie" qu'il souligne, les cris de bébés de "Isn't She Lovely"... Tout suit le déroulement de la vie, de la naissance, au bonheur, à l'amour, à la mort. J'ai encore beaucoup de choses à dire sur Song In The Key Of Life, mais je pense que le mieux à faire, c'est de s'arrêter ici, et de lui donner un 5 étoiles.

4 of the best songs ever produced.

This tangent doesn't go anywhere: When I was eighteen, fresh-faced and lily-livered to the harsh ways of the world, my family went on a week-long Pacific cruise as one last dynastic hurrah before we were all blown to the corners of the state by the winds of life. I was young, dumb and broke, and so while everybody else was getting day-drunk and sunburned me and my younger brother spent most of our time at sea sitting in our cabin-room watching repeating reruns of old Nickelodean shows on the little CRT. To pass the time and find some reason to get outdoors that wasn't the buffet, I signed up for the Cruise Passenger Pop-Choir. It wasn't totally out of my wheelhouse - I'd been an accidental theatre kid in high school - but I must have been the only one there below the age of 60. I remember amongst the half-dozen of us I was the only tenor. The cavalry old ladies, all named after flowers in that archaic way that passed over the following generations, loved to dote over me and show me photos of their "gorgeous (sometimes great-)grandaughters". The conductor, who looked a dead-ringer for a stubble-faced Elijah Wood, brought us through a few pop staples that would no doubt be familiar with his pedestrian-pop octogenarian audience of Falstaffian singers, one of which was Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely". My musical palate, which up until this point had mostly been sated by ripped 90s alt-rock CDs and pirated electronic music, would be forever altered. I held a soft spot in my heart for Stevie Wonder from that day forwards, finding a warmth in his unrepentant expression of sweet masculinity and groovy soul. But that memory fled to the viscitudes of life. Years later, the first song my first bass guitar teacher taught me was Master Blaster, and he recommended I go back through Stevie Wonder's discography to get a "feel for the funk", starting with Songs In The Key of Life. I don't think I've ever been as instantly enamoured with an album since. It brings me back to simpler times; trying to impress long-distance proto-girlfriends, my heart a-thump with feelings that I would only understand in reverse. This record is an album that lives so totally in its own present time, a blissful melody of past and future so alike that neither can be distinguished from the other, and that richness serves it well for the length. As Kirkegaard says: "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards." All that to say that when people talk of SitKoL with the same hushed tones reserved for revered figures of religion, it deserves the accolates. It's pure groove, pure cool-cat, pure and unadulterated Quality that very few could ever hope to touch. Over one and a half hours of hip-shaking gold. Fifty years later it's the default album I put on when I have guests over and can't think of what else to spin up. Stevie Wonder is so goddamn *cool* in every syllable, in every note, in every one of those fasinating little grunt noises that he seems to make a lot. It's the kind of easy 5-star rating that makes the other 5-stars quiver in their boots. The only things I could really draw upon this album would be the length. I don't really mind it, and I find these sorts of complaints a little overdone (like a big cake, you can always put the leftovers in the fridge for later), but within the context of an hour a day I suppose it'll get on people's nerves. More than anything I think it's a testament to its production that it can even maintain an even and impressive keel of quality over such a protracted length. Fav tracks: Sir Duke, Contusion, Pastime Paradise, Isn't She Lovely, I Wish, Another Star

literally a purely amazing album. Stevie wonder single handedly proves that missing one sense heightens your others cause wow this is good. I really don’t know what to add because this album is that good. One of the only ones on here so far that I’m glad is almost 2 hours long. Fav songs: loves in need of love today, sir duke, joy inside my tears, as

fav - isn't she lovely 95/100

If I had to choose what's objectively the best album of all time, this would be a strong contender. Not only is it totally perfect but also maintains its consistency for over 100 minutes. Whether he is doing lovely, smooth and warm ballads like on Love's In Need of Love Today, funky prayer anthems like on Have a Talk With God or just total r&b rockers like on As, he totally kills it. Pretty much every song here takes a different direction and they are all performed with so much passion and produced with so much detail that they are impossible to dislike. Contusion for example is an amazing jazz song that feels so lively and vivid. Sir Duke is one of the best songs about music ever, it's just so fun and life affirming. From there on the streak of banger after banger continues with the instantly recognizable Pastime Paradise and warm and groovy Summer Soft. Instrumentally this album is absolutely fantastic with so many details and layers, each listen uncovers something new. And the whole thing has just this incredible energy that cannot be found anywhere else. Definitely one of my fav albums ever.

