Fulfillingness' First Finale

The first time I listened to this I was riding in the front passenger seat on a road trip, tripping balls on mushrooms. It is, to date, one of my all-time favorite records.

10/10 how the fuck do you not like Stevie Wonder? the man has contributed some of the greatest albums on earth to humanity

a little sesame street for me

Can't believe I overlooked this album for so long. The guy who say to listen to Wonder's albums chronically are correct over the ones who just say to listen to Innervisions or Songs in the Key of Life. This album is fantastic. Doesn't have any hits, but these songs are pure genius. It just sounds incredible, with unconventional recording techniques that somehow manage to excel with the theme and Wonder's style. It's still distinctively soul, but it's really atmospheric, and you can hear the decades of influence these songs would have on neo-soul from the late 90s to modern age. Not to mention the diversity of these tracks. We go from the echoey emotional "Too Shy To Say" to the funky "Boogie on Reggae Woman", and neither sound like anything else from its time, yet both are fantastic, and that transition does not sound out-of-place. And who the hell plays the harmonica in a funk song? Who does that? Stevie Wonder, and he's been doing that since the 60s. It's so high-pitched but I'll be damned it works. And then what comes after that? I wish I knew music theory to talk about these songs. All I know is that it's weird and highly unconventional but still identifiable and sounds really good, like the Beatles. There's something that sticks out to me about every song, whether cool or unusual and yet it's aesthetically pleasing. It's odd how this is probably considered the weakest of his classic era, but I still consider this is a perfect entry. The only complaint is the lack of star tracks to tie it all together, but the two lead singles come close. Favorites: Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Creepin, They Won't Go When I Go, Bird of Beauty

I love Stevie Wonder and I feel this album is underrated in his catalog. Goes down easy all while making some genuinely heartfelt and poignant statements. No small feat. I used to put "They won't go when I go" on mixtapes and we'd get high and listen to it in silence and it would give us chills. Stevie is the real deal.

Our second album from Stevie, and it's another great one! So many funky instrumentals here, with unusual rhythms and instrumental runs. "Boogie On Reggae Woman" is just otherworldly. As an album, not as grandiose or monumental as Song in the Key of Life, but really great nonetheless. I'll be returning to quite a few on here, they sound unlike anything I've heard before. Favorite tracks: Boogie On Reggae Woman, Bird of Beauty, You Haven't Done Nothin', Too Shy to Say, Please Don't Go. Album art: Absolutely fantastic art, wow. The piano key staircase, all the shadows and colors, this is really awesome. And I love the nod to the Grammys right there on Stevie's cheek, don't forget that this guy won like 300 Grammys in a span of about 10 years. 4/5

I think this the weakest of the albums from Stevie's "classic period", so it suffers a bit in being compared to them. Compared to most other albums from most other artists, it's outstanding, but compared to his body of work, it's doesn't hit the same highs. For 1001 Albums, I think the average person would understand Stevie Wonder's brilliance with Innervisions and Songs In the Key of Life, so having four albums represented seems like overkill. The big singles both work: Boogie on Reggae Woman is slinky and funky, while You Haven't Done Nothin does have a Superstition vibe to it. Heaven is 10 Zillion Years Away is also a standout. The slower tracks don't have the same immediacy - Creepin isn't bad, but Too Shy to Say is pretty dull excepting the steel guitar from Sneaky Pete Kleinow. Again, I like this album, but it's never going to be my Stevie Wonder album of choice.

Jazz people love to say how great Stevie Wonder is at harmonisation and songwriting. Alas, I am not a jazzman, nor – it seems – constitutionally able to get through one of these songs unbored. More like Stevie Natural Occurrence!

It's hard to listen to Stevie and not feel good. His voice is one of the best and the message in his music is so positive, even when it's a slower tune you still need to move along with it. Incredible artist, and this was great to peek into his lesser known stuff.

When I die im donating my eyes to Stevie Wonder 🙏

Compositional greatness unmatched, but the delicate baroque palette means the songs simply don't jam, and that reduces his generational reach, which is when he's at his best. Very pretty though.

Released between two absolute 5 star crackers (Innervisions and Songs in the key of life). First few songs seem light weight sentimental ditties, and it takes a few songs before the funky grooviness starts. Then you realise that they’ve all got under your skin and you’re humming away to some lovely love songs. Subsequent listens double down on all this and before you know it your listening to a classic Stevie album. Just a pity it falls between such giant corkers!

Beautiful, happy music. I feel like music is rarely just purely happy, but Stevie Wonder always hits it right.

