If I like Innervisions, what else will I like?

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Normally I listen to corny indie, noise and psych. But I've really been digging this record. From what I've heard of it, I think I'd like Songs in The Key of Life as well.

― Helios Creed (orion), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 23:42 (twenty years ago) link

Yeah, and try 'Talking Book,' too.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 23:46 (twenty years ago) link

Innervisions is my favorite, but if you like that one, just buy everything else from '72 to '76: Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Fulfillingness' First Finale, Songs In The Key of Life. It's classical music.

Secret Life of Plants has some fairly bizarre moments too.

― (Jon L), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 23:55 (twenty years ago) link

and if you like that you will probably dig Marvin Gaye. Start off with "What's going on?"

― hector (hector), Thursday, 14 October 2004 00:03 (twenty years ago) link

You'd probably like Sly and the Family Stone. Maybe also Isaac Hayes or Isley Brothers.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 14 October 2004 00:09 (twenty years ago) link

And Curtis Mayfield's 'Superfly' soundtrack.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 14 October 2004 00:24 (twenty years ago) link

i'd say greatest hits vol. 2 and you can't go wrong with any of the albums from that run in the 70s.

― ryan (ryan), Thursday, 14 October 2004 00:24 (twenty years ago) link

By far the best album out there is the latest by Saliva. Also, the saliva chicks are soooo HOT! check them out at www.saliva.com

― Bob8, Thursday, 14 October 2004 00:27 (twenty years ago) link

The previous Saliva record is better

― dave q, Thursday, 14 October 2004 00:43 (twenty years ago) link

Innervisions is my favorite, but if you like that one, just buy everything else from '72 to '76: Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Fulfillingness' First Finale, Songs In The Key of Life.

I agree with this, although it's been a long time since I heard Songs in the Key of Life, which I need to get.

I am also going to suggest, from the 70's:

Willie Colon/Ruben Blades: Siembra

You won't get any electric keyboard with that though.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 14 October 2004 01:09 (twenty years ago) link

bill withers - a bit more soulfull than stevie but without the perfect arrangements and instrumental zeal

― phil turnbull (philT), Thursday, 14 October 2004 01:11 (twenty years ago) link

Also Cheo Feliciano's Cheo. Another great singer, very good song-writing, good mix of mellow and frantic. Borrowings from Brazilian music (not borrowings of the same sort that I hear on Innervisions, but borrowings. Sound quality not nearly as good as what you will get with Innervisions. I mean it, I think some classic 70s salsa albums should start being listened to more widely side by side with soul and funk from that period. Still, you are going to get an almost totally acoustic sound on these albums, so if the electric/(primitive) electronic colors of Innervisions are an huge part of why you like it, I wouldn't assume that you'd like these albums.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 14 October 2004 02:18 (twenty years ago) link

songs in the key of life!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 14 October 2004 02:44 (twenty years ago) link

Curtis Mayfield Curtis, Roots
Shuggie Otis Inspiration Information

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 14 October 2004 02:44 (twenty years ago) link

I'm making a list for the next time I go to the record store (which will be, almost definitely, tomorrow or the next day. see noize board for embarassing details.).

Are there any specific sly & the family stone, isaac hayes and Isley bros. records to look for?

― Helios Creed (orion), Thursday, 14 October 2004 02:47 (twenty years ago) link

Sly: Riot Goin' On
Isaac Hayes: Hot Buttered Soul

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 14 October 2004 02:50 (twenty years ago) link

sly stone - theres a riot goin on, fresh, stand, life
isaac hayes - black moses, hot buttered soul, shaft

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 02:50 (twenty years ago) link

Shaft is so obvious that I forgot it. It's almost all instrumental, but don't let that stop you from getting it.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 14 October 2004 02:54 (twenty years ago) link

i won't, thanks. in fact, instrumental tracks with nice grooves are ideal.

― Helios Creed (orion), Thursday, 14 October 2004 02:57 (twenty years ago) link

Prince and D'Angelo too!

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 October 2004 03:01 (twenty years ago) link

I need to get more of this stuff myself.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 14 October 2004 03:08 (twenty years ago) link

Getting away from 70s funk/soul, I think you'd like Fat Jon's Wave Motion, instrumental hip hop beats with a hazy, vintage soul aura.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 14 October 2004 03:14 (twenty years ago) link

Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and Thrust.
Roy Ayers

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 14 October 2004 03:16 (twenty years ago) link

If I like Innervisions, what else will I like?

Having great taste. You will relish having great taste.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 14 October 2004 04:54 (twenty years ago) link

the feeling of the sun on your face, helping a friend build a house, tapping a rude asshole on the shoulder and giving him what for, playing tag with your kids in the street, writing stern and incisive letters to the editor, tipping high, going down on your mate, etc, etc.

