Reviews (page 9 of 14)
This was fantastic, loved the energy on this and liked hearing the original sample for “Gangsta’s Paradise”. 4.5/5
Excellent
Pretty heavily produced, super ambitious album
Definitely one of the greatest albums.
Sometimes literally preachy but whatever. I'm sure it fit the times. I can see why about half of it has been sampled though.
Was amazed to learn that Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise was a rework of Pastime Paradise.
This is his *eighteenth* studio album and it's somehow still packed with memorable songs. "Sir Duke," "As," "Isn't She Lovely." Somehow I wasn't aware of "Pastime Paradise" and I almost had to go lay down after I heard it. "I Wish" walked so "Wild Wild West" could run. Probably others too I am forgetting. I think this is a big step up in quality above the other two Stevie albums that have come up. My only complaint is the runtime - Stevie, you obviously you like making lots of albums, just cut this up and pad out the count even further.
It was good had a lot of songs I liked Like Village Ghetto Land, Past Time Paradise, Sir Duke, and Saturn
Groovy tunes. Almost perfect, just not quite.
A real achievement but not quite doing it for me
Primera vez escuchándolo, grata sorpresa de saber que ganstans Paradise uso un canción de este álbum, buena compañía de fondo para las mañanas frías de Buenos Aires, hoy fueron 2°.
I love the funky upbeat tunes of Stevie Wonder, but the slow ones always grate on me
A great album
I’m still mad about Limp Biscuit yesterday. This ALMOST makes up for it. Has anyone ever been on a heater like Stevie Wonder here? Innervisions , Talking book and this one of the greatest runs in music history. It runs a little long. Would probably be a 5 star single album.
Favorite Track: I Wish
Good album. Great hit songs
4.2 - It's good, don't get me wrong he's great. It just feels soooooo bloated
Timeless album, one can actually pinpoint how this masterpiece got referenced or influenced other media that came after. It's so well produced it's tough to acknowledge how experimental it is also. I personally don't think I'm aged enough to fully appreciate it, thus the 4 stars, but I'll surely come back to this one every year. Fav tracks: Joy Inside My Tears
Vaya discazo la verdad. Buena musica, buenas voces, buena producción y buenas vibras. Me esperaba cosas buenas porque sabía que Stevie es un buen artista, pero guau. Se notaba la cantidad de pasta que había para hacer música en la época porque suena brutal. Una cantidad casi perfecta de variación entre canciones en cuanto al estilo y el flow, mezclando baladillas chill, con soul y medio funky por momentos. Las lineas de bajo son espectaculares, sobre todo en temas como "Saturn" o "Sir Duke", el cual es el hit del disco y un top caciones de la historia. Destaca tambíen la originalidad e innovación en cuanto al sonido en algunas canciones, ya que suenan mas a los 80 que a los 70. El disco 1 es un 10/10 sin duda. Y de hecho probablemente regresaré de vez en cuando. Puede ser medio banda sonora de verano quien sabe. El disco 2 pega un bajón. Todos los temas de 6 min para arriba son canciones de 3 min cuya ultima secuencia de acordes se repite hasta el infinito, y ni los primeros minutos merecen especialmente la pena. Me da rollo porque realmente se llevaría el 5 el album si no fuera por el disco 2. Tambien en general 21 canciones son una burrada pero bueno, si fueran todas como el disco 1 no impotaría. Resumiendo: Disco 1 -> 10/10 Disco 2 -> 6/10 Conjunto -> 8.75/10 (supongo)
Menuda putísima pasada de album. Las primeras canciones son mega brutales y Stevie wonder es un compositor exageradamente bueno. Lo malo q las ultimas canciones decepcionan un pelín pq las primeras son super buenas pero en general es muy buen álbum.
1st half was 3 ish stars for me but really liked the 2nd. There’s a 45 minute 5 star album but it’s stretched out a bit with some filler
Can't be anything but a 5 star rating. Legendary.
It was good but a little long, should have cut some of the fat. Also, they did Stevie dirty on that colonoscopy album art.
Stevie Wonder's only double album - full of great tracks.
Obviously it’s a classic with numerous outstanding tracks … but it is too long (double albums should be reserved for greatest hits … which I suppose this is!)
Great
Overall it was good. I didn't really enjoy the two or three songs and I could have done without the extended child bath sounds, but aside from that I really enjoyed this.
A bit mixed but the highs are SO high and it feels so cohesive - 7/10
Good blend of R&B, pop, jazz and smaltz. Didn't remember that Gangster Paradise is an offshoot of Pastime Paradise. Sir Duke was a staple of my pre-teen self.
He's so awesome, I hear the influence he had on so many other artists in every song.
Stevie Wonder is such a talented guy. He writes all songs, masters the groove by playing most of the band instruments and produces his own records. This is great album, but maybe few songs too long.
Ultra sleek and almost too sleek to my taste. Big credits for amazing multi-instrumental Wonder.
The vocals are amazing. A really enjoyable album.
that ish was long good for sure, crazy range in genre while still adhering to a lot of jazz/funk archetypes favs probably village ghetto land, contusion, and summer soft
Great album with a lot of hits, soul filled.
Good Stuff.
Could do with revisiting from time to time as it is such a big album. A very enjoyable listen though and a good balance of recognisable and new songs for me.
Love's in Need of Love Today 3.5 Have a Talk with God 3.6 Village Ghetto Land 3.3 Contusion (instrumental) 3.7 Sir Duke 3.8 I Wish 3.7 Knocks Me Off My Feet 3.7 Pastime Paradise 3.8 Summer Soft 3.6 Ordinary Pain 3.6 Isn't She Lovely 3.3 Joy Inside My Tears 3.4 Black Man 3.5 Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing 3.6 If It's Magic 3.5 Asking for It 3.6 Another Star 3.7 Score: 3.582352941
Classic funk album
Granted, there are a bunch of fantastic songs on this album, but it does go on a little long for me. There seems to be a bias in this list that long albums are great albums. I can't agree. A little editing would get you a really great album. Throwing everything on the wall and celebrating that you you nailed it on a half dozen songs doesn't make a great album. Don't get me wrong, Songs In The Key Of Life is a great album. I'm speaking to the concept in general. This album could have been a 5, but not for me as it is.
This album is even weirder than I remember. Very inventive and creative, with several classic tracks. Listening in one go is too much of a good thing for my tastes. Would be better as originally on vinyl with a break every 20 minutes.
if i were reviewing this album back when i first heard it... when i was 14... i would've said it was one of the greatest albums of all time... now, as an old man, my review of it has somewhat tempered a bit... 20 songs... which if pared down to about 15 would be at the very top of every list... oh but those five... they now seem like preachiness... and a bit overdone... but, musically it is like a trip through the world of R&B's many stylings... "I Wish", "Isn't She Lovely" and "Sir Duke" were all timers... but my favorite song was always "As"...
I've only heard this album a couple of times and didn't remember it well. My problem with many of Stevie Wonder's albums is there are a handful of solid hard funk/soul then a lot of whiny songs that lack that hard funk edge. So most of the first disc doesn't suffer from that, it's best moments are transcendental--I Wish is my favourite, but Sir Duke and Pastime Paradise are obviously absolute classics as well. Have a talk with god isn't the kind of track you'd think would have a deep funk groove, but it definitely does. Second disc opens with a longer album version of single Isn't She Lovely which made me think my baby daughter was talking before I realized it was the track. Joy Inside My Tears... pretty whiney. Black Man is a solid funk track. Then the latter half of the second side gets a little slow for a while, with some high points. As is good, then Another Star solid. 4/5, would be a five if not for some filler--could have been shorter. Probably Stevie's best album.
Good work. He played it safe while opening up. Great album
Amazing incredible music, but wow it really is so long. Some of the songs go on for longer than I could enjoy.
Can’t go wrong
Four stars, but more of a really-begrudging-3.5-rounded-up-to-4-stars four stars. There's so many good songs but it can be toothachingly sweet on the whole.
