Songs In The Key Of Life

Don’t know that it can be less than 4 stars. Ding it slightly because it is very long and loses some quality.

This album was so wonderful 😭🥹 I agree with other reviewers who said that they’ve had to second guess some of their previous 5 star reviews, because THIS is a 5 star album if ever there was one. I can’t even believe how many amazing songs are on here. Yes, it’s definitely long, and some of the individual songs run a bit long too, but that’s really just nitpicking, because this album is really one hit after another. Each song is special. And Stevie Wonder has such a positive sound. He was singing about some pretty heavy themes in a few of these songs, but he made sure that they were still listenable and enjoyable instead of just making a point. This has become one of my favorite albums of all time just like that. I loved it so much❤️❤️❤️

Great album love Stevie Another one I remember hearing on vinyl back in the olden days. Yeah it might get a little bit long and weird but its got the funk, jams and is just good

Carried by the singles

A classic.

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.

Excellent - his best!!!

One of the most (the only?) essential double albums. Every song a masterpiece in itself.

This album is amazing!! Stevie Wonder is magician with music. I am definitely adding this entire album to my library. I already had several subs from it on my likes list, but this entire album is great!

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.

Obviously incredible. Whats more to say!

Iconic from beginning to end!

Gangsta paradise!

Stone cold classic

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.

Some good stuff here, but way too long. This could have easily been 2 albums. The lack of editing really shows on song length too. Should have been easy to tighten up. It’s still Stevie Wonder so the song writing is excellent, just needs a little help. Random - the song "Contusion" sounds like something you’d hear in Mario Kart.

I really, really like this album. I don’t necessarily make an effort to listen to it much anymore but almost every song on this album is gold!

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.

Whoo this album still holds up from the first time I heard it. Highlights for me are still Black Man and Sir Duke but on this side of parenthood the once saccharine Isn’t She Lovely now makes me bawl my eyes out.

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.

# 387 : They've done a pretty decent job, it’s a good album, it’s enjoyable and fun overall. Everybody loves this, but to me, it is better then ok, but not 5 star material.

Very good

odlican naravno

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.

Easy 5, easiest 5 I've ever given. The man, the myth, the Stevie Wonder.

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.

All songs were good and some were great, but I would really only listen to the hits again.

La musica, las letras, cada cancion se siente fresca mientras que a la vez mantiene esa constanza de el género del álbum, de verdad muy recomendable

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.

Fantastic album, all time great.

double album so less inclined to review every track individually, maybe break its down by sides? Nah i've got time Side A Loves in need of love today is very pretty Have a talk with god- What instrument is that? Village Ghetto Land- Lyrically strong Confusion- Instrumental, fun guitar work Sir Duke- Great Pop song, No notes I Wish- DITTO Knock me off my feet- Pretty Love song (stevies bread and butter) Pastime Paradise- LOL did not not know this was the original (but also serious subject matter) Summer Soft- another bread and butter stevie ( his voice is great) Ordinary Pain- Love those female vocals Side B Isn't she lovely- It's isn't she lovely, no notes Joy inside my tears- my favourite ballad so far? Black Man- Tell us Stevie Ngiculela-es una historia- I am Singing- interesting If its magic- cute As- Banger of course Another star- Another banger On streaming there are 4 additional songs from the a something's extra EP but because this is already a double album i'm gonna listen another time. I did just listen to Saturn as I was walking back from M&s, and it's got a great chorus.

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

A wonderfully ecelctic double album.

How the hell do you make a double album with 21 tracks where none of them feel phoned in!? Stevie Wonder cooked with this one. My compliments to the chef

A classic

Today I learned that Gangsta's Paradise came from this. Masterpiece. Maybe if the album was shorter Pastime Paradise would've solo carried, but it is what it is. Apart from THE song I only liked instrumentals in a couple of others

Wouldve given it a 5 solely on the fact that Ordinary Pain was a perfect song IF that song did not include the switch-up second part

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

I get that everyone loves Stevie and he's very good at what he does, but this album is like processed food. High fructose corn melodies in every song. Nothing really innovative. Nothing really stands out.

Very fun

Aw, man, this slaps! Extra pints for the insane noises during Isn’t She Lovely and the sheer audacity of Coolio to be annoyed at Weird Al for Amish Paradise

My introduction to Stevie Wonder; what an incredible listen! While the latter half didn't click for me like the former, the quality was nonetheless consistent. No doubt the best album I have encountered on this list thus far. The wide range of styles and instrumentation combine for a whole-package experience that I will most certainly be coming back to. Favorite song: Summer Soft Overall, a solid 9 for me, rounded up to 5 stars.

brilliant but about 20 minutes too long

i think the key (of life) is listening to these albums in the car cuz dang the second half of this album hit harder than it ever has. a serious classic. always my answer for what album is coming with me on a deserted island, and for good reason.

an all-time album. just gets you moving

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.

This is good but goes on a bit. Also spawned Wild Wild West which is worth a deduction.

Some good songs, even some great. But also some really mediocre and many that are just too long without keeping it interesting lyrically or musically. Like so many double albums this would have benefited from someone who isn't afraid to tell the artist to focus and make an awesome single album instead of keeping everything.

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

An album this long should feel ridiculously bloated, but Stevie pulls it off. This album is an immersive experience from start to finish with very few problems. It's amazing that a blind man creates such visual songs.

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

brilliant, not much else to say. It's a double LP 5/5, stevie put this out for fun. Can’t believe this is his 18th album! It’s undeniably great and arguably the best album on this list. I could wax lyrically about this album, but really all I can say is go listen and enjoy his masterpiece

A classic whose reputation is deserved.

Fantastic album.

such an amazing album. 10/10.

Beautiful album. Takes me back to childhood.

Good 4/10. Pastime paradise, Sir Duke

Have on vinyl. Extremely rare for an album of this length to be so consistent. Endlessly sampled up to the modern day. As is one of the best songs Stevie Wonder ever recorded

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"

SitKoL is essentially as close to a perfect album as you can get, which is even more impressive a statement when you realize it's a massive double album containing almost an hour and a half of material. When you have the runtime of a feature film and all of it is some of the most gorgeously arranged, incredibly written music you've ever heard, you've got something special. This album is special. Possibly the greatest piece of modern music ever made.

Good. Not earth moving.

Disc 1 on its own would be a really strong album without Disc 2 dragging it all down. Honestly don’t see the all time great album hype but I still enjoyed a decent amount of the album.

3-4

Groovy, Funky, Romantic, Beautiful album.

