Songs In The Key Of Life

Me parecio muy alegre y medio religioso. No me gustaron todas las canciones, pero tiene varias que son :)

This is #day685 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… apparently, some records just need the right time of year. Like this one, which happened to pop up in the second half of June. It might just be the ultimate summertime record, or at least one of them, just like, perhaps, any Stevie Wonder album from his classic period. With a cone of raspberry ice cream in my hand, I'm digging into an hour and a half of mid-'70s jazz, funk, and soul. One of the first records to make extensive use of the synthesizer. Ain't it fun? While it's summer, I should probably revisit his other records I've already had. Looking back, I feel I rated them far too low. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day686.

Me gusto, me hizo pensar cosas bonitas

Oh no I think I'm alone on this one. I just don't get it. I can understand that much of this is virtuosic, it just doesn't do much for me.

I enjoy Stevie Wonder in moderation, I liked the variety across this production (would say double album but it felt much longer). Hits were tremendous, first time I heard ‘Pastime Paradise’ as the inspiration for Coolio and by extension Weird Al, ‘Sir Duke’ probably my favorite here as the kid-noises in ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ was a bit unnecessary. This was really great. For a while. But ended up being way too long and overstayed its welcome, and is hurt in the process. Overall 4/5

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.

Kept me from going insane during my shift today.

Heard Before? Many many times. Notes: - so the lyrics can get preachy and/or sentimental to the point of silliness, all delivered with an almost naive-sounding enthusiasm. but don't we all dream of a better world? - i had to skip "Isn't She Lovely" though. barf. - here is an encyclopedia of funky basslines, synth innovations, clever melodies, indestructible grooves, wise transitions, powerful bridges, etc, etc. wow. - some of my all time favorite production. those drums! i could easily listen to just the drum tracks. - for an absurdly long album (as a child i was in awe of the bonus seven inch), the sequencing is masterful, with each side working as a suite. - "Another Star" was probably my childhood introduction to the magic of an endless groove, and I'm still enthralled. - much like Mozart, Stevie Wonder is the kind of prodigy that inspires me while at the same time shows me that there is no point to me even trying. a supernatural talent. Verdict: Few of us ever make anything like a magnum opus, never mind an eighteenth album that encapsulates most of our ambitions. It's a cheesy monument that still holds up for me, even if i have to skip over the most overplayed moments. Listen Again? I'm not necessarily going to reach for it, but at the same time it feels wrong to commit to avoiding it.

I am a huge fan of Stevie Wonder and at the same time, this album was a bit too long. It should’ve been split into two different parts as opposed to just one long album. That’s the only thing I’m docking a point on.

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.

Well it’s SW so it’s quality and there are some great songs. Goes on a bit. Just a 4.

A masterpiece

A bit long, but enough bangers in there

Pastime Paradise

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.

A beautiful album with many songs that are now considered classics. Including the original - Pastime Paradise that has been sampled so many times. However, I believe that the album should have been a tad shorter, at least 5 songs less.

Clearly, this is a well-liked album, and I can recognise why. But staying true to how I rate albums here, this is not, for me personally, the masterpiece many have deemed it. For me, it's alright, albeit a little too long.

Super

명불허전... 첫곡부터 좋네유

"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.

Today I learned the titles of all the Stevie Wonder songs I already knew

Already had a couple of songs from this album but it was nice to listen to the whole thing. Overall pretty cool

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????

Life is like a box of chocolates

disk 1 was straight vibes. by disk 2 I was super tired of the album. And makes me not wanna return to listen again, and just listen to the tracks I liked the most. I like the funk, but its like soul funk and idk how to feel about it.

Great album by Stevie Wonder, a ton of signature classics, including Sir Duke, I Wish, Isn't She Lovely and As.

Bien.

this is the stevie wonder i would reach for. why are the other albums by him even on here.

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 reminded me of a man I use to know. Even more it reminded me of memories that in the moment where sad but now looking back they were beautiful and I was glad to have had them.

Too long but good

🐐

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

It is certainly one of the best albums of all time. That should go without saying on this album - you can literally hit shuffle and get a unique masterpiece out of any song on here. That being said, the way I should feel about this objectively versus how I do feel about it subjectively clash here, and because I took this project as an opportunity to document my subjective listening experience I have to say this didn't blow me away or expand my viewpoints as much as my 5's did, but thankfully it did for others here and this can remain near the top of this website even with my one point docked.

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

The first Stevie Wonder song I can remember hearing was 'I just called to say I live you', and as a preteen in the 80s it was sappy and dull. I had decided I didn't like Stevie Wonder. This relatively "early" album is so much better.

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.

Damn enjoyable journey through this album. Well I have heard several songs, I had never heard the entire thing. This definitely deserves its place on the list

Osad laulud ei kõlanud eriti meeldejäävalt, aga samas leidsin 'gansters paradise' meloodia originaali ja ka ühe laulu, mis minu jaoks täpselt parajalt iseennast kordas, sellise hea taustamuusika: 'Another Star´'. See album oli lõbusaks kontrastiks eelmisele Kendrick Lamar albumile, sest stili poolest olid nad väga erinevad, aga mis puutub sisusse oli seal palju sarnasusi. Mõlemad kasutasid klippe, mis sisaldasid igapäevahelisid ja jutuajamist ning tegelesid teemadega, mis kimbutasid Ameerikat siis ja kimbutavad ka praegu nagu nt rassiline diskrimineerimine.