Already listened to this one a few times before because it’s fantastic but I guess I wasn’t listening to the deluxe or something because I found some new ones. Contusion sounds like a Mario kart track and I’m glad I discovered it. Would absolutely listen to all of this again.

9/10

God damn this is great

Possibly the greatest album of all time. Enough said.

What a spectacular album. I offer no notes. I think this is a no-brainer.

Legendary artist, legendary album. I was fortunate to see the anniversary tour of this show in Montreal 10 years ago.

Demasiado bueno, me gustó.

Lovely, Passtime Paradise is an absolute masterpiece, 10/10

Genius. Perfection. Brilliance.

This is what pop music should be.

Fantastic album, fantastic vocals, fantastic composition, everything sounds groovy, it the kind of album you let your kids listen to and they think it's magic Favorite Track: Joy Inside My Tears

Never listened to a Stevie wonder album. Not too shabby.

Absolutely solid gold. From front to back. Glorious. Could listen to it over and over.

Banger after banger after banger...

Very good album, but long

Songs in the Key of Life feels like home; it is warm, expansive, and impossibly generous.

If there was an option for 6 stars, this album would get it. An absolutely fantastic album, and once you've listened to it, you'll start hearing it in other places because it has (and deserves) that much influence.

Oh my gosh. I cried so many times listening to this album. So many of these songs I hear growing up but didn't realize they were all from the same album. I also had only ever heard them in passing or in movies so I never really appreciated it the way I did this too. This is absolutely beautiful. They way that the music is layed with each instrument and the vocals are incredible. While listening I had the thought of "i'm so sad I will never be able to make anything as good as this." And then by the end I was just grateful to be listening to it. I thought a lof my family while listening. How many of the good moments are behind us. Of how unsure I am how many good moments are left. And how happy I am to just be a note in the symphony of life. Thank you Stevie.

Unbelievable classic

Such a good one full of bangers

First time listening. Fantastic, start to finish. I can see why this is often ranked as one of the top albums of all time, well deserved. I will be for sure revisiting this one regularly.

Favorite track(s): Love's in Need of Love Today, Contusion, Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise, Summer Soft, Isn't She Lovely, Black Man, As, All Day Sucker They're calling it the least bloated double album of all time. How did he do it? Heard before Previous rating: 9/10

This is a long one and it's nothing but hits, this is the kind of album this post was made for. Creative and catchy, I was enraptured, with a ton of stuff others have sampled. You know what, I'm gonna listen to it again now. An easy 5 stars.

This is one of my favorite "background music" albums.

People seem to write extremely long reviews about how great this album is, so I feel a little pressured to like it too. It is good, but as a double album it felt like work. I would feel mean giving it less than 5 stars.

Magic

Greatness isn’t perfection — it’s transcendence

High Bop Ratio (Bops per minute aka Bpm) and tons of variety. I was tapping my toes the entire time. Clearly the pop industry was copying his music for the next 20 years. Legend.

I have no words for Stevie Wonder. Every time I play one of his songs it hits me all over again. The depth, the soul, the feeling, the sheer musical power this man carries is unreal. He isn’t a national treasure. He’s a treasure to humanity. When he goes, a piece of the world’s soul is going with him. I’m not breaking down any of these tracks. They don’t need it. It’s perfection. Straight 10 out of 10.