Lots of songs, hooks and beats I recognize. It obviously has had an impact on music going forward but even though I enjoy the ones that took from this I don’t see revisiting it. I was interested to hear the variations in song style while still all remaining a cohesive album.

Not my personal favorite Stevie but undeniably a masterpiece tour de force, etc.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS FIVE NO QUESTIONS ASKED

Pretty solid double album. Some classic Stevie tunes here.

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*

Did not like at the start, but man, this shit grows on you... So many great songs... Gets worse in the second half, but still overall great

Songs in the Key of Life I remember being slightly put off by the density of this when I first bought it, after I already had Innervisions and Talking Book, and being slightly underwhelmed by the lack of immediacy of the opening track. But the truth is Love’s In Need of Love Today is an excellent track, slowly working its charms, much like a lot of the album outside of the super catchy, Sir Duke, I Wish, Pastime Paradise and Isn’t She Lovely. There’s some many tracks and so much stuff on here, but a few highlights outside the classics above are the spacey, squelchy unusual semi ambient sounds on Have a talk with God, the gentle balladry of Knocks Me Off My Feet and melody of Ordinary Pain, the strut and racial politics of Black Man, the classic laid back Stevie melody of As, the energy of Another Star, the synthy catchiness of Ebony Eyes, the funky All Day Sucker and the melancholy harmonica of Easy Goin’ Evening. There’s a lot to process and take in, but it is an incredible record, getting better with each listen, often songs that started out unpromisingly become favourites, and it has that same eclectic, scattershot feel of the White Album. It also feels like a final emetic burst of creativity and ideas and his high watermark, and that he was never quite as good after this, becoming more middle of the road and less interesting. I don’t think it can be anything but a 5. 🔑🔑🔑🔑🔑 Playlist submission: I Wish

Stevie Wonder at his best.

A twofer... or possibly threefer... Glad I had the day off! Some hits and misses here. A few tracks would definitely benefit from a radio edit, but overall, I do appreciate the eclectic nature of the album.

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

Not only is this one of the best Stevie Wonder albums, it’s also one of the best albums of all time. Stevie is throwing 100 throughout the album with many bangers throughout and an insane consistency over the 1 hour 45 minute runtime. It’s fun, poppy, and lighthearted but also deep and reflective. It’s the type of hits we all love mixed with jamming and unconventional songwriting. Tl;dr this rocks

Great album. I had no idea this is where Gangsta's Paradise got its genesis. Will never hear it the same again.

Очень клевая музыка, пара треков - хиты

Absolute gem of an album. So many great songs.

Hall of Fame

Disk 1 hørt det var en 3er. Disk 2 var kedelig. Der er et par bangers på, men lidt lang oplevelse.

Hold nu op det er langt Der er nogle sjove og tankevækkende sange, der er også et par rigtig gode, og så er der alle dem der er blevet genbrugt af andre senere. Det er og bliver ikke min musik stil. Det er sikkert banebrydende og vildt godt for sin genre. Men jeg keder mig. Også igennem flere af de numre jeg ved har været hits.

9/10 Banger. Sounds super fresh, production and music is amazing. As is the voice. Loads of cool storytelling. A small handful of songs that sound like they are 100% outro keeps it from a perfect 10 for me. The songs with the super funky squidgyness are my favourites Best: As

is this the greatest album of all time?

Stevie Wonder... bäh dachte ich, Ebony and Ivory, lass gut sein, da habe ich früher immer schnell umgeschaltet wenn das im Radio lief. Und da soll ich mir jetzt ne ganz Platte anhören? OMG. Nie lag ich falscher, sorry Stevie, ich war ein blinder Ignorant und hatte keine Ahnung. Fantastische Platte, keine Ahnung wie ich mich so verlaufen konnte. Volle Punktzahl.

"Sir Duke" and "I Wish" are among my favorite Stevie songs, but most of these tracks aren't my thing.

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.

album muito interessante, da pra entender e porque todo mundo glorifica o Stevie Wonder. Percebi várias referências e samples que foram retiradas desse álbum para músicas pop, rap e até aberturas de podcasts kk Muito bom nota geral 9.5 Tem o plus de ser bastante longo comparado aos álbuns atuais

Some really great songs on here. Really enjoyable album. Will be keeping it saved in my regular rotation.

I can't believe Weird Al Yankovic would copy Stevie Wonder! Where's the originality in this world?

Wow, Songs In The Key Of Life was an album that i absolutely loved. Stevie Wonder was always capable of greatness throughout his career but this is where he truly brought out his A game. Sure, it was a long one at an hour and 25 minutes but it was an hour and 25 minutes of some of the most sublime soul music out there that always managed to stand out from each other despite the long length yet still heavily being products from this album. I also do find it interesting that the original version of Coolio's \"Gangster's Paradise\" came from this album, a place i was not expecting at all. Sure, this album does have problems but none of them are enough for me to give this album any lower than 5 stars. Best Song: Sir Duke Worst Song: Love's In Need Of Love Today

Very long, so it had a lot of opportunities to impress, and there are a couple of great tracks on here: Isn't She Lovely was a stand out, Black Man and Village Ghetto Land too. Very interesting to hear Pastime Paradise as well. Certainly one of the most intriguing and influential albums from this list, but overall a bit too easy-listening for me.

还可以吧，上世纪金曲的感觉

Classic with amazing tracks. Overall great.

So long had to listen over two days. Staples in there though !

Despite this album being viewed by many as Stevie Wonder's magnum opus, I feel, while it is magnificent, it just feels like it is too much of a good thing. But, I don't want to focus on anything negative. There is greatness here and that is enough.

Other than it being too long, I throughly enjoyed this album. So many hits and samples for future hits

Another lovely album for this week. I was worried at first when I saw the play time, but it gets off to a cracking start. A lovely sprinkling of familiar tunes keep you switched on throughout, coupled with his delightful voice. I’m not sure how a man with no vision can be so descriptive with his lyrics though, ebony eyes? Orange snow on Saturn? If you’re reading this Stevie (with your eyes and not your fingers), which you probably are, I’m onto you, and your excellent colour perception.