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.

-Village Ghetto Land is darkly comedic mostly due to beautiful symphonic music while he's describing the most horrific place possible. Its stark contrast between wonderful & darkness that Wonder proves his point. -Today I learned that Stevie Wonder's real name is Stevland Hardaway Morris. It just never occurred to me to want to know his name. -I am under the weather today & it's lifting my spirits. So it's got that going for it. -Pastime Paradise is a better song than Gangstas Paradise. It makes me wonder what exactly an original song is when it comes to sampling. Pastime is about race relations & whatnot while just Gangstas just changed it out with thug lifestyle. I guess it doesn't matter as long as Stevie gets credit. -I like how not all the songs sound the same. I like the more funky songs than the slower more easy listening tracks. The album is a bit long but I still enjoy it. -Stevie can write a sickly sweet, yet great, about his baby while giving you songs about race relations, poverty, etc. strong songwriter.

This is an absolute classic album and has a number of different sounds contained within it. There are some huge hits and few songs that have gone on to have lives of their own after being sampled by artists later. I think that it is hard to overestimate the impact that this album has had in direct and indirect influence of other artists. At its core it is a funk album that can has a serious message like "Black Man". But it can also have more playful and light hearted side like in "Isnt She Lovely". I enjoyed this album but my only criticism is that some of the songs can feel a little bit self indulgent and repetitive. But when you are a musical legend, I suppose you have the scope to be a little self indulgent. (4.000)

So, my process so far has been to listen to the album and read the Wiki article for context but try to avoid paying attention to critiques. This is one album that I may be influenced. I like the sound of this album. I like most of the songs on this but I do find my attention wandering. Without the Wiki article, I may have gone a little as three but after it feels like a four or maybe a five. I must admit that I don't like 80s Stevie Wonder and there are a couple of songs here that have that flair. There is an unevenness, in terms of what is presented here. It does feel like a personal and political album from a person's life. There are plenty of songs that reflect his life at the time. Having his kid on one song can seem indulgent in one way but also very personal and just doing where he is at. There are a couple of songs that I love and some that if I relistened might become skips. Given that it is an almost two hour album, I don't have the time to go over it again and again which would probably iron out my misconceptions and uneasiness with where I am sitting right now. Have a talk with God - Why have I never heard this before. Such an odd thing to hear something like this fifty years. I have heard a lot of electronica but this sounds different. There are some choices on the rest of the album that are interesting ones. I guess I'll give it a four.

Another Stevie Wonder masterpiece

Me gustó mucho, lindos sonidos, no me gustó que sea muy largo. MEJOR TEMA ISN’t SHE LOVELY

I really really enjoyed this. I want to go 5*, but I don't think I can quite get there. Maybe the length is what's in the way? Or maybe I'd just need another listen or two to get there.

Great singer for sure. I've never heard the (double!) album, just the singles. Nothing new for me here but appreciate the artistry.

This is a kaleidoscope of groove and good energy. No wonder it's #20 overall.

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

heard much better on this list, still exceptional

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.

Not a huge fan of side one until Sir Duke - pops off from there.

Classic but didn’t hit how i’ve been told it would

Definitely enjoyed some songs more than others. Would probably say it’s more of a 2.5

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!!!!!

het duurt wel lang... maar hier staat weinig slechts op...

Pastime Paradise caught me off guard. So did "I wish". I haven't heard it since the last time I watched Happy Feet, which was a very long time ago. So, points for that. Also, Stevie Wonder is still alive? Weird how I thought he was a lot older than he actually is. The album as a whole, though... not entirely it for me.

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)"

Not something I'd normally listen to, but it holds up well.

REVISIT

Álbum legal com bastante Groove, funk, Soul, jazz... Vocais bem legais e pianos em destaque. QoA Adonis New.

8 - GOOD

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.

Funky, groovy music. Intelligent and interesting with Stevie's wonderful voice. Very talented but the album felt very long and some of his songs went on for an age. Pastime paradise blew my mind though. 4/5

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

Beautiful album stacked with great tracks. Might be blasphemous to say, but honestly it’s longer than it needs to be. 4/5

There's not a bad song on this double album but the quality does dip in places, especially in the last 30 minutes. Trim the fat and this record is a 5. It's very good overall as is, but a little long.

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

Obviously a classic but I'm not sure I was enjoying it much in the moment. As is still a banger though

Stevie Wonder!

Turns out Stevie Wonder is good at music.

Some great songs on here, but the sheer number of songs also means that there are a fair few weak tracks. A few of them are twice as long as they are need to be as well. Nice enough.

