Songs In The Key Of Life

Not only one of the better albums of all time, but one of the most aptly named albums of all time. Stevie Wonder sings about the human experience, and often the black American experience, with such conviction and joy that even the saddest songs in here are still comforting and uplifting. The first disc of the double album is generational, specifically the run of songs from “Sir Duke” to “Pastime Paradise”. Those songs don’t need to be talked about. But honestly the second disc is no slouch either, it makes it hard to say that this album is too long - which is insane to say out loud about an hour 45 minute long album. The confident proclamations of “Black Man”, the warmth of “As”, the piano groove in “Ebony Eyes”. Not to mention the perfectly-timed introductions of things like an electric guitar in one song, or a harmonica solo in another song; this album plays itself out with perfect pacing. If you told me to hand you an album that best encapsulates the emotions of the overall human experience, I’d likely give you Songs In The Key Of Life. I don’t want to presume toooo much about the demographic of people who get through these 1001 albums, but I’m guessing a large subsect is atheistic white men? So it’s a testament to the strength of this album that

A double album to end stevie wonders imperial phase, yeah it’s pretty cool

An absolute classic. Loved the chance to revisit it. Strangely enough ‘I Wish’ and ‘Sir Duke’ were played today at random…

Impeccable

Incredible. Might convert. Fav songs: Love's In Need Of Love Today, Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise, Isn't She Lovely, Black Man, If It's Magic. Saved a song: Y RYM: Y (#27)

Sublime!

The Stevie Wonder question. I am never quite won over and never quite haw been. Maybe it’s overexposure; hearing the hits so often (over the course of a life, more often than songs I genuinely love) that fatigue has given way to resentment. Or maybe it’s the opposite, under exposure – it’s the timing that’s been all wrong and I’ve never listened closely enough. But now that I am … maybe it’s just not for me? I don’t know, but somehow finding Stevie Wonder boring does start to feel - in a world festooned with adulation for his catalogue of undeniably classic inter-generational megahits – like a sort of moral failing. The weight of opinion would indicate the problem is me. Why can’t I just enjoy things? And on we go. And on it goes. Interminably. It starts to feel like “Songs That Will Last Your Whole Life” is the more appropriate title. The earnestness of the whole thing irks me in a way I again cannot justify; the lack of enjoyment compounding into something more existentially troubling. I open the Guardian app to, if I’m honest, distract myself enough to just get this done. There’s an article about Gen Z’s increasingly conservative attitudes to gender roles – shit news to read, and especially for a father of two girls (“Isn’t she lovely” indeed) and, oh good, something by Jonathon Liew about football’s own “converging moral panic”. I’ll take that. The soundtrack to this one will be “As”. It’s a driving piece of music that even the most Stevie-sceptic bore can’t deny is a masterpiece of pop. It’s likely the first time I’m listening to the full version, and as I’m carried toward the article’s conclusion the song’s chanted coda is just shifting into gear. The final paragraph: “But I still want to believe. I believe in the good bits and I’m prepared to put up with the bad bits because the high is still like nothing else on Earth. I want to believe this game is still beautiful. I want to see the miraculous save Jordan Pickford made at the weekend, and Alex Iwobi’s goal against Tottenham, and pretty much everything Bruno Fernandes is doing at the moment. I want to feel the joy of the already relegated Rob Edwards on a Tuesday night, and hear the way the Stadium of Light rises when Sunderland go on the counter. Boredom is a choice, and so too, I guess, is beauty.” And with that, I’m overcome. There’s tears. “Hate knows loves the cure” says Wonder, and so too Liew. All at once two magnificent loves: “As” with its relentless groove, Liew with his fight for foregrounding the bloody beautiful. It leaves me somewhere between edified and enraged. Anything but bored. So yeah, on the whole I’d have to say that for me, this album is background music. But it’s background music to the sort of thoughts sometimes you need to have to keep it all in perspective. Maybe I’m not the problem. Beauty.

A single album worth of a 4 but as a double only a 3

My father would be proud of this rating

Nice

Beloved by music forum users everywhere, this album has it all. All 17 (or 21, in the expanded edition) tracks, from front to back, are great or better. And as voted by people on some subreddit somewhere, it's the best feel-good album of all time. In a strange turn of events, the album starts with a the slow, soulful ballad Love's In Need Of Love Today, and continues the relatively mellow mood with Have A Talk With God and Village Ghetto Land. It's interesting to note that Wonder performs nearly every instrument in every track. The energy really ramps up with the wacky instrumental Contusion, featuring a slew of different time signatures, key changes, and weird melodic ideas. But for some people, these sorts of songs don't quite hit the right spot. Hip-hop heads and pop enthusiasts might turn their noses up at the weird sort of home-studio feel of the opening quartet of songs. But that all changes with the one-two punch Sir Duke/I Wish. I Wish is phenomenal. It's one of my favourite songs of all time. (In fact, it's in my very short playlist of "perfect songs".) The lyrics are top-tier rascally storytelling, the bass riff is ridiculously catchy, the horn hits are amazing, and Wonder's singing is at its sassiest. The preceding track is the other hit, Sir Duke, which boasts its own insane bassline and a sort of anthemic chorus ("You can feel it all over..."). And all the instruments playing octaves of a rapid melody just after the climax... nearly as perfect as I Wish. Nearly. Pastime Paradise is a substantially better version of the spinoff Gangsta's Paradise released 19 years later. It features a lot of keyboard-string effects and a bizarre yet enchanting atmosphere. Summer Soft is another big highlight, with one of the absolute peaks of the album being the gradual semitone-modulation and increasing intensity of the repeated chorus in the song's second half. Disc is just as strong. The two main highlights are also the two hits. Isn't She Lovely is just catchy as heck (though I could do without the baby SFX – really holding my hand there with the song's meaning, Stevie). And a lovely sax part too. The penultimate song on the main album, As, is another intensity-building song. And the backing vocal hook, "Until the X / Until the Y" (ad infinitum) under Wonder's repeated "Always". Beautiful, I tell you. There's so much more to say about this record, but it's all been said before. The top-rated review sums it up: "That's what blows me away; despite the hour forty-five runtime, the songs never grow stale, and not a single track doesn't carry its weight (...) 6 out of 5 stars." 5/5 Key tracks: Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise, Summer Soft, Isn't She Lovely, As

Lot of hype surrounding this album. 1 hr 40 is quite long. Enjoyed Contusion. Enjoyed Sir Duke. I Wish is great, too. Isn't she Lovely is a classic as well. There is a lot of variety here. There's also a ton of songs that have been sampled-like Pastime Paradise. This album really does live up to the hype.

01) Love's in Need of Love Today - 8,0 02) Have a Talk with God - 8,5 03) Village Ghetto Land - 8,0 04) Contusion - 8,0 05) Sir Duke - 10,0 06) I Wish - 10,0 07) Knocks Me Off My Feet - 8,5 08) Pastime Paradise - 10,0 09) Summer Soft - 8,5 10) Ordinary Pain - 8,5 11) Isn't She Lovely - 10,0 12) Joy Inside My Tears - 9,0 13) Black Man - 9,0 14) Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing - 8,5 15) If It's Magic - 8,0 16) As - 10,0 17) Another Star - 10,0 TOTAL: 8,97 (90/100) Current ranking: 68/744

I know this is a masterpiece. But…I didn’t capture my attention like I’m sure it would have when it was released. Also, coolio? Haha

Honestly, I just don't get it. I get that it's good, it's just not my cup of tea.

I just don't hear a 5. It's fine and maybe I'm an idiot for not clicking with it but what can ya do.

Really enjoyable on the whole. Would have benefitted from being cut in half, 1hr 44 is definitely too long and does start to drag on but there were a chunk of fantastic songs along the way. Listening to this also makes me wish I was growing up in this era of music, some proper talent on show. Solid 4/5.

Fucker be jammin

This record is such an explosion of talent, musicianship, taste, groove and feeling. It's one of those records that draw a line between before you heard it and after.

Like most double albums, this is a mixed bag. There are some fun, groovy numbers in here and a some forgettable easy listening. Stevie overall didn't radiate with me outside of a few songs, but even at two hours, this passes the time amiably enough.

Love it. Own it.

Maybe a hot take, but this album is overrated. It's still five stars, don't get me wrong! Just not a top-five album of all time. Innervisions is even better, in my opinion.

it's a bummer they ripped off gangster's paradise. also two disks was a lot of stevie wonder. but i did enjoy some groovy beats on the bus ride today

Fun! Could definitely see his influence on others. Wish I had time to write more but I want the next album.

Solid solid album. I think I will like it more and more the more I listen to it, but it’s just too long to fully appreciate the first time through- 80/100

Pretty damn good!

Really not a fan of the filler / non-classic tracks (I didn’t realise how whiny he can be), but this had too many greats/classics to be punished too harshly…..and I feel bad for doing that on his previous offering, so…

Bit too long. Very pleasant listen though.