Every so often, I generate an album from this project where my opinion is practically irrelevant because the album's place in history has already been cemented by decades of non-stop high praise. Songs in the Key of Life is undoubtedly one of those albums. Of course, Stevie Wonder is one of the most iconic musicians of the past 60 years and Songs in the Key of Life is widely regarded to be his greatest masterpiece. Now, this is my fourth and final album of his that I've listened to for the album project, so I can finally make a statement on whether I agree with that sentiment or not! I do. Yeah, the people were right. This may genuinely be one of the greatest albums ever made. I want to start my praise with one of the most impressive aspects of the album. You see, Songs in the Key of Life is a double album. That's nothing new. Many of the greatest artists and bands have legendary double albums. Even in 2026 alone, I've already reviewed both Exile on Main St. and Blonde on Blonde, so I'm well-versed in iconic double albums. But here's the thing. Songs in the Key of Life isn't just a double album. It's that plus a bonus EP at the end, which leads to this thing having 21 songs and a runtime of over 100 minutes. That's a lot of time for an album, and I know from experience that the vast majority of 90+ minutes albums have weak songs and moments. Even an album as highly praised as the Beatles White Album has multiple songs you can point to and call bad without getting much pushback. But this album? There is not a single wasted second on this thing. Every single song is great, and for a record of this length and scope, that is seriously impressive. You'd have to be one of the greatest musicians to ever live to pull off an album like this, and it just so happens that Stevie Wonder is that guy. I genuinely believe that Stevie Wonder is one of the most talented musicians currently alive, if not the most talented, and this album is proof of that. The musical talents are on point, which is impressive considering that the man responsible for these songs literally can't see anything. But of course, Stevie's blindness is merely a physical one, as albums like this have made it abundantly clear that his musical vision is as sharp as it can be. And his singing? Just wonderful. I love it. But these are things I've already talked about. I need to talk about 1/6th of the album's title, that being the songs that make the album so great. I won't talk about every song because that would be insane, but I'll bring up some of the highlights. "Love's In Need of Love Today" works perfectly as the opener. It sets up the themes of love and life that permeate through the entire album in a song that you can't help but enjoy. "Sir Duke" is genuinely a perfect song. It's hard for me to think of a single song that's as uplifting and happy yet musically rich as this. Combine that with the name drops from some of the greatest jazz artists of the past and you get what is quite possibly the best representation of the magic of music you can get. "I Wish" is super cool. This is one of those story songs that really adds depth to the album's themes. The focus on childhood for this one helps to capture all parts of one of the other 1/6ths of the album's title, life. Another song about childhood on the album is the classic "Isn't She Lovely" which is, rather fittingly, a lovely song. It's a very nice tribute to Stevie's daughter. That knowledge makes me happy. "As" is one of the longer songs on the album and I really love it. That's another one of the neat things on this album. There are 7 songs here that are over 6 minutes in length, and none of them go on for too long. "As" might just be the best of them. Stevie's vocal delivery is the star on this one. The way he changes his delivery as the song goes on is a nice touch. I think "Another Star" is one of the clearest moments of this album being better than Stevie's other masterpiece, Innervisions. That album had a song called "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" which had a Latin flair to it that was neat, but I think that could've been executed just a smidge better. "Another Star" is that. I think the horns are what really makes this song work for me. I could go on and on. I could talk about the more political songs like "Black Man." I could talk about "Pastime Paradise" and how a ton of people probably had no idea that Coolio interpolated a Stevie Wonder song for "Gangsta's Paradise." When the weakest song on an album of this length is the instrumental closer, that's how you know the album is great. There's something special about Songs in the Key of Life, and I think it's worth comparing it to other all-time classic albums to see what it is. Part of it is the length, but I think the biggest part of it is just how happy the album is. Most of the other contenders for "Greatest Album of All Time" aren't particularly happy. Even within the 1970s, I don't think I could call albums like The Dark Side of the Moon, Rumours, or Unknown Pleasures "happy albums." Do they have room for happy moments? Some of them, yes, but I wouldn't say that joy is the core of any of those albums. Songs in the Key of Life is different. This album spends its time reminding you that love and life are always there. Things like music and family are worth living for. The length of the album could be seen by some as a detriment, but I view it as something that was necessary for an album like this. It shows that, even over the course of what seems like forever, great things are sure to come. Between that and the sheer excellence of the music, I have no problem calling Songs in the Key of Life a masterpiece. It is an exciting showcase of some of the greatest musical talent of our lifetimes and, as if it hasn't done so already, it is sure to live on in the hearts and ears of many more to come over the decades of the future. But you already knew that. 5/5.