― g--ff (gcannon), Thursday, 14 October 2004 05:06 (twenty years ago) link

Van Hunt is another contemporary artist you might like.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Thursday, 14 October 2004 12:41 (twenty years ago) link

I once followed up "Superstition" with Lyrics Born's "Bad Dreams" when DJing and had four or five people ask me what CD I was playing. That whole Lyrics Born album is pretty great, although it's not all quite so reminiscient of Stevie. But it's definitely in the ballpark.

― Jesse Fuchs (Jesse Fuchs), Thursday, 14 October 2004 12:45 (twenty years ago) link

Herbie Hancock, Monster (esp. "Stars in Your Eyes")

"Hot Box" by Badazz

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Thursday, 14 October 2004 12:47 (twenty years ago) link

I would say it depends on which tracks you like on "Innervisions". If your favourite ones are the funky ones, then I guess you can go for most 70s funk, if your favourite ones are ballads and more melodic stuff, then rather go for Steely Dan or something.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 14 October 2004 13:57 (twenty years ago) link

Jamiroquai.............................................. joke!

― Dataismus (Dada), Thursday, 14 October 2004 13:58 (twenty years ago) link

"visions" is the best fucking song.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:38 (twenty years ago) link

get any of stevies albums starting from where im coming from through to hotter than july (maybe not secret life of plants though).

― DVD (dickvandyke), Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:46 (twenty years ago) link

geir: i really like steely dan too! shockah!

― Helios Creed (orion), Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:48 (twenty years ago) link

secret life of plants is great - at least, it still seems great to me in retrospect. i mean, it comes off a lot like a film score, which it was, except the film was never released as far as i know. but its a good film score - sure, its a little hokey in parts, but there are some song/tune/tone-poem gems buried in there.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 15:25 (twenty years ago) link

Minnie Riperton-Perfect Angel
Edwin Birdsong-Supernatural

― mucho, Thursday, 14 October 2004 15:38 (twenty years ago) link

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - Wake up every body ..

Or any Philly soul,,.

― jk_____gab, Thursday, 14 October 2004 15:45 (twenty years ago) link

if you like breathing, you should like "la la means i love you".

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 15:49 (twenty years ago) link

Smokey Robinson "A Quiet Storm" is one of the most perfect soul albums of that time. easily stands with Stevie, Marvin. lots of lovely ARP commingling with flute and wind effects, too.

― Beta (abeta), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:42 (twenty years ago) link

>except the film was never released as far as i know

it came out, but isn't in print. it's completely bizarre. stevie's in it for a little bit, rowing a boat and gesturing to plants. see it any way you can.

― (Jon L), Thursday, 14 October 2004 17:17 (twenty years ago) link

honey blunts and 555 soul.

― Daniel Mitha (ykeo), Thursday, 14 October 2004 17:20 (twenty years ago) link

no, really. donny hathaway "everything is everything."

― Daniel Mitha (ykeo), Thursday, 14 October 2004 17:21 (twenty years ago) link

gil scott-heron?

― joan vich (joan vich), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:29 (twenty years ago) link

the isley's 70s material would go down well.

― DVD (dickvandyke), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:40 (twenty years ago) link

DVD OTM about Isleys. Particularly the material where they worked with Stevie Wonder

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 14 October 2004 23:29 (twenty years ago) link

You might appreciate The Baby Huey Story, originally issued in 1970 on Curtis Mayfield's label. Sadly, Huey only features on about four tracks as he OD'd before the album was anywhere near finished, so most of it is instrumentals performed by his band. It's worth getting just for "Listen To Me", though.

― Philip Alderman (Phil A), Friday, 15 October 2004 11:35 (twenty years ago) link

this post has turned into 'recommend me some 70s soul'.

― DVD (dickvandyke), Friday, 15 October 2004 11:39 (twenty years ago) link

What about my "creative" recommendation of two salsa albums?

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Friday, 15 October 2004 13:03 (twenty years ago) link

It's actually kind of an interesting question. How many albums are there that have many of the same virtues as Innervisions?

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Friday, 15 October 2004 13:12 (twenty years ago) link

I think the N.E.R.D. album from this year has some of the same virtues: a melodic blend of pop, funk and rock that alternates between politically aware lyrics, uplift, and romantic songs.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 15 October 2004 13:18 (twenty years ago) link

I'd second Curtis, Sly, Isaac, Marvin, Willie/Ruben etc, but also...

Extensions Of A Man by Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway's duet album with Roberta Flack (the one with Where is the Love on it)
Headhunters by Herbie Hancock
3+3 by The Isley Brothers
Winter In America by Gil Scott Heron
Aja by Steely Dan
Possibly an Average White Band compilation (?!)
And maybe that new Plantlife album (The Return Of Jack Splash) too!