Plethoric

It's not perfect but not enough to give less than 5

It’s very nearly a five star record, but for me, Stevie’s oeuvres - even at their absolute pinnacle - always contain works that are overly sentimental, borderline saccharine. Key of Life is true to that form with Summer Soft, If It’s Magic, and others. One is reminded of the artist responsible for I just Called to Say I Love You. Mind you, half of the tracks are absolute classics of the era and the genre. It’s a string record and deserves the accolades it receives.

Kæmpe classic. Det er virkelig flot, føler det er et album som belønner en for at give ens opmærksomhed til hvert eneste sekund af det og selv uden det kan det nydes. Det er et stærkt funk og soul album med nogle gode tracks og jeg forestiller mig helt sikkert det er en af de største nogensinde og har inspireret mange mennesker. Det er sgu bare kæmpe også imponerende det er noget han har udgivet som 26 årig. Der er sgu bare ikke noget som lyder som ham, så det er svært ikke at give det topkarakter synes jeg.

Arguably tpo long but enough top class stuff to justify a double. Ridiculous 18th album

It's 4.5.

A really good album, but like all double albums in genres you’re not super in to, a tad too long.

The lyrics veer into sentimentality and it's a bit too long. But musically? The range of emotion and influence, the complexity of the progressions and the arrangements, the strength of the melodic ideas, the precision of the performances, and the quality of the recording are just astonishing. It is among the most extraordinary productions of all time.

Is Songs in the Key of Life one of the greatest albums ever made? Oh definitely. That's why I decided to revisit it today and give this behemoth of an album a much deserved relisten and rating. What is there to be said about this album that hasn't been said before, it manages to tackle a 1hr 46 minute runtime, one that would kill most artists careers, beautifully and in a way that makes you wish there was even more to be desired here. Stevie Wonder somehow created one of the most tight and unbreakable streaks in music. Every section, song, and note is some of the most uplifting music ever created and yet it never gets old. Stevie Wonder is one of the greatest artists and no one can take that away from him, even if he just released this album his name would be known for the rest of time. Songs in the Key of Life will forever be a classic album, and beloved by all.

Top 5 most influential albums ever made

Stevie Wonder's finest hour, and also his longest and most ecletic record. There is so much going on here. Pretty much everything you'd want from Stevie and more appear on this album at some point. Yes, it is really long. Not only is it a double LP, but it also include and extra EP at the end. But I would say it's 100% worth it. Key tracks: Sir Duke Pastime Paradise Isn't She Lovely As

Loved the record, but couldn't pay attention to the lyrics. I think Stevie requires full attention to listen to, so I have to listen again to properly love it. It is a 5 though for sure, maybe a lower one for now

Gun to my head and I can pick 1 album to listen to one more time, this is the album

One of my all time favorite albums

Stevie Wonder is all sorts of absolute magic. Just wonderful stuff from start to finish, and totally didn't know that Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise was lifted from Pastime Paradise as I'd never heard the latter until now! Favourite tracks: Village Ghetto Land, Contusion, Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise, Isn't She Lovely, Saturn.

YES. There's not enough stars to rate this album.

Starts off slowly, then gets into the type of songs I was expecting. Had no idea Gangsters Paradise was a rip off of a Stevie Wonder track. Enjoyed this more than I expected to, trying to be objective it’s probably a 4 but I wouldn’t liste to it again

love

Stevie Wonder is an incredible artist with dozens of hits from his decades long career. This album features a few of those hits along with some other solid songs about civil rights. I especially liked Village Ghetto Land for the ironic instrument choice, choosing the violin setting on an electric keyboard to play a very aristocratic sounding melody while singing about life in a poor neighborhood. That said, this album was long as Hell and somewhat disjointed for me. There wasn’t a solid theme throughout or a generally interesting and engaging flow from song to song. It just kind of kept going to the point I kept checking that Spotify didn’t change albums on me. Definitely plenty to love here, but not a go to album for me moving forward.

“Sir Duke” and is such an upbeat, energetic song. The chorus of “I Wish” sounds like Will Smith’s “Wild Wild West”. “Pastime Paradise” was maybe sampled for “Gangster’s Paradise”…all of this is making me feel like I have such little knowledge about music history. So many songs from this album (or possibly even other earlier songs from other artists) sampled for songs that know so well. Really like “Ebony Eyes”

Das macht schon Spaß, bei so einem überbekannten Künstler, mit dem man sich selber nie beschäftigt hat, Songs wie „As“ wieder zu erkennen

Yes, please, and thank you…this is one of the 1089 I was waiting on; coming in early at number 50, it’s also my first 5 rating. I think we come here expecting every album to resonate like this, and well that’s why so many of us get disappointed. So, where to begin? A double album of an hour and forty minutes of some of the greatest soul, R&B, funk music ever recorded. Not only is the music amazing, the influence it had on modern pop, R&B and rap speaks for itself (you can hear Mary J Blige, Jay-Z, Erykah Badu, Ja Rule, Coolio, Will Smith among others who sampled and redid songs from here). The poetic lyrics discuss deep/relevant issues we can all relate to such as youth, growing up, love, parenthood, faith, politics, society; and are at the same time delivered by Stevie Wonder’s warm, smooth tenor voice. This is an instance where major influence meets high-quality art. A classic piece of music that you truly must hear before you die as it may cleanse your soul.

if the color yellow had a sound to it, I think it would be this album.

Wow, this is so good and a lot of people have sampled from this.

Stevie Wonder is a visionary. No, really. He has vision. Not blind.

What to say about one of the great double albums of all time? Or maybe just one of the greatest albums of all time, regardless of number of discs? I was thrilled to have this come up today, partially due to it being a fantastic album, but also because I’m visiting my mom and this is one we could absolutely listen to together. What a treat! Back to the question of what to say, I really can’t add much that hasn’t been said already. This is a sprawling but very consistent album with amazing performances and themes. Stevie’s singing is top notch and it’s fantastically produced. And it has timeless songs like Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise, and Isn’t She Lovely. What more needs to be said?

I Don’t Have To Listen To This Again To Give It A 10

Lo de Stevie Wonder en los 70 fue algo único e irrepetible. Este es su disco más reconocido, pero cualquiera desde Music of my mind hasta este son prácticamente intercambiables en calidad e importancia. Aquí la idea era hacer un triple álbum pero no era técnicamente posible así que se vendió como doble con un EP de regalo (A Something's Extra Bonus). Ya era el rey del mundo, con un contrato que le dió libertad absoluta como artista. Un negro dominando a la industria a su antojo y además siendo reconocido como el mejor por la academia, que le había concedido varios grammys al mejor álbum en sus discos anteriores. A nivel de ventas el asunto era el mismo: este disco fue el primero en llegar a la cima en su primera semana de publicación. Un artista comprometido, vanguardista (pionero en los sintetizadores ya demás con absoluta maestría) y de un nivel superlativo. Solamente queda disfrutar del genio. La nómina de colaboradores es inmensa: Hancock, Benson, Ripperton, Sembello... Los temas más conocidos son lógicamente Sir Duke, I wish, Pastime Paradise, Isn't She Lovely, As, Another Star o Knocks Me Off My Feet pero en realidad cualquiera es magistral, por ejemplo Joy Inside My Tears.

I mean it IS long. and side two isn't quite as good as side one. but good god Stevie does NOT miss. Banger after Banger Best songs: idk man, all of them (sir duke is pretty good though)

The production quality is pretty good, but it has no noteworthy tracks or anything that stands out.

Brilliant

5/5 such a joy to listen to, not every song is a banger, but most were incredibly groovy and has such good instrumentation.

5/5, not every song was a banger but it was very consistently groovy as a baseline with a lot of giga bangers

Пока я не понимаю, почему это величайший альбом в истории музыки, но слушать песни отсюда можно в любое время дня, пору года, и так далее. Лучшая песня - Pastime Paradise.

Great voice but doesn’t hold my attention

I've fucking tried listening to this multiple times over the years and I just don't get it. So since it's here, I'll try it again. It's been a little while since I've given it a shot. Contusion is just...70s schlep. Sir Duke, did I just get a music history lesson? I Wish slaps pretty hard, but it's followed by Knocks Me Off My Feet which is just boring. He starts off by saying "I don't want to bore you with my troubles" but it's too late. I know they can't all be bangers but the hard driving funk is the best thing he does...felt the same way on Talking Book a few weeks ago. Pastime Paradise, awesome. Isn't She Lovely has always made my ears bleed. I just can't get into it. I'm not saying this is bad music or that Stevie Wonder isn't talented...this is well crafted, well produced music. And they call Stevie a genius because he absolutely is. I can see why people love this album, it's just not what I want to listen to.

Great album! Love Stevie

A masterpiece. So many great songs and so much variety.

Une conclusion s'impose à la fin de l’écoute de l’album : impossible de catégoriser Stevie Wonder. In the Key of Life parce que la vie c'est tellement de choses, c'est ça? Du talent brut et raffiné. Un artiste en état de grâce.

