POLLTIME PARADISE: ILM Artist Poll #9 Results -- Stevie Wonder

http://ih0.redbubble.net/work.2299322.2.flat,220x200,075,t.jpg

Alright. Just under 30 ballots total, but still enough to get some unique results. I'll admit that there are a few I didn't expect would make the top 10, so chew on that.

Not too much activity on the worst songs and albums side polls, so I'll start with those and then get on with the songs. Schedule:

Today: #40-26
Monday: #25-11
Tuesday: #10-1

YES!

YES!

DOO-DOO WOP

Start with the obvious.

WORST SONG

3. (1 vote each)
I Wanna Talk to You
Master Blaster (Jammin')
Superwoman (Where Were You Whan I Needed You)
Sweet Little Girl
That thing he did with Blue. Eurgh.
Village Ghetto Land

2. Ebony & Ivory (2 votes)

1. I Just Called To Say I Love You (3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV6qflI1Jsg

(I did not factor in any of those as negative votes on the main feature songs poll, btw.)

That thing he did with Blue. Eurgh.

Ha! I don't even need to find out what this is.

FAVORITE ALBUM

3. (three-way tie; 1 vote each)

http://bklynbywaycuse.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/1974fulfillingness_first_finale.jpg

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/300x300/57014011.jpg

http://jensenbrazil.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/frontblog9.jpg?w=300

2. (3 votes)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61rEBXLxaYL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

1. (8 votes)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZM1T93dVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Alright, onto

TOP STEVIE WONDER SONGS

40. ORDINARY PAIN (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 100 points, 8 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv1Wt4duDT8

(Grr, meant to bold that.)

I've heard SitKoL a couple times, but I'm not overly familiar with it. This song is great!

39. ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR (Innervisions, 1973) -- 103 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCNMy5NeEGQ

"All in Love is Fair" breaks my damn heart.
― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, November 8, 2003 3:42 PM (7 years ago)

Ordinary Pain starts out sorta lame and then becomes AWESOME

(I voted for it)

I should admit upfront that my ballot was basically just ranking the hits, almost no deep cuts. Oh well.

well, so many hits to choose from

I have one of those irrational attachments to "Superwoman" that goes back to adolescence--high on my own list, but not surprised to see it show up among the worst.

is Ordinary Pain a deep cut? kinda feel like everything on the peak trilogy albums is a hit tbh

I'd never heard of it before the poll started.

Dunno. I think anything not on At the Close of a Century could count as sort of a deep cut.

"Superwoman" is marvelous! It's sung so warmly that it makes the sexism creepier.

38. FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (For Once in My Life, 1973) -- 111 points, 9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxVyaYuGYE

i've never been to rickross.com once in my life
― J0rdan S., Thursday, April 3, 2008 2:02 AM (3 years ago)

the year is 1968.

the first one of mine to show up

was gonna ask, that's from '73!?

I'm going to be a treasure trove of C+P errors, for the record.

never heard that one - may have avoided it due to associations with the Righteous Bros song of the same name, which I def. don't dig

One more and then I have to grab some lunch.

37. SUMMER SOFT (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 128 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDnwWkxEnMY

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BITCHES! MY #1 SONG JUST BARELY MAKES IT!
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Friday, October 7, 2011 12:23 PM (0 seconds ago)

not really feelin that one

Enjoy your SB.

not really feelin that one
Sounds a lot like album filler to me. But I must admit that I haven't paid much attention to side 2 of SitKoL - sides 1 and 4 are far more interesting to me.

Seriously? I can think of no other Stevie Wonder composition (aside from "Golden Lady") that showcases his astonishingly complex changes and knack for embedding key changes into the songwriting in as non-gratuitous a way as imaginable.

yeah summer soft is a bit too twee for me iirc

voted for ordinary pain. could have voted for for once in my life on a diff day. all in love is fair is maybe my least fav song on innervisions and by that i mean it is just an 8/10 jam.

G-D you if I ever start listening to "Summer Soft" in the future and the word "twee" pops into my head.

I will hunt you down.

:)

35. (tie) BLAME IT ON THE SUN (Talking Book,, 1972) -- 131 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqr6XydnT0M

TS: Stevie Wonder's "Blame It On The Sun" vs Milli Vanilli's "Blame It On The Rain"

The winner is "Blame It On The Weatherman" by B*Witched.
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, August 16, 2006 8:55 AM (5 years ago)

35. (tie) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (Aretha Franklin, Let Me in Your Life, 1973) -- 131 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl7o7eZjLC4

this record has a real nice intro
― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Sunday, May 29, 2005 11:41 PM (6 years ago)

one of the best stevie wonder songs made by another artist, evah.
― blahbariantheoriginal, Monday, May 30, 2005 3:29 AM (6 years ago)

xxp - I'm afraid key changes don't excite me very much, but a good hook does. And I don't hear one in 'Summer Soft'. Yet.

two of mine back to back

i never knew he wrote that aretha song. but then i am a numpty. would have voted for it if id known.

Guess "Summer Soft" was one of those songs that got me to get beyond pop music just being "good hooks," but I hear tons of them in that song anyway so shut up.