Caramba, que álbum PERFEITO. Não teve uma faixa que eu não tenha gostado, mas “Have a Talk With God” e “Black Man” chamaram minha atenção demaisss. Estou feliz de ter conhecido esse álbum, fiquei muito impressionada ao saber que o Stevie Wonder sofre de cegueira, mas esse é um fator que só contribui para o seu talento aguçado com música. HOJE TIVE AULA DE CULTURA e HISTÓRIA. TODOS deveriam escutar Black Man.

My comment on The Smashing Pumpkins album was that it was far too long. But Stevie Wonder's album is almost as long and I don't give a damn. I knew from song 1 that this was going to get a 5+. Also, his 18th album, um, how come you still have inspiration? Village Ghetto Land could easily be turned into a musical, and I love it! Nothing to complain about!

Meine Güte, ist das fantastisch. Aus unerklärlichen Gründen habe ich das Album immer gemieden, weil ich dachte, dass das bestimmt nicht mein Genre ist. Zudem hatte die stattliche Länge des Releases stets etwas abschreckendes. Aber hey, es ist unfassbar gut, da sind nur starke Songs drauf. Es ist unfassbar gut produziert und soundtechnisch echt zeitlos, das könntest du locker auch heute so veröffentlichen, obwohl es ursprünglich 1976 (!) erschien. Ein sehr vielseitiger und gekonnter Stilmix, Vocals und Band sind absolut klasse. Bisher die mit Abstand stärkste Neuentdeckung dieser Reihe, toll!

Loved it!

most obvious 5/5 of all time

masterpiece. I would've never listen to it on my own so I'm really glad for this project. I knew Stevie because of higher ground but really nothing else. this album was so sooooo good. my fav songs: have a talk with god, I wish, knocks me off my feet, as, pastimeparadise

lovely lovely lovely just wanted i needed today

A masterful work by one of the best. Stevie Wonder brings such positive emotions through his music.

Don't even need to listen to it. An all-time classic!

Genuinely incredible

Love’s in need of today Have a talk with god Contusion (!) Sir duke (!) I wish (!!) Pastime paradise (!) Summer soft (!) Isn’t she lovely Joy inside my tears (!!) As (!!) Saturn Ebony eyes (!!!) All day sucker Топ, Стиви Уандер секс, фанк соул, много фишек которые потом будут видны у Майкла Джексона Хайп, модное звучание, крутой альбом 9/10, но есть пару нудных тем

I am not usually a fan of any song after five minutes, but even with these longer songs I was uplifted by this music.

Just so good. I found it hard to even get past the first song because I just want to keep listening. It’s gorgeously done and so interesting. I have listened to this album many times and it just never gets old.

Hard to do much better than this. A flawless record by someone at the peak of their powers. A commitment due to its length but one worth making.

Songs in the Key of Life, what can I say without being too biased? I used to hear this album on my way to my previous job, the instrumentals with headphones are so immersive. People usually talk a lot about his artistry as a singer and pianist, but this album is a solid reminder of his phenomenal skills as a songwriter. I remember I started listening because I loved Isn't She Lovely (an absolute classic), and ended up discovering an album where it's hard to pick a single favorite track. For highlights this time, I'd choose Village Ghetto Land (lyrically), I Wish, and Saturn.