Of Stevie's albums post Hotter Than July, Skeletons and the Jungle Fever OST have a couple of decent songs, but most are shit. Pre Talking Book, there was that 4-disc compilation LP with the pink cover which used to be in every second hand record shop -- all good stuff.

― john lewis (johnnylewis), Friday, 15 October 2004 13:21 (twenty years ago) link

But N.E.R.D. doesn't make a lot of ballads, do they?

(Sure, I do realise that "Innervisions" is the 70s Stevie album with the smallest number of ballads on it)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 15 October 2004 13:22 (twenty years ago) link

The N.E.R.D. album has a few ballads: "Maybe" for instance is a huge ballad.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 15 October 2004 13:27 (twenty years ago) link

No idea about the most recent one, I certainly know that there are no tracks on "In Search Of..." that quality as ballads in my book (that is, to qualify as a ballad, the beat has to be "turned off" and replaced by a silent pulse that you hardly notice at all)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 15 October 2004 13:29 (twenty years ago) link

Well "Maybe" is more of a power ballad. It still has drums, though they play more of a supporting role - it's a steady 4/4 beat.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 15 October 2004 13:31 (twenty years ago) link

Where is the Love

Great song. I couldn't get into most of the rest of the album. (I do have a Roberta Flack collection which has this song.)

Winter In America by Gil Scott Heron

This seems like a good pick (for being Innversions compatible, at least from what I remember of it). I should buy this. I have a very lo-fi vinyl-to-tape copy.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 16 October 2004 17:11 (twenty years ago) link

Wait, I'm thinking of a different Gil Scott-Heron album.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 16 October 2004 17:11 (twenty years ago) link

I love you guys, you're all treats.

― Helios Creed (orion), Saturday, 16 October 2004 17:22 (twenty years ago) link

If your favourite tracks are "Higher Ground" and "Living For The City", then any 70s funk would be quite up your alley.

If your favourite tracks are "Too High" and "Visions", then go for his entire 1972-76 output, and then, get into Steely Dan instead :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 16 October 2004 19:14 (twenty years ago) link

In the early 70's Curtis Mayfield was making the most perfect music of all time.

― Sonny, Ah!!1 (Sonny A.), Saturday, 16 October 2004 20:10 (twenty years ago) link

he was making perfect music with the impressions too.

― DVD (dickvandyke), Saturday, 16 October 2004 20:12 (twenty years ago) link

As I mentioned upthread, I'm already into Steely Dan! And I don't know if I have favorites yet. I'm still kind of absorbing it. My friends had played the album for me a lot, but I just found it in my mom's basement last weekend and have been listening to it pretty constantly since.

― Helios Creed (orion), Saturday, 16 October 2004 21:26 (twenty years ago) link

I think the Ohio Players 1976 album "Honey" is a safe bet, too. There's lots of the then fashionable ARP synthesizer sounds on display, especially on quieter pieces such as "Sweet Sticky Thing" and "Alone".

― Ludesse (ludesse), Sunday, 17 October 2004 12:50 (twenty years ago) link

I think the Ohio Players' 1976 album "Honey" is a safe bet, too. There's lots of the then fashionable ARP synthesizer sounds on display, especially on quieter pieces such as "Sweet Sticky Thing" and "Alone".

― Ludesse (ludesse), Sunday, 17 October 2004 12:51 (twenty years ago) link

If your favourite tracks are "Too High" and "Visions", then go for his entire 1972-76 output, and then, get into Steely Dan instead

"instead" wtf?

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 17 October 2004 13:32 (twenty years ago) link

Instead of the rest of Wonder's output (other than 72-76), I mean

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 17 October 2004 13:33 (twenty years ago) link

I think the Ohio Players' 1976 album "Honey" is a safe bet. Like Wonder's best work, it extensively showcases the then fashionable ARP synthesizer, especially on quieter pieces such as "Sweet Sticky Thing" and "Alone".

― Ludesse (ludesse), Sunday, 17 October 2004 13:39 (twenty years ago) link

I love you ILM. I got Shuggie Otis's "Inspiration Information" today, though it was fairly expensive. Totally gorgeous. Much love to ya'll. I'll keep you updated on what I grab next.. unfortunately the soul section at Academy is fairly small. Are there any good Isley Bros. albums besides 3x3? They didn't have that one, but had six or seven others...

― Ian John50n (orion), Monday, 18 October 2004 21:20 (twenty years ago) link

I really like how the part of "Freedom Flight" that's bells & delayed guitar presages all the recent droney/psych/charalambides/jewelled antler/etc. stuff. awesome jams.