A bit controversial maybe, it’s good and all but is it a bit on the long side? I have listened to Stevie in a hits capacity so it was nice to hear an actual album and when Pastime Paradise came on it blew my mind, I thought Gangstas Paradise was an original thing!
[5/10]
Very impressive double album with one strong track after another. I have probably heard the big hits a few too many times but great to discover tracks I never knew like Saturn. A lot of the songs are a bit too long though and I could have done without the two instrumentals!
Bangers after Bangers, somet8mes a bit too sweet
Vyborny, asi ne do hospody :D
How can it be mere coincidence that I got this back-to-back with Ray Charles? It's a very solid album, but I wasn't quite as transported by it as many others were. I liked it a lot, just the same. Kinda like the Ray Charles album -- a solid four.
Great album by one of the Greats.
Ok.
Truly WONDERful album.
Absolutely fantastic album! Never heard the whole thing front to back before but all the songs are complete bangers. Phenomenal record, deserving of all the praise!
Well I was just complaining about the lack of nu jazz and the generator comes out and reminds me that Stevie Wonder did all that stuff back in the 70s. This is the culmination of an amazing decade of albums. Have a Talk to God has some seriously wonky synths and sound effects. Village Ghetto Life combines a Wendy Carlos baroque synth with socially consciousness unmatched by anyone but Gil Scott Heron (maybe Chuck D?). Contusion is a dizzying fusion number which feels just like the kind of bewildering confusion that comes from a TBI that leads straight into Sir Duke, which starts out like a big band swing number before some of those iconic chord changes and about the funnest horn line in the world. I Wish is a rollicking funk number with a direct line to George Clinton. Pastime Paradise is of course a critical track for anyone who came of age in the 90s. Ronnie Foster and Wonder on Summer Soft soar with every verse. The second half is weaker with quite a few longer songs that probably could have used a razor. Highlights are Black Man for some more consciousness and some great solos, As for the gospel choruses and All Day Sucker for recognising fellow genius George Clinton. I do question the track ordering, it seems to go from social consciousness to big brassy fun to love ballad without any rhyme or reason. Two separate LPs might have been more effective. I know people find this frustrating because of its length and I see where they are coming from, but I feel like its just a demonstration of how deep and broad Wonder's talent went that after three of the best albums released in the 70s, when he's demoralised with tired and thinking about leaving music he could still put out another double LP reprising everything he achieved.
All of Stevie’s albums in the 70s were part of my constant listening during that decade. So much consistently brilliant music from this phenomenal musician. Every song on this album is genius.
Rating: 4.5/5 | Favorite Track: Sir Duke --- A nearly perfect album – I'm upset with myself that I waited until this point in my life to listen to this. I adore the warmth and the optimism of this album; it's simply fun to listen to.
What a ride. The jams are JAMS on this, although I’ve never been a ballad guy.
Excellent. The first disc would get a 5. The second disc has some great bits but didn’t quite reach the sustained high level in my opinion.
Long album but worth it. I can see why Stevie Wonder is a living legend. Lots of solid hits
Really enjoyed. Team Stevie!
:)
this is one of my all time favorites, great vibes and ive heard it alot for years so i dont have much to say, this is truly songs in the key of life i love this album
Iconic
Masterpiece.
Dear Stevie, the album cover looks like a butthole with your face shining out of the middle. I'm sure it looks better in your minds eye. Thankfully its not reflective of the music, solid album. Lots of sample genesis. you get an extra star for that.
A classic album and for damn good reason. Stevie Wonder is one of those artists who is instantly recognisable and utterly unique. Really enjoyed this one!
Wow, what an absolute joy this album was to listen to. Double LPs are always bloated and self-indulgent - and the same does apply in Stevie’s case. But the pacing here is so strong, and the bangers so well placed that they mostly stave off the exhaustion. Yes, the tunes are just that strong. On first listen it’s genuinely difficult to pick a favourite side let alone song. Side 1 and 2 feel more concise and focused, whereas Stevie kind of just loosens up and takes the listener on a long groovy journey towards the end. If like me you’ve given yourself over to the groove by side 4, you’re going you have a hell of time. A high 4 for me on first listen but would not be surprised to graduate that to a 5 if I find myself returning to this one. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Fourth SW album I've been recommended so far, I think this might be my favorite. Had no clue this is where 'Gangsta's Paradise' comes from.
😍
Amazing just a bit too long. CUT IT DOWN STEVIE
Ok, Stevie is great, but this album is way too long and the baby crying on Isn’t She Lovely always makes me uncomfortable. There are some undeniably great - masterful even - tracks on this, but I could speed run Mario 3 faster than this. 3.5/5
This is clearly a master at work with some incredible songs…but I just didn’t connect on an emotional level/ visceral level with most songs in the same way I do things I love.
Probably a 5 star for me if it was trimmed to single disc. That’s true for most double discs. I can only think of a handful of double discs that hit the whole way through.
First album, and maybe rating it a little too low because of that. A lot that is undeniable, obviously, but I could imagine a single disc that's *perfect* and it's not an LP I return to all that often. 4.5 stars would be more accurate.
Was so hyped when I saw this one come up but I was a bit dissapointed not going to lie. Sir duke As and isn’t she lovely are fantastic but feels like the other ones don’t really live up to them. Still a good album overall thought The added baby sounds on isn’t she lovely were sooo unnecessary as well Specific rating - 4.2 Fav song- Sir duke Least fav song - Saturn
Way better than Talking Book-a ton of variety and great songs. My only issue is that, at almost 2hrs long, there is too much weight to avoid some adult contemporary flab. Overall, though, a great album and probably my favorite of his.
There is a LOT of good stuff on this. Blending R&B, Disco, Jazz, Pop, Soul, Gospel...big boppers to iconic ballads.
Always love Stevie dubs, it the best but always love the energy and makes me happy to hear his albums.
A lot of fun songs and sounds on here. I probably wouldn't have guessed this came from the 70's because it still sounds fresh to me. Also, who knew this is where Gangsta's Paradise came from? Not me.
Really cool to get this as my first revealed album. Bought the vinyl a few years ago when I received my turnable as a birthday gift from Nicole.
Very good R+B, easy listening. "I Wish" is a total classic. I think this would have been better served by being 1 LP, since it dragged at times. Overall I really enjoyed it though.
A lot of pleasant songs
Fantastic album! 4.49/5 - just because there are a few tracks that don't land for me.
Great
Pretty classic album definitely deserves to be on a shorter list of albums you must hear. Favourite song: i wish
An all-time classic, and even more rarely, a double LP that doesn't overstay it's welcome and would be hard to find any flak. This album is songbook of American culture and music in itself. Stevie Wonder at the peak of his songwriting prowess, sprinkling elements of world music throughout. Best Tracks: - Sir Duke - As - Another Star Worst Tracks: - Pastime Paradise - If It's Magic Rating: 8.5/10
Ok first double album that isn’t overlong or self indulgent. Sure not every single song is a classic but there aren’t any duff ones or fillers on here either! I listened right through in one go and that says something, I could quite easily listen to the whole thing over and over with no need to skip any songs.
Fun album, but ages long! I was kinda bored of it after two days listening.
Det er lissom hele pointen at den skal være lang, men føler stadig lidt at der gennem sig en 5er her. Mange bangers, højt niveau!
As funky as talking book, as righteous as innervisions and as out there as FFF. Ticks all the.boxes. if it weren't for Contusion (and I'm a jazz fan) it'd get a 5
After so much great music in just that album, I'm like... damn. Stevie. What a man.
More is less’ rings especially true for this album. Some tracks are absolute musical bliss, while others feel completely dull in comparison. Many of Stevie’s albums seem to struggle with this disconnected flow—perhaps it’s just me.