Ekaa kertaa tän levyn kuuntelin alusta loppuun ja kyllähän tää toimittelee

Kovasti on ylistetty tämä lätty, ja kyllähän se ihan iloisesti raikaa. Ei haitannut pituuskaan, kun ihan mielellään kuunteli.

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

Tässähän oli ihan tuttuja biisejä, vaikka nimet ei sanoneet mitään. Tänään opin myös että Gangsta's Paradise onkin Stevie Wonderin eikä Coolion biisi! Ajattelin ensin että ei kyllä jaksa tämmöstä kamaa, mutta kostautuikin ihan hyväksi levyksi! Vahva kolme ja puoli tähteä, pyöristetään positiivisen yllärin johdosta nelkkuun!

joyous fun! i love sir duke

I genuinely believe Stevie Wonder is the most overrated artist of this century.

One of the greats - best Stevie Album

I get it, Stevie Wonder is a wonderful composer and musician, some songs on this record did stir my interest, but most were just not my cup of tea.

There seems to be a lot of love for this album I was pretty sceptical, but now I've finally listened to it, I do get why Quite a surprise!

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.

Songs in the Key of Life is the greatest album ever written and of all time. Everything about this album is just perfect. Before going into today's listen I already had in my mind that this is my favorite album and seeing it today made me so excited to spend the day listening to it. This is Stevie Wonder’s 18th album which is insane. You don't see a lot of artists making 18 plus albums with the 18th being as good as this one is. I would argue that every song on this album is amazing and there is no track that is bad. Yes, some are better than others but no song on this album is bad. They are all perfect and amazing. Love’s In Need of Love Today is a perfect opening. Stevie sings about love itself needing love and support in a world full of destruction. It sets the perfect tone for the whole album. Having a Talk with God shows the importance of faith and trust in God, he sings about when we are alone we always have God with us even when we feel very alone and isolated. Village Ghetto Land gives us a glance at life in poverty making the listener really feel like they are in that situation. I think of this song as more of an interlude but man is it groovy the guitar licks on this thing are nasty. Sir Duke I remember this song from when I was younger my dad showed me this song and I instantly loved it. This song pays tribute to all the artists that influenced him and he sings about the joy that music brings to us. I Wish is another incredible song talking about Wonder’s childhood saying he wishes he could go back to those days. Knocks Me Off My Feet is such a great love song there's this one key change later in the song that just sounds heavenly. Pastime Paradise is probably the weakest track for me on this album not that it's bad but if I had to pick one to be it would be this one but I love the strings on this one. Summer Soft is such a beautiful song that really hits deep when you think about it. It's about changing seasons like summer but we can relate this to seasons in our life that we don't want to move away from but there's always another one coming up. Ordinary Pain is a great way to end the first half of the album. The second half of this song is insane and for some reason I always forget about that part. Isn't She Lovely is just beautiful Wonder sings about his daughter and it just shows the beautiful relationship. I swear I could listen to that harmonica solo forever. It is just heavenly. Joy Inside My Tears is a song that sounds sad but I feel like it has a lot of hope in it and it's just a banger. Black Man celebrates diversity. It's a long song but sure it's a banger . I always forget how much I love this song. Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing I love whatever language he is singing in. It sounds amazing and brings something different to the album. If It's Magic to me is the most underrated song, the harp is so beautiful and honestly this has some competition to be my favorite song on the album, and of course the harmonica is outstanding. As, I mean come on , who doesn't like this song? It's just perfect. Another Star leaves us with a banger of hope. Saturn, I mean this song is literally perfect how could someone not like this song, I love the synth on it. Ebony Eyes, this is just a fun song. I love it. All Day Sucker, such a funky banger, the bass thing is so cool on this song, also this guitar on this track is insane. Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call) and of course we have to close with some amazing harmonica. I gotta give this album a 10 out of 5 stars. I mean it's perfect in every way. The lyrics, music and production make it timeless and the perfect album that I could listen to forever. If you put this album anywhere less than 5 stars you just have horrible music taste. I'm sorry, but it's okay, not everyone is into things that are amazing.

A few years ago there was a video going around the web that caught my attention. It was a young girl perhaps 8-9 years old playing the bass along with Sir Duke. This is an impressive feat for any bassist let alone a young kid. At one moment she is so caught up in the moment of what she is accomplishing that she starts giggling and is visibly overcome with joy. It is a perfect representation of what music is and how it can impact us to our very core. It's no surprise that this happens with the song Sir Duke from Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. That video beautifully encapsulates experiencing the music on this album. Musicians use keys to explain the tonal center or scales that make up a piece of music -- Sir Duke for example is in B major meaning that B is the home note, and ideas are generated from a bright upbeat sounding set of notes built from that home note. Wonder's title of this album says that these songs are in the key of life, which I take as music is life and life is music. In other words music is a fundamental component of the human experience. This is the theme that Wonder explores throughout this album which I believe makes it universally relatable. And he does this with masterfully created and performed music. The emotional reaction that the girl in the video has while experiencing this music in says more than I possibly can with words. Brilliant album from start to finish.