Pleasant, jovial and a bit boring Listening to this album felt like I'd been strong-armed into going to a mates family function, and I was too polite to say no.. as he didn't want to go either. I recognised a few faces I hadn't seen in a long time, and it will probably be a long time before I see most of them again. There were a lot of pleasantries, small talk and everybody seemed nice, but it was a strain to keep having these empty conversations with people I knew I didn't want to see again. By the end of the night, which felt like forever I just wanted a mucky kebab, a shit pint of lager and for someone to start a row and make a bit of a scene. Instead I had to make do with funky vegan finger food, spritzers.. and having to sit there whilst someone I didn't know just talked at me for too long. At one point early on I did think things were shaking up a tad when it sounded like the DJ was going to whack a bit of Coolio on, but I soon realised it wasn't even Weird Al's Amish Paradise that was being played. Despite me looking at my watch too often, to see if I'd been at the party long enough to justify me leaving, I did find myself thinking, 'this is alright' a lot of the time. The vegan tempura was a bit funky, but I warmed to it as the evening went on and the second half of the night was a bit livelier. Some of the tracks were a faster tempo and I much preferred those.. it was like someone's roguish Uncle had turned up half cut and injected a bit more life into what otherwise felt like quite a steady evening. I wanted to spend more time with that guy- but seeing as he'd already turned up pissed, he was passed out behind the smoking shelter before too long and it was time to go home. All in all 3/5 stars for me. Some meh songs, some were okay but went on too long, however some of the more up-tempo stuff like 'Black Man' and 'All Day Sucker' I really enjoyed. Thought about giving an extra star because it's amazing that Stevie was able to sing along the whole way through without being able to read any of the lyrics.. and for the fact that Randy Marsh clearly makes an appearance at the end of 'Black Man' (6:54).

Might be one of the most complete albums I’ve ever heard. I’m only going to point out 2 things I didn’t particularly like. I felt as though Summer Soft dragged on abit in the second half. And that Ngiculela song was obviously non-understandable until he finally just repeated ‘i am singing’ in english. Two very minor personally unenjoyable parts of what is otherwise in my opinion, genuinely a perfect album. Had to point them out otherwise I’d have had nothing to say, because I can’t afford to spend an hour writing all of the things I liked about it. Hearing music that I’m familiar with through the samples was great too. What a talent.

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.

This was one of the best listening experiences so far of this challenge. What an incredible album. I love a lengthy album. The music builds beautifully and lies. So right in your eardrum. Lyrics are incredible too. Joy in my tears and black man gave me chills. Never listened to a striver album back to back

4☆/5 11.18.2024

Nice

Stevie really got the funk. It’s a shame he mostly used his incredible gifts to make mom soul (the pendant to dad rock). There are some great tracks here between all the bland.

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.

Didn’t realize how many hits are on this album. It is a great record but I think 10-20 minutes could be cut without damaging the whole album

This has to be one of the best albums of all time. Double albums usually have a ton of city able tracks but o don’t feel like that’s the case here. Just a staggering number of great songs can found here and the hits HIT. The back to back grooves of “Sir Duke” and “I Wish” is unbelievable, the political messaging in “Village ghetto land” and “Black Man” is powerful, and even the country attempt of “Saturn” works for me. I cannot believe one person masterminded this entire thing. Stevie Wonder is a genius plain and simple. Easy 5.

One of the greatest- so much has been said about this album over the last almost 50 years. Just beautiful. It really does contain multitudes. So rich and warm and laid the template for so much music that proceeded it.

i likey

Can I give this one six stars? An amazing album!

Easy 5/5. One of my favorite records of all time

Fun, groovy, good songwriting with interesting ideas throughout. Way, way too long to keep me interested though.

Banger. Lots of good classic Stevie on here.

Love it

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 the greatest album of all time. If you rated this any lower than a five, do me a favor and cut off your ears, then give them to someone else who deserves them. Not only is your music opinion invalid but you no longer deserve the ability to hear.

Long album. Smooth playing but not my style

Very good but a little long, definitely would be better to listen to on record

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.

Never listened to this whole album before, I didn't realize it was a double album, I know and love the hits. Wow, Contusion sounds like a Zappa song, crazy how technical some of this stuff is, going from that into Sir Duke is so awesome. Just realized that "Wild Wild West" is a sample of I Wish from this album lol, also Gangsta's Paradise from Pastime Paradise, but I already knew that one. Overall what a great album, so much awesome musicianship throughout, great writing, awesome singing, harmonies, a lot of variation across the album too.

Classic pop songs

Gotta say as an overall piece, I was a left a little "meh". Surprised me. In a not great way.

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

Sooo random - the order is WILD, but the singles are TIMELESS. Dirty Loops took way more inspiration from him than I thought?

Crazy how much of his legacy is on this one album

This is the kind of album artists put out at the end of their career, when they've mastered the craft, only in this case, Stevie gets it right in his prime. A lifetime of experience and mastery with a fresh and creative streak of a debut album. Hardly any bands can do something like this. It is long and not every song is a hit. There's a lot of music in this album that isn't filler per say, but it represents musical calms and slow points that take you between the highs. This is the kind of album that you can put on just to enjoy. Before the age of burning CD's or the shuffle button, this is what you get a project that you can listen through like a movie and enjoy the pieces as they come. There are no skips and the highs are Stevie's best songs. This is an album that I had never properly listened through and I'm glad I did. I won't say that I'll start putting this album on when I'm bored sitting around, but I'd like to get to a place in my life where I could.

Now I know where Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise comes from.

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.

I'm a little more partial to "Innervisions" but, honestly, you can't go wrong with anything he's ever done. At least from the 1970s.

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

I have to be honest here. I wasn't really looking forward to this at all. Stevie Wonder just feels really old and uncool to me. Like basically everyone on this list is old now, but something about him just feels a bit forced. Like he was so popular back in the day that I want to think I'm edgy and cool and don't like Stevie Wonder. Anyway, I was obviously wrong. This was incredibly good. It's ok to be popular sometimes, you can be popular and good. I apologies for my error. Since this is my first Stevie Wonder album, a bit of additional context. He was 26 when this came out, and it was already his 18th studio album. That's a lot of albums. His first one came out when he was 12 years old. Honestly kind of impressive that he was able to keep the quality up for so long. This thing is just incredibly smooth and easy to listen to. It has some hits, it has some slower songs where he shows off the vocals, the background instruments are jazzy and interesting, he wrote all the songs. It's a beast at an hour and forty-five minutes (including a bonus EP that was included in the album), but it somehow manages to be good throughout. I don't know what else to add, it's just great. It won a Grammy, sold a fuck ton of albums, what more is there to say. Great album. Favorite song: Sir Duke Other: Love's In Need Of Love Today, Have A Talk With God, Contusion, I Wish, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Pastime Paradise, Summer Soft, Ordinary Pain, Isn't She Lovely, If It's Magic, As, Ebony Eyes 10/29/24

There is a reason Will Smith, Coolio, Ja Rule and Snoop (probably more) all sampled songs on this album...its great! I think I envisioned more albums like this on the list. Looking at the samples you can easily see how much his music influenced so many musicians and future music. Pastime Paradise really got me, Gangster Paradise was just a rip off of this song! Stevie Wonder is so amazing, this album makes me want to dance and move with such ease. I always knew he was amazingly talented but I had never listened to an album. The second album started to drag after the first couple, but As was a good addition late in the game.