That Stevie is a genius is clear if one looks across his catalog. This double possesses some of his best material but also some pretty forgettable stuff. Sir Duke is a classic. Isn’t She Lovely is a deceptively simple piece of joy. I cherry pick off this record and wouldn’t generally listen end to end.
This was my favorite of the Stevie Wonder albums we've gotten. I wish it wasn't a double album, it wasn't good enough for almost 2 hours of music, but I enjoyed most of it.
Thank you Stevie
Not really my thing but super good and didn’t realize about coolio song
Really nice album with some crackers on it. Quite long but very good 8/10
Stevie's magnum opus, zo staat hij in ieder geval te boek. En alhoewel ik echt wel denk dat dit zijn hoogtepunt was van creatieve vruchtbaarheid, waarin zoveel samenkomt op persoonlijk, muzikaal en politiek vlak, moet ik toch voorzichtig zeggen dat 'Songs in the Key of Life' wel enigszins overgewaardeerd is als 'totaalstuk'. Het trio funk-oriented albums dat voorafging aan dit werk (Vooral 'Talking Book' en 'Innervisions') belichamen m'n favoriete Stevie Wonder periode, en die twee albums in het speciaal werken wat mij betreft een stuk beter als totaalplaatje. En ik ben gewoon niet zo fan van de transitie van Stevie naar de synth-heavy eighties. Er mag ook best vaker benadrukt worden dat deze gigaplaat voor een significant deel gevuld is met - voor Stevie's doen - ongeïnspireerde en slappe meuk. Nummers die vaak te lang doordraven waardoor het tempo uit de plaat is. Plaat twee gaat hier echt aan ten onder vind ik. En dat is een doorn in het oog na plaat nummer één, die bij vlagen subliem is. Als hij het daar bij had gehouden dan kreeg hij geheel terecht 5 sterren, maar zelfs op mijn positiefste dag kan ik plaat twee niet meer dan 3 sterren geven. Die wordt volledig gered door misschien wel zijn beste productie in 'As'. Ook de funk in 'All Day Sucker' staat me wel aan, en 'Isn't She Lovely' is - ondanks dat ik geen fan ben - wel een belangrijk ijkpunt in zijn carrière. Eindconclusie is dat kwantiteit het in de loop van het album weet te winnen van kwaliteit, en dat hij vooral met vier sterren wegkomt omdat deze explosie van creatieve input ook echt wel de voedingsbodem bleek voor een aantal van zijn beste liedjes in een weelderige loopbaan. 8/10 Highlights: Sir Duke I Wish Summer Soft As
3.5
Flies by for a nearly two hour album! I can’t believe Gangsta’s Paradise samples a Stevie Wonder song! 4.5/5 stars, half star off because it really is lonnnnggg!
Only a few tracks bothered me (lengthy, boring, ...), so in general a very good album. Apart from the singles, take notice of "Black man", an excellent funky soul track.
Het enige nadeel van dit album is dat het te lang is. Maar damn, wat een fucking goed album. Wat een stem, wat een riffs en wat een bass. 4.4
I’ve never listened to the whole album front-to-back in a single listening. I fell like it takes a few track to get going, definitely found the middle half to flow great, then maybe a few towards the end a like meh. But still, it’s a classic album for a really good reason.
Some bangers but a bit of filler the too; unnecessarily long album
Takes time to kick in but when it does!!!
Klasyka. Te utwory są w świadomości społecznej od lat. Coverowane, śpiewne na karaoke i przesłuchaniach. Człowiek zapomina, że ktoś je musiał zrobić skomponować. Płyta niemal kompletna, momentami radosna, czasem nostalgiczna. Głos Wondera wyjątkowy, przyjemny. Melodie poruszają. Nie jest to do dla mnie płyta uszyta pod mój gust, ale doskonale wiem, czemu się tu znalazła. Isn’t she lovely to zloto. 8/10
Great funk/r&b
I enjoyed listening, some songs were a bit long or harder to listen to (Contusion) mostly just a lot of instruments, but I enjoyed a lot of them, good feel to the songs. Likes: I Wish, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Pastime Paradise, Summer Soft, Isn't She Lovely
The most petty nitpickiest thing I could say about this album is there are some great songs that derive no benefit from being 7 or 8 minutes long. They could have been cut in half and been better. Addition by subtraction. Other than that, fucking fantastic 4+
This album is pretty great, with a ton of great songs you know, a strong theme and some good variety. My only complaints are that there's to much material to keep up the quality, and the feel dips into a cheesier area that would come to be known as adult contemporary. Still, the pluses are so strong, it my be his best work.
Ok. Better. Like it
Big fan of Stevie Wonder, but I believe this is the first non-greatest hits album I have listened to start to finish. It’s a pretty darn good one. A lot of gems. Top 3 songs: 1. Sir Duke 2. As 3. I Wish Most poignant lyrics: Pastime Paradise Other songs to appreciate: Joy Inside My Tears, Ordinary Pain 8.5/10
There was a recent question on BlueSky, along the lines of 'what's the most classic and revered album that you've never knowingly listened to?'. My immediate thought was Songs In The Key Of Life. Well now I have, and it's very good indeed. Every element is of such quality - the musicianship, the production, the songwriting and of course the vocals. It's also clearly so often ripped off - everyone from Coolio to Jamiroquai to George Michael owes a debt to this record. That's the compliments out the way, now for the reasons it won't get a five star. The first thing is very much a 'me problem'. It's too chirpy by half, and the only song with any sort of edge was Black Man. That's not bad in itself, but it's a lot to contend with for the length of the record. That brings me on to me second issue - it's yet another case for the prosecution in the argument that there is yet to be a double album made that wouldn't be better as an absolute killer single album. Unusually, the issue here isn't (just) that there's too many songs, but that each of them is a three-minute gem wrapped up in an eight-minute indulgence.
Stevie is always a good choice. Such a mood booster. Whoa, didn't realize Pastime Paradise was sampled.
Some great stuff…but it didn’t have to be nearly 2 hours long…
This is a double album. I listened to the original release, not the later releases with extra tracks. Certainly a popular album when it was released, with a few hit singles. Very smooth listening, with a nice variety of songs. Stevie Wonder is one of those artists that has some very good tunes, and a lot of songs that I don’t like (although not horrible).
I mean it’s Stevie Wonder. This was the first time I have actually listened to this album and it didn’t disappoint. It has a little bit of everything and goes to show how talented of a musician Stevie really is. It mind shattering how much musical ability and genius he has, and we are all so lucky he shared his skill with the rest of us. I previously only listened to the popular songs that you would hear on the radio or in media, but I deeply enjoyed hearing others that weren’t so mainstream.
Pretty cool album, I’ve never really listened to Stevie before. He’s got good sound and I enjoyed most of the album. Couple songs weren’t my favorite but added a few to my playlists.
A bit too long for me but there were some bangers
A way too long double album. Personally, I feel like there is enough filler that it could have easily been cut down to 1 album. Props to Stevie Wonder for giving his fans all they could handle, but it was a struggle to digest this much in less than 24 hours, and becomes a tedious on the back half of the record. I enjoyed the jazz fusion/rock of "Contusion", the funkylovefest for the big bands of yore in "Sir Duke", "Pastime Paradise" (the source of the sample for Coolio's "Gangster's Paradise", and "Isn't She Lovely".
Thoroughly enjoyable listen. Sing it, Stevie!
Sehr cooles Album, kein einziger Song den ich schlecht fand. Es wären fünf Sterne geworden, wenn ich mehr mitgegangen wäre, aber so war es einfach ein schönes Album zum Anhören - 4 Sterne
Viele Banger drauf, richtig gutes Album. Bisschen fehlt auf 5 Sterne.
An excellent eclectic mix of classic tracks
I really enjoyed it. Special shutout to Pasttime Paradise, I loved it and can see why Coolio wanted to borrow the hook.
Why didn't anyone tell me Stevie Wonder was so good?! Also, really fun hearing Pastime Paradise. Of course I knew that Gangsta Paradise was a sample, but I didn't realize how much of it...