Yeah. I mean this album is iconic for a reason. It is so good. All the songs are interesting, great musicality, and obviously Stevie Wonder is a great singer. This album has the ICONIC songs! Liked Songs: "Love's In Need Of Love Today" , "Village Ghetto Land" , "Contusion" , "Sir Duke" , "I Wish" , "Knocks Me Off My Feet" , "Pastime Paradise" , "Summer Soft" , "Isn't She Lovely" , "Black Man" , "If It's Magic" , "Another Star" , "Saturn" , "Ebony Eyes"

liked songs: Contusion, Sir Duke, Summer Soft, Another Star Very good 4.25

Absolutely fantastic album, so feel-good and well composed and well written, basically no critiques aside from some small repetition I was a little miffed about here and there. I've not heard all that much music yet, but I feel comfortable calling this an album of humanity

timeless album fr, crazy how many songs on this have been readapted or remixed

Worthy of its classic status. I was never a fan of Stevie Wonder, per se, but I can see why people might call this the greatest album of all time. I don’t agree that it is, but it’s undeniable that the first disc is hit after hit, and the second disc begins with one of Wonder’s career-top songs. This is a must own, and my only qualm is that it feels ‘musty’, as in I’ve heard this so often in thrift stores, I associate the vibe with moth-eaten clothes. That’s a me problem though.

I remember seeing Stevie Wonder on American Bandstand with his first of many hits! This double album has many great songs but it could have been cut to one.

This album strives to fight for the greatest album. Loaded with hits, but Stevie also continued to show his ability to push music to new heights. So much instrumentation, synthesizers, and unique chords. Mmm Isn't She (the album) Lovely?

I'm a little undecided on this one... for now. There are so many great, great songs on this album, frankly, it's quite unbelievable. However, I did sort of lose focus in the last half of the second disc. I mean, that is probably both an expression of the album being a little to long (at least to my liking) and - with heavier emphasis - my lack of ability to focus. I feel I should probably come back and give the last half a second chance, because I feel if I could learn to dig that it would definitely get a 5. Actually I might just do it now. BRB Ah... I very much dislike when spotify does this; when it includes songs on the album that were not included in the original release... Normally I check, but I forgot to this time. Turns out all the songs that were included are the ones where I lost my concentration. So... I gues that makes it a 5! Incredible album

Absolute banger of an album. But it's so fucking long.

4.5/5

One of the greatest albums of all-time. A masterpiece on par with Mozart etc. Stevie in GOD MODE. 6/5

Pretty good, one song is the same as the rap one

After a few albums of @ 30 mins this one came as a bit of a shock to the system. It was quite daunting, having never listened to a Stevie Wonder album before, to be confronted with a double album running to 1 hour 45 min! I know a sprinkling of his hits but beyond that it’s pretty much Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise which heavily samples Pastime Paradise which appears on this album. Overall listening to this brought back memories of the 70’s and surprisingly Sesame Street for some reason? I quite enjoyed it, but it’s not really a genre or musician that I’d go out of my way to listen to again.

I can see why this is so highly rated.

I know the album by reputation, and know a fair amount of the tunes, but oh boy was this long! There was stuff I really liked but the length is really off putting.

Stevie Wonder is one of my favorite musicians. He has 4 albums on the list and they're all great. Many people call this his masterpiece, but it's my least favorite of the four. It has some of his best work, but also more filler than the other albums. Still solid 4 stars. Favorite song: another star

Album was a bit long so I did get a smidge bored. It sure was smooth, though!!

a perfect record!

TIL: Stevie Wonder wrote the original song “Pasttime Paradise” which was sampled heavily for Bay Area Rapper Coolio’s “Gangstas Paradise.” This album is so obviously in Prince’s influence list, as well as Michael Jackson and Ween. The album flows well and I was introduced to some great deep cuts. Only thing I have never been able to stand is Stevie’s harmonica sound. I don’t know why, but it bugs me when I think about it being a harmonica. I’m still not convinced this man is blind.

Pretty… Pretty… Pretty… Pretty Great. Wasn’t even in the mood to listen to it, but glad I did. Also, FUCK KISS’s 1998 racist ass album “Psycho Circus”. (Actually, I don’t think it’s racist, but fuck it anyway).

An extraordinary album full of gems and what have become classics, the covers of which were big moments in other prominent musician's careers. If, for any reason, you were skeptical about Stevie Wonder's genius, this album alone is enough to silence any doubts.

Pretty chill and groovy, good lyrics, a little bit sleepy overall. I'd give 3.5 if this project had half-stars, but I'll round Stevie up to 4.

Insane quality over the length of a long Disney film.

already scrobbled 3 stars

I'm not Lester Bangs. This is a powerhouse of an album. It's absolutely essential in all ways. Saying it's a 5/5 album (which it is) is not good enough and I'm simply not erudite enough of a writer to do it justice. I tried and it's vastly frustrating how short I came up in my first two reviews (yup this is my third attempt) this is why we need critics with an astonishing depth of knowledge and the kind of articulate phrasing that the average layman (that would be you & me) simply doesn't have. My dumbass is simply not well enough educated to be able to express myself properly & it sucks and frustrates the ever-loving poop out of me. So, I'll just list some Fun Facts about this masterpiece and accept that I simply don't have the words to express how great art (and make no mistake this is great art) can be so spiritually healing, how this album feels like a warm hug that you didn't even know needed but by God it feels so good. Four Fun Facts! A Five Album Run of Sheer Greatness. 1.) Songs in the Key of Life has been regarded by music journalists as the culmination of Wonder's "classic period" of recording which began in 1972 with Music of My Mind followed by Talking Book, Innervisions and Fulfillingness' First Finale. That's a 5-album run of sheer greatness that only a handful of recording artists have ever equaled and even fewer have surpassed- The Beatles are the only ones that come to mind at once. Even Pantera's front man is a fan. 2.) Its importance has also been recognized musicians in genres with singer Phil Anselmo describing a live performance of Songs in the Key of Life as "a living, breathing miracle" and Kanye West has stated in so many words that his ultimate artistic dream is to top Songs in the Key of Life. The Waiting Game before the Internet. 3) There was huge anticipation for Songs in the Key of Life, which was initially scheduled for release around October 1975. It was delayed on short notice for just over a year when Wonder (ever the perfectionist) felt that further remixing was essential. According to him, Motown's marketing campaign decided to take advantage of the delay by producing "We're almost finished" T-shirts. Almost out Macs Fleetwood Mac. 4.) Songs in the Key of Life is almost as good as Rumours (an album that was released around the same time as Songs in the Key of Life) IMO and by almost, I mean just about neck and neck with Rumours coming out on top by a nose- if that. Aftermath: OK, that's all I got. I will say that I have never taken so long writing a review before and with Fall falling forward by an hour today I feel like I've been at it since very early this morning. One of the few albums that lives up to the 1001 project's namesake so listen to it, give it your full attention and know that as perfect as a first listen as it is this album somehow somewhat uncannily just gets better with each listen- this is an album I have been hearing half my life and I can honestly say it has never sounded better than today.

Perfect album. No notes.

Härligt men hade kunnat trimmas ner lite

Asså jäkligt bra vibe, och ett par tidlösa klassiker, men kändes lite långdraget till slut så kände inte riktigt hype genom hela vilket tyvärr drar ner betyget lite.

Vilken Wonderful musik

Toppen!

Brilliant album. Essential classic. Diverse, innovative arrangements.

Super long album, but never once feels like it drags. Favourite track is ebony eyes, on the delux edition tracklist, an adorably cute ballad about a horse

He's a genius, but some of these ramble on a bit long.

Was surprised that for his huge double album, that it only has two? of his major hits. Those hits are the most solid tracks.

It had its moments. But it was generally too long and a bit boring.

Now we're talking...a classic double album. I could listen to this all day.

Undeniable. Great listen. Leaves me in awe.

Top 10 album of all time for me. Every song has some much to offer and you're getting songs like As and Sir Duke which aew timeless classic this is genuinely just a flawless. Nothing is more upbeat than this.

God I wanted to love this and I…didn’t. I only liked it, sigh. There are some all-time classics here and Stevie is always Stevie. He’s wonderful to listen to. But many of the songs arrangements tilted orchestral mid-‘70s, almost Muzak at points. It’s a 4, but only because it’s him.

Meh

Absolute Classic.

Perfect

4/5

Beautiful album

Wowza this is a big one. Recognize the intro of Love's In Need of Love Today from Jay-Z's 4:44. Have a Talk With God is awesome -- will have to come back to this one. Village Ghetto Land is made up of synth'd strings, but sounds great. Contusion is a wonderful prog-funk explosion of an instrumental interlude. And Sir Duke is one that everyone and their mother knows -- and rightfully so, its a jam. TIL that Gangsta's Paradise is based on a Stevie Wonder song. Isn't She Lovely is another song that everyone knows; fine little ditty. Black Man is a hell of a jam. All Day Sucker is a fucking jam through the back side. Although this was quite long, it was a great listen. The vocals and writing are fantastic end to end and the upbeat songs ripped. I'll say that there were a few points during slower songs where I sort of glazed over and lost focus. But other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this. High 4.

This album had tons of hits holy moly Pastime Paradise was hilarious because I had no idea it was the original for Gangster's Paradise. Plenty to like in this album, especially because it clocks in at 1:45 which is really the only downside of this whole album. The entirety of it is full of great songs. High 4, but could easily be condensed down to an hour.