― Ian John50n (orion), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 02:02 (twenty years ago) link

Yay! Glad you like it

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 21:47 (twenty years ago) link

four months pass...

Hi dere, guys.

So far I have gotten a lot of the stuff recommended to me by this thread! My favorites are probably There's A Riot Goin' On, Curtis and 3+3. Almost all of it is really great, though. I wonder which other Isley Bros. records to get? I got an early one (cause it was cheap; it's got a colored pencil drawing of three of 'em on the front. I can't recall the title off the top of my head)--I don't like that one so much. Which others would you suggest?

My second question is if the s/t Donny Hathaway record is worth picking up. It came into the LP shop I frequent but it's pretty expensive. AMG makes it sound not so appealing, but wanted your opinions as well. I ripped Everything Is Everything from a friend, and I liked that.

Thanks.

― Ian John50n (orion), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:29 (nineteen years ago) link

Isleys: 'The Heat is On.' Kinda mighty.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 28 February 2005 11:54 (nineteen years ago) link

Lenny Kravitz said that he's picking up where Stevie left off, so you might try some of his records.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 28 February 2005 15:28 (nineteen years ago) link

I do not approve of Lenny Kravitz in any shape/form. (Note this is only from hearing whatever singles were on the radio when I was in high school.)

― Ian John50n (orion), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:20 (nineteen years ago) link

i think mark is kidding. if not he should be burned at the stake

― JaXoN Hole (JasonD), Monday, 28 February 2005 17:59 (nineteen years ago) link

I like all the Donny Hathaway I've got, but the one to get there is "Donny Hathaway Live." The version of "The Ghetto" that's on there is worth every penny you may or may not have to pay to get it. (I'm not sure if it's in print in the U.S, though I've seen it in a U.K shop recently. Rhino just put out a polyglot reissue called "Sings These Songs For You" that half it, half another live record and which has that version of "The Ghetto," but which isn't quite as good on the whole.)

― Dark Horse, Monday, 28 February 2005 19:58 (nineteen years ago) link

yeah, Rickey OTM with The Heat Is On for the Isley's. Also you'd probably really dig Get Into Something, Ian. That was kind of their response to heavy hippie rock. But hell, I like the whole run on T-Neck from It's Your Thing through The Heat Is On. It sounds like that crayon drawing thing you got was probably a comp of their Motown years, I think I've seen that one around before.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:06 (nineteen years ago) link

four months pass...

"Talk to the People" LP, Les McCann. I think it even has a great cover of 'What's Going On' on it. ..Yes, that one's on there. Really great. Very similar instrumental pallette as Stevie in that period.

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Monday, 25 July 2005 20:10 (nineteen years ago) link

"Ball of Confusion" by The Temptations

― SoHoLa (SoHoLa), Tuesday, 26 July 2005 03:13 (nineteen years ago) link

sigh, yet another stevie wonder thread that fails to mention the awesome production and pen he gave to his wife syreeta on her first two albums. the first one is good, but "stevie wonder presents syreeta" is an underrated bubblegum classic. there's even an abbey road song-suite on the second side!

― ndb8a, Tuesday, 26 July 2005 17:36 (nineteen years ago) link

Regardless of whether I like Innervisions, what does Rob think I should like?

LEON WARE, peoples!

Musical Massage shows what he did for Marvin Gaye on I Want You.

Inside Is Love is a non-Motown venture from a few years later.

Rockin' You Eternally... well, like the title says and then some.

Smooooooth for the summer, then.

― Rob Upt1ght, Tuesday, 26 July 2005 18:39 (nineteen years ago) link

leon is nice. he worked with syreeta too. i liked musical massage, but dug Q's take of "Body Heat" more.

― ndb8a, Tuesday, 26 July 2005 19:34 (nineteen years ago) link

"Pre Talking Book, there was that 4-disc compilation LP with the pink cover which used to be in every second hand record shop -- all good stuff."

Yes, I've got that. Opens out to a triple gatefold photo of Stevie swinging his head back and clicking his fingers. Beautiful.

It's full of gems and some slightly kitschy stuff too, but it's a great thing to have, especially for the rare stuff from his first "solo" album, which I can't recall the title of offhand. It's before he hooked up with the Margouileff (sp?) bros so it's all clavinets and rhodes rather than crazy ARPs and Moogs, but it's interesting to see how he was shaping the sound. Great songs like If You Really LOve Me. Still can be picked up pretty easily.

― Stew (stew s), Tuesday, 26 July 2005 20:13 (nineteen years ago) link

Chairmen of the Board's Skin I'm In, featuring members of P-Funk. Particularly "Finder's Keepers".

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 26 July 2005 20:20 (nineteen years ago) link

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