It doesn’t feel as if an album like this one can actually exist. For something to be so bold, impactful, accessible, and universally loved is a feat few pieces of art in any form manage to reach. I could speak at length about it without saying anything that hasn’t already been said before. It is a joy discovering new music with this project, but seeing an album pop up every once in awhile that you’ve known and loved for years and are reminded that you can just start listening to it whenever you please is another type of joy in itself. One of my favorite records of all-time, it didn’t take too long after Talking Book to reach this one. This is Stevie’s magnum opus. A huge double-album that never drags or hits a bump, it’s filled with glorious compositions that range from upbeat, funky classics (Sir Duke, I Wish, As), wonderful, slower, emotional moments (Love’s In Need Of Love Today, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Joy Inside My Tears), potent, poetic lyrical professions (Village Ghetto Land, Black Man), and so much more. I’d likely be able to pick out twelve tracks or more that I’d put over my favorite track from most of what we’ve heard so far, and I say that only as a credit to this. It doesn’t require any explanation, just a listen, and the reasons it’s considered such a classic just hit you like tsunami waves. A masterclass in writing and musicianship, this project has little in the way of competition in it’s stratosphere. It may have none. 1 re-listen Favorite Tracks: As, I Wish, Isn’t She Lovely, Summer Soft, Love’s In Need Of Love Today, Another Star, Sir Duke

Expectation: -> Interesting that this album was released on the day I was born. A couple months ago gave Talking Book a 4. This is an hour and 44 minutes long and it seems he's got a huge career catalog. Time to settle in and get to it. After listening: -> How am I just learning that Coolio sampled from Pastime Paradise? I'll never be the same. I was surprised with how much I liked Talking Book. I am surprised at how much I like this. It is safe to say that I will probably both like and be surprised that I like any other SW albums I encounter in the future. I should probably consider myself a fan at this point. This album is full of energy with a mix of varied instruments and styles amongst the tracks. Most of this is quite pleasant to the ears, melodic and joyful. 4 stars. Track ranking: Lovely Paradise Duke Love Love Magic Feet Wish Saturn Summer Ghetto Sucker Singing Ebony As Star Ordinary Joy God Black Contusion Easy

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.

Double albums often suffer from the curse of being overlong with not enough to fill them, and this is no exception. Apart from the two most famous tracks ('Sir Duke' and 'Isn't She Lovely'), a lot of this album felt like overindulgence that wasn't backed up by solid execution. I thought about bumping this up to a 3, but I just don't think that 2 songs in 105 minutes of music justifies a higher rating.

A very jazzy modern collection of songs. Lengthy and substantial and full of surprises

Kinda decent like 6.5/10

One of those albums that you start to listen to and you know a load of the songs already. And they're all classics. But, but... it suffers from the the problem most double albums have: it's bloody long, with some several tracks. Take out the filler, leave the killer and you've got one of the greatest albums of all time. Still good though!

Didn't hit as much as I thought. Superstition still slaps.

Сара 3,5 Марко 1,5

*all-time.

3.6 2x hard to not claim this as an all time great. just long

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.

some absolute bangers in there but ultimately way too long

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

Beautiful album. Banger after banger fr It’s only drawback is the length - far too long I’m sorry Stevie

It's not My stile but agrege un par a mi playlist

There's definitely some gems in here, and he has a beautiful voice and lots if talent. There were plenty of songs that just didn't grab me tho. Overall I liked it, felt long, wouldn't run to listen to the whole album. But added a few to my dance mix!

1.

R&B/funk. Pretty good, but a little drawn out for my liking.

Hes so smooth, and writes fantastic songs.

One of the best albums of all time.

I own it on vinyl that’s my review.

This is the one everyone goes gaga for, and while it has some all-timer songs…it’s also a double album. Which means the quality varies. An aspect inherent to the form. I still prefer Innervisions and Fulfillingness’ First Finale, but this is a good album too.

Helt ok.

little bit too long 7/10 Will I add this album to my library: no

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.

Hadn’t listened to before. Lots of hits/samples. Enjoyed listening to it.

Notable Textzeile: I'm going back to Saturn where the rings all glow Rainbow moonbeams and orange snow On Saturn People live to be two hundred and five Going back to Saturn where the people smile Sehr schön so viele Ursprünge zu hören und wie er sich selbst in Sachen einschreibt, mit „Saturn“ zum Beispiel in Richtung Afrofuturismus. Das ist auch für die Länge echt okay abwechslungsreich, auch thematisch und textlich. Trotzdem natürlich sehr viel auf einmal und da zieht einiges doch an einem vorbei. Aber toller Sound, schöne Stimme und es macht mir gute Laune. Würde ich als Tonträger kaufen wenn es mir über den Weg laufen würde und dann vermutlich auch manchmal hören.

Stevie singt I don't wanna bore you with it, tut es dann aber trotzdem. Hier, kriegst ne 3 für die Hits und Pastime Paradise, und weil da vielleicht noch ein guter Song hinten raus ist, den ich mir aber einfach nicht mehr anhören kann.

Die Hitdichte ist hoch. Und kein einziger Skip-Song. Weird dass ich das mag.