Too much awesomeness to break it all down. Stevie's voice is just one of the greatest. So soulful and uplifting. Great grooves. This album is incredible in it's diverse song styles, subject matter, and artful expression of a great musician.

I've heard so many great things about this album, so was very excited to see it pop up today! It has kind of a magical quality to it, I think in part because of his soothing silky voice, and also the almost ethereal way the songs are composed. It's also a really nice blend of beautiful love songs, musings on life, and important racial and political issues. Stevie is one of a kind.

....Yes

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...

Stevie is amazing human being, although this album was more hit-and-miss than I expected. Some tracks really lost me, whereas others had me totally hooked.

Stevie is a madman on the mic and this album demonstrates that. Sir Duke, I Wish, Isn't She Lovely are all fantastic songs that I knew but I was further impressed by the rest of the album. Pastime Paradis surprised me and i now know where Coolio got the sample for Gangsta's Paradise. My biggest complaint would be length, I don't personally enjoy albums that go over an hour as it usually means somethings can be cut. I'm not sure what you would cut from this album. It would probably be a 4.5 with half stars but I'll be rounding up for this one.

First time listening all of the way through this album 10/23/24!

Second album de SW généré après 'Talking Book' que j'avais peu apprécié. Le premier morceaux de ce nouvel album ne m'a pas rassuré, morceau très long et très peu varié. Les 2 morceaux suivants ne sont guère mieux. L'instrumental "Contusion" est bien plus intéressant, jazz rock qui groove avec un bon chorus de guitare électrique, un vrai plaisir. Quelques autres bonnes surprise (tubes connu et/ou morceaux appréciés) : I Wish, Sir Duke, Summer Soft, Isn't she lovely Donc globalement constat similaire au premier album écouté : certains morceaux funk/groove sont très réussis, mais je trouve les autres (la majorité malheureusement) très ennuyeux ou trop longs. =>2/5

Love it.

Na The Crusaders onlangs nu de grootmeester van de uitgelaten funk zelve. Die moeiteloos een dubbelalbum vult met zijn energieke vondsten. Het klinkt na al die jaren nog even fris, elk nootje staat op z'n eigenwijze plek, af en toe is er wat inhoud en elke grijze herfstdag kikkert ervan op. Zo doe je dat, beste popmuzikanten.

Al twee keer eerder keek ik uit naar een Stevie album. Twee maal viel het tegen. Vooral de softe nummers deden mij niets. Het was soms (vloeken in de kerk natuurlijk) wat zielloos. Waar ik eigenlijk op hoopte was dat hij zijn krachtige muzikale stijl en stem meer inzette. Ik kom er nu achter dat mijn Stevie verwachtingen wat meer op dit album waren gebaseerd. Dit is Stevie in volle glorie. Zeker, er staan ook wat minder interessante softere nummers op, waaronder enkele hits. Maar die worden goed afgewisseld met krachtigere of meer creatieve nummers. Op cd1 staat een rij heel gevarieerde nummers achter elkaar, allemaal van top-kwaliteit. Een aantal van die nummers zijn in een gecoverde versie ook een hit geworden. Als een nummer in een hele andere uitvoering overeind blijft, toont dat de basis top is.

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.

Superb!!

The Good: a bunch of songs in the same key! The Bad: only a double album. The Ugly: it isn’t his best album… I had a massive smile on my face when this album popped up, and I’ve listened to it 3 times since, as this album is a the soundtrack of 3 formative years of my life. Favorite song has always been Ebony Eyes, and yet on playlists, most people will opt for As, Isn’t She Lovely, Sir Duke, I Wish, Black Man, or any of the other MASSIVE songs on this album… and then most people react to the fact that “hey, Coolio actually covered one of his songs”… makes me sad as it means all those persons had never heard about this album prior. This is a must hear album that should be mandatory listening in school! 10000000000*

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.

So this is where Will Smith and Coolio got there samples from??? My god this album never ceases to amaze me. 10 out of 5 stars

Biggest surprise take away was learning Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise came from this album.

Funky

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)

Stone cold classic

Clasic

ohhhhhhhhh stevie wonder look what you've gone and done

it’s a classic

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.

His ass cannot end a song

I get that this supposed to be a good album and all but I just can't get into the funkiness of this.

Meh

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

OK, this one absolutely belongs on this list. 5/5

Great album, full of evergreens

So many classic groovy tunes!

Stevie Wonder's classic that instantly solidified him as one of the greatest music artists in the world. And for good reason; Songs In The Key Of Life is such a life-affirming album that makes me believe that songs can reach some higher power. I don't know what Wonder's inspirations were when he was making this album but he managed a whirlwind of different sounds and ideas that makes it seem like he's some sort of musical genius. He might be, I can't say for certain. What else needs to be said? I could point to a lot of songs on here but every time I think about Isn't She Lovely I start to well up a bit. How do you make such a beautiful and joyous song about your baby daughter and get away with it?