What a legend! So many hits on one album and in so many genres. I’m not sure it needed to be a double album though, but overall very good!
Some of Stevie's best (Sir Duke, Pastime Paradise, As, Black Man, Another Star) and some of his worst (Isn't She Lovely, Contusion, Have A Talk With God). Lose the schmaltzy ones and make this a single album, it'd be an all-timer. Still great as a double album, but too many skips.
A little bit long tbh but obvi an iconic album
Pretty great. There are some real bangers, and outside of that there are just solid songs. Not a miss among them.
I'm less of a fan of some of the down-tempo stuff, but when they slap, they slap. Plus, it's always fun to come across a song sample in the wild.
Don’t know that it can be less than 4 stars. Ding it slightly because it is very long and loses some quality.
Sprawling, sensual, wild, overlong, gorgeous, transcendental, overlong, weirdly written, utterly funky and one of a kind. Stevie had a lot to express on this album, and he let it all flow. It doesn’t all work, but it’s unique and legendary.
What a nice surprise. I always knew Stevie Wonder was super famous, but never cared to listen to his music. Generally it is really not my style, but this album was so soothing and nostalgic. Pastime Paradise WHAT, seriously, discovering that made my day.
Gangsta paradise!
I'm sort of surprised I didn't like this more. There definitely wasn't anythingI actively disliked, but I'm surprised there weren't more songs that grab me. This would probably be a 3.5 for me, rounding up to 4
Started a little slow, but once I got to I Wish it picked up a bit. I never realized the parallels between Pastime Paradise and Gangsters Paradise, that was a cool connection to discover.
Goddamn it this is so varied and brilliant even though I'm not a paid up Wonderer can't give it less than four stars. Liking all the single album edits in the reviews which would make it pretty flawless.
This album is highlighting why I thought doing this whole 1001 albums thing would be fun/informative - e.g., Pastime Paradise - how have I never heard this song? Why is the only version I know of it sung by Coolio? Does anyone make original music anymore??? SO MANY QUESTIONS. Anyway, Sir Duke is probably #1 song of all time, don't @ me. The reason this is getting 4 stars and not 5 is because why on earth is this not only a 2xLP, but a 2xLP *with a bonus side*?? There are too many songs that I skipped that should not have been included on here to make it a 5. Sorry, Stevie. All the jams though, no doubt.
LOVE’S IN NEED OF LOVE TODAY- really cozy and vibey track. I love the message. Playlisted. HAVE A TALK WITH GOD - liked this one a lot! I’m not religious so it probably hits even harder for those who are. I like how he added the female voice, really put the icing on the cake for me. Was a little thrown off at the start cause of the instrumental but I like weird songs. Only complaint is that it’s too short. Playlisted. VILLAGE GHETTO LAND - As a band kid I like the instrumental, but it’s a bit boring for me. I found it hard to keep my focus on the song. The topic is important and I’m surprised someone was making a song about it in 1976! Didn’t love the singing over the instrumental though, for some reason it didn’t quite match for me. Missed the playlist. CONTUSION - This is the kind of instrumental I always imagined when I thought of Stevie wonder (as someone who had never listened to him before) aside from band songs I don’t listen to a lot of music without words, but I do have a study playlist so this is definitely going on there. Might start dancing though! Playlisted. SIR DUKE - love this one! It just has such a great vibe that makes you want to get up and go skip down the street like the main character of a movie :) great message, music really does bring everyone together! Playlisted. I WISH - man this one really just lifts your mood! This is a song to play first thing in the morning to lift my spirits before I have to go out and face the world. Playlisted. KNOCKS ME OFF MY FEET - wasn’t sure about this one at first, but the chorus got me. Oh I don’t wanna bore you~ I love you I love you I love you~ super sweet song and very chill to listen too. Playlisted. PASTIME PARADISE- well I was today years old when I learned that gangsters paradise wasn’t the original lol. This one’s better in my opinion. Love how it’s talking about how we live in the past a lot and need to just live in the moment. Playlisted. SUMMER SOFT - The chord progression in this one is genius! I find myself just walking around my house singing “winter’s gone~” Playlisted. ORDINARY PAIN - I have to say, was not expecting that switch up! I really enjoyed the feature, whoever she is, she killed it. “I won’t panic~” Playlisted. ISN’T SHE LOVELY - wow I’ve definitely heard this and just didn’t know it was Stevie wonder! Such a good song, it makes me want to have kids so I can feel what this kind of love feels like. I really feel the harmonica in my soul. Playlisted. JOY INSIDE MY TEARS - I’m not sure why but this one just didn’t hit for me. I found it boring, not as emotion provoking, and I don’t think it needed to be as long as it is. Not Playlisted. BLACK MAN - super funky! Loved the breakdown and the message is really important. It was relevant in 1976 and is still relevant now. Playlisted. I AM SINGING - really liked the instrumental on this one. Was so close but just barely missed the playlist. IF IT’S MAGIC - beautiful song, the harp is gorgeous. Everlasting music. Playlisted. AS - this song feels like pure poetry. I love how he changed his tone in the middle of it. Playlisted. ANOTHER STAR - wow so many genres in one song! I loved the flute towards the end, though maybe I’m biased because I play flute. Good track, but I don’t quite like it enough for the playlist. SATURN - such a beautiful song! Great lyricism. Underrated in my opinion. Playlisted. EBONY EYES - this song sounds like it meant a lot to black girls and women! It’s just not for me. Not Playlisted. ALL DAY SUCKER - pure funk! Loved this. Playlisted. EASY GOIN’ EVENING - this sounds like a song for the credits of a sitcom. Sounds great, just not something I would come back to every day. Not Playlisted. WOW this was an amazing album! Solid 9/10
A few great songs. A few less interesting songs.
Kind of a difficult one to rate. On one hand, its got some of the best songs of the 70s on here. Pastime Paradise, I Wish, As, Joy Inside My Tears, Sir Duke and the sweet Isn't She Lovely are all great tracks. On the other hand, the near 2 hours runtime with the bonus EP does really drag on, and some songs, especially on the first side, I didn't really care for. Great album but I'll probably pick out the songs I like here rather than listen to it in its entirety.
First listen: I think I’ve listened to this album before. But maybe never in full. the album artwork is so cool. Contrition is a very cool song. Sir Duke would be great in a soundtrack. Kind of feels like a song that Jackson 5 would have been influenced by. I Wish is such classic funk. Ah so the Pastime Paradise —> Gangsta’s Paradise makes sense. It makes GP seem like less of a good song, I didn’t realise how much was copied. Does this go beyond a sample? Summer Soft feels like it shows a bit of a different vocal range for him. Would defs get this album on vinyl or CD.
I think I like the idea of Stevie Wonder more than I like his music. The power of I Wish and Sir Duke are undeniable, but a lot of these songs go on for long after I’m done listening to them. Not that they aren’t really good, just too long. I still love Stevie, but I’ve learned that I don’t generally dig a full album, particularly a double album.
OH YEAH BABEEYYYYY!!!! THATS INSTRUMENCE
Beautiful album, perfect for studying. Only the last 4 songs kind of bored me. 8/10 Fave track: Love's in need of love today
This seems like a great album, that just didn't really click with me. It feels very earnest throughout, and veers between personal and political. Maybe it's the lack of cynicism, the religiosity, or just how politics have changed in the half-century since this album was made that felt like it was keeping me at arm's length.
One of my favourites from my childhood, but only because there's a great single album in there, and another album full of self indulgent nonsense
Not exactly my thing really but I did really enjoy this. Definitely this is an impressive record sonically and no doubt an achievement in recording.
Obviously great ~ a must listen for anyone always
Beautiful album. Takes me back to childhood.
