OPO Stevie Wonder <i>album</i>

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Because let's face it, picking only one Stevie Wonder song is mathematically impossible. I can prove it with a pencil and paper.

But if you only had to own one of his albums, which would it be? Songs In The Key of Life? At least it's the longest. Talking Book for the best love songs? Innervisions for the hardest-talking Stevie?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 00:37 (twenty-two years ago)

My choice would probably be Innervisions, though I'm very tempted to pick Fulfillingness' First Finale just to be different.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 00:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Innervisions

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 00:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Possibly FFF actually, because that and Songs in the Key of life are the only ones that I don't skip songs on.

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 01:15 (twenty-two years ago)

"Fulfillingness' First Finale" is the Dark Horse that ultimately proves to be his best ever album.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

hmm, i would say "music of my mind". at first i thought it was just underrated against the more famous ones, then i realised i was most captured by it.

btw, has anyone actually heard "secret life of plants" is there anything redeemable on it?

― paulhw (paulhw), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 01:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course there is! "Send One Your Love" is brill, and it's a pleasant listen throughout. It's just not an "album" the way his other 70's stuff is.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm going to stand up for "Songs in the Key of Life."

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:24 (twenty-two years ago)

you really don't skip *anything* on Key? not even the kiddie call & response on "Black Man" or any of the ballads?

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:26 (twenty-two years ago)

oh and Innervisions for me by a mile

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:26 (twenty-two years ago)

you really don't skip *anything* on Key?

I was gonna say that, too, but it came out sounding like a dis of the album. There are parts of it that I skip. But to its credit, there aren't many parts that I consistently skip. Sometimes it's all too much, is all.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think it's perfect by any means--could've been a lot shorter to my ears, and I like it as is, but still that statement puzzled me.

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Is "Jesus Children of America" not skip material? I truly can't remember.

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:31 (twenty-two years ago)

it could be but it's still really good, methinks

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:32 (twenty-two years ago)

One of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs, and Jesus lyrics are usually a big minus for me.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

A related note: At one point in the catelog do you lose interest? "Hotter Than July?" "In Square Circle?"

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Hotter Than July roughly, which I've always thought overrated--might be wrong, though, been awhile.

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Hotter than July is his last album than can even remotely be described as "solid" or "consistent." It's like his last album, almost.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"Jesus Children of America" is the exact opposite of skip material... it's, like, listen to it over and over three times material. The only skip track on Innervisions might be "All in Love is Fair," except that there is no skip track on Innervisions, which gets my vote here.

Songs in the Key of Life's major skip track, for me, is "Joy Inside My Tears," which sounds a bit like Zamboni muzak to me. "As" gets a bit long for my taste (strangely enough, the longer "Black Man" and "Another Star" don't ever wear out their welcomes).

I'm sort of with paulhw in that Music of My Mind is a very very strong dark horse. It's just much more of a "have to be in the mood" album than Stevie's others. Hotter Than July is usually the easiest to listen to, but just as easily ignored.

Really, though. Love them all.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The only skip track on Innervisions might be "All in Love is Fair"

Which is also the opposite of skip material if you've just broken up with someone.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Sadly, you're right. I've never broken up with anybody. Dammit, now I feel like the song sounds.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Poignant?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 02:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I was sincere when I said I couldn't remember if "Jesus Children." Just listened to it, and yeah, I wouldn't skip it, though any pop song that mentions transcendental meditation has a certain irritation factor.

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 03:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Like I said, if it wasn't so incredibly tight, I'd hate it for the lyrics. But it's incredibly tight.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 03:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Listening to it now... man, that key change!

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 03:15 (twenty-two years ago)

And now "All In Love Is Fair" is playing. You're right: here is the potential skipper. I never bother skipping tracks on albums, though, only CDs. Too much work to pick up the needle. Oh, here comes "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing!"

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 03:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I go back to the pre-maturity stuff a fair amount, too. "Uptight" and the cover of "We Can Work It Out" are particular favorites.

Also, I love "Don't Know Why I Love You," and the Stones cover, too.

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 03:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Most big key changes like that sound gratuitous, but that's why Stevie is a genius. The way the song it written, it wouldn't work without that key change. Every element is essential. Tight, in other words.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 03:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, was going to qualify that comment - I only have it as the double lp release, and each side has something incredible on it, so it never seems worth skipping....