Feed me all of the Stevie he has yet to get anything lower than a high 4 and I can't imagine this album will change that. Holy hell i did not know that Pastime Paradise existed and was the original track for Gangstas/Amish paradise. Just read about it and it was one of the first to use a synthesizer as a string section. That's p cool. So many hits on this one that I did not think I would know. And Another Star was an excellent way of ending the album. Album was status quo for Mr. Wonder just another incredibly well done groovy hour and a half, and I kept going into the bonus tracks because I did not want it to end.

Have really enjoyed all the Stevie Wonder we've gotten so far and I know this is his magnum opus. All jams and then we get to Sir Duke which is absolutely incredible. Having I Wish right behind it just makes this seem like a greatest hits (I know it's not). TIL this was the original Gangsta's/Amish Paradise. Isn't She Lovely has been on my chillin playlist for quite some time what a beautiful song. I can see why this is revered as one of the best albums of all time, but something doesn't click enough for me to give it a 5. Either it being too long or some songs just going on a bittttt too long to make me lose focus. Either way I can see this being a 5 from me eventually, but today it's a high-ass 4.

Excellent. Should probably be a 5, but just too many songs.

Wasnt sure it would stand the test of time, but most of it does. Some really well written music.

“Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand. With an equal opportunity, for all to sing, dance, and clap their hands!” Amen! Stevie Wonder is truly an American treasure!

Heard some songs from it before. Gorgeous album with rich instrumentation. Groovy and danceable 3/5

I started out worrying I was too cynical for this music but managed to warm up to it. Village Ghetto Land I actively disliked, then right after Contusion was rad. Sir Duke was fun. Isn't She Lovely, As, and Another Star were good. 👍Contusion

Well, well, well, if it isn't the best album of all time. What can I say about this album? Simply incomparable. Stevie Wonder keeps every single song on this album unique. Love's in Need of Love Today - Listening to this, especially the intro, is like landing in a soft, grassy meadow. Easy to get stuck in your head. Have a Talk with God - So many bits and bobbles to this track! All of the background auxiliary percussion, the background singers, harmonica flourishes? A joy to listen to. Village Ghetto Land - A jarring difference between the pompness of the "strings" in the background and the sad, stark lyrics. Love the use of the synth in this track and the lack of reverb. Emotions come through on this track. Contusion - Fuck yeah. If I could give a gripe with this album, it's that there's not more jazz fusion tracks like this. Because it fuckin' rocks. Sir Duke - One of my very first favorite songs. When I learned trumpet, this was the first some I wanted to learn. When I bought a bass, this was the first song I wanted to learn. The shout chorus is an all-timer, and the chord movement in the chorus is a thing of beauty. If I have to pick a favorite track on this album, it might have to be this one. I Wish - The bass line is elite. The brass thrown in the track and the drum fills and Stevie's screaming in the end is infectious. Knocks Me Off My Feet - If I'm honest, Stevie's slow songs very rarely do much for me. But the soul definitely comes through, the chords and their crunchy upper extensions are satisfying, and the KEY CHANGE? That's delicious, delectable even. Second half of the song really brings it home. Pastime Paradise - Wow, I can't believe Stevie ripped off Weird Al's "Amish Paradise". Honestly this one isn't totally my jam but also...you know...what influence this had on music. Summer Soft - At first you think this one is going to be overly saccharine, but then when you get to the chorus? We start to bring the funk with the bass and the drums. And remember the key change from Knocks Me Off My Feet? How about a few more of those puppies? Yum. Ordinary Pain - A lot like Summer Soft, in a way. At first you worry it's gonna be too sweet and corny, and then Stevie goes into another mode and it transforms the track into something that kind of hits you in the gut. Does it drag on too much at the end? No - it's fun to listen to all the way to the fade out. Isn't She Lovely - Another one of my favorites on the album. I think I've listened to this one enough where I can, and will at every opportunity, whistle the entire harmonica solo at the end. Joy Inside my Tears - OK I'll be honest - every album has a dud. Too slow and saccharine for my taste. Black Man - This song just makes me want to strut. Just so much funk from beginning to end, love the synthy horn punches in the background. If anyone thinks the end goes on too long, I will disagree wholeheartedly, because the beat is just so good. My only complaint is they don't name MORE black men at the end! Ngiculela - This has become a favorite for me to sing in the shower. Great chords and upper extensions, and a great book of sounds used in this song. And a great song to show off Stevie's voice. If It's Magic - In the lower tier of songs on the album, and yet it's still phenomenal. The use of harp makes it unique from the other tracks, and the reverbs harmonicas in the end wrap it up in a bow. As - Anytime Stevie gets gravelly with his voice, it's an instant classic - gives me chills every time. Love when he vamps with the constant force of the background singers holding it down. Another Star - The drums and horns almost give this a Copacabana feel, and then the jazz flute? Magnifique. We need more jazz flute in our life. Saturn - Love the triumphant vibes of this track, I feel like I am in an 80s movie and I just feel in love while winning a sports game or something. Ebony Eyes - Of all the songs on the album, this is definitely on the simpler side. And yet, it's just such a fun listen. Easy on the ears, a fun talkbox solo, easy chords that tickle the brain, just a great one. All Day Sucker - Has the "tough" energy of "Higher Ground", but not as good as Higher Ground. A good listen, but another that doesn't stand out from the crowd. Certainly unique though! Easy Goin' Evening - ...we do unfortunately end my favorite album of all time with a whimper instead of a bang - I think this one just seemed like filler and could've been kept off. But...after 1:40 of hit after hit, I'll allow a miss. So, all this being said - it's all downhill from here, unless I can be proven otherwise. Thanks Stevie for an all-time unmatched masterpiece.

This is a long ass album Stevie. I can see why this is considered a masterpiece, but honestly I could live without 4 or 5 of these songs and several of the extended intros/outros that seem to make every song 6 minutes long. You can hear the influence from this album in so much of the music from a generation later, either directly or indirectly (I had no idea “wild wild west” and “gangsta’s paradise” were direct Stevie rip offs). I also thought the sappier songs that weigh down his other albums have a little more juice on this one. Deducting a point for length (and the fake blind thing).

4.3 Deducting a half point for being fake blind. Probably essential for any record collection

Solid Stevie. Still nothing that tips into the 4+ range for me. 3.5/5

What a joy this album is. It’s a little too joyful and has a bit of an agenda (an agenda I support, but nevertheless, one that is a little distracting). Stevie Wonder’s compositions are wonderfully complex and musical. And the man can *sing*. A joy, but not one I’d leave on repeat because it may be too joyful for my tastes. A 4.

This record is overflowing with hits, influence and fun. 3.7 outta 5

I wanted to like this one a lot more. There are some great songs on here. Something was just missing for me.

Solid.

Great album - Sir Duke is a classic

What a voice. I could listen to Stevie Wonder for hours. How does he do it?

Some great songs, but a lot of very LONG songs

Wall to wall bangers. A masterpiece. A culmination of a five-album run that's arguably the greatest in the history of popular music - only slightly tripped up by Fullingness' First Finale being like a quarter notch below the other four. Flip it and Songs in the Key of Life and you have a season 5 of The Wire equivalent.

😁

Could make an argument for a 5 here. It’s crazy the influence this album has had on the music world.

Great album but too much fluff to give a 5.

It should be illegal for one person to have this much talent. So many bangers in this one, even the throwaway tracks at the end were great. WTF Stevie Wonder. Playlisted: Contusion Summer Soft Ordinary Pain Joy Inside My Tears If It's Magic Another Star Saturn

Is it good? Absolutely. But I don't think its five stars. The instrumentals are all great, as is the singing, but it's just not quite there. Too many of the songs just drag on, like they don't know how to end properly. This is especially evident on the second half of the album. However, it is still worthy of this list, but I'll give it 4 stars.

Haha I remember putting this vinyl on one of our early floor hangs at my old apartment and being like “this is one of the best albums ever!” Then we started making out and got bummed out by Village Ghetto Land and had to change theeee channnelll. It’s actually so funny to think of us making out to “families buying dog food now, babies die before they’re born…” and not knowing each other that well. I didn’t listen to this whole thing, but I have many times, and I love putting this album on to clean. Isn’t She Lovely is just so sweet

I've heard a lot of these songs but the only other time I've listened to the album was on Kate's floor on 12th Street and I was too distracted by the makeout at the time to pay attention to music properly. This time I did and wow what a work of art! I didn't make it all the way through but this is one I will be revisiting.

Beautiful, from what I can tell the last 4 songs are not apart of the original release and included as a bonus 7". I prefer it ending at "Another Star"

Disc 1 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ disc 2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brilliant album. Funky and soulful. Lyrics and music were great. Never really gave any time to stevie wonder before this but I’ll defo be coming back

Double Album Sir duke I wish Isn't she lovely

too much major for me. a solid 2/10, rounded up.