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.

Loistavia sikermiä ihan klassikkosäveltäjältä

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.

This starts off slowly - dully, almost - until you get to the funk of “Contusion”, which acts as a sign things are about to step up a notch. And, from there, this album skyrockets. “Sir Duke” and “I Wish” are a total toe-tapping joy, with such infectious brass sections. I have always loved “Pastime Paradise”, even if I’m of the generation that expects to hear Coolio rap the verses. The rest of the tracks on side one are the very charming Stevie Wonder standards, which are lovely to listen to; “Summer Soft”, in particular, is delightful, and the final track, “Ordinary Pain”, took a turn I wasn’t expecting, with some great funk to be found there. Side two suffers from not having an equivalent to “Sir Duke” or “I Wish” (“Black Man” is about as close as it gets), but has some real classics. You can’t help but smile listening to “Isn’t She Lovely” and, in my opinion, “As” is one of the greatest love songs ever written. This isn’t perfect, and it could be shorter, but it is impossible not to enjoy it.

I was aware that this album was considered one of the greatest albums ever made and I was excited to start listening despite it being so long. Which meant, when I pressed play, all full of enthusiasm but then didn't like track 1, Love's In Need Of Today, I got a bit worried. However, it was just a very wobbly start as from track 2 (Have A Talk With God) onwards, I enjoyed pretty much everything. It was a fun "spot the song that got sampled" album, although it did mean I ended up with "wicki-wicki-wild wild west" stuck in my head for a bit after listening to I Wish. As a confirmed disliker of skits on albums, I'm going to add weird talky intros and endings to the no-no list. I had clearly only ever heard a radio edit of Isn't She Lovely because the end of that song is weird. Nonetheless, you can hear the quality and the ideas throughout this record. It does seem bizarre that this is Stevie's 18th album - there was no running out of ideas here, although as is often the case I'd have preferred a shorter record. Ultimately for me, this is a mostly good to great collection of songs that could have done with a little bit of a trim. Still incredibly funky though. 4/5

Better than I expected, but a few of the songs.felt.like filler

idk why this is overhyped ASFF but its pretty normal, nothing special

"Love's In Need Of Love Today": okay this album won't be my thing but I'll listen anyway "Have A Talk With God" starts: what IS this (complimentary) This is great! Lots of styles. And songs that have been reused in the 90s?

Excellent. This has the sauce.

Very awesome.

not for me 2/5

I can't really give this album five. It's not the kind of music I choose to listen to, and it's a very long album. But the joy of this activity is listening to albums like this, which are so influential and full of interesting songs and classic hits. I didn't realise that Gangsters Paradise was based on Pastime Paradise for one thing.

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.

One of the greatest

There are some outstanding songs on this album, but man this thing is long. Overall, I understand why this is considered his masterpiece.

Side One/Side Two are an easy 5 for me, but unfortunately Side Three/Side Four leave quite a bit to be desired. That and the pervasive religious undertones slightly bring this down. All around though Stevie Wonder is an extremely talented musician. 4/5

Niet echt mijn smaak

It contain versatility like I have never seen in one album before

Groovy!!!

liked how genuinely weird this album is

Very few songs I actually liked. A lot of them were very long and repetitive. I can see the jazz influences, and know that I’m not a huge fan of the 70s sound. A ton of experimentation that I understand how influential it was. So glad I listened to it, probably won’t return any time soon.

This is my fifth Stevie Wonder album of the project. My review is basically the same as the others. The upbeat songs are some of the best songs ever recorded. The ballads are just garbage.

banger:kjedelig ratio va litt for lav t å gi 5

mid

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

Nearly perfect album

8/10 - God is "Have a talk with god" annoying. Rest of the first disc is 🔥. I think the album is a little long, had to listen to each disc individually b/c I just could _not_ appreciate the second dist after the first Fav Tracks: Village Ghetto Land, Pastime Paradise, Sir Duke Heard before? ---–- ❌ I'm not counting gangsta's paradise Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ✅ Will Listen Again? -- ✅

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

Que disco largo loco. de repente me di cuenta que pasaron dos horas y fue como a la verga sigo escuchando esto. Es un grandisimo disco, lo disfrute mucho. Queda guardadisimo.

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.

Despite it being long, I can appreciate the creativity with nuggets of songs that I would be happy to listen too. Then again there's some overly long songs that do drag on.

I mean, this is on the short list of best albums *ever*, right? Sir Duke, I Wish, Isn't She Lovely, As. It's got soul and funk and gospel and lyrics and instrumentals and rich layering and... Easiest 5 yet.

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

idk if I wasn't in the mood, but this didn't do much for me.

Isn't this lovely...