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

After diving into some challenging yet ultimately rewarding music, I was eager to immerse myself in Songs in the Key of Life, an album universally revered by critics and fans alike. While it feels audacious to critique a record that sold millions and earned Stevie Wonder an Album of the Year Grammy, I must admit this wasn’t quite what I expected based on the rave reviews. The choice to release a double album is considered financially fruitful today—double the songs roughly equals double the streams—but in 1976, this likely had record executives pulling their hair out. In that decade, everyone from The Stones to Zeppelin to Elton John took similar risks, making it fitting that Wonder released his own opus. A more concise album filled with pure hits might have been more effective, but for these artists, proving their prolific nature was a flex in itself. I was familiar with the massive singles that shine in Wonder's discography. "Sir Duke" is timeless, revealing new facets with every listen, while "I Wish" is pure joy, even getting me—the most awkward dancer in the world—on the dance floor. Among the deeper cuts, "Have A Talk With God" stood out with fantastic funk influences. However, the abrupt transition from the poignant "Village Ghetto Land" to the jazzy "Contusion" and then to "Sir Duke" can be jarring. It feels like Wonder is eager to showcase his myriad talents, and while he leaves his contemporaries in the dust regarding sheer musicianship and creativity, this ambition can sometimes result in musical whiplash, a theme that repeats itself throughout the album. "Knocks Me Off My Feet" pleasantly surprised me with its warmth, perfectly encapsulating Wonder's signature sound. Though it may not reach the heights of his big hits, it demonstrates his prowess in more subdued settings. "Pastime Paradise" is another highlight, with textured synths adding gravitas. Coolio's best-selling single in the '90s essentially samples this Stevie Wonder classic, illustrating Wonder's profound influence. Will Smith also scored a chart-topper with a carbon copy of "I Wish," showcasing Wonder's lasting legacy. "Summer Soft" offers a delightful moment, with jazz influences that allow the melody to soar. Yet, I find the pacing around this part of the album disorienting and somewhat unfocused. "Isn't She Lovely" is a sweet ode to his daughter that would have felt cheesy in the hands of another artist, but Wonder transforms it into a universal celebration of fatherhood, making it a track almost anyone can hum. "Black Man" is another standout, bursting with energy Jamiroquai’s entire persona was based on. At over eight minutes, it could feel excessive, but its liveliness and Wonder’s charismatic delivery keep it engaging. While I have immense respect for Stevie Wonder, the pacing of this release feels intentionally uneven. An alternative track listing might enhance the listening experience—though who am I to advise such a genius? At 105 minutes, fatigue inevitably sets in, making it tough to maintain focus—especially with the original LP editions that included a bonus 7-inch EP, A Something’s Extra, with four extra tracks. It raises the question: could some tracks in the latter half have been saved for future releases? This would have necessitated getting up to switch records at least three times. Yet, glancing at my score sheet, no track—except the slightly repetitive "Joy Inside My Tears" and "Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing"—scored less than 8/10. Perhaps more listens will help me embrace the album as a cohesive whole, as I clearly appreciate each track individually. Right now, though, I’m struggling to connect with it completely on an emotional level. That said, when the big hits play, it’s impossible not to smile, and those moments undoubtedly elevate the album’s overall score. Did I own this release? No. Does this release belong on the list? Yes. Would this release make my personal list? Currently, no. Will I be listening to it again? The hits are untouchable.

Some great songs. Some great funk and some great lyrics.

I don’t know if this is the last Stevie Wonder album on the list that I haven’t heard yet, but if it is, the RNG save the best for last. This album is the epitome of everything that made the other Stevie Wonder albums so good. This is an artist at the absolute peak of his songwriting and musical talents. The catchiness of every melody is infectious. The feeling that he not only plays with, but also conveys through his music is as clear and as present as it has ever been. That to me has always been the essence of Stevie Wonder‘s music - the feel. He’s nothing if not consistent in that this album, like the others, features an eclectic and wonderful, even masterful blending of genres from funk to soul to gospel to jazz. It all comes together in this melting pot of an album that just works. I don’t really know how much more detail I can say about this, it just works. I found the structure to be interesting. As a double album, it obviously has four sides. The first two sides seem to have songs that you might hear on the radio. Their lengths are radio appropriate, and if they’re not, they could easily be trimmed down for a radio edit. These are the ones that pay the bills, these are the ones that Stevie knew to front load the album with. But the second two sides, those seem to have songs that perhaps take on a deeper, bigger meaning for Stevie. Not only are they longer in length (which makes them not as radio friendly as the first two sides’s songs), but they seem more personal. One song, “Black Man,” seems to be pushing the message that all people have equal value and equal things to offer the world (though the language it uses is rather dated). Another is clearly about his daughter and his feelings right after her birth. This second half of this album seems to be of a much more personal nature, and I think that’s why the tracks are longer. He viewed the second half of this album as his blank canvas on which to paint his personal message. This album could have been a single album with just two sides. But he had something to say, and he needed to say it. So this album became a double album. There isn’t much more to say. This album is a masterpiece. Like I said this is Stevie‘s best. Five stars. Standout Tracks: Have a Talk with God, Contusion, Sir Duke, I Wish, Summer Soft, Isn’t She Lovely

I absolutely love this. I received the vinyl album as a gift when it first came out, and I listened to it endlessly. I still pull it up on the Zune (THAT'LL BE ENOUGH OUT OF YOU, ZIP IT AND READ!!!!) when I want to get a dose of happy. But... I do have one issue with this. What chords are in the key of life? I think perhaps Stevie is being a little disingenuous here, as all of my research doesn't find even a *hint* that it exists. I would really like to know so I could jam along with these tunes, but alas, there exists no guide on how to setup my guitar in the key. I think Stevie's holding out on us, keeping it proprietary in order to keep racking in those sweet sweet royalties. That isn't fair.

To me, this is the greatest album ever made. Incredibly ambitious both in length and variety, showcasing everything that makes Stevie Wonder a legend. This is one that I have come back to on a monthly basis (at least) for years, and I don't think I will ever get tired of it.

Quintessential Stevie! I think that this album is simply about love. That's what I hear when I listen to it. Love permeates most songs. Liked Songs Added: - Love's In Need Of Love Today - Contusion - Sir Duke - I Wish - Pastime Paradise - Summer Soft - Isn't She Lovely - As

Absolute Klassiker auf dem Album.

So like the other Stevie album I’m going with a 3 because I do appreciate it for what it is. This whole album gives me Sesame Street flashbacks? I hadn’t heard Saturn before and I love it!!

Not my music

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.

From the first track, it's easy to see why so many consider this a masterpiece. The production, instrumentation, vocals, composition and experimentation on display here are near perfection and all coalesce into one fantastic album befitting of the status that it is given. The album's staggering length of 104 minutes doesn't hold it back at all, in fact the time flew by and the tracks pulled me in instantly. I wasn't bored for a second with this album, it really is that good and deserves the recognition it gets.

Very solid, man's a genius. I appreciate the music for sure. Only 4 stars since this is not my genre though :)

Takie 3.5/5 czyli tutaj 3. Przyjemne, ale bardzo długie. Kilka utowrów się wyróżnia, reszta w sumie podobna do siebie. Pasttime paradise zaskakujące.

Brilliant album

Pretty sure this is the best album I've had to listen to so far. I mean come on. The Duke and Pastime Paradise on one album? This thing is straight fire.

Don't get me wrong Stevie has some absolutely great songs but I just don't think albums like this deserve the praise it gets because the deep cuts just aren't very good. 2.667

It's a beautiful album rich with memories and beauty. Hard to think of giving it less than a 5. I do think this is Stevie at his best!

"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.