Yes master.

34. PASTTIME PARADISE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 135 points, 9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DumOCxDxov4

Vergeet ook Ray's acht-en-een-halve-minuut durende wervelwind door Stevie Wonder's Pasttime Paradise niet. Que rico.
― GzZz (Gzz), Sunday, February 19, 2006 7:20 PM (5 years ago)

hmm never heard that Aretha before this poll (that "that's what I'm gonna do" refrain sounds familiar tho... hmm). not really into either too much, def prefer Stevie's version of Blame It on the Sun.

xp

I did vote for Pastime Paradise, but on reflection I don't find it a very pleasant listen.

Pasttime Paradise is such a weird song - def something groundbreaking going on there with that odd synth-gospel-lurch feel

i feel like there was a great cover of UYCBTM in the late nineties/early 00s but I can't for the life of me remember who did it

oh wait i know it from this mazing version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MArfC8z3mM

I like 'Blame It on the Sun', but I wish the chorus was a little bit stronger; the verses are so lovely.

I hadn't heard that Aretha song, and I'm afraid Coolio ruined 'Pastime Paradise' for me.

33. IT'S A SHAME (The Spinners, 2nd Time Around, 1970) -- 137 points, 6 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0B1KgPZn0A

"Doh!" Best songs given away by the writer to another band?

Oh! Stevie Wonder gave "It's a Shame" to the Spinners and "Tell Me Something Good" to Rufus & Chaka. Those two have to be near the top.
― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Sunday, March 26, 2006 10:24 AM (5 years ago)

Many thanks to Eric for running this poll. There will always be a place for it in the Talking Book of my heart.

My Ballot:

He’s Misstra Know It All
Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing
Jesus Children Of America
Living For The City
Big Brother
Pastime Paradise
Golden Lady
Superstition
You Haven’t Done Nothin’
Higher Ground
Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away
I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
As
Please Don't Go
Sir Duke
It Ain’t No Use
Ordinary Pain
Ribbon In The Sky
Tuesday Heartbreak
I Was Made To Love Her
Village Ghetto Land

There won't be a poll for an artist I love as much as Stevie or Prince unless three years down the road there's an Erykah Badu poll or something tho. :/

Hold on, where's 'They Won't Go When I Go'?!

^^^didn't make it!

48th! For shame.

#1. Angie Girl
02. Golden Lady
03. He's Misstra Know-It-All
04. Ribbon In The Sky
05. Too High
06. Visions
07. All In Love Is Fair
08. Creepin'
09. Don't You Worry Bout A Thing
10. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
11. If You Really Love Me
12. Superwoman
13. Hey Love
14. Living For The City
15. Jesus Children Of America
16. Boogie On Reggae Woman
17. I Go Sailing
18. You've Got It Bad Girl
19. Signed, Sealed, Delivered
20. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
21. I Was Made To Love Her
22. More Than A Dream
23. As
24. I Wish
25. Nothings Too Good For My Baby
26. Ain't That Asking For Trouble
27. RUFUS - Tell Me Something Good
28. SYREETA - I Wanna Be By Your Side
29. SYREETA - Come And Get This Stuff
30. SYREETA - Spinnin' And Spinnin'

fave Stevie ALBUM (by a mile): INNERVISIONS

ranking beyond the top 10 or so was difficult, especially comparing the Rufus and Syreeta songs vs Stevie.
"They Won't Go When I Go" the main cut I thought of after I hit send. kinda burned out on Superstition by now!

surprised Hey Love was a no show in Top 50

wait Tell Me Something Good didn't place either?! BAH

It would have been top-3 for me if I'd been paying better attention to what he wrote for other artists.

mine

Superstition
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Higher Ground
Tears Of A Clown, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
We Can Work It Out
You Haven't Done Nothin'
Part-Time Lover
Living For The City
I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)
I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
Sir Duke
I Was Made to Love Her
Do Yourself A Favor
Isn't She Lovely
Look Around
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever, Four Tops
Boogie On Reggae Woman
He's Misstra Know It All
Summer Soft
Have A Talk With God
Lately
Ebony & Ivory
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away
Maybe Your Baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Pastime Paradise
Golden Lady
I Just Called to Say I Love You
Love Light In Flight

Rufus' "Tell Me Something Good" has got to be one of the most amazing "given away" songs ever. One of these great songs that sounds like nothing else.

my ballot:

Do I Do
Superstition
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
If You Really Love Me
Sir Duke
My Cherie Amour
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Living For The City
For Once In My Life
Please Don't Go
Fingertips, Part 2
Lately
You Haven't Done Nothin'
Never Had A Dream Come True
Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer
Tears of a Clown (Smokey Robinson)
I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares
I'm Wondering
Tuesday Heartbreak
Golden Lady
We Can Work It Out
I Call It Pretty Music But The Old People Call It The Blues Pt. 1
Funny How Time Slips Away
Hey Love
I Don't Know Why
Ebony And Ivory
Never Gonna Give You Up (with Raphael Saadiq)
Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
Shoo Be Doo Be Do Da Day

my favorite album:
Talking Book

my least favorite track:
Master Blaster (Jammin')

"Do I Do" was your #1, al???