A classic album, but not one for me. It was a tough sell and a harder listen, but, honestly, just not my jam.

this was just incredible front to back

Ok

Patch Notes The one-two punch of Sir Duke / I Wish is nerfed. It was too broken. Coolio and Will Smith were removed from admin status. That one song with Wii Menu Music mistakenly used as backing was fixed. Isn't She Lovely has been duplicated in place of all the filler tracks. Now it appears 6 or so times on the album. Seriously, when it's great it's incredible, but anyone can see this album is too long. Save some for the nineteenth, Stevie!

Incredibly strong album, Stevie Wonder at his best. However, I really do think this album suffers from too long of a runtime. Nothing here sounds bad at all but my mind can’t help but drift off and want a different soundscape, 1 hour and 44 minutes is far too long for an album that sticks to the traditional RnB sound. Looking at Content alone, it’s a 5. However while the content is great, it’s too much of the same for too long to maintain that 5. Favorite songs off this album are Sir Duke and Black Man.

I did not have enough time to listen to this properly today, like forcing down an eight-course meal during lunch break, but quality is undeniable. I’m a tired old man muttering around the dark outskirts of a brilliant festival. Hope to return someday.

A double album on a Monday? Good thing I know it backwards already, and it's probably the best ever use of the format (technically, a double plus a 7"; my dad had the original with the single perched precariously in the inner sleeve). Every song does its part, and the runtime flies by without a second thought. Hearing in sequence again is incredible - "Sir Duke" into "I Wish" into "Knocks Me Off My Feet" into "Pastime Paradise" into "Summer Soft".. christ! How much do I like this? The second song is entitled "Have A Talk With God" and even *I* think it's an unashamed banger! Parts sound way before their time - the striking second part of "Ordinary Pain" could be Mary J. Blige and there's some Public Enemy in the end of "Black Man". My secret favorite is "Village Ghetto Land"; as a keyboard nerd, the baroque orchestral sounds Stevie teases from his GX-1 are phenomenal. The whole experience even ends properly, with instrumental "Easy Goin' Evening" harking back to the prior delights as if playing over the closing credits of a movie. Incomparable. Should have been strapped to the Voyagers.

The upbeat material here is very, very good. I can see the influence on a lot of the funk artists I enjoy. The slower, easy listening stuff can be a bit of a slog. Still, this is clearly a very high quality album

really enjoyed this one

What a truly special album. Either disk would be a masterpiece all on its own. Love's in need and Isnt she lovely set the tone beautifully for each side. I keep trying to pick a stretch of songs to shout out but I can't decide where to stop, its all so good. Sir Duke and I wish back to back. The last half of Ordinary Pain. The whole album flows so beautifully, both conceptually and sonically. As. My personal pick for the greatest album of all time.

Over rated

Vraiment bien rien a dire !

J'aime trop la soul, Stevie Wonder le goat je le savais bon mais là c'était de la très bonne.

già solo il titolo dell’album è un fatto oltre all’ovvietà del fatto che è bellissimo da ascoltare, è anche pieno di riflessioni sulla vita nelle sue sfumature quindi veramente questo è proprio cinque cinque

Che gli vuoi dire a quest’album. Tutte tracce bellissime. Grande voce e grandi arrangiamenti e una serie di brani iconici. L’unica cosa dura 1h 45 che per i miei gusti è un pochino tanto. Vabbè ma comunque 5/5

peak clamoroso

Classic. Surprisingly a couple duds, but lots of Stevie songs I hadn't heard before on the album that are just as good of bangers as his other classics.

1hr and 40m of pure genius.

good, but not for me !

I've never seriously listened to Stevie Wonder. I've been missing out. Obviously, I've heard a few of these songs before. I definitely recognized Sir Duke. I don't think many artists could get away with having both jazz and a string orchestra backing them in the same album, but it works here. It still felt cohesive even though some tracks were clearly more serious and others more casual and fun. At least, that's what I thought through the first 45 minutes. The last hour was boring and sporadic, a combination I didn't know was possible. It was all over the place and didn't make much sense. I appreciated a couple songs, but most should have been left off the album. It could have been so much better, but he overdid it.

Pretty good. Great voice, great lyrics, groovy and fun instrumentals. Nothing not to like, but for me, just not the exact style of music I listen to. This is about as good as a album can get without me wanting to come back to it. Maybe a song here and there, but not the whole album again. It's also iconic, so bonus points there for what it's worth.

Just a near perfect record already owned it

This was quite magical and lovely! Some of the songs went on a bit with the outros but otherwise it was a fantastic album. Lots of bangers!

Tip top

What a timeless banger of an album. It has really grown with me over the years in different phases of life, and expresses so beautifully a lot of what life is, layers and different parts of experience. It's worth listening to many times over time. Accomplished, beautiful, far-ranging music. Real, expansive, devotional. Brilliant record.

OK? -ish? I guess? Just terribly long. 5/10

Yeah it was pretty good. The length of the album is crazy though.

Muy bueno, aunque no es un estilo que me enganche mucho tiempo seguido. Temazos inolvidables.

Stevie Wonder is a genius, and this is just a really feel good album. Easy 5

This one actually kind of annoyed me. I found all the embellishments on the singing tedious. The synth got tiresome and the lyrics were mostly pretty lame. Three quarters of the way through most of the songs I was looking to see how much time was left. Sorry, Stevie. (I was in a pretty bad mood when I listened to this one. Feeling better now and can appreciate it but it’s still not my favourite. Bonus points for gangsters paradise and wild Wild West)

You don't have to like this record, but if you don't, and I meet you, we're gonna fight.

9/10

03/10/2025 I just find his work a little too long and boring. Spotify listeners: 18.8 million

Great performance. Highly influential. Super boring for a lot of the double album.

Always a joy to listen to Stevie Wonder, doubly so after listening to most of the trash on this list of 1001 (plus) albums.

Really enjoyed the first volume. Beautiful album, but not something I would regularly listen to.

High highs, but a lot of songs drag on.

Amazing Album

So much soul, groove, positivity and musicality. Easy 5 stars

I know it's illegal not to like this but I just don't really like this...

Damn. Double album of non-stop gold. Maybe the easiest 5 I've given

Perfect

4/5

gangsta paradise original version

Je suis pas le plus grand fan et c’est baad long

96/100. This is a record that doesn’t just sound good. It feels good. Even when he’s singing about pain or struggle, there’s warmth in his delivery. It’s not just that the songs are well-written. It’s that they care. With this much music, there are moments that feel like gentle dips in energy. But that’s also part of what makes it so human. It’s not perfect in structure. It’s perfect in intention.

My Favorite Stevie Wonder Album

At first glance It was meh. After half an hour It started to shine. Now, the more I listen to it, the more I like It. Stevie has conquered me.

Dios mio como empezar, este album es literalmente ARTE, los instrumentales son espectaculares, Stevie habla de todos los temas posibles mientras te hace vibear con lo que es probablemente el set de canciones mas sampleado de la historia. Siendo un doble album de tal extension, la calidad y consistencia de este proyecto es simplemente BRUTAL. Lo mejor del soul/funk y lo mejor de Stevie. Tuve que contenerme para no agregar todas las canciones a mi playlist, no darle un 10/10 sería un crimen. La ilusión que me hizo despertar y ver que iba a ir a la facultad escuchando esto habla por si misma🙏🏻

Espectacular. Suena tan grande y relevante como dicen que es. Esteban tiene un sentido del ritmo que no tiene nadie. Pido perdón por no haber escuchado suficiente música suya, intentaré hacerlo a partir de ahora La de samples y covers que han salido de este álbum es heavy. Favs: I Wish, Black Man, As

Poco que decir de uno de los mejores álbumes de la historia. Este ni siquiera es mi álbum fav de Stevie y aún así me parece la divina papaya. Muy pocos artistas pueden presumir de una discografía y de un arsenal melódico tan bueno. Su voz es icónica, sus melodías son antológicas y sus canciones suenan importantes y memorables. El paraguas temático de Stevie no parece tener fin, y su creatividad a la hora de componer, tampoco. 1h44 min de doble álbum + A Something's Extra sin precedentes en mi opinión, cada canción es mejor que la anterior y mirad cuantas hay. Simplemente otro rollo. Favs: todas, pero especialmente... As Another Star Summer Soft Sir Duke (did you know this was sampled for an ICONIC hip hop song) I Wish (did you know this was sampled for an ICONIC hip hop song) Pastime Paradise (did you know this was sampled in an ICONIC hip hop song) HE'S JUST THAT RELEVANT

Honrando a su título, son Songs in the Key of Life, y como en la vida misma, con este disco te ríes, lloras, reflexionas, y en definitiva, sientes. Es un disco muy humano, y al igual que cualquiera de su especie, tiene muchísimas capas a las que no les voy a poder hacer justicia por mucho que me ponga a escribir. All killer no filler. Las 5 estrellas más merecidas del mundo. PS: Hasta el rapero de tu barrio sampleó alguna canción de este disco. Influencia innegable. A la playlist: todo el disco.

449/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑

Bangers

Not my type for Music 1,5

I’m not a big Stevie Wonder guy but this was pretty good. I like his more uptempo songs, the funkier ones and ones with horns. The ballads/“message” songs were boring and cheesy. Also, while the album length never got excruciating I still think this could have been way shorter. First thing he could’ve done is cut out the 3 minutes at the end of songs that were just repeating the same thing over and over. And the kids yelling the skin colors of famous people was unnecessary. We got the message of the song from the song, it wasn’t subtle, none of his message songs are subtle.

