― Dan I. (Dan I.), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:39 (twenty years ago) link
― dieblucasdie (dieblucasdie), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:40 (twenty years ago) link
Anyway classic. I only know the mid 70s work, people on the other SW threads were praising the 60s stuff, which I imagine to be great in a fun motown way.
― de, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:48 (twenty years ago) link
Woman in Red onward = Dud
― Autumn Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:51 (twenty years ago) link
― Dave Segal (Da ve Segal), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 23:13 (twenty years ago) link
― angel duster, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 23:28 (twenty years ago) link
― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 00:16 (twenty years ago) link
but he made some of the most joyously swinging soul singles of the '60s, and then made these absolutely perfect albums all in a row in the '70s:
music of my mindtalking bookinnervisionsfulfillingness' first finalesongs in the key of life
and then went on to make a couple of good if not great albums afterward before finally burning out and turning into a very hit-or-miss '80s soul dude.
an amazing singer, a great songwriter, an inventive arranger, and if he needed to play all the instruments himself, he could do that too, a la prince. that latter talent wouldn't really matter if the songs weren't there, but they were, and he had range, from smooth balladry to jittery funk to protest music with strings. and he could rock the clavinet like nobody.
if his rep is a bit lower than he used to be, which i'm not sure it's true, that sure as hell ain't stevie's fault.
dud. not.
― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 03:02 (twenty years ago) link
― Dan I. (Dan I.), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 03:20 (twenty years ago) link
― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 03:41 (twenty years ago) link
And, hey - just because something's overrated doesn't neccesarily mean it's not great. It can be both!
― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 08:04 (twenty years ago) link
― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 08:20 (twenty years ago) link
― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 09:07 (twenty years ago) link
― thesplooge (thesplooge), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 09:13 (twenty years ago) link
― noodle vague (noodle vague), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 09:18 (twenty years ago) link
― thesplooge (thesplooge), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 10:04 (twenty years ago) link
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 11:17 (twenty years ago) link
Deserves a dud for his 80s output tho'.
― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 11:23 (twenty years ago) link
― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 11:27 (twenty years ago) link
Dud for inventing the interminable "thanks to..." credit list, on Songs In The Key Of Life.
― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:17 (twenty years ago) link
― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 16:40 (twenty years ago) link
― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:00 (twenty years ago) link
― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:02 (twenty years ago) link
― lauren (laurenp), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:05 (twenty years ago) link
― Jay Smooth (jsmooth995), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:30 (twenty years ago) link
― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:33 (twenty years ago) link
― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:34 (twenty years ago) link
AND SHE'S ON IT!
― Adrock (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:35 (twenty years ago) link
life has no more surpries for me now
― de, Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:35 (twenty years ago) link
― lauren (laurenp), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:41 (twenty years ago) link
― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:44 (twenty years ago) link
― lauren (laurenp), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:49 (twenty years ago) link
― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:51 (twenty years ago) link
http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/06062008/423854/stevie_wonder_european_tour
― titchyschneiderMk2, Saturday, 7 June 2008 13:57 (sixteen years ago) link
Man, is this guy a great drummer. I'm listening to "Bird of Beauty" and "Have a Talk With God."
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:17 (fifteen years ago) link
"Higher Ground"! He's got a cupla good backbeats on the last album.
He's like Ringo -- he gets a great SOUND from his instrument. You can distinguish him from other players.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:22 (fifteen years ago) link
He's hanging off the back of the beat even more than Charlie Watts = CLASSIC
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:26 (fifteen years ago) link
A couple really distinctive things I've noticed about his drumming are that a) he tends to bust out with triplets on the cymbal against an otherwise straight-8th base and b) his tendency to use the ride cymbal in the function of the hi-hat, which makes those tricky cymbal rhythms sound clearer than they would played on the hat.
― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:30 (fifteen years ago) link
"What'd I Say" = #1 influence on Stevie as a drummer imo
― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah, that makes sense -- that kind of busyness. He plays fills that I don't think anybody else could get away with on "Bird of Beauty."
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:33 (fifteen years ago) link
Btw, who was the drummer on "What'd I Say"? That mf is my hero.
― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Also, the hats/ride tend to be mixed LOUD on Stevie's records. Cymbals, cymbals, cymbals.
― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:48 (fifteen years ago) link
But yeah, basically Stevie is a monster on the trap.
― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:49 (fifteen years ago) link
also he does a lot of overdubbing & multitracking (ie playing just the cymbals, then just the snare, and/or multiple hi-hat parts like on 'i wish')
― Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:54 (fifteen years ago) link
Listening to "Bird of Beauty", the most amazing thing about the drumming is how ably he inserts all his oddball fills right into the middle of the groove, instead of breaking from the groove to fill. He just inserts all these other drums around the maintained pattern.
xp: I feel like you just told me Santa Claus doesn't exist.
― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:57 (fifteen years ago) link
I believe he also played drums on (and produced) "It's A Shame."
― ilx chilton (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:57 (fifteen years ago) link
'i wish' is a pretty good one to hear how he does his shit btw, there a lots of times when the hi-hat on the right is playing something different than the one on the left or when there are two-handed fills when both hi-hats are still going. not that he always breaks it down like this, but listening to 'bird of beauty' there are parts where it sounds likely.
― Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:58 (fifteen years ago) link
But on the real side:
― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:59 (fifteen years ago) link
Marvin Gaye began as a drummer too. Say what you want about Berry Gordy, but he knew what we most look forward to in a song.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 23:02 (fifteen years ago) link
ha, that's because he is literally maintaining the groove on one track and doing oddball fills on another, i'm pretty sure.
― Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 23:06 (fifteen years ago) link
Supposedly there's a clause in his contract stating that his unreleased material is to be destroyed when he dies. But that might only be studio stuff (which, if there's unreleased 70s material, arrg).
― 5-Hour Enmity (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Sunday, 11 November 2012 15:53 (eleven years ago) link
yeah, i'd heard that, and it is a cold comfort!
― Ryan's taint is definitely unavoidable. (stevie), Sunday, 11 November 2012 16:48 (eleven years ago) link
They say that Stevie Wonder's unreleased songs are 10 zillion light years away.
― Bobby Ken Doll (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 November 2012 19:42 (eleven years ago) link
You've got to I've got to they've got toWe've got to They've got to We've got to
― Cunga, Tuesday, 22 January 2013 10:14 (eleven years ago) link
Conversation Peace's "Cold Chill" is excellent!
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 16 September 2014 02:55 (ten years ago) link
Loved Treat Myself off that album too.
― Belt is brown (stevie), Tuesday, 16 September 2014 06:25 (ten years ago) link
He's doing a short US tour where he's doing all of Songs in the Key of Life. I think you need a citi card for today's presale
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 September 2014 15:34 (ten years ago) link
Scoop!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUgngvsWLlE
― nostormo, Saturday, 11 October 2014 22:52 (nine years ago) link
Not completely blind =/= not blind. Lots of legally blind people have enough sight to watch sports (Stevie has courtside seats), use cameras and otherwise interact visually with the their surroundings.
Retinopathy of prematurity (Stevie's diagnosis, caused by exposure to high oxygen concentrations in an incubator after premature birth) produces a spectrum of visual deficits, many people affected are left with at least some sight.
The fact that Stevie wears sunglasses all the time is itself an indicator that he's not totally blind (or else the ambient light levels wouldn't affect him).
My Dad's blind but not completely so, he wears dark glasses even indoors. His friends who have no sight at all usually don't bother wearing glasses, there's no point.
Wouldn't be a surprise if Berry Gordy and co had decided to market Stevie as "blind" without bothering to explain the details.
― Plasmon, Sunday, 12 October 2014 04:23 (nine years ago) link
Also, you'd be surprised what blind people can do. Ray Charles use to fly his plane, and he swore he could land* it too, though nobody would let him.
*he had a plan where he would bust the glass on the dials with his lighter and read them by touch
― Popture, Sunday, 12 October 2014 06:18 (nine years ago) link
Even if stevie wasn't blind he'd still be the eighth wonder of the world.
what i wouldn't do for an LP of stevie's demos of sleeping alone, bring your sweet stuff home to me, his tracks for syreeta and minnie, etc...
― Terrific ribbon, Moe (stevie), Sunday, 12 October 2014 08:32 (nine years ago) link
"Do I Do" is so fantastical
― calstars, Thursday, 21 January 2016 23:31 (eight years ago) link
YES
― Less surprised by the total lack of surprises (stevie), Friday, 22 January 2016 09:23 (eight years ago) link
If there were another 20 minutes of it I would want to hear them all
Do NOT want to see this thread revived this year.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 22 January 2016 10:38 (eight years ago) link
oh give me a break
― lute bro (brimstead), Friday, 22 January 2016 20:39 (eight years ago) link
I got "musical aquarium" on cassette, thing bumps
― calstars, Saturday, 23 January 2016 00:03 (eight years ago) link
I love this man
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 5 January 2020 04:56 (four years ago) link
I have some affection for the Jose Feliciano version of "Golden Lady" tbh.
― temporarily embarrassed thousandaire (Eric H.), Sunday, 5 January 2020 05:58 (four years ago) link
hard 1000% agree with your #1 choice.
― Pinche Cumbion Bien Loco (stevie), Sunday, 5 January 2020 10:54 (four years ago) link
Have ben thinking lately how great an album of his demos of songs he gifted to other artists would be, a la the recent Prince posthumous release
― Pinche Cumbion Bien Loco (stevie), Sunday, 5 January 2020 10:55 (four years ago) link
like, stevie-sung versions of bad weather, baby bring your sweet stuff home to me, perfect angel... that would be amazing.