My 6-year-old is in love with “Sir Duke.” It’s been her favorite song for the last month, ever since listening to it in music class. She’s not wrong. It’s a great song. So is “Isn’t She Lovely.” The rest is either forgettable or a little too much. This has been true of all of the Stevie Wonder albums on the list - the greatest hits are great, but I wouldn’t call the albums great.

I was today years old when I found out that Ganstas Paradise is based on a Stevie Wonder sample. I think as much as I can appreciate the idea of Stevie Wonder, the reality is that it's just not my jam, especially the slow ballads. An album with just the faster, funkier songs like I Wish would be a different story.

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.

Great songs. Didn’t know isn’t she lovely was by him.

banger

Absolutely outstanding in every facet - songwriting, performance, use of genre, etc.

could've dropped one or two of the weaker tracks but otherwise great album

Ikkje nåke for meg

Ikkje så glad i sånn musikk

loves in need of love today - 4/5 have a talk with god - 4/5 village ghetto land - 4.5/5 contusion - 3.5/5 sir duke - 4.5/5 i wish - 4.5/5 knocks me off my feet - 4/5 pastime paradise - 5/5 summer soft - 5/5 ordinary pain - 4/5 isn’t she lovely - 5/5 joy inside my tears - 5/5 black man - 4/5 ngiculela-es una historia-i am singing - 3.5/5 if it’s magic - 4/5 as - 4/5 another star - 4/5 saturn - 5/5 ebony eyes - 4.5/5 all day sucker - 4/5 easy goin’ evening (my mama’s call) - 3/5 overall rating : 5/5. oh my god this album went so hard THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH . absolutely zero low points and just overall gorgeous

5+

lindo lindo LINDO !!!!!!!! tudo nesse album é absolutamente lindo e a experiencia de escutar ele foi maravilhosa. eu preferi o lado 1 comparado com o lado 2, mas ambos são muito geniosos e eu aproveitei muito cada um deles. stevie nunca decepciona e ele realmente é uma lenda quando o assunto é musica, admiro muito os trabalhos dele e esse foi o primeiro que ouvi completo!! com certeza vou ir atras de mais...

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.

The giant with shoulders strong enough to support so many artists. Not my go-to when listening to background music, but such an amazing album.

Classic Stevie. He's got a hell of a voice and knows how to use it. I heard everything from groovy, relaxing, empowering, funky, and political in the course of an hour and forty five minutes. Of course, the headliners are 'Sir Duke' and 'Isn't She Lovely', but there's plenty of deeper dives here, including 'I Wish', 'Pastime Paradise', 'Another Star', and 'Ebony Eyes'. I guess the most important part is that it's good enough for Coolio.

It’s nice to get an album that deserves its place on the list. This is a high quality album with solid consistency throughout. It’s not really my thing so I’m not inclined to rate it as such, but I can understand why other people like this.

Landmark type album. Lots of grooves... Stevie doing his thing

Great songs, sounds fresh

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

Мощь. Я даже не могу выделить сильные песни, их тут штук 8. Просто гений.

All killer no filer

Was interested to see if this lived up to the hype as it’s an album you always hear about. Main takeout from listening to this was that pretty much every song has been sampled in one way or another! Also in keeping with many albums on this list, there’s some longgggg songs on it. Sometimes a 10-12 track album of songs that are 4 minutes tops is fine!! Pass it on. Overall, this was fairly decent. Some good tunes!

Incredible stuff. A bit on the long side. But I loved it.

Not my normal listening fair, but it is a solid album.

groovy, funky sound - I can't believe I'd not heard the whole album before

An absolutely incredible album. I don't think I've listened to a double album without a weak spot like this before. Every song has soul, energy, and is fun to listen to. Each song brings something unique to the album, and there isn't a wasted second on this longer record. A master's masterpiece

The greatest double album of all time from a master at his craft.

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.

This album held a few surprises for me, because I had not known that the blueprint for "Gangsta’s Paradise" with "Pastime Paradise" is by Stevie Wonder and George Michaels "As" is originally by Stevie Wonder too. In addition there are the well known hits "Sir Duke", "Isn't She Lovely" and "Another Star". But besides all these hits the album is too long for me and has too many songs that don´t catch me at all. As often - less would be more 🤷‍♂️ As always his harmonica-play is great! 3,5

Yeeeesss my fave stevie album 💅🏾

How do you think Stevie Wonder approved of the album cover?

I lost the game

This album is extremely well put together for something that is 50 years old. It really felt like a lot of Love went into making it. 'Summer Soft' was my favorite track. It was also fun hearing the OG sample to 'Gangsta's Paradise' Wouldn't mind revisiting this album again. (admittedly knew about this album but honestly thought it was Ray Charles who made it)

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.

Stevie Wonder is always great. This album was quite long and while the high spots were particularly bright, there were some lulls. Three stars.

Pretty good album. Loved Contusion, Sir Drake and Pasttime Paradise.

250 albums up so a gnats cockhair off a quarter of the way through. To celebrate this achievement (right word??) I was hoping for a blockbuster album. Well this is certainly a blockbuster but not so based on my own personal taste. Stevie Wonder is one of music’s greatest artists and Songs In The Key Of Life is an album every musoo is aware of. Awareness for me does not equal liking. An inoffensive album but I simply don’t like this style of music. Another album which has a right to be on this list and I rate on its own magnitude rather than my own preference. 3/5 9/9/24

This is a great album that is a joy to put on. I wish I could give it a 4.5 as my only complaint is the sequencing, it starts a bit off slow for me. Once it gets going though around track for it is full of hits and should be part of the regular rotation.

Good album from a legend

I don't know what it is exactly, but somehow this music is incredibly unappealing to me. I can't really find anything obvious to criticize, besides the album being so long (blessing or curse). Musically and technically great for sure, but 21 songs and there's not one I want to go back to? Am I blind, I wonder, or is Stevie blind, Stevie Wonder?