Is going to be played once again for sure

historic!! lovelovelove

Stevie has a wonderful voice and I really enjoyed a handful of songs such as Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely, and As. But this album simply didn't catch my attention for whatever reason. I can tell this is a great album, but it isn't for me.

Had no idea gangsters paradise was taken from this album. Funky stuff. Liked it

So many highlights. Never outstays its welcome. No bloat. Interesting throughout. An easy 5.

Astro!

This is such a great record. Just very heartfelt, and extremely musical. Stevie Wonder is a national treasure.

I cannot keep starting to listen to Songs In The Key Of Life only to find that it's two days later and I'm only three quarters of the way through. This is clearly a work of inarguable talent and possibly a masterpiece in a string of masterpieces. I mean, did you notice that this was Stevie Wonder's eighteen album? Yes, and he was twenty-six years old when it came out--just mind boggling.

the one thing i keep thinking as i try and sit down write a review for the third day in a row: this album is overwhelming (-ly good). if i really cared to, i could probably sift through this albums almost two hour run time to find SOMETHING to critique... but you know what? i don't want to. almost every song was a hit. stellar album. great listening. unquestionable classic. highlights - saved almost every song from this album, but special shout out to saturn

Beste album tot nu toe. Veel bekende nummes en mooie nieuwe nummers geluisterd

A couple of 4 or 5 star songs on this album. I liked this one slightly more than the previous Stevie Wonder album, but it is quite long and by the end I felt like I had more than my fill.

Mastery of several instruments. Mastery of rhythm. Mastery of lyricism. Mastery of the genre. Influential in ways I never knew. If this isn’t a 5 star album I don’t know what will be.

Some great songs, and what a voice! I wanted the bass to be dialed up a little funkier and some of the songs dont know when to end (looking at you joy inside my tears)

I was expecting this to be 5-starrer for me, what can I say I guess I'm more of an Innervisions guy. Some of it just went on a little too long for my warped 2025 brain, but Stevie Wonder in the 1970s was on fire.

Очень музыкальный, интересный и крутой альбом. Но почти все песни можно было смело делать на несколько минут короче. Тогда бы и альбом стал меньше по времени и более динамичный. Хотя наверное в семидесятых это было не так актуально

So verstücklet glosed dasi gar nüm weiss öbs bahnbrechend gsi isch oder biz überdurchschnittlich. Guet ischs sicher sehr gsi! Und mal d OG version vo Paradise z lose het sehr spass gmacht. Lehn mi vlt biz us em zugfenster aber ich denke vier Weltwunder het de Stevie verdient

Nüd speziels. Stevie mängmal biz boring gsi. Bar gueti tracks aber zwenig für es 4i. Classy 3er grümpelkiste Cheerio from se van

he's back with a bang boys! herzlich willkome zu minere nachhol-journey vo de letschte paar wuche album klöpp – ih dere serie widme ich mich vereinzelte albene wo ich's gfühl han sinds wert zum nache lose… wenn ich aber euchi bewertige ahluege vo de letschte wuche muessi säge hani nöd vill hochkarätigs verpasst – drum bini wahrschinli sehr glii wieder up to date. aber trotzdem: leave a like and smash that subscribe button! und will d'5er quote erschreckend tüüf gsi isch (null 5is weni mi da nöd tüüsche) muessi luege dass es wieder mit rechte dinge zue gad und lah direkt es 5i lah ligge I've said it before and I'll say it again: d'welt wär en bessere ort wenn das album ih de dauerschleife uf jedere geburteabteilig wür laufe! hed de stevie eifach sponti dänkt ach chum für mis 18. album packi mal so richtig us und liefere eu 105 min musikalischi masterclass – merci für de <3

just awesome

Seriously this guy is a genius. How does he do it?!

Incredibly wide ranging effort from Stevie. A classic

It's alright. Kinda trying hard to sound like Frank Ocean at times.

Wow, so many notable songs came from this album. Also I had no idea that Gangster's Paradise was built off of a sample, a sample from Stevie Wonder no less.

The culmination of an unbelievable run of albums from Wonder. An absolutely incredible set of songs that never lets up and barely drops in quality from superb despite the sheer number of tracks on this. The best ever double album? Possibly. The best ever soul album? Also, possibly. It's nearly perfect. Fave track on this listen: I can't pick between As or Isn't She Lovely - and I could easily pick so many others.

Grammy bait

Alright, my second Stevie Wonder album, and it's the big one. I'll keep it short, this probably isn't my favorite album of all time or anything, but after listening to this I think there's an argument that this is the greatest album ever. And I really can't think of anyone off the top of my head who I think is "better" at music than Stevie Wonder. Like the magnitude of the accomplishment here is not lost on me. This is basically as close as anyone has ever come to just like creating 21 consecutive, perfect songs. And it keeps the quality up for longer than many feature length films. The only "complaint" I have is that after the magnificent Love's In Need Of Love Today, we have a few weaker songs before getting back up to speed. Weaker is relative, Have A Talk with God, Village Ghetto Land, and Contusion are still better than many artists' best, it's just that after this run we get Sir Duke immediately and you remember how the rest of this album sounds. These songs manage to be so complex and groove *so* hard, it's frankly improbable. And every once in a while, Stevie Wonder realizes that he's found a groove so good that he just has to ride it out for like three minutes: and he's always right. Additionally, I just learned that Gangsta's Paradise is an interpolation, so that rocked my world quite a bit. But yeah, this is pretty much just immaculate, damn near perfect for way longer than should be physically possible.

Stevie rocks

Sometimes traumatic events happen that can affect your whole life. A kind of PTSD if you like. For example being soaked in a tent for a whole week can make one never want to visit the Lake District again. ‘I Just Called To Say I Love You’ is singularly the worst pop song ever released. True, there must be worse that never charted and saw the light of day. But this bastard song got to number 1. There must be some sick record buying fuckers out there. And that clouds my judgement of Stevie Wonder for all time. So today is going to be a traumatic day. So in reality the trauma lasted more than a day because ths record is so damn long. I concede there are some good songs on here (and some bad - Village gheto, Knocks Me Off.. ). Also a lot of hits. But every song seems to have the life squeezed out of it. Most of them overstay their welcome. The album could be literally 20 minutes shorter without the self congratulatory outros. Conclusion. Pretty good. But not as good as everyone would have you believe. And No I do Not want to hear a recording of your baby in the bath

Stevie Wonder nahm Songs In The Key Of Life zwischen 1974 und 1976 in mehreren Studios in Los Angeles und Hollywood auf, darunter den Crystal Sound Studios und den Record Plant. Das Doppelalbum mit zusätzlicher EP erschien 1976 bei Tamla/Motown und gilt als einer der Höhepunkte seiner Karriere. Wonder, ein US-amerikanischer Musiker, kombinierte hier Soul, Funk, Jazz, Gospel und Pop in einer stilistisch außergewöhnlich breiten Form. Bekannte Titel wie „I Wish“, „Sir Duke“, „Isn’t She Lovely“ und „Pastime Paradise“ zeigen sowohl persönliche Themen als auch gesellschaftliche Kommentare. Das Album beeindruckt durch seine aufwendigen Arrangements, den intensiven Einsatz von Synthesizern und die dichte, aber zugleich offene Produktion. Trotz des enormen Umfangs bleibt die Sammlung in ihrer Vielfalt schlüssig und bietet einen tiefen Einblick in Wonders musikalische Welt der 1970er Jahre. Insgesamt ein Werk, das nicht nur seine Epoche prägte, sondern bis heute Relevanz besitzt.

I’ve never been a fan of double albums. I always feel that if the band or artist would have edited out the mediocre songs, then they would be left with one killer album. I still feel the same way now. There are some awesome songs on here and some that are duds.

Love SW. But there are others I like more.

This album is very pleasant

Preferred the more upbeat, funk-influenced stuff to most of the ballads here. Liked it but was a little underwhelmed overall given Wonder’s obvious talent. Assume there’ll be others of his that I like more

This could have been a 5!star album. But there was no need for it to be a double album. There was bloat, no need for the extended version of isn’t she lovely. But the core of this album is awesome - production, musicianship, his voice - all top tier. One hour and 44 minutes is too much.

****A very good album. Easy listening.

Sorry Stevie but outside the 2 absolute banger tracks (Sir Duke & I Wish) this did nothing for me. I recognise the talent, but ... I don't know, maybe just not my thing

WOW!

Day First listen- I have been meaning to listen to this album as a whole for a long time! Such a precious and a pleasant album, the tracks are very enjoyable and Stevie's voice is marvellous.

MASTERFUL. That's the word that best describes this album, and in fact, the stretch of albums leading up to this climactic double LP. "I Wish" is my favorite song on the album, it's an energetic, emotional, riveting remembrance of childhood in which joy is baked into every good and bad moment. That represents the album as a whole: the "wonder" is how Stevie can extend goodness, and extract goodness, from all of life's experiences. The most positive, and even the more painful experiences. You will have favorite tracks, but if you just let the music in...something beautiful comes through on each track. An album you TRULY must hear before you die.