So talented and soulful. There are so many weaker copies of SW out there, it's refreshing to hear the real thing.

It’s slower than I prefer. Musically it’s there, the production is good.

I'm surprised I missed out on this one back in my wider music nerd phase, but I'm sad I did - this was extremely good. "They Won't Go When I Go" is an absolute classic.

I tend to score Stevie's albums on the strength of the iconic hits with their ground-breaking keyboard licks while holding my nose for the syrupy ballads. In this case "Boogie on Reggae Woman" is great, "You Haven't Done Nothin" borrows heavily from "Superstition" but there are too many over produced ballads.

Stevie Wonder was on such an incredible roll in the 1970s. I was thinking of downgrading this to four stars just because I slightly prefer Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life, but that feels like I'm penalising him for being too much of a genius.

Is it heretical to say that this is possibly one of the weaker albums during Stevie Wonder's classic run? But that is by the standard of STEVIE freaking WONDER in the middle of his imperial period! This still won Album of the Year at the Grammys and is better than 99.99% of releases by everybody else ever. The singles are bangers (although I have often mused on what 'You Haven't Done Nothing' would have been like with a real drummer). Deep cuts I liked best: the gospel 'Please Don't Go' and hymn-like 'They Won't Go When I Go'. 'They Won't Go' has a lot of cultural legs; covers by George Michael and Chance the Rapper (check out the performance at NPR Tiny Desk) amongst others, and Stevie movingly played it at Michael Jackson's memorial. Stevie Wonder is a genius and a treasure. Five stars, no notes.

Wonder’s run has spoiled me: this is great, just not as great as some of its siblings.

Pretty nice. Stevie never puts out mediocre music, that's for sure.

This is pop gospel for the masses. My husband doesn't like Stevie Wonder and he is wrong.

Excellent album. I'm not sure it's aged well though. The cheesy keyboards were probably amazing in 1974, but not so much now. If I were reviewing this in the '70s or even '80s, I might give it 5 stars, but... I hate to hold a trend or "fashion" against an album, but if yodeling was really popular for a few years, it's simply not going to age well, and I can't ignore it. A decent example is the last song, "Please Don't Go". It's a good song, but the "bass keyboard" hasn't aged well. Ever since the '70s, that line would have just been played on a bass guitar. It doesn't change that it's a good song, but production and implementation does matter. Still, 4 stars.

Fav: Too Shy To Say Least Fav: Boogie On Reggae Woman

Decent, but sounds like Innervisons B-sides in comparison. [EDIT: Mark, this is a prime example of one I return to because I'm sure there's more there if I just listen better; still didn't find it yet though.]

Good album. Stevie is so talented and at the top of his game at this point in the 70’s that even in second gear, as he is here, it sounds beautiful. It’s laid back and almost easy listening music but it consistently sounds warm, pleasant and interesting.

It was good but not great.

I used to (Stevie) WONDER what this album sounded like because I had never listened. Now I no longer (Stevie) wonder.

Overrated and repetitive

Mostly super boring.

Surprisingly not so good.

que álbum delicioso, lindo, encantador.

a simply fascinating jazzy experience

I love Stevie wonder!!

Дуже крутий альбом, Стіві майстер синтезатора, кожна пісня дуже атмосферна і приємно слухати, вокал також на рівні, хочеться купити вініл цього альбому, обов'язково ще переслухаю

Dit is m'n favoriete Stevie Wonder album!! Ik weet niet helemaal waarom, maar het doet iets. Heb het op m'n platenspeler geluisterd, wat misschien niet voor de beste kwaliteit zorgt, maar agh het gaat om de vibe. Alhoewel dit album in z'n classic run van de jaren 70 zit, wordt deze toch weinig genoemd. Het feit dat hij hier 24 was, maakt me extreem jaloers. Sowieso ga ik aanraden om zijn optreden op de begrafenis van Michael Jackson te zien (dan zingt hij o.a. they won't go where I go), het is echt adembenemend! Het leuke van Stevie Wonder is dat het zo ontzettend muzikaal is, maar ook rommelig. Ik heb de multitracks van hem en het is ontzettend rommelig en vrij gespeeld. Zo hoor je mensen net een fout nootje spelen, maar door de muzikaliteit maakt dat echt niet uit. Ik denk dat er daarom ook zo veel leven in zijn muziek zit. Er zit iets ontzettend melancholisch in dit album. Het voelt dromerig. Het is zo ontzettend muzikaal, God wat een prachtige piano partijtjes. Natuurlijk ben ik gaan googlen naar de muzikanten die meespelen en agh wat zien we een diversiteit!!! Het laat wel weer zien dat iedereen elke soort muziek kan spelen (Paul Anka als achtergrondzanger? Vrouwelijke percussionist (Bobbye Hall). En ook de originele Moog synthesizer maker (Bob Moog) die de Moog heeft geprogrammeerd?? En I LOVE moog bass!!!! Ah wat een muziekgeschiedenis. Meestal ben ik geen fan van muzikanten die zelf alles spelen/produceren. Vaak wordt het dan niet echt interessant, is het te eentonig of te veel één persoon (denk aan Prince of Jacob Collier). Stevie Wonder is een van de mensen die dit op een of andere manier wel kan. Natuurlijk helpt z'n bizarre talent hier ook bij. Al zijn classic albums zijn tijdloos, het klinkt gewoon nog zo vernieuwend en goed!