Not for me. 1/5

Stevie Wonder's musical Magnum Opus, a double album that adds an extra 7" EP for a total runtime of over 100 minutes. Yet it still is considered to be one of the greatest and most entertaining Soul albums of all time with many even putting it in their number 1 spot. The album features incredible arrangements, talks about deep philosophical topics as well as modern societal problems and simply beautiful songs that switch from up-lifting and fun to introspective and relaxing without feeling off or repetitive. It is a wonderful album and an absolute staple of Soul music in general. The motivational and smooth Pop Soul opening track 'Love's in Need of Love Today' gets the album started with a lush and passionate groove that features incredible vocals by Stevie Wonder himself but also from the backing vocalists. Even with the 7 minutes of playtime, it flows beautifully within leaving no desires open, it satisfies them all. A beautiful and incredible song to start the album with and without a doubt a perfect song. It builds up with the slightly electronic 'Have a Talk With God' which can be seen as a Proto-Synth Funk and as cool as that name sounds, the song's even cooler. The instruments are a great mix between groovy and slightly silly and the incredible songwriting on top just perfects this song. I absolutely love this song and it's one of my personal favourite songs on the entire album and in Stevies catalogue in general, i just wished he extended this into 6,7 or even 9 minutes. 'Village Ghetto Land' goes a little bit more poetic and mellow with some very classical strings and a few added electronics, I just think the placement of it destroys the way the album build up so far. I was just dancing and this is too hard of a sonic cut for me to genuinely enjoy the song. It's not bad and I support the message of showing the real world that a lot of black folks used to live in with all my heart but I would've enjoyed it much more as a closing track. It's a good song but I cannot stand the way it ruins an incredible run of songs but that's just my opinion. The very Jazzy 'Contusion' is actually an instrumental that combines Jazz with the Funk and Soul elements of Stevies other songs and for not even featuring Stevies vocals this surprisingly works really well. The few background singers add a lot and I think the song turns out incredible. Just a very groovy and beautifully optimistic piece. Stevie returns with the vocals on 'Sir Duke' which most people point to as the albums best song and... yeah I absolutely see why. It's funky, has incredible and very entertaining arrangements and the songwriting is on point. It's just super fun and passionate with everything that it does and it's not hard to call this another perfect song. For me 'I Wish' is even better as it just feels like everything 'Sir Duke' did right but even catchier and a chorus that is just pure Funk greatness. It's such an eclectic song with so many great moments and songwriting that is just so great with all the added deatils in form of a few thrown in words and the bass here is just absolutely stunning. One of my all time favourite Stevie songs and Soul/Funk songs in general. 'Knocks Me Off My Feet' removes most of the Funk and just shows the beauty of Soul music. It's writing is absoutely amazing and the way it builds up the chorus and builds up from there even further is just incredible. The song is an incredible staple of how Stevie can pretty much try every possible way to make Soul music and succeeds in every one of them. Most people will know 'Pastime Paradise' for the cover 'Gangsta's Paradise' by Coolio & L.V. which is just an absolute masterpiece of Hip Hop music and in the same way, this song which was the blueprint is also a masterpiece. Its melody is easily memorable and the vocals are absolutely killing it with how they build the tension towards the chorus and slowly release them again. A masterpiece of music from start to finish (both songs). The great mix of Funk and Soul returns on 'Summer Soft' which has one of the most memorable intros on the entire album. The rest of the song is beautiful as well especially with how it builds up sonically towards the chorus by incorporating more and more Funk elements. The organ near the end also just really adds another layer of greatness. 'Ordinary Pain' closes the albums first half with one of the longer songs at over 6 minutes. The song's first half, while still having obvious Funk influences, is mainly a great Soul song which builds into a beautiful and lush chorus but out of nothing it trancends into pretty much pure Funk with mainly other vocalists shining with the singing. It's a genius way to mix up ideas into two different directions. The first half being more mellow, the second being very energetic and yet they still work perfectly together in one single song. 'Isn't She Lovely' starts the second half with a recording of a crying baby and turns slowly into a very groovy and fun to listen to Pop Soul song which has a total runtime of 6.5 minutes of playtime but it just doesn't feel like that. The song runs past you in the best way possible. Every moment is enjoyable, the chorus is memorable and catchy and the harmonica is a genius addition to the song. The return of the baby and family recordings return towards the end while the song is still playing and as the song fades out, more and more can be heard. It's a beautiful way to start this half of the album with. The slight psychedelic aspects of 'Joy Inside My Tears' adds to the songs atmosphere. It is genuinely a hypnotic piece the way it spirals to the chorus and continues and adds more and more depth into the song both musically and conceptually. It is an absolute masterpiece and I won't write much more because I want to enjoy the rest of this incredible song... The longest song 'Black Man' which comes out to nearly 9 minutes of playtime. It's a great mix of Synth Funk and a little bit of Jazz and a really cool "lecture" gimmick of a class being told about which great things were achieved by a black man or a black woman and also about other achievements other "colours" achieved and it feels super motivational to even me who isn't even black but as white as white gets. It's a song about freedom and how all races are a part of this world and how we should just live in peace together and share the achievements and cultures that wo all created in the thousands of years that we've lived here and I am all for it! Was anyone expecting that Stevie just randomly started to sing Spanish? I wasn't but 'Ngiculela - Es una historia - I Am Singing' is an absolute beast of Latin Soul and even adds some influences of Flamenco which really adds to the song. It's a really good song but I wish he did the whole thing in Spanish because because the second half is significantly more uninteresting. With that I mean that it's still perfect just that I wished that he'd extended the Spanish part. 'If It's Magic' goes very Baroque Pop and even a little bit Chamber Folk and although that style did work really well on 'Visions' on his album Innervisions, this time it's much less interesting. It's not bad, Stevie is still killer with the vocals and the songwriting but I just don't really feel this one to the extend I felt most stuff on the album. The slight Gospel parts on 'As' just make this Jazz-Funk masterpiece even better. It's groovy, catchy, very memorable, has some of the best background vocals on the entire record and doesn't even feel close to the 7 minutes that it's actually long. It is a masterpiece through and through and one of the best songs here in terms of passion, I mean have you heard the vocals that are on here? Incredible, absolutely incredible. The albums second half is closed with 'Another Star' but luckily it isn't the end because Stevie decided to add a 7" EP with 4 more songs which aren't just Bonus Tracks, no they are part of the album which extends this album even further. But back to this song. It's over 8 minutes and combines Latin Soul with Disco and some Samba parts to create a one of a kind mix of sounds that just perfectly work with the warm sound of the album. The background vocals are again absolutely incredible and the groove this song has is outstanding. It's a little bit too "heavy" in terms of the length it hits you with but it's still an absolute masterpiece and would've closed the album perfectly, if Stevie didn't want to add even more stuff! The "A Something's Extra" titled EP starts with 'Saturn' which has the cool addition of a Moog synthesizer which fits in neatly with the Progressive Pop Soul sound this song was going for. It's psychedelic, beautiful and simply incredible. It feels like the Soul version of Space Rock and my god, does this work beautifully. I do think that it isn't perfect, mainly because the second half gets a little bit unappealing when the chorus isn't playing but still, incredible. 'Ebony Eyes' on the other hand adds piano and makes a pretty well made Rhythm & Blues and Soul blend but it feels pretty silly and unfinished compared to the rest of the album. It feels more like they were jamming around a little bit rather than actually recording the song. It's too silly but not in the way where it would add to the song. I also feel like the song goes on for way too long and that all accumulates into easily the albums "worst" song which is still a pretty good song. The Rock influences on 'All Day Sucker' adds a lot to the Synth Funk style of it. It's genuinely an incredible song with a great melody and well made arrangements arround that. The song could've easily been on the "main" album. It's not a perfect song because it would've needed to go a little more adventurous with the songwriting and the vocals but the synth and the guitar do carry this thing very nicely. The full album ends with a nice blend of relaxed Soul and Jazz on 'Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)' which is a great song and closes the album in a very soothing and finalizing way. The harmonica adds a nice sound similar to 'Isn't She Lovely' but way slower. The song's good but it would've needed a little more too it, it feels to repetitive and the harmonica isn't really doing it all that much after a while. The song is nice and pretty good but after a while it just doesn't interest you as much anymore even if the final moments are really great for closing this beast of an album. favourites: I Wish, As, Have a Talk With God, Joy Inside My Tears, Sir Duke, Ordinary Pain, Love's in Need of Love Today, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Another Star, Black Man, Pastime Paradise, Summer Soft, Isn't She Lovely, Ngiculela - Es una historia - I Am Singing (that's a lot!!!) least favourites: Ebony Eyes, Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call), Village Ghetto Land, If It's Magic Rating: strong 9 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