― Pinche Cumbion Bien Loco (stevie), Sunday, 5 January 2020 10:59 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TAC7aEegUc
― Pinche Cumbion Bien Loco (stevie), Sunday, 5 January 2020 11:08 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNZRJB952b0
― Pinche Cumbion Bien Loco (stevie), Sunday, 5 January 2020 11:09 (four years ago) link
I think I've said this before here, but that modulation from "Perfect Angel" into "Loving You" is breathtaking.
― temporarily embarrassed thousandaire (Eric H.), Monday, 6 January 2020 00:04 (four years ago) link
What was the sendspace file Milton Parker linked to above, now long dead? The actual 16 track tapes of Superstition??
― Just a few slices of apple, Servant. Thank you. How delicious. (stevie), Friday, 4 September 2020 13:12 (four years ago) link
Makes me so sad that Stevie doesn't want his unreleased material ever to be heard(seriously, he wants the masters junked after he dies), you only imagine what he must have stashed away in the vaults from his golden seventies period.
― Brainless Addlepated Timid Muddleheaded Awful No-Account (Pheeel), Friday, 4 September 2020 13:41 (four years ago) link
I hope Stevie has a Max Brod in his life...
― J. Sam, Friday, 4 September 2020 13:52 (four years ago) link
Happy birthday, dude. Let me put the spotlight on this jam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEK7tMxXRpo
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 13 May 2021 15:03 (three years ago) link
Dud.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 13 May 2021 15:14 (three years ago) link
Oh, wait, I thought this was about Greta Van Fleet. I meant classic, sorry Stevie.
"A Seed's A Star" is so fantastic I only wish it didn't sound like it was emerging from a transistor radio.
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 13 May 2021 15:19 (three years ago) link
and of course this Wonder-ful creation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGhSJIMHeoo
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 13 May 2021 15:20 (three years ago) link
During lockdown, I took the time to re-evaluate his post-Hotter than July recordings. Robert Christgau's always defended those records, and while I don't think they're very consistent records (much less great ones), Christgau wasn't completely wrong. Barring some health or mental issue, talent doesn't completely dry up overnight for artists like Stevie Wonder, where not a single memorable hook or melody is suddenly beyond their ability. He was completely overshadowed as an innovator thanks to Prince and Michael Jackson, and he still had a weakness for syrupy glop, but he still crafted a few good tunes every now and then.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 13 May 2021 15:28 (three years ago) link
Yeah, I rediscovered "Never In Your Sun" this last year and cherish it fully.
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 13 May 2021 15:32 (three years ago) link
A Time for Love in particular suffers from post-'90s CD-era bloat, but, damn, it's got jams. And he was still stretching as a balladeer.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 13 May 2021 15:33 (three years ago) link
This resequenced version of the most approachable material on Plants would've made for a still eccentric listen but still far more agreeable as part of the magnificent 1972-1982 streak.
Side A"Send One Your Love" – 4:01"Outside My Window" – 5:29"The Secret Life of Plants" – 4:17"Race Babbling" – 8:51
Side B"Black Orchid" – 3:47"Same Old Story" – 3:44"Power Flower" – 5:29"Come Back as a Flower" – 4:59"A Seed's a Star/Tree Medley" – 5:53
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 13 May 2021 15:56 (three years ago) link
Side B not quite as seamless with songs coming at you in complementary keys, but hey, I worked with what I had.
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 13 May 2021 16:01 (three years ago) link
Ah thanks, I'll try your version ! Never managed to get into that album although I love all the ones before (and even some after... well, Hotter and parts of Square...).
― AlXTC from Paris, Thursday, 13 May 2021 16:06 (three years ago) link
You could even stick in "Kesse Ye Lolo De Ye" of the latter half of "Voyage to India" as something to give Side A some more space if you wanted.
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 13 May 2021 16:15 (three years ago) link
I'd miss "Ecclesiastes" in that version.
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 13 May 2021 16:39 (three years ago) link
So after listening to this version I like it ! Basically all ballads/smooth songs.I could do without "Race Babbling" which is fun but a bit silly and far too long for its own good.
― AlXTC from Paris, Monday, 17 May 2021 13:31 (three years ago) link
I could never do without 'Race Babbling'!
― Slime Goobody (Old Lunch), Monday, 17 May 2021 13:49 (three years ago) link
Just a heads-up: There's some good discussion of Stevie Wonder by Hanif Abdurraqib and Fred Moten on the most recent Millennials Are Killing Capitalism Podcast
https://www.patreon.com/posts/hanif-abdurraqib-51211207 - starting around 45:40
― Mark E. Smith died this year. Or, maybe last year. (bernard snowy), Monday, 17 May 2021 14:08 (three years ago) link
anyone else look at the cover of Music From My Mind and thought damn this dude got some tiny hands??
― frogbs, Tuesday, 28 November 2023 19:57 (nine months ago) link