Starting off strong! I already knew this album's biggest hits but hadn't heard the majority. I also had no idea Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" sampled "Pastime Paradise" from this album. I love learning things like that. Favorite songs: "As, "Sir Dike", "All Day Sucker", "Saturn"
3-4
A comprehensive work and a great album by a great musician. Nevertheless, I don't really warm to it. There are a few tracks on the album that are so much a part of my musical world that I've never thought about who they're by. But I didn't get really excited when listening to them. 4/5
So good.
Has some absolute classics here but I think this is a bit more spotty then people seem to admit. If it it was trimmed to one album it would have been amazing, a common problem of the double album. 4*
Great album, even if it was a little long winded. Hoe the hell did Coolio get into the album though? I was so confused
Some good staple songs Why the weird outside noises during the last 1-2 min ?? Bit repetitive on some songs
I would LOVE to rate this a 5, because the first half and the end absolutely rip. Masterful songwriting, amazing grooves, instrumentation that's certainly seventies but is truly timeless. But all the songs from Joy Inside My Tears to Another Star all drag or are simply not to the caliber of all the others (except Black Man). This is still objectively one of the greatest albums ever, but I can't help but feel that there's fat to be trimmed. 4.5
Great album. I had no idea this is where Gangsta's Paradise got its genesis. Will never hear it the same again.
A double album is a bit much, but several of my favorite songs were on here. I also learned that Coolio Gangsta's Paradise is a near copy of Pastime Paradise (this makes me conflicted in that I love Coolio's version, but it feels ripped off). All in all, this is a good album. 3.5 stars.
A superb double album of Stevie Wonder during his most creative and innovative period. Plenty of highlights including Sir Duke, As, I Wish and Pastime Paradise.
Some really great songs on here. Really enjoyable album. Will be keeping it saved in my regular rotation.
Other than it being too long, I throughly enjoyed this album. So many hits and samples for future hits
Pretty great album. Music, lyrics, vocals all of the highest standard, and it still sounds great in terms of production. Unquestionably one of the all time greats. I don't think this needed to be a double album though, if it were condensed to one album every song would be a killer. But even the weaker Stevie songs are better than most other artist's best efforts.
4☆/5 11.18.2024
As I’ve said before, not the biggest Stevie fan. I will give this a 4 because it does sound nice and there are some good tracks and I don’t want everyone to get mad at me, but it is too long and his voice bores me after a while.
i likey
Banger. Lots of good classic Stevie on here.
The breadth and depth of musical styles and emotions, and the way these are weaved together throughout and speak to us is why this album is so good and why it will always resonate.
This album is super long, but it has some really great songs on it. Isn't She Lovely and As are both singles I'm super familiar with, and Contusion kind of blew me away. Overall, the album was great. It's long enough that I didn't pay close attention to every song, but it's also one I'm looking forward to playing again, and maybe just picking an LP side at a time. 4.4/5
Long album, but good. I enjoyed it and would listen to it again (perhaps in smaller bites). 3.5/5
I’ve always found this slightly overrated, I prefer the tighter pace of Stevie’s single LPs, but it’s hard to deny how much he’s cooking during this period. A wealth of masterpieces. A-
This is a pretty amazing album. It's an hours and 46 minutes long. I looked it up and it was originally released as a 2 LP vinyl set. Released in 1976, it has held up very well. It does not sound dated to me. If you are familiar with Stevie Wonder at all, you'll recognize \"I Wish\", \"Sir Duke\" and \"Isn't She Lovely\". While those are hits, there aren't any bad songs. Wonder is just that talented. Little wonder (no pun intended) it is considered his best. It's pretty much a perfect record.
I'd venture there are very few 5 star double albums, this is a very solid 4, the best bits for a single album would make an amazing piece of work
The range on this album is obscene. From tracks that are really just poetry with an ironic backing (village ghetto land, black man), straight funk songs, jazz fusion, r&b, Spanish language, it’s great. There’s even what sounds like synths in here, though they just be super processed keys or guitars. In any case, the variety is really high here. This being a double album is not necessarily the best thing, though. The content is mostly really great but it has a run time that feels just too long, especially given how many songs devolve in to jams by the end. I’m not saying jams are a bad thing, especially the ones on here, but they do seem like filler at a certain point and a double album really shouldn’t have too much filler. I think the second disc isn’t nearly as good as the first just from quality. Other than “As” and “isn’t she lovely” it’s like a whole album of b sides. This is a pretty big work but I think the length and the amount of non hits sort of diminishes it. The best tracks on here would make a 5 star album easily but there’s just too much.
Wild Wild West and Gansta's Paradise on the same album? Sign me up.
So good. Never listened in full before, but I was surprised at how many songs I already knew. I went to the record store and bought it after I finished. Maybe a tad too long for what I like in a record, but it is legendary nevertheless.
His best album
Songs In The Key Of Life accompanied me on a morning drive to Southampton, and I only just finished it door to door because it's SO BLOODY LONG. There are outstanding, historic songs on there, there's a lot of filler and there's some crap. This gets an easy 5/5 if it was 65 mins long and cuts out the waffle, it's a low 4 because it has too much waste, but the highs are so so good and it's testament to the quality that it's been such an influential piece of work covered and sampled by so many, while the original work still stands on its own too.
I think last time we had a Stevie Wonder album, it was very much quantity over quality. This has a better ratio of quality to filler, but you can't help thinking that it could be a 5/5 50 minute album, rather than what it is, which is 105 minutes of great soulful stuff interspersed with some songs that get pretty formulaic. When it's good, it's really good - the amount of bits that I recognise as samples from later work is ridiculous, which says something. 4/5, there's a top drawer 5/5 album in here, a 3/5 album, and a 2/5 album as well though! 4 seems about fair...
Love it.
Na Pet Sounds nog zo'n iconisch album deze week. Eens kijken of Stevie wel kan leveren. Ik zie al dat er best wat bekende nummers op deze dubbelaar staan. Maar we weten wel allemaal wat we van dubbelalbums vinden. Ik maak me op voor een lange zit. Hopelijk houdt Stevie er een beetje het tempo in, want een dubbelaar vol met trage zeiksoul, daar zit niemand op te wachten. Het ietwat overdrevene zit er uiteraard wel in, maar er zijn ook genoeg uptempo songs. I Wish is wat mij betreft het hoogtepunt. Lekker swingend, ik stoor me niet aan de toeters. Het is allemaal soms wel iets te zoet, met Isnt she Lovely natuurlijk als dieptepunt. Maar het heeft genoeg afwisseling om boeiend te blijven. Ik heb eerder Innervisions met een bonuspuntje een 5 gegeven, en Talking Book een 3. Ik vind dit een prima album en ik kan me wel voorstellen dat er mensen zijn voor wie dit een iconisch album is, maar ik vind het niet genoeg om bonuspunten uit te delen. Dat kan aan de verwachtingen liggen, of aan het feit dat het een dubbelalbum is. Hoe dan ook, 4 sterren lijkt me ook iets om mee naar huis te kunnen nemen.
Great vibe, so many hits, even a little prog in there. Another solid album, this man just did not miss.
Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life opens with a mellow, gospel-tinged track, setting the tone for an album that covers a wide range of genres over its ambitious hour and 48-minute runtime. While not every track fully lands, Wonder’s genius is undeniable throughout. Sir Duke is a standout with its infectious swagger, making even non-dancers feel like they could hit the floor. In fact, the best Stevie is the kind you can strut to. Though Wonder’s musicianship shines, his voice can feel a little thin at times, emphasizing the message of the songs more than the delivery. This works well for the material, though some tracks, like Ordinary Pain, come across as filler in an otherwise rich collection. Isn’t She Lovely is, as the title suggests, a lovely song, though the crying baby intro is a bit grating. Still, you can’t help but admire the sentiment, especially knowing the song was written for his daughter, Aisha, who even gets a credit on the Wikipedia page! A sprawling yet iconic album, Songs in the Key of Life earns a solid 4/5, with Sir Duke leading the pack.