I love how Stevie Wonder navigates both the big and the small, the anthem and the love note. And he does so with such skill that it seems simple when it clearly isn't. The wild thing, this isn't even the best album in his big stretch. But it is oh so good.

Stevie cura todos los males, inyecta una dosis de felicidad en forma de música. 5/10

This is the album with all the hits, it’s also almost 2 hours

'It's that love's in need of love today / Don't delay, send yours right away.' This record confirms that the 'key of life' is 'love.' Just as Joyce's Ulysses is the greatest novel to explore the various manifestations of love (uttered: 'love loves to love love'), Stevie's essential double album is, for my money, the best of all to browse the many incarnations of love: sexual love, familial love, self-love, faith & love, love for community, love for humanity, love for music ('Sir Duke'). At an hour and forty-four mins, it's not only not too long - it could be even lengthier. The genius displayed here is startling infinite. And a divulgence: Stevie Wonder is a witty and quotable lyricist: 'Since one ain't good enuf for you / Then do yourself see how you do.' Lovely, no?

Weird gem - Sunset - Dreamy. Muy bueno, sobre todo la primera carátula, la segunda ya innova un poco más y no me agrada tanto

Well, this is another album I will have to buy. I knew the singles, of course... I grew up in southern Michigan in the 70s and 80s... but I had no idea how good the rest of the album was.

The entire thing is soul cleansing. It is beautiful in its purest form. The entire thing makes you appreciate life. It is cheerful for a cruel world and Stevie Wonder truly embraces the beauty in this cruel world and makes sure that everything isn't horrible. The vocals are beautiful and the instrumentals can ascend someone in a trance. Overall great project. I do admit there are periods that feel lacking and some that aren't as interesting. But generally, everything stands out in pride and truly makes an optimistic point of view on a world filled with oppression and sadness. I highly recommend this to everyone. If you don't mind the one and a half hour album length, I would give this a try as it is beauty in its purest form. Favorite Song: Sir Duke

🗯 By this point, Stevie wasn’t making records — he was showing off. From 1972’s Music of My Mind through to this double-album masterpiece, Stevie Wonder went on arguably the greatest creative run in music history. Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale — and then this: sprawling, fearless, bursting with ideas. It’s Stevie writing the encyclopedia of human feeling, set to funk, soul, gospel, and jazz. The hits are untouchable: Sir Duke’s joy is infectious, I Wish grooves like pure sunshine, and Knocks Me Off My Feet melts hearts instantly. But it’s the depth that makes it staggering. Pastime Paradise reimagines gospel for the future (hello, Coolio), Village Ghetto Land skewers inequality over a deceptively pretty string arrangement, As spirals into infinite devotion, and Ordinary Pain flips halfway through into a whole other song — classic Stevie mischief. Even deep cuts like Another Star and Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing show how wide his palette stretched. And yeah, as it turned out, he did prove he was human after all by following this with Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants — Whyyyyyy? — but that only makes Songs in the Key of Life shine brighter as the consummate peak! Verdict: Essential (depending on the day of the week, this might just be the greatest album ever made) For fans of: Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Prince, encyclopedias written in groove

Stevie Wonder is in the same category as Michael Jackson, George Michael, Madonna etc in that I know they are the best at what they do but it’s not something I’d voluntarily listen to. There are some superb tracks on this album (As and Saturn are my favs) and to make a double album as good as this is almost unheard of (Beatles white album the only one I can think of that’s better off the top of my head) but I’ll prob never listen again so it isn’t a 5 star album to me. Same as Madonna’s Like A Prayer, a 4 seems fair because its undeniably good, just not my thing.

A masterpiece, not much more to say

Classiiiiic

Alla musikutbildades favoritskiva.

Love it

ha. colossal album, with massssssive hits with such variety and range, even if there are some tracks I don't 'love', this stands on its own with tracks 1,5,6,8 (tupac used this one) on disc 1 and 1,6,7 on disc 2 - As (mary J blige & george michael) & Another star have been sampled a billion times and influenced who knows how many

An explosion of creativity from a singular talent. Suffers a bit from bloat. Were there enough quality songs for a double album? I don’t think so. Eliminate the subpar tracks, which are predominantly on disc 2, and you have a tight all time great album. That may be picky because there are so many all time great songs here.

Wow! This was amazing. His voice is beautiful and I am so used to hearing a few classics that I was a bit shocked on a couple of the songs like, Pastime Paradise.

An absolute joy in everyway. Tickles the mind body and soul. Not to mention the heart. Makes me believe maybe humanity doesn't have something positive to offer the universe.

A double album that doesn't feel like a slog is a hard thing to accomplish but Stevie manages it with infectious grooves and catchy melodies. I can't say enough good things about this album. If I could I'd probably rate it 4.5/5 but for the sake of this challenge I will give it its full 5/5.

What a classic-but then he’s not made a bad one.

It's been awhile since I've listened to this one, but you can hear the influence he has on all genres of music from the time this was released. 4/5

10/10 How do you review an album of this scope? It’s pretty much the culmination of everything Stevie had learned up to this point. He took a year off his standard ‘album a year’ schedule and spent a bit of extra time working on something new. And boy did it pay off. It touches on his personal journey, politics, fatherhood, love and music itself and it does it all with so much groove, drive and musical talent that it’s, frankly, a little bit silly. It flows so beautifully from track to track, but touches base on some of the most heartfelt love songs, some of the funkiest jams and some of the most brilliant pop hits you’re ever likely to hear. And because it never stops shifting and moving, it fails to ever really slip into the ‘lull’ that other double albums often fall into. Yes, there are some songs that aren’t quite as brilliant as others, but given that there are at least a handful of 11/10 songs on the album, the 9/10s don’t really do much to drag down the average. And that’s without considering the album as a whole. It’s just an exceptional piece of work that just sits tall and proud above the sum of its (quite considerable) parts. I’ve listened to this album three times today and I’ve just started on my fourth. Listen closely and I guarantee you will find something new in so many of these tracks even on your 20th, 30th or 40th listen through. Some of these compositions are so thick with talent and musicianship that it’s almost hard to appreciate it in your first few runs through. But he also never lets that overwhelm things, throwing in something more stripped back now and again to let your ears settle before something massive comes cresting over the hill. Oh, and to chuck out a 4 track EP with limited edition releases of the original LP that’s as good ‘A Something’s Extra’, is frankly ridiculous. Fair play Stevie. Love’s In Need Of Love Today - This is a beautiful tour of Stevie’s vocal range, from the subtle to the soaring, with bits of grit and fire thrown in for good measure. Instrumentally, it’s relatively restrained, but the playing is so good. It’s laid back, but tight and has a great groove to it. This is quite like a jazz piece in that there are some defined chord structures and motifs that are then just riffed on in a more freeform way. Have A Talk With God - I love the blend of synths used on this track. It creates a really interesting soundscape, with the sample and hold driven pad in the background and the sharp, staccato tones, along with that fat, smooth bass. And then layer on those vocals and harmonica lines. Lovely. Village Ghetto Land - An overtly political vocal set over an almost baroque synth composition? It’s a bit of a strange blend, but allows the lyrics and vocal to take centre stage, which I think is the point. His vocal is excellent as always and it pays to have variation on any album, let alone one this long. Contusion - So much going on here. In stark contrast to the sparse arrangement of the last track, this is so full, almost to a hectic degree. Fantastic synth and guitar playing in particular. It’s got bags of attitude and drive and some really interesting rhythmic changes. I love this track, there’s always some little bit that I hear like it’s new, even though I’ve heard it so many times. Sir Duke - Well, it’s Sir Duke. It swings, it grooves and it kicks. If this doesn’t get you moving, then I presume you have no reflection. There is no fault to be found anywhere in this song. Exceptional composition, supreme playing and a perfect vocal delivery. How can you follow this? I Wish - Oh, so this is how you follow Sir Duke. It takes the pace down a notch, but, oh lord. That bass line. The horns on this track are absolutely spectacular. There’s so much movement all across this track and again, there are little nuggets all over the place that just beg from repeat listens. Knocks Me Off My Feet - What a love song. The vocal to this are just exquisite. There are some great grooves, the drumming is brilliant, and some tasty little transitions that play around with sequence lengths a little bit and makes things flow in a slightly unexpected way. Pastime Paradise - Another classic. That shuffling rhythm is great and it builds so nicely throughout. It’s got a pretty unique flavour to the composition and instrumentation for a pop/funk/soul tune too. The vocals are, as always, excellent. Summer Soft - The piano in this is so good, the way he kind of shimmers over the keys, tickling this beautiful bed of tone. And when it kicks in, it’s got so much vibe and energy. Great, toe-tapping rhythms, more fantastic vocal riffing and an abundance of key changes. Ordinary Pain - This is more stripped back, but it still just grooves. The synth bass is just great too. And then it just changes into a completely different song half way through. The second half is also decent, but is maybe just a bit too lacking in dynamic range. Some more hidden gems in the playing though. Isn’t She Lovely - A song that pretty much sums up the feeling of wonder a man feels on becoming a father. Is it self-indulgent? Certainly. Is it sickly sweet? Absolutely. Does it perfectly encapsulate the feeling that it is trying to put across? Without a doubt. It’s a brilliant pop song. It’s got some sick harmonica solos in it too. Joy Inside My Tears - The pace drops for something with a really nice slow groove. There are some lovely little fills from some of the instruments in here. It’s all just so warm and tasty. Black Man - This is so funky. All of the parts give so much movement and that bass in particular just shifts. It’s a really good political track too, even though one would perhaps not refer to people as yellow or red these days! It’s perhaps a touch long, but I get the point he was trying to make. Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing - Another change of pace, but this time with an almost lazy swagger to it. Again, the vocal is excellent, soaring and then biting. Is it a hit single? No. Is it a really decent album track? Yep. If It’s Magic - This is a beautiful song. So stripped back and just allows a focus on Stevie’s vocal, front and centre. A little palate cleanse and dropping of the pace before… As - So, so, good. The little lead key part that just trips its way along is gorgeous, the groove is rock solid, the chord structure just takes you on a funky journey. Oh, and the vocal… Woof. Is this Stevie’s greatest vocal performance? Maybe. The strength of the opening lines of the second verse are just special. His growly bit in the middle eight. The vocal runs at about 5:50. It’s a brilliant, brilliant song. Another Star - This one SHIFTS. Good lord, no double-album closer has a right to be this good and have this much pace and groove. The horn parts in particular are great, but again, all of the parts are so, so good. Just listen out for some of the little guitar licks that just sit there being amazing. Stevie just lets loose on his vocal too. (Extra EP - I’ve not had enough yet) Saturn - Another great song in its grandiosity. It’s just massive, but it’s got really good dynamic range too, stripping way and then building again. Quality musicianship again. Ebony Eyes - Love the phased backing vocals in this. It fells quite silly in its presentation with the little talk boxy bits, and the call of “Saxophone right here!”, but this is again, so quality. I feel like Vulfpeck probably listen to this before every recording session. All Day Sucker - How dare he release a tossed off bonus EP that’s THIS good. This is so funky, there’s so much going on and it’s hook central. Oh, and that lead guitar? It sounds so good and just bounces around the stereo field and you just can’t help but chase it with your ears. Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call) - What a way to close everything down. It’s just so chilled and lazy, but it swells and rolls and it’s so cool. I mean you wouldn’t buy it as a single, but to close off the extra EP of a double album? Yes please.