Holy crap this album is so amazing i cant even

AKA “Fuck it, you know! The good one!” per Eddie Murphy’s “Delirious”.

flying fish music thank you sir

Absolutely lovely.

Another album I own on vinyl that I had yet to dive into fully, much to my detriment. How does a 23 year old make work of such profound depth and feeling? This man is truly touched by god. Re: the album artwork- has anyone else ever put Grammy Award statues on their cover and then won them for that album? Favorite song: Smile Please

A warm hug of an album from the soul music great.

the world cooked with this man

Wow what a man SW is and has a superb voice and is a whizz on the piano and what a performer

Stevie. Not my favorite of his classic period, but still.

I love the muzz of jazz and soul on this album. It was familiar and strange all at the same time.

Great album, particularly enjoyed the instrumental in the second track

Another great Stevie Wonder album!

What a beautiful album. Stevie does great work, with groovy, soulful, and at times even haunting sounds all coming together artfully.

Seriously loved this album. The instrumentals in the beginnings for almost all songs were super fun and funky. Instrumentals throughout were so good too. Thoroughly enjoyed!!

I'd never heard the whole album before. Another masterpiece by Stevie. I just can't with all his top notch music. Stevie was the king of the 70s, and there was a lot of competition.

very melodic and nostalgia induced, reminds me of the sun breeze when i was a child. 4.5/5

Great 70s R&B

I just love the vibes, super easy, clean, chill. Definitely a Sunday morning driving to the beach

Der vibe war so chillig und das instrumental war übel krass!!

Goddddd, mindre kommerciel end jeg of life, og en tand bedre end talking book imo, man kan høre harmonikaen fra isn’t she lovely allerede testes af her!!!

what a gorgeous album. no skips, essential listen

Really nice listen, mix of types of songs, all flows well together

That man can do no wrong. Adding "You Haven't Done Nothin'" to the playlist.

I mean, this is Stevie Wonder. These are the gold standards of the genre. It's not a genre I particularly enjoy, but I'm not going to poo poo on Stevie Wonder, man.

Excellent.

Haven’t heard Stevie Wonder quite like this before, only know his huge hits. Really interesting to hear and cool to hear a more raw or rough around the edges kind of sound than something like superstition. This feels like an album you smoke to

Classic Stevie wonder

Fuck me, Stevie Wonder is incredible. Thats it.

4.5/5 Stars Top Songs: Boogie on Reggae Woman, Smile Please, Please Don't Go

Peak

Amazing

The OADc journey is full of surprises. Oddly enough, I bought Songs in the Key of life and Innervisons on vinyl the day before Fulfillingness' First Finale popped up. I'd consider myself a fan of Wonder's classic period, but this is the one album from that era I don't have and had never heard. I get why this one slipped under my radar. It's more subdued than the others, the quiet kid sitting in the back of the party. There are still some funky tracks on FFF, or, rather, one funky track and funky sections of others. And I didn't enjoy it as much as, say, Innervisons, but damn this is a pretty record, and I'm so glad that I finally heard it. While FFF won't match the experience of the other four classic period albums, it's still a masterpiece. Five stars.

Absolutely brilliant!

I just love Stevie Wonder so much. I've never heard any of these songs before and I don't even recognize this album title, despite it being between two I know well and despite it winning Album of the Year at the Grammys. It feels like it should be more familiar. But the fact that it's not at all made for a fun new exploration. And it's true that in listening to it there really is no big obvious single. So for that reason, it's a little behind albums of his that also showcase all-time great songs like "Higher Ground," "I Wish," and "Sir Duke," but with Stevie, that doesn't really matter. Still a 5 star album.