Commonly regarded as one of the best albums of all time. It's definitely up there but I'm struggling to rate it 5 stars. Tons of great songs (Sir Duke, I Wish, Isn't She Lovely, As) but album is long at an hour and 45 minutes. Stevie Wonder is awesome though. 8/10 (4/5)
It’s astonishing to think this was Stevie’s eighteenth album. Most artists barely make it past one or two but to get to eighteen and still be making bangers songs is incredible. Ok so it could probably have done with being split into two great albums but can’t really knock it.
Dang, this thing is long. I had to listen to it in separate increments, because my pop music loving 5 year old child deemed it “too boring,” and “old people music.” However, even she liked Sir Duke and Pastime Paradise. Anyways, doesn’t matter what she thinks. I liked this boring, old people music.
Pretty good tbh didnt expect it to stand out from the pool of similar sounding blues stuff but it does
First time listening to Stevie Wonder after hearing about his greatness and I'm beginning to understand
So many classic groovy tunes!
Almost two Stevie albums back to back, blessed. This one is a bit longer and more drawn out than the previous. Couple bangers with a bunch of pretty good songs but I feel the last album was more tight and a masterpiece. 8/10
Absolute Klassiker auf dem Album.
The first song made me smile at 7am. It's good, but political in parts, which turned me off. I get it. I understand why it's political. It just doesn't apply to me. 8 min songs where it's just repeating itself are boring. I listened to every song without skipping though. Na na na naaaa, la lalalaaaaaa.
Only criticism is it’s quite long but some great songs on here.
Very solid, man's a genius. I appreciate the music for sure. Only 4 stars since this is not my genre though :)
"Oh! I'm invited to your wedding... AWESOME! Before I RSVP, please tell me if you plan on playing "Isn't She Lovely" at any point during the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception or afterparty... Oh, it is .. ? uhhh, I know we've been friends since we were in kindergarten and you helped me through my eating disorder and the death of my cats, all six of them, but perhaps consider changing the music lineup...? " Tho 'Isn't She' is on this album, both Talking Book and Songs in the Key of Life are the only Stevie Wonder my cats and I can listen to. It wasn't until I hit the wedding portion of my life that I discovered Stevie Wonder is surprisingly tolerable, even great.. That's because I grew up with Stevie Wonder singing "I Just Called To Say I Love You..." over and over on the radio relentlessly. This is a great album, maybe a little too long, but always a great listen, especially Sir Duke and I Wish.
It took two listens through, and I’m on board. I get a little lost during the extended instrumental passages, but always find my way back to the harmonious path. This is an emotionally evocative album with a lot too offer. Of the TW double album, I prefer the first.
I love Stevie Wonder and a few of my favorite songs of his are on this album. The prog instrumental is insane, then it gets followed by 4 incredible songs. Sad to say though that I was pretty much done with this album after "Ordinary Pain". But it just kept on going. Too long
Great singer. One for the lifetimes .Good songs.
I'm torn, on one had I can see how this album is so highly regarded but on the other hand the music just doesn't resonate with me. It's good music no doubt, but I personally would never really intentionally play it again. I think 4 stars is appropriate here.
This was a great album. I enjoyed the entire first disc, but the second half is where it lost me a bit. I think if it was trimmed down I would enjoy this album a lot more.
Landmark type album. Lots of grooves... Stevie doing his thing
I was excited to get this album because I know it’s a highly respected and beloved album, but I’m just not loving it as much as I expected. I don’t dislike it by any means, but I thought it would be an instant favorite for me and I’m not finding that to be the case. Perhaps my high expectations are causing me to be a bit more critical than I would otherwise be. I found myself enjoying the hits (which are powerhouses, no doubt) but mostly being underwhelmed by the other tracks. If I’m being honest with myself, I don’t love it enough to give it a 5. Interestingly, I found the second LP to be much stronger than the first (which I don’t often find to be the case for double albums). Overall, an enjoyable musical journey, but it’s a low 4 for me. Another Star is a straight banger though. 4/5 Highlights: Sir Duke Pastime Paradise Isn’t she lovely Black Man If It’s Magic As Another Star
groovy, funky sound - I can't believe I'd not heard the whole album before
Expansive album with lots of really nice, catchy and solid songs. Well worth the listen.
Fantastic album title and some great, great tunes here and there but long but then again I could listen to his drumming all day long. I think Innervisions was his peak for what I like about Stevie.
I appreciate it that this collection is doing its best to give us all more exposure to Stevie Wonder, and so far the albums seem like good exemplars. But for whatever reason--age, experience, musical preferences--I'm just not that big of a fan. Still. Nonetheless, an interesting album by Mr. Wonder, with his penchant for early synth sounds on full display, and an intriguing balance between easy listening and insightful lyrics and some harder-edged music as well. And while this album is about twice as long as I'd have preferred, to his credit there's not too much filler. (I'll admit I wasn't quite tolerant enough to listen to the 4-song EP that accompanied this double album.) My favorites on this were probably "Have a talk with God", "Sir Duke" and "Pastime paradise" (mainly because of Coolio's adaptation, I know). (I really wanted to enjoy "Village ghetto land", but the synth strings/organ-sounds *really* didn't work for me. And I'm not sure I'd call it a favorite, but I appreciated "Contusion" mainly for the Jeff Beck "Blow by Blow" vibe. Lastly, I appreciated what he was doing with "Black man", but it just feels a bit too long to make more than honorable mention.) I feel badly giving the album only 4 stars, especially given how much acclaim it's received, as well as being so influential to so many different types of artists, but it just doesn't work for me the way I wish it would, so I'm compromising between my experience (3-star enjoyment) and great-album status (presumably 5-stars). Sorry Stevie!
I enjoyed listening to this more than I expected to--Sir Duke and Pastime Paradise are great songs--and the rest of the music seems to me to be working up to the greatness of those two songs.
Yeeeesss my fave stevie album 💅🏾
A couple of weaker tracks on here, but still has that Stevie magic. I always feel like he had the ability to take cheesy lyrics and make them sound good. I've no idea how he did it. Oh, and Sir Duke is a certified classic.
So many bangers.
Wait….. Pastime paradise? Damn, how young I am to think that Gangster’s Paradise is an original song 🤦🏻♀️ Surprisingly, it’s the first album by Stevie Wonder that wasn’t an execution for me.
I'm not sure it needed to be a double album, but I wouldn't turn it off.
One of those consensus masterpieces that I've always been aware of but shockingly it took until today for me to sit and listen to the whole thing. And it's very easy to see why it's so loved and highly acclaimed by so many. So many iconic standards of soul and funk, some that I knew and some that were brand new to me. Some that frightened me on first listen; sounds I had no idea were being employed in the mid-70s and just a level of pure sexiness that is just unfair in these kinds of quantities. This is not my favourite kind of music and I don't own a lot of soul but it's clear how far ahead of his peers Stevie Wonder was and it's obviously a good starting point to dabble into the unfamiliar. I will be returning.
This was a great album, but man was it long. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
The first disc was amazing. Was thinking about five stars but then it started dragging a bit. Still an amazing album
What can I say that hasn’t already been said (by Eddie Murphy)? Stevie Wonder is a musical genius! 4.5⭐️
Party
I mean it's Stevie Wonder. His voice is so easy-going and authentic, I enjoyed this entire album.
Loved the gangsta's paradise cover
I liked it a lot but double albums are a tough go. Still a ton of songs that were amazing
I grew up listening to this album a lot and honestly never realized just how long it is which may be the only mark against it that it could be shortened. But still incredible songs
You can't beat the 1-2 punch of Sir Duke and I Wish. Great album, though its length caused it to get diluted from pure bangers to good music to vibe to. If it were a bit tighter in the tracklist it would be a 5.
Some classics. Not sure I’d listen to the album as a whole, but great vibe.
A really positive album with some great Stevie Wonder classics.