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

Prior to being assigned this album here I have 4 songs liked from this one and 10 songs total liked by Steve Wonder. Liked songs on this one are "Sir Duke", "I Wish", "Isn't She Lovely", and "Pastime Paradise". The first 3 of these were on the radio all the time, and I think I discovered "Pastime Paradise" from that song called "Gangsta's Paradise". Interesting how this is extremely varied in musical styles. One song (the instrumental "Contusion") sounded like it could be a Steely Dan tune. I ended up liking 8 more songs after going through this 3 times - "Contusion", "Summer Soft", "Ordinary Pain", "Joy Inside My Tears", "Black Man", "Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing", "As", and "Another Star". Great job Stevie! Glad I got a chance to actually listen to this instead of just the hits. I'm looking forward to his other albums showing up on the website - since I mostly only have the radio songs "liked" so far. Liked songs on Spotify: 12/17 Rating: 4/5

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

Ok

Obra maestra

Imagine if Superstition was on this album. This album would go from legendary to mind blowing.

Good album, some songs pop out way more than others, seems to put together some different vibes from song to song, if it was more uniform i think it might of have been better, also a little long but good time for 2 discs, could of have been 2 different albums tho, but a good 7/10 imo

Well gosh, if this wasn’t so dang long it would be a fantastic album. Perhaps perfect. I mean even Stevie gets fatiguing after an hour and a half. And while I have always seen it as organized by the theme of his daughter’s joyful birth into the problematic world of the moment, 1975, the power of its message gets diluted by its length. Like George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, I want to give it a 5 for its accomplishment, but I find myself feeling almost upset if I try to listen to the whole album in a sitting. So 4. A very respectful 4. Boolean rating: Yes, absolutely yes, even at almost 2 hours long.

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.

tope

Some excellent songs here.

Incredible! Will listen to again

I'm torn on this one. The reputation says I should give it 5 stars or round up, but the reality says I can't. Rounding down....

I played this at home recently!

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

No es mi rollo, aunque escucharlo con auriculares malos en un AVE Barcelona-Madrid seguro que no ha ayudado.

I really enjoyed this! It was fun hearing all sorts of samples that I didn’t know were from this album and imagining the impact this has had on so much music. As usual with him, I felt a lot of the songs were way longer than they needed to be. Even as a double album I think this could’ve been closer to an hour if some of the repetitive instrumentals were cut out. But overall a lot of songs that I already love or will now love. Fav tracks: As, Sir, I Wish, Summer Soft

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

Jeg bliver nok ikke populær, men jeg synes ikke, det er så fedt. Der er nogle af numrene, jeg synes er så kedelige, at de rigtig gode ikke trækker ordentligt op for dem. Funk er heller ikke lige min kop te, så når vi bevæger os ind på Contusion fx, så står jeg af. Det lyder lidt som et underligt cover af temasangen til PES 6. Ingen mængde af dygtige studiemusikere, silkeblød produktion og smarte solbriller kan ændre på, hvordan jeg har det med den pågældende genre. Der er dog også så utilgiveligt store bangers herpå, at de, isoleret set, berettiger et par stjerner. 2.7

Solid SW. lots of big hits.

Almost every track on this album is great. A few run a bit long, but that was clearly pretty common at the time.

great double (triple) album

a classic for a reason

Even better than I remember.

Честно, вроде и вайбит а вроде и нет. Конечно совершенно далёкие от меня темы про афроамериканцев и гетто, но инструментал просто охуенный. ВАУ КОНТУЗИЯ ЕБАТЬ ПАРАРАРАРАПАРАААААМ ААААА!!!! Зачем было вставлять плачь ребёнка....

esta bueno, bastante variado, muchos sonidos. no sabia que estaba la cancion original de gangsta paradise. me gusto para tenerlo en vinilo

Classic easy listening

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

Really enjoyed listening to this album. Can't go wrong with Stevie Wonder

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

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to give this album my full attention and listen to it in one go, and I think that would have benefitted its rating. There are a lot of great songs on this album but even more that carry on a little longer than they need to, so that made only listening to this in spurts during a busy past few days felt like a chore at times. Stevie is a fantastic artist and really shows his talent on this one.

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.

Stevie Wonder's music has a wonderful glow about it. His soul music is cast in a sort of soft light. It's instantly recognizable as him. And his voice complements the music beautifully. I also love how funky his band can get. The rhythm section is killer! And Stevie Wonder switches gears right along with them, growling and wailing in really fun, wild way! I recently watched a youtube video of him showing off a talk box on live TV and it's pretty cool (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlsZQ3qY_r0). It was a new technology at the time and you can hear him messing around and experimenting with it. I love how forward-thinking he was and willing to try new sounds. You can hear some talk box on some of these songs in the background. I love that effect. It's so cool. Lots of classic songs on this album: "Sir Duke" (which I never knew was the name of that song), "I Wish," "Isn't She Lovely" (I prefer the shorter, single version without the baby crying though -- although it was interesting to know the song is about his daughter. I always assumed it was a more traditional love song.) and "As" are all huge songs I've heard throughout my life without even trying. They're timeless songs. Oh, and I was surprised to hear 2 tracks here that are the basis of famous rap songs. I first knew "I Wish" as Will Smith's "Wild Wild West," and it wasn't until years later that I realized Will Smith completely lifted the backing music and melody. But I was really surprised to hear "Pastime Paradise," which is the basis for "Gangsta's Paradise." That sad but somehow menacing hook played by the strings is so iconic. I didn't know Stevie Wonder deserved credit for it! This is a huge album and I found plenty to enjoy aside from the singles. With repeat listens, I could see this entering masterpiece territory. But I was really impressed and overwhelmed on a first listen.