A classic - genius songwriting and tremendous singer

A belter of an album by an artist at the top of their game.

This is perhaps the greatest double album of all time, and it sounds great spinning on my turntable. The grooves and timing, the depth and perfection of the production quality, and the brilliant hooks make this album unforgettable. “I Wish,” with its unmistakable bass line, is my favorite track. The songs on this album capture an entire spectrum of life experiences from birth to death, and I return to it all the time.

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.

Fun but too dang long, and even the good tracks are themselves too long

Any rating other than a 5 is just objectively wrong. 104 minutes of pure, passionate music was blissful to listen to

Einige geniale Songs, im Großen und Ganzen aber eher durchschnittlich 5/10

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.

I already own it and have listened to it more times than I can remember. It's one of the few albums I can listen to back-to-back and not get bored. Every track is a masterpiece. It perfectly encapsulates the 70's for me. It really was a golden period for music, and for Stevie individually it was the culmination of his classic period. If you don't like this you're probably someone I don't want to know!!

Looooong. Some good songs. Sir Duke is my favorite

Wow! 5.

This was a great album, but man was it long. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

Not fussed but a few bangers.

The first disc was amazing. Was thinking about five stars but then it started dragging a bit. Still an amazing album

I was in middle school when this came out. I played Sir Duke’s trumpet part in a talent show. This album has always been a part of my life. I probably listen to it monthly. Looking at Wikipedia for a list of albums released in 1976, there may only be a handful that I revisit like this one, and this is in my top 3.

This double album is long but not a slog at all. There are so many classics on this, so many riffs that you absolutely know even if you don't know the songs. Any rating less than 5* is an insult to the perfection that Stevie brings

Full of classic Stevie Wonder songs , its the final album in the run of great Stevie albums. Having said that , what struck me listening to this now is that there was an element of self indulgence here that a few fades on the long tracks would have cured .. there a few tracks that just go on too long after the song itself has long finished leaving S.W. and the band to jam on relentlessly or just repeat the same line ad-nauseam. The peril of deciding on a double album, and having to pad it out?

Muchos megahits, pero un poco rollazo ....

A lot of great songs and I would listen to a lot of them again. But as a whole the Album was too long to want to pick listen to it in its entirety.

You can't help to sway with this music. It's quintessential Stevie, and Stevie is just so good.

Exceptional.

Very nice and fresh album, although it is not as exciting as I thought it would, but it was still pretty good. There were some very slow tracks, but there were also some great bops. I never knew that Gangsta's Paradise was sampled from Stevie Wonder's Pastime Paradise, 19 years later.

What can I say that hasn’t already been said (by Eddie Murphy)? Stevie Wonder is a musical genius! 4.5⭐️

Easy listen

..

Now this one was great!

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 mean come on, five stars for Sir Duke alone

I liked it a lot but double albums are a tough go. Still a ton of songs that were amazing

I’ve always enjoyed Stevie Wonder but after the two we’ve had through this so far, I really see myself seeking out and repeating these more.

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.

Dieses Album gehört zu den besten Alben überhaupt. Mein liebstes Stevie Wonder Album . Es ist faszinierend wie Mr Wonder komponiert, arrangiert, produziert, interpretiert. Er schüttelt die Songs so locker aus dem Ärmel wie kein anderer. Allein schon die ersten drei Nummern zeigen die Vielfalt des Sängers auf, was er auf dem ganzen Album beweist. Ein Highlight jagd das andere. Bis auf Confusion, gefällt mir gar nicht. Ein Meilenstein und Meisterwerk

Not overly exciting. Stevie's voice can sound odd on some songs. Boring but fine.

A really positive album with some great Stevie Wonder classics.

I'm usually quick to mark albums down for being too long, in this case you have to allow for the length because you'd be hard pressed to cut anything from this.

Wonderful. Incredibly easy to get into despite the length, very musically detailed. Always something interesting going on. Pretty spectacular 👍

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

One of the best ever

He may not have eyesight, but he does have vision! Favourite Songs: Love's In Need of Love Today, Contusion, Isn't She Lovely, As, Another Star. Least Favourite Songs: Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call).

Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 🟠☀️😎 Mix: 🎧😘🤌 Musik: 🎨🎶🤯 Wertung: ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️/5

Amazing song after amazing song. A rare double album that doesn't get outstay it's welcome (maybe skip 'Isn't she lovely; though ) . Absolute five stars.

Pure brilliance. Stevie Wonder at his best in every way. This music stand the test of time while tackling weighty issues. The songs you know are great. The album version of "Isn't She Lovely" only serves to extend the joy and beautiful harmonica work. The songs you don't know are great. Some of the songs you don't know are songs you know; "Pastime Paradise" will be reworked decades later as a hit song in "Gangsta's Paradise." Front to back, a beautiful album. My only complaint is that, on vinyl, they perpetrated that obnoxious trick where sides 1 and 4 are on opposite sides of the same disc with 2 and 3 on the other. Why must they require maximum screwing around with changing discs from the sleeve? Any album where this is the criticism should tell you something.

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.