4 - Just a jolly listen, some great tracks some more mid, but nothing bad. I guess Pastime Paradise is the original gangster paradise, does that mean "Amish Paradise" is a parody parody? I liked disc 1 a lot more. The uncut, long songs on disc 2 could be a bit dragged out
This must be my favourite of Wonder’s albums - there are so many great songs on here and it doesn’t feel like a double album
This is my first time listening to this record from start to finish, but I have heard a majority of these songs before. This is a great R&B and soul album. Stevie is an incredible talent. I enjoyed it very much.
Ah, we’re back to the Stevie Wonder Russian roulette again. It’s the same story as ‘Talking Book’ really. He’s either really magnificently funky or dull as dishwater, with nothing inbetween. And this time that precarious balance extends across a double album. On balance I’ll take the extra excellent tracks as a positive here (there aren’t many albums that have this many bangers). So let’s mark it one more star than the single album! (I’m also assuming I’m not the only one who did a massive double take at ‘passtime paradise’. I never knew that Coolio had ripped that off so blatantly.)
Fantastic!
Light years beyond smooth Vastly emotional pop With funky breakdowns
this is good but wayyyy too long 4/5
Very relaxing voice mixed with great rhythms. Nice use of various instruments. I massively enjoyed the first half of the album and liked the second.
Great grooves
This was fun! I love "Sir Duke" of course. I feel like I don't have very many comments LOL but I enjoyed it, and I would listen again.
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this album, and I’ve added several songs to my playlist. However, when Contusion goes too far into jazz city, and the playtime is almost endless, I can’t give more than a 4.
The hits hit harder than most entire albums, so the parts that are a little weirder get pushed under the rug pretty quickly. Definitely enjoyable, but has flaws.
Thankfully, this was a much more enjoyable album compared to the last Stevie Wonder album I reviewed, especially considering it’s a double album. “Songs in the Key of Life” is a very soulful album that covers a lot of ground. It features a wide array of instruments, from traditional ones to horns, strings, harmonica, keyboards, and synthesizers. Another fun fact I learned while listening to this album is that Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” is a complete rip-off of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise.”
One of the greatest albums of all time and for a damn good reason. It's groovy, it's soulful, it makes me feel alive and most importantly, ive listened to like half of this album despite never listening to this album you know something is influential when you have several "THAT'S WHERE THATS FROM?!" moments. Past time Paradise. Isn't She Lovely. Black Man. This is an album I'm gonna show my kids.
Stevie Wonder and this type of music have never really been my thing but I can easily recognize that this album was an accomplishment and while it's a bit too long, it's an enjoyable listen. I'd be remiss to give this anything less than a 4 even though it's not something I'd seek out.
initially while i was listening, i was worried that i wasnt going to like this especially since i finally have an excuse to listen to this. this one has been sitting in my listen list, but i never got to it because of its length. i wasnt really getting into it until i got to sir duke, then it picked up from there. unfortunately, i cant really say the same for the second half. isnt she lovely is great, but overall i felt like the first half was better than the second. as and another star were also great, but the hits in general on first half were better imo. despite this being almost 2 hours, i enjoyed the listen even after listening to it all in one go. 4 personal favs: i wish, pastime paradise, summer soft, another star
Some of Wonder’s best and most popular work, for good reason. Lots of song variety too, which felt fresh. Two discs felt like a lot, but still a great album.
Peak Stevie? Maybe.
This is good R&B/soul, well written, well interpreted, but it's a bit too long to my taste even though I can understand that if you're into the genre it's probably the best almost-2 hours you can spend. I'd put a 3.5 if I could, but let's round it to 4.
How can a person listen to this and not rate it at least a 4? I haven't actually heard a Stevie Wonder album coming into this... I was a bit sceptical going in, noting the length and the fact that this was like his eighteenth album or something. But luckily, this is just solid from beginning to end, and it was over before I knew it.
I liked it
Stevie Wonder is fantastic, this didn’t need to be a double album though.
An album I've been meaning to listen to, and it didn't disappoint.
Great album, one of the best!!
Didn’t realize Stevie was so influential on 90s rap. Solid background album to play while working. Best Song: Sir Duke
I'm giving this 4 stars. Let's be clear here, this album is from a genre that I despise. I normally can't stand Soul, R&B, Pop, Jazz-Soul, or anything vaguely related to these genres. I'm 425 albums in and my three worst genres are Soul, Pop, and World. This album should be getting a low rating from me based on the genre alone. However, I actually really enjoyed this. There were some tracks I knew, but hadn't know their names, but the majority of this material was new to me. I didn't get bored with the length, as there were enough changes in tempo and style to keep things moving along. It's just a really, really good album. I still couldn't quite bring myself to rate it as a 5 star album, even though I strongly believe that the quality here deserves that top rating. By my own voting standards, it's something I might listen to again, but it's not going on regular rotation, so 4 stars it is.
A wonderful classic, has so much soul
A good album, I liked Knock Me Off My Feet, Sir Duke and I Wish. I also didn't realize Gangster's Paradise was based off another song but Pastime Paradise is really good!
Lyrical,good songs im general. Storytelling in some songs is top tier and the whole sound is great
Favourite song - Sir duke
This would be a perfect album without some of the outros which seen to go on forever.
So many bangers on this one - it's an impressively massive double album with tracks that are just in the ether (Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely). Not as tight as Innervisions, but something I'll come back to again.
Blindingly good
My least favorite instruments are piano and horn and among my least favorite genres is R&B, yet this is a brilliant album of songs performed by a great artist. Still, not much fun for me - the quality is obvious, but it's not my cup of tea. Still.....
What an amazing album
The Soul record you have to listen to. Nearly 90 minutes long but each song super melodic and catchy. Wonder's velvet smooth sound is very beautiful to listen to. Songs have great production: sounds very clean. Like Mozart pieces. Fun and enjoyable. Political lyrics seems a bit cliched (still relevant though). Favorites: Love's in need of love today, Sir Duke, Joy inside my tears, Another star, Ebony Eyes.
I enjoyed most of this, and I understand its significance, influence and staying power. Stevie definitely had an ear, some funk and a solid groove. Several of these tracks are stapes of any 70’s pop or easy listening list. I should have known that Coolio borrowed basically the entire song of Gangstas Paradise from Stevie, but that was a surprise. Plays a little long and has some lulls, but I still give it a high mark all things considered. 4.25/5
This was a commitment to write and produce and just amazing that Stevie did this all at the age of 24-25. It was also a commitment to listen to in full and probably my only complaint due to its length. But damn…hard to argue against its cultural and industry relevance. A genre-spanning work that has some cheesy moments but overall grooves its way into forever top lists for a reason.
Hot start to the week! At his best, few can groove like Stevie. Like with any album this long, there’s some stuff I could do without and Stevie can get sappy at times, but obviously this is a great album.
A bit long for my tastes (both songs and album) but overall a solid groove and Stevie has endless talent, musicianship and creativity. You got a problem? Have a talk with gawd.
Both as a regular listener and as a song writer this album is amazing. both complex harmonically and catchy at the same time without discourage either group. It is a bit long though and it can be repetitive at some points. Allot of hits but also some less memorable tracks. If I had listened to this album when i grew up it would probably be a 5 but from one listen i rank it a 4.
It's a classic. I love it, BUT there are sections that lower the score. Specially forgettable songs like Saturn and If It's Magic. Plus the non-musical moments on Black Man and Isn't She Lovely hurt the replay value. There is some pure magic on this album, like Knocks Me Off My Feet, but I'm giving it a 4 overall.
It was better than expected! I thought about a sleepy soul record but his one has a lot energy and some very good lyrics too.
Not my thing but very good. Did not know that gangsta's Paradise was based on a song from this (or maybe it comes from even before that)
Många fina låtar.
4.5/5
7.5/10
brilliant
A bit of an odd one for me. There's nothing stand out bad here, and there are some absolute gems, but it just feels a bit bloated and too damn long. There's nothing wrong, but it just didn't grip me like The White Album or Physical Grafitti does.