Consider this love.

Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing
Master Blaster (Jammin')
They Won't Go When I Go
I Was Made To Love Her
Uptight
Superstition
Light My Fire
Another Star
Higher Ground
All In Love Is Fair
Sir Duke
A Fool For You
I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
As
Golden Lady
Living For The City
Give You Love
Black Man
Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years
Keep On Running
Something Out Of The Blue
Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
Boogie On Reggae Woman
Creepin'
Nothing's Too Good For My Baby
Sunset
He's Misstra Know-It-All
Summer Soft
We Can Work It Out

Album: Innervisions
rotter: Superwoman

i'm not sure if i want some candy, Alfred, but i'll take the compliment

i assure you all that anything in bold on my ballot that you haven't heard is way more fun to listen to than boring old "As"

01. He's Misstra Know It All
02. Sir Duke
03. Superwoman
04. Uptight
05. Signed Sealed Delivered
06. Golden Lady
07. Don't You Worry Bout a Thing
08. I Wish
09. Superstition
10. My Cherie Amour
11. Creepin'
12. Living for the City
13. Boogie On Reggae Woman
14. Blame It On The Sun
15. Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer
16. I'm Goin Left (Syreeta)
17. You Haven't Done Nothin'
18. I Was Made to Love Her
19. Isn't She Lovely
20. Ordinary Pain
21. Don't Know Why I Love You
22. I Believe (When I Fall in Love)
23. Spinnin' and Spinnin' (Syreeta)
24. Joy Inside My Tears
25. Send One Your Love
26. Ribbon in the Sky
27. Please Don't Go
28. All in Love Is Fair
29. Hey Love
30. Jesus Children of America

I am -- honestly -- shocked that "Part Time Lover" didn't place at all.

it's not as widely disliked as "i just called" but it is as widely dismissed

So much the better arrangement though -- the Vandross scatting, the long melody lines.

It's also the randy stepbrother/antithesis of "I Just Called..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epEQhxslprE

Gary Byrd and the GB Experience - "The Crown" (Produced by Stevie Wonder)

I've always though that the overtly Stevie parts of this (roughly 4:22-6:40) belong in his canon.

But, the Gary Byrd "raps" are pretty awful.

anybody make a spotify for this? i mean i've heard most of these anyway but still

http://open.spotify.com/user/ephender/playlist/3s10R5EfPD2hpKojGccxQd

http://sjuonlinenews.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/vault-boy.jpg

No "Fingertips"? Fuck this bullshit poll that I didn't vote in.

WTF I was the only voter for "You Met Your Match." Happy to see 2 other people voted for "All Day Sucker."

ha rev otm, i thought "fingertips" was a lock

xp Aw, Gary Byrd's Are You Ready for Black Power? is great.

I thought Fingertips would be Top 10, easy. So much joy in that record.

My ballot, non Top 50 bolded:

01. Higher Ground
02. Master Blaster (Jammin')
03. Sir Duke
04. I Wish
05. I Love Every Little Thing About You [Stevie / Syreeta]
06. For Once in My Life
07. Superstition
08. Do Like You
09. He's Misstra Know It All
10. Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing
11. Golden Lady
12. Living for the City
13. We Can Work It Out
14. Rocket Love
15. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
16. Happy Birthday
17. You Haven't Done Nothin'
18. I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
19. Pastime Paradise
20. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
21. As
22. Black Orchid
23. As If You Read My Mind
24. Summer Soft
25. Too High
26. Isn't She Lovely?
27. Lately
28. Do I Do
29. Happier than the Morning Sun
30. I Can Tell When Christmas Is Near [Smokey Robinson & The Miracles]

So..."If It's Magic" didn't even place.

I'm SO going to the Chicago show.

only if he does Hotter Than July in its entirety.

Maybe for an encore.

I'd vote "Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" #1 if we redid this. really I'd vote Stevie's drum playing #1, so into that today. do we have a thread just for Wonder as a drummer?

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/wonder_week.html

Slate's Wonder Week, "telling our greatest living musician how much we care."

No arguments here.

that piece on his drumming is o_O

fabulous article

Happy birthday, Stevie!

man, I BELIEVE (WHEN I FALL IN LOVE IT WILL BE FOREVER), you just knock me out

good #1, alfred--one of my fav songs to play on the piano

Happy birthday again!

Ranking those albums.

Talking Book is the one album in the whole classic run that just doesn't connect with me on the same level as the rest.

(Musiquarium has four new songs too.)

That's me and Songs xpost

I garbled that sentence. I was trying to say that two of the new songs were best-ever cuts.

Ah, got it. Yes, "Front Line" is neither fantastic nor a classic.

Inspired by Chris's Hit Parade podcast, and upon realization this hadn't been turned into a Spotify playlist ...

https://open.spotify.com/user/ephender/playlist/5hayJcMGy0BoMFQ517MNen?si=f4THhSknQaO8m93KXiByiA

I rank his pop top tens.

I'm surprised that he had so few of them tbh.