Working through this list has given me a much better appreciation of Stevie Wonder. The man really was a creative genius, leaning into new tools and instruments to derive new sounds as he does with the synthesizer on this record. This lush beauty of an album displays Wonder’s genius in mixing different styles in a way that really taps into my emotional receptors. This album demonstrates great musicianship and also Wonder’s meticulous attention to detail in production. This album took two years to make, which was an eternity for albums at the time. This is a timeless record that has proven to be highly influential to much music that followed in its wake.

Super Dope

A true classic - what else can I say?

Spectacular album holy moly

One of the great albums- has so many classics like Sir Duke, Isn’t She Lovely, Pastime Paradise that are complemented by a great range of other songs that give a flavour of 1976 as a musical and historical moment. It’s *long* but well worth your time.

What can I say? This is quite simply one of the greatest albums ever made. It's astonishing that he could maintain such quality not only across a sprawling main double album, but also a bonus EP for good measure. The twenty-one tracks cover a whole range of styles and subjects, and in all cases the songs are some of the best he ever wrote. Its power to move me remains undiminished after countless listens. This is truly Stevie Wonder at the absolute pinnacle of his powers, and to think that he almost quit the music business prior to recording it!

I've found myself vibing with this album and being completely taken over by the music of it, only to stop and listen to the lyrics and be hit with a wave of sadness in those words. And other times I would forget about the music and be overwhelmed by a colorful picture Stevie Wonder is painting with his words instead. And in the end, I'd forget both and just become incredibly horny for him instead. I loved it.

Wundervolles Album.

Timeless

I'm not going to overthink this, it's probably a tad too long but there are some all time hits here that are Stevie Wonder at his absolute best. Earnestness is a really difficult tone to strike in great albums and he nails it here. Shoutout to the As and Another Star dance party at the end of this album too.

My god, Stevie might be the best to ever do it. This is a movie's worth of music and it's all perfect. So much soul searching, soul healing, soul magnifying music. Utter perfection.

Brilliant 5/5

Truly perfect album, dance tracks, love songs, justice songs. Unreal.

I’d already enjoyed a few songs, but I‘m kicking myself for not delving into the entire album earlier! This is some of the coolest stuff.

A truly amazing album. In my view the second greatest in history by a true revolutionary artist. Here Wonder sings about exactly what the title suggests. Every facet of life. Politics, religion, love, childhood, parenthood, and so much more. It’s a gorgeous album and will change your life

So many stellar songs on this album. Despite its length, it's never boring thanks to incredible musicianship and diversity of styles.

such talent.

I mean, this thing is just fucking perfect, right? I have a vinyl copy, but I streamed the remastered version this time around. It might be the most impeccably produced recording I've ever heard. It's almost 50 years old, but it feels like it could have been made in a modern studio, like, yesterday. The songs are great, the playing is great, the message is great, and it's just an absolute pleasure to hear. Six fucking stars out of five idgaf.

I had forgotten how great this album is!

Wonder

Epic in scale and scope, but unlike so many other ambitious albums of the era, the songs on here are what keep you coming back every time. In fact, most of the rest of this review is going to be song titles from the album: "Love's In Need of Love Today"! "Sir Duke"! "I Wish"! "Isn't She Lovely"! "As"! It's still Stevie's magnum opus in the popular imagination for good reason, showing him at his peak as performer, songwriter, and bandleader (seriously, check out the album credits, which are also fascinating) that even at its most serious is still just so full of joy and....well, life!

Long, but amazingly no skips. A classic for a reason.

Happy to groove with Stevie any day

This might be the longest album I got so far, so I have a lot of listening to do today. But gladly already familiar with this great work, already rated 4.5 on RYM so could go either way here, but I would be leaning towards 5.

Amazing from start to end. Great energy, even on the longer songs - it never felt like they dragged. Varied and lovely sounding instrumentals.

Classic Stevie! Magnificent Album

Generationally incredible album alert

ya so ... best album of all time status?

An absolute classic. Great music and awesome vocals.

One of the best albums of all time. Everyone should listen to it at least once.

Stevie. Don't really need to say much more. This is such an important album. Enjoyed every minute of it.