This album is very long at 1h45m (double album plus an EP). It has a number of damned fine songs, but it is far too long and some of the songs don't really hold my attention. I found the lyrics rather banal. On the other hand, this is his 18th album and he was only 26. He must have been writing and recording songs at one hell of a pace!
A few songs are "easy listening", but that's not a fair assessment. The album is more of a total sonic experience in soul and R&B.
Love Stevie. I see how highly rated this is but for me it’s not quite up there with his very best because it’s a double album and it does overstay it’s welcome a bit. So it’s a 4
I'm of the opinion that any album longer than an hour usually has songs that could easily be cut and it would improve the album. Yes, every song on this album is between good and great, but even good and great songs lose their lustre when they go on too long. Now imagine a single album with only the best songs, it would've been so tight. Now it just meanders on at points, it is a shame.
Þetta var löng plata en stórkostlega gaman að hlusta á hana. Ég efast um að ég muni nokkurn tímann ná að hlusta á hana í heild sinni þar sem hún svona löng en ég mun alveg pottþétt setja hana á og hafa hana í bakgrunni. Þetta er nefnilega algjört gæðaefni.
Beautiful
Crazy not to get bored of an album this long, but it was a blast from start to finish!
East listening with some great songs!
Such a good album and easy to listen to. There are some greats on the album, but not something I would listen to all the way through regularly.
I didn't know that his song "Pastime Paradise" was sampled for Gangsters Paradise. This is the case where a song can make an album.
Really enjoyed this! So many classics and such variety in style overall, really loved it.
Great album, well deserved as one of the top of that era. Maybe goes on a bit too long but a very enjoyable listen. Haven't given Stevie Wonder too much airplay before but he's a fantastic artist. Can't believe this is his 18th album!
Amazing production and instrumentals. Stevie Wonder has a voice that doesn’t even sound real. I’ve already listened to this album before.
my only real complaint is that Black Man is just We Didn't Start the Fire for 1970's American race relations and it is the longest track here which makes it stick out. Moments where the album drags (Ordinary Pain, Black Man/Ngicuela) are immediately followed by highlights (Isn't She Lovely, If It's Magic) and preceded by highlights (the run from Sir Duke to Summertime Soft, Joy Inside My Tears). One of the few albums where I knew it was a classic from a first listen, it's an absolute titan of soul and melody. The strings on Village Ghetto Land and the harmonica on Isn't She Lovely are my two favorites pieces of the music on Songs in the Key of Life. This could easily be a 5/5 on further listens if I warm up to those previously mentioned drags.
Sir duke, isn’t she lovely, I wish, pastime paradise. Interesting, diverse, fun album. Love
Great album. Sprawling, hopeful, touching, loose. Has some of the greatest songs of all time (Isn't She Lovely, Sir Duke) and it really does instill some form of optimism. Stevie will always be a legend in originality
Didn't get to the end of it because of time. Need to go back later
When the songs hit, they really hit, but this is way too long. Could definitely cut at least 2 songs, and eliminate some of the overly long codas that are in nearly every song. Sir Duke stays one of the greatest songs ever though. Contusion is an awesome prog jazz fusion thing. I Wish is an absolute bop.
Hovering between 3 and 4 star. The good songs are great but there are a few fillers. But there's something good about having fillers ...
1. Love's In Need of Love Today - The introduction reminds of Jacob Collier in some ways. Really nice bass parts in the verse of the song. Really nice and simple approach to the instrumental at the moment, the vocal harmonies really add to the mellow atmosphere. The mixing on the track is also really well done, Stevie's voice is placed in a very good spot in the mix. Like a lot of Stevie tracks i've heard, it serves as a great groove/jam song, going over the same or similar chord progressions. Lyrics aren't particularly strong but they carry the theme very well. The ending is drawn out, but in this case I don't really mind, for a first track, it does really well to ease the listener into the entire album. 2. Have a Talk With God - Such a funky sound coming from this one, really like the keys and what i'm guessing is bass. Feels very extra terrestrial, really like Stevie's vocal take on this track, really adds to the groove. Quite a progressive track for 1976, is quite a refreshing sound to listen to, branches off from Stevie's usual style. Overall really like this track. 3. Village Ghetto Land - Really appreciating the stylistic range the album has so far, the strings on this track are really pleasant, and oddly suits Stevie's voice. The blend of classical instrumentation with a blues like vocal tone does a great job, makes you pay a lot more attention to the lyrics of the song. I also appreciate the fact that they didn't use any other instruments on this track, especially leaving out timpani or anything like that, really does a good job. 4. Contusion - The crunchy chords on this track go really hard, the guitar and bass communication is really nice, very fun song to listen to. Really good instrumentation, the guitarist knows what they are doing, bass player doing a great job also. The drums are nice, I feel like they could play maybe a little bit looser or experiment a bit further with the grooves. I find it interesting to place this Jazz/Funk fusion on this album in particular, doesn't necessarily go against the theme of the album but is an interesting and potentially jarring transition to go from the previous track to this one. Really love the key playing on this track as always. 5. Sir Duke - Classic track, super fun to play with a group of people, there's a lot you can do with those chords. Melody in the introduction is really strong, the muted guitar is doing a really good job. The chromatic bridge motif might be my favourite part of the song. The instrumental part C section is super tight, very fun to listen to (hard to play well lol). I feel that the players are enjoying themselves while playing, which seeps into the listening experience as well. Not much more to say about the track, everything plays their role perfectly and doesn't overstep into other areas of the song. 6. I Wish - Absolutely love the groove on this one, feels the most refined and well developed so far. Nice chord progressions, really helps build the tension into some areas of the song. Very fun to hum along to the vocals but also very much the instrumental, mainly the horns. Probably my favourite track so far, overall just really fun to listen to manages to remain fresh throughout the entire song. 7. Knocks Me Off My Feet - I could imagine a lot of people sampling this track, very mellow, and is definitely a good song to unwind after the previous two tracks. Really love the melodic nature of all the tracks on the album, makes each listen really unique as you can focus on an entirely different part of the song and still discover new things about it. Really like the drum part on this song carries the tune quite well. The key change was really well done I thought, the keyboard run down made it feel very seamless. The singing is very amazing. 8. Pastime Paradise - Really interesting start to the track, had no idea that this song was THIS song. Really nice mood change in the album, feels like it has combined the classical strings and funk of the previous songs to make a sombre yet groovy track. Feels like Stevie has taken a much more serious approach on this track vocally, which is an interesting and cool thing to see. Love the gospel like outro. 9. Summer Soft - Really pretty song, despite being quite personal and heartfelt, it manages to maintain a lot of momentum, especially after the bass kicks in. Really love the harmony and chord changes in this piece, it does it's best to surprise you and you are unsure of where it's going to next which I love. When the piece picks up after the half way mark, it hits so hard, and is one of my favourite moments of the album. Stevie really hits it home with the vocal take at the end as well, feels like they poured a lot of their soul onto this track. The keys in the outro are very brilliant, shows off Stevies supreme talent. 10. Ordinary Pain - Since the first second, it feels like a create song to rap up the first disc. Contextually, it feels like a very nice piece to land on, after going through such a variety of sounds and feelings. The longer the track goes the more it ages I feel, however considering this album is 1 hour and 45 minutes long it isn't so bad. The change up near the halfway mark is super nice though, was very surprisingly and made me get back into the track. I like the different perspectives the lyrics take on this song, feels like quite a story focused song. Pretty solid backing track on this song, it's a little difficult to pick out a lot of the niche details of each part, as it feels like a solid wall of sound. Really brilliant songs here, all of them are so melodic and interesting to listen to. I'm not going to do the second half of the album because I don't have enough time, but a lot of those tracks I know for a fact that they are very strong. Beautiful album which its influence has gone far and wide. Rating: 9/10
Biggest bangers, but the rest of the album could do with a little more fun