Will forever love and have a special place for "Sir Duke" as it's the song that my wife and I entered the dance floor to on our wedding day. It's got an amazing groove, really fun sections, a stellar vocal performance by Stevie Wonder, and is just a delight to listen to. "Isn't She Lovely" is equally amazing of a song. Although I could do without the baby crying sounds at the start, even though the song is about the birth of his daughter. That's nice. There's other nice sounds that babies make though! I love when artists put some random SFX and kind of diagetic stuff into songs, but I also love to hate on the times when they are weird. Like I always found it funny being in a car and listening to the radio and hearing a song that has car beeps in it or even worse- police sirens. Like yall, what are we thinking? Anyway, beautiful song and so sweet. Great album. Stevie Wonder is really one of those great greats that writes music that makes you feel like everything is going to be OK. "Songs In The Key Of Life" is a title that maybe only he could have. It's funny how it's a little corny but it's a superb title for his kind of music.

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.

1976 c'est la réunification du Vietnam, album commémoratif ? Peut-être que la mort de Mao le 9 septembre était l'évènement célébré par cet interminable double disque. Entre autres, Bien si on aime le rhythm. Drôlement long (Word a bugué lors de ma rédaction, interminable elle aussi, de mon mémoire. J'ai perdu une matinée de production et l'album ne m'a pas aidé à relativiser). Le double disque est-il une bonne chose ?

Toujours un plaisir d'écouter Pastime paradise !

Bon c'est très long 1h44 Pour des chansons qui se ressemblent, on voit le temps passer quand même Isn't she lovely Sir Duke Pastime paradise Et I wish sont des banger Mais.c'est loooong Puis je suis pas fan de la pochette

Pas facile celui-ci. Je me lance dans ma première écoute avec un sentiment partagé : ça semble infiniment long, mais il paraît aussi que c'est infiniment bien. Alors allons-y. Et certes c'est inventif, bien produit, régulier... Mais c'est long quoi. Je propose donc à mon moi d'aujourd'hui un 3 étoiles généreux, avec un début de mépris pour la hype autour de cet album. Je me ravise hier soir et décide de lui donner une deuxième chance, en écoute active, concentré. Et là c'est une autre expérience. En effet, c'est juste excellent sur tous les aspects, la composition, l'instrumentation, la production. La voix de Stevie nous guide de bout en bout sans qu'on se sente perdu. Ce ne sera quand même pas un 5, parce qu'en plus de faire un double-album on était peut-être pas obligé de faire des chansons de plus de 7 minutes...

There’s an all time 5/5 in here but i don’t think it’s 1.5 hours long. Still great though!

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?”

starting this from the perspective that I’ce always found Isn’t She Lovely too saccharine for my tastes and almost grating, and I think somewhat influenced my feelings about the rest of the album. There were some great moments (Pastime Paradise, Village Ghetto Land and As were my favourites), I appreciated that there were at times some quite weird things going on, but it also felt like it dragged at some moments and there were sections I didn’t enjoy at all

He did all this while deaf??????

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.

Son 18ème album. Dur à croire qu'il pensait se retirer de la musique quelques temps avant cet album et finalement il sort un double album de 1h45 de long! J'aime l'ambiance générale, petit passage à vide durant la deuxième moitié. Ça atteint pas le hype d'Innervisions selon moi.

It is a beautiful album. I listened to it just after I woke up and I'll tell you it's a great album to start your day with. Loved it

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.

Had no idea that 'Gangsta's Paradise' was based off a song in this album ('Pastime Paradise'). Second disc was better than the first.

I like it, Stevie wonder it’s such a great artist

Some songs are iconic and great, but generally I don't vibe with a lot of what is on the album.

It’s Stevie. From his classics period.

lindo album so ficava melhor a cada música q eu ouvia

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

makes my soul happy

I don't like how he sings on most of these songs. However, his take on Amish Paradise is really good.

He’s a legend for a reason

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!

Funky songs that make you want to dance; variation in soft and loud songs but still a cohesive sound; lyrics are cyclical throughout the whole album that reflect different stages of life (hence the album title); extra points that Stevie Wonder is a pianist and so am I 😌; did feel a little long at times

It's acknowledged as a high point in his career. I'm not a fan as it's not a vocal that intrigues me

Great songs but too long. Let’s be real

Never been that big a fan of Stevie. Sort of easy listening though.

There was a lot to take away from this album, but a lot to be left behind. Yep, you can hear the imprint on 90s hip hop tunes. And 'Isnt she Lovely' is a catchy tune (still, I prefer the Me First and Gimme Gimmes version), despite the self indulgent outro on the album recording. Still, it felt like background music... 4 stars (just).

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

Incredible album. Too long. Not a lot more to say about the legendary Stevie Wonder.

Just an all around amazing album.