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 04:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Stevie : key changes :: Brian De Palma : split-screen

(this is a compliment to both, by the way... both own these devices in ways that make everyone else look clodhopping in comparison.)

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 06:40 (twenty-two years ago)

you really don't skip *anything* on Key? not even the kiddie call & response on "Black Man" or any of the ballads?

The ballads, like on any other Stevie Wonder album, are the best tracks on "Songs In The Key Of Life". Those beautiful melodic ballads are the main reason why I love Stevie Wonder. R&B crap such as "Superstition" you may just throw in the dustbin.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

"All In Love Is Fair" is the best track on the "Innervisions" album. The obvious skippers are "Higher Ground" and "Living For The City".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

damn, nobody has said talking book!

talking book by a mile.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

and yes yes yes to his cover of "we can work it out," one of the most joyous things to happen in the entire 21st century.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

or, um, perhaps that was the 20th century! oops.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"Superstition" R&B crap? That's perverse. First, that's his rock track, written for Jeff Beck. And second, it's great.

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Another Stevie Wonder thread, another passive-agressive slam against "Superstition" by Geir. Nothing new. The whole "All in Love is Fair = the best track on Innervisions" tactic is rather new, though.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Innervisions. as if I could live without everything from '71-'76.

― (Jon L), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 19:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't have any of this stuff, and was thinking about picking up the Original Musiquarium compilation for "just the hits." Am I totally misguided? Should I get all the albums?

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd have voted for
songs in the key of life from
thirteen till last year

but then I picked up
music of my mind re-ish
and that is much tighter

my stevie problem
is that I learned how to think
from songs in the key:

passionate anger,
zen forgiveness, nostalgia,
afrocentricity

columbia record
and tape club it's all you!
and "ebony eyes"

but actually
three-LP looking back is
my most prized vinyl

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

And Looking Back is a much better "just the hits" record that Musiquarium, maily because it's not just the hits.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Eivets Rednow clearly rules.

― cybele (cybele), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Phil, though it pains me to think that by merely picking up Musiquarium, you'll be unexposed to "Summer Soft," "Golden Lady," "Jesus Children of America," "You and I," "I Love Every Little Thing About You," "Big Brother," "All I Do," "Black Orchid," "A Seed's a Star," "Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away," "Love Having You Around," "Evil," "Lookin' for Another Pure Love," "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," "Smile Please," "Bird of Beauty," "Another Star," "Did I Hear You Say You Love Me," "Please Don't Go," "They Won't Go Where I Go," "Too High," "As," "As If You Read My Mind," "Lately," "Tuesday Heartbreak," "Keep On Running," or "Power Flower"....

... I have to admit that it's a very very good thing to have "Do I Do."

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd like to be all subversive and non-canonical, but I can't deny Innervisions.

Hotter Than July holds its own against the 70s stuff. "Ain't Gonna Stand For It"! "Happy Birthday"! "Lately"! Which even Jodeci couldn't botch!

The 80s stuff is a drop-off, sure, but still better than it gets credit for. Though the fact that I can't be any more specific shows how often I dig out my copy of Characters. (More often than Steel Wheels or Dirty Work, though). (Or Bad or Lovesexy).

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

"In Square Circle" is generally disliked. However, it does have the beautiful "Whereabouts" on it.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Talking Book. Even with that slow patch in the middle ... I just couldn't live without "I Believe."
Later Stevie--I know it's all supposed to be crap, but does anybody want to try discerning the horrible-crap from the It's-fine-I-just-can't-believe-this-is-the-guy-who-made-Innervisions crap?

― Phil Christman, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 01:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Phil, there's not that much later Stevie, and very little of it is out and out crap. Conversation Peace from the mid-90s is good, so's Characters. That's almost half of his post-Hotter Than July output.

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 04:12 (twenty-two years ago)

a bobbito/spinna mix

― minna (minna), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 05:13 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dancing to the Rhythm" from the live concert album released in the '90s is a pretty nice tune. There are indeed a few off of Conversation Peace that are worth the discussion. And I think Jungle Fever is actually quite a strong album.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 05:25 (twenty-two years ago)

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OPO Stevie Wonder album