Ich hatte große Erwartungen bei diesem Album. Ich wurde nicht enttäuscht, sondern begeistert. Wie kann ein fast zweistündiges Album nicht langweilig werden? Wie kommt es, dass jeder Song anders ist und nicht mit denen davor zusammenfließt? Es fühlt sich eher wie eine gute Playlist an als ein Album, fast so, als wäre die Songs von unterschiedlichen Künstlern. Ein Album, das seinen Ruf mehr als verdient und der Beweis, dass gute und abwechslungsreiche Doppelalben möglich sind.

Always loved this album. So incredible prolific to stick so many incredible songs on one album. Black Man and Isn’t She Lovely were stand outs this time. Forgot the beautiful sweet and long outro for Isn’t She Lovely.

4.5

great album but very long

I didn’t listen to the whole album as it is quite long. But it is a real feel good album and there are some fun tracks. I didn’t know gangster paradise came from one of stevie wonders’ songs. Normally I can’t stand religious music but the more religious tracks on here were great.

3/5 Best Track - "Sir Duke"

Given my general preference for doom and gloom, this may be the most cheerful album I've actually enjoyed (ok, there was also Little Richard). Songs... is full of a not-cheesy wholesomeness that's rare to find. From wishes for love to societal issues, this album talks about life in a very intimate, grown-up, and uplifting way—not ignoring problems, but keeping a positive outlook. The lyrics are pretty straightforward; there's not much poetry to find. It's more of a pleasant conversation that'll still leave you with something to think about. Music-wise, this album is a wonder: 1.5 hours long, and it doesn't get boring or repetitive, yet stays cohesive. Every song offers something new in terms of sound but sticks to the general vibe. The piano is beautiful. Sampling baby speech is a ballsy move I could live without. Some of these songs are too sweet for me to take regularly, and the harmonica should be banned, but overall, this is a great album.

Fav: Isn’t She Lovely Least Fav: Love’s In Need Of Love Today He woke up and decided to make the best soul album ever, and he succeeded

It's Stevie. It has the juxtaposition of all of his great albums for me. He gets so cheesy you get constipation and then he gets so funky it shakes all your shit out. There's rarely anything in between. He often hides pretty heavy messages behind his insanely catchy melodies - the man is a beast. This is an *important* album in every sense of the word. Yes everyone should listen to it - but the cheese!!!! Best Tracks: Sir Duke; I Wish; As

I was surprised at how many songs I recognised. Not bad and I saved one too a playlist, but not my cup of tea.

Good but long.

One of the greatest albums ever. The only double album I’ll listen to completely.

gran álbum

Had hears parts of it before, but never so focused. Still dont like the guy but the music is great. Also very good engineering

Very good, but I found myself getting bored for some reason.

There is not a whole lot you can say about this one that hasn't already been said a million times, an amazing album by an amazing artist.

It's so funny I got Talking Book yesterday and now I get Songs in the Key of Life, it's just a fun generation quirk. But anyway, the album... I guess to put my opinion into perspective: despite the very lengthy run time I had a fantastic time with this album, its joyfulness is contagious but it's not a shallow kind of joyfulness, it's about love, it's about freedom, it's about peace. It sounds like Stevie just wanted to gather all the things that are important to him into one album that also happens to be sonically eclectic which feels far more consistent than albums shorter than it. I could gladly listen to this one all the way again, with the exception if Ebony Eyes but even then it's not messing up the album by any means. After it I'm just thinking about how my psych teacher in high school would play this album every time before class started and it was always a nice mood setter and I still associate the album with him, I just kick myself for not checking it out sooner because it is wonderful (heh).

Love this album from start to finish.

This is the greatest album that has ever been recorded. If I could give it all of my stars I would. I love it so much

Quality piano playing. Fun and funky to listen to.

C'mon. Easy 5. Listened to this album so many times

Elevator music.

pleasant background music

So I can say that I’ve never actually sought out Stevie Wonder to listen to. But the fact that I knew so many of these songs (and was like OH this is Stevie Wonder) really speaks to how apparently embedded he is in our cultural DNA. I wouldn’t say I loved everything here, and I’d revisit specific tracks opposed to the entire thing. But all in all a pretty solidly constructed album that, for being so damn long, didn’t wear out its welcome the way I thought it would.

Really liked the lyrics and haunting arrangements in ‘Village Ghetto Land’ and ‘Pastime Paradise’. Album as a whole is very long, but clearly a work of love and genius.

Stevie's a king. So many classics here - and this is his EIGHTEEENTH (!!) album. Yeah, it's too long for me to listen to all the time, but I'm definitely gonna add it to my collection anyway. Coincidentally, someone I follow online posted a live breakdown of "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", which Stevie apparently recorded when he was 15 years old (!!!!). Between that and this album, I definitely have a new appreciation. Ludicrously gifted musician, dang.

A long and interesting album i like it

Great stuff -1 star because I wasnt able to listen to the full thing

This album contains some absolute bangers

This was too long

It's a solid, easy to listen to funk album.

***** A wonderful piece of music

boring, is not for me

Flawless

Do you ever listen to an album and just know that someone was meant to do what they're currently doing, like put on this planet to be a musician? I feel that way about Stevie Wonder. Seriously so talented, I can't believe we exist at the same time.

Great songs

Songs in the Key of Life is pure joy bottled into sound. Funky grooves, soul-soaked ballads, and Stevie at the absolute peak of his genius.

Finally, after a run of absolute drivel, a record thoroughly deserving of a place in this list. What an extraordinary record - there’s enough here for three great albums. It’s clearly a masterpiece and I’m never going to be able to write anything that comes close to capturing its greatness, so I’ll say this instead: 46 seconds into Sir Duke, I’m pretty sure he sings ‘Mick and Phylis are lovers…”

Off the cuff remark: there are moments of this album where it is hard not to be caught up in its sheer joy, but they are brief and being a curmudgeon they don't last long before my attention span wonders at the necessity of being more than 7 minutes long. Standout track: Isn't She Lovely, if only becuase of the nostalgia it creates in my mind of hearing it on the radio as a child. I swear I never heard the slightly creepy child noises on the track before Revisit?: part of me is glad this album exists but a greater part of me would be entirely happy not to hear it again. I am sure there are innovative elements that should be cherished but it gets on my wick a bit.

A sprawling masterpiece of a double album. Eclectic, diverse and never sticking to one genre, Songs in the Key of Life is an adventurous listen that is almost impossible to believe was Stevie's 18th studio album with how defining and sampled nearly every track is. A truly fantastic album and one that has permeated my life from my early years thanks to continuous play from my Mom. A worthy benchmark and one that will be hard to top on this 1001 album journey.