I liked it. I haven't listened to much Steve Wonder so hearing the opening riff/sample that I'd only heard in Gangster Paradise was a funny surprise.

Potentially 5 stars

Love’s in Need of Love Today, Have a Talk with God, Sir Duke, Pastime Paradise, Isn’t She Lovely, Joy Inside My Tears, If It’s Magic, As Closer to 3.5

he is a genius, didn‘t know that this album includes so many originals from cover songs

Why all the hype? It's a okay album.

Groovy AF, fan de todas las referencias y sampleos que han salido de aquí.

Tja, sir duke. Heel goed, maar de rest is soms een beetje té. Geen 5

Classique indémodable

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.

The first song is so long but Stevie Wonder is kinda worth it. Many song s sound a lot like street music you'd hear someone sing on sesame street to uplift and teach kids.

Lindo

me gusta stevie wonder, más no me encanta. honestamente si no fuera por “isn’t she lovely” que me recuerda tanto a mi sobrina, le pondría 3 estrellas, pero solo por esa genialidad de canción se merece las 4

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

Este disco es increíble, me encanta. Ya lo conocía obviamente, pero lo volví a escuchar entero. Es un MUST en la vida. La obra cúlmine de Stevie. Le voy a poner un 4 solamente porque es demasiado largo y quizás hay alguna que otra canción que podría "sobrar". Pero igual es un discazo, lo amo. Así hay que sentir la vida, tal como indica el nombre

No llegue:((((

# **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.

Songs in the Key of Life is packed with great tunes. Stevie Wonder really is a legend, and you can clearly hear just how much influence this album has had over the years. The songwriting is top-tier: funky, groovy, and full of personality. You can tell it’s the work of someone insanely talented. I also found it interesting learning that “Gangsta’s Paradise” samples from this album—that added a whole new layer of appreciation. That said, the album did feel a bit long for me. Some tracks, while great, seemed to go on longer than necessary. It’s definitely a personal preference thing, but at times it felt slightly bloated. I almost feel guilty not giving it a 5 because the highs are so high, but taste is taste. The singles are incredible—“Isn’t She Lovely” - I mean come on now!! So yeah, it’s a 4/5 for me—but a really strong 4. An album that was clearly ahead of its time, with some truly unforgettable peaks.

Enjoyed more than his previous entry. Not too bad

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!!!!

Very good but I'd say it's still more of a 4/5 to me than a full 5/5.

A personal fave

just like any other soul album imo, only gets glazed because Steveland Hardaway Judkins happens to be blind. like i know that its impressive that he can play instruments and all that whilst unable to see, but that doesn't make it musically better or more enjoyable to listen to.

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!

the first few songs felt very videogame-like, it reminded me a lot of pikmik Bloom music jsjsj. Soem songs were a little too weird to me, but i liked it quite a bit overall

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

💘 Contusion 💘 Sir Duke 💘 Pastime Paradise 💘 Isn't She Lovely 💘 Black Man 💘 As

Great

I love me some Stevie and there are some absolute classic songs on this album but hot take: I still prefer Talking Book. A near 2 hour album is hard to get perfect and I think there’s some bloat.

An hour, and 45 minutes? No thank you. 2/5

I just realized where Gangster's Paradise was inspired. I also recognized Isn't She lovely. I have enjoyed this album's themes around the struggles experienced by the lower classes in the USA. It was a long album, but very enjoyable.

10/10 flawless masterpiece

OUTRAGEOUSLY good

no lo acabe, pero lo que escuche, me encanto, me lo llevo de tarea

un poco largo pero guay bastante chill

L: 7 M: 9 F: 8 O: 8

The pinnacle of songs that came from this.

One of the songs sounded too much like Christmas. I didn’t expect so many different sounds from this album.

MASTERPIECE

Mislim, da sm ta album par mesecev nazaj slučajno poslušala. Spomnim se, da je bil kul, but not necessarily neki zame. So far, sem pri 4. komadu ("Contusion", k je ful funky, hiter, instrumentalen), ki je sledil neki počasni baladi o težkem lajfu v ghettu ("Village Ghetto Land") - tko da kr razgibano. Začetek "Sir Duke" je ful familiar. Stevie ma tok dobr glas. "I Wish" je zanimiv slišat original, ker mam v glavi tok vtisnjeno verzijo od Will Smitha, ha. U, nevermind, "Pastime Paradise" je še težje odmislit meni bolj poznano verzijo iz 90ih. Ugh, pozabila sm, da se "Isn't She Lovely" začne z baby zvoki. Zakaj sm to že ene parkat slišala odkar poslušam albume? "As" tud od nekje poznam iz otroštva (aaaa, George Michael in Mary J. Blige! Huda verzija.). V glavnem: očitno ful influental album (že število coverjev in samplov je noro), gor maš nekaj najbl znanih komadov vseh časov (za nas vsaj "Isn't She Lovely"), ne vem če je slab komad vmes, Stevie je itak amazing. Kva še hoč na petek popoldne? (Plus, osemnajsti album?! In tak nivo?!)