This is highly regarded among Stevie fans. It didn’t change my mind that innervisions is his best album, but it’s Stevie. One of the handful of acts who deserve more than 2 albums here. Most need only one. But Stevie, man. Also extra point for the appearance of Michael sembello, who wrote 'maniac'. Michael plays guitar here. 21 stars.

Absolutely incredible.

Absolutely blown away by this one, the mix of impressive performances musically with heartfelt expression and emotion is incredible

I somehow hadn't heard this album before. "They won't go when I go" was an amazing track.

If Stevie Wonder has no fans, I am dead

This is such a fantastic fucking album, just so perfect to relax and vibe. Beautiful song writing and Stevie at his best

Genius!

Fulfillingness' First Finale- Stevie Wonder Released in 1974 July 22nd Nice feel Overall 8.5/10 Genre is soul and progessive comtep. 17th studio album from Stevie wonder Stevie wonder drummed, played keys, sang he produced the full album on his own. DAMN Michael sembello played guitar 42 min long- decent timing. Heaven is 10 zillion light years away is very good. Good fading out and keeps a strong back beat. Catchy beat You’ve haven’t done nothin has a great intro They won’t go when I go piano solo is really really good. Simple yet complex and interesting, song apexes and falls so interesting at the same time it flows so hard Bird of beauty is a nice change up with how the backbeat is and the woodwind instrument. Vocals on please dont go are fire

Just straight up fucking amazing

Fantastic album

Holy what a smooth album. Some terrific soul on here mixed with some nasty funk. The production is great, the musicianship is tight, and Wonder's voice acts like another instrument that pushes the song over the top. There's not much else to say. For an album that's considered one of his weakest of his "classic period", I've enjoyed it far more than others of that era. The lack of a true hit single or timeless Stevie Wonder hit adds to its allure - it's just a strong, steady, funky album through and through.

Love Stevie

Stevie really is a wonder, man.

Funkadelic

Absolutely loved this album. Listened to it front to back twice while walking through the woods. This is a wonderful album.

Classic Stevie. Funky, mellow, introspective. This album flew right by. Great listen.

As always, Stevie Wonder proves he’s in a league of his own. The production is stunning, he plays most of the instruments himself, his vocals are flawless, and every song feels perfectly crafted. Favourite tracks: Smile Please, Creepin', It Ain't No Use, Bird of Beauty, and especially They Won't Go When I Go - an absolutely tragic piece that sends shivers down my spine every time.

Pretty good album 5/5

Amazing soul record, Stevie only makes hits

This album is actually really great. I haven't ended up liking that much some of the songs here, but most of them are very impressive. So, even if I doubted whether to give it four or five stars, I think it well deserves five. The variety of sounds and layers on this album is amazing. I've enjoyed it a lot.

5/5 like every stevie wonder album

It is always a nice feeling to have a Stevie Wonder album to listen to, never a chore. What another fantastic album, his melodies, lyrics and interpretation are amazing and it shocked me that he even sang in Portuguese on one of the songs. I had Innervisions before, which I felt more developed butvIbpoved this one too! 5/5

Easy A! 5/ 5

This one bowled me over track after track! After feeling a little let down by Talking Book, I was wary, but the subtle brilliance of this album tore down my walls. It’s such an impeccably executed but easygoing set of tunes. It has been almost nothing but standout moments. Great melodies, grooves, instrumentals, solos, lyrics. Every track has given me something lovely to latch on to. Must-listen #238!

Jebote u ovoj prvoj polovici sedamdesetih je inspiracija baš mazila stevieja

he was really cooking with this one

i cannot see how good this is

Another excellent album from his best era. While I wish that there were a few more funky songs like "Boogie on Reggae Woman" or "You Haven't Done Nothin'," the lyrics are fantastic, especially on the spiritually plaintive "Heaven is a Zillion Light Years Away." The production is also stellar. He was absolutely hitting his stride during this period.

Another fantastic album from Stevie's golden era. It has everything you'd want, the gospel songs, funk jams, soulful ballads. Also, I'm a big Dylan fan, but absolutely no one plays the harmonica like Stevie Wonder. He makes that shrill instrument sound silky somehow. I especially loved Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away, the Nixon takedown You Haven't Done Nothin, and the almost creepy with its rapture vibes, but super mesmerising, They Won't Go When I Go. A 4.5 for me but its Stevie Wonder, gotta round up

I apologize Mr.Wonder, I was unfamiliar with your game. Fantastic record, fun, heavy at moments, just lyrically on point. Musically nailing it, just a banger of a record.