How 'Bout Some Love For Stevie Wonder

[Phletch]

Few artists have had (or ever will have) as long and successful a career as Stevie Wonder. Fewer still will ever attain such a rich creative period like Stevie had in the early-mid 70s when he finished out one contract with Motown and signed a new one which gave him not only a greater share of the royalties but virtually complete artistic freedom. It was in that early-mid 70s period where just about everything he did became a hit and/or has become part of our musical lexicon. The span of that creative apex is longer than a great deal of artists' entire careers.

Here, from his 1972 album, "Music of My Mind", Stevie displays yet another talent that places him among a rarefied elite - in addition to all the vocals he played every instrument except the guitar, which was played by Buzz Feiten. As if all that isn't amazing enough, Stevie was only 21.

I just love everything about this song, especially the vocal harmonies in the first movement.

Please share your favorite Stevie stuff!

 

[GCDEF]

His performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary was really good. Great band

 

[mathiassiv]

This one is truly great!

 

[mbargav]

One of the best songs ever written, IMO:


Another favorite:

 

[gtrdave]

Love Stevie!
I dig his newer stuff, too, like this catchy little tune...

 

[Teleplayer]

Just a monster talent.

 

[taez555]

I have a hard time thinking of Stevie Wonder as a musician in the traditional sense. He's more a medium. As if he's tapped in to the secret wavelength of soul and humanity and is able to channel it through his music. The closest thing our species has seen since Mozart.

 

[Peeb]

True master of his craft.

There's a video of him rocking a talkbox that's awesome.

 

[$tratcat]

Tremendous talent. He wrote so many great tunes and performs them with such inspiration. I particularly like his work before Songs In The Key of Life, except for Overjoyed (which was my wedding song).

 

[weenerdoggs]

I have a hard time thinking of Stevie Wonder as a musician in the traditional sense. He's more a medium. As if he's tapped in to the secret wavelength of soul and humanity and is able to channel it through his music. The closest thing our species has seen since Mozart.

I fully agree! I think they are/were so in touch sonically they pretty much have to be held in such regard. He is simply amazing and most definitely a musical genius. Amazing what both Stevie and Mozart have accomplished despite their individual challenges.

 

[Marc Roy]

Lotsa love for Stevie Wonder here. I grew up on his Talking Book and Songs in the Key of Life among others. They're pretty much etched in my mind at this point.

 

[Bassomatic]

There is no greater force of nature in pop/funk/R&B, IMO.

 

[basso17]

IMO that stretch of records from Music of My Mind to Songs in the Key of Life is about as good a stretch as anybody in pop music has ever had.

 

[dlguitar64]

Probably the greatest individual talent of the rock era.

 

[Upside_Down_Guitar]

I'm not a huge Stevie Wonder fan. I don't own any of his records. Having said that, there is no denying his absolute talent. Many people think that they can sound like him, but this video pretty much says it all.


Then there was the documentary on Songs in the Key of Life. He was recreating all of the horn section, bass, drums, keyboards, etc, right on the spot. Incredible.

 

[Pickaxe]

Sir Duke for the win.
Who writes hooks like that? Not pop stars.
I just love that guy.

 

[Member 1963]

the thing i love about Stevie is that he has the kind of vocal control that singers like whitney and all those have (or had) but he never ever uses his prowess in a gratuitous manner. When he cuts loose vocally it fits the song like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. All these others with the technical ability to do that use it gratuitously. Literlly....i never seem to hear any that don't. Stevie pretty much as the first to sing like that and remains IMO by FAR the best. Innervisions is a LP that remains on my all time top list of albums.

 

[Powderfinger]

The vocal in this gives me chills:

 

[harmonicator]

musical genius indeed. I love Stevie. He also wrote my favorite MJ tune.

 

[Rex Anderson]

I'm an older guy (60), and I followed Stevie's career from the early days.

There was another thread here asking if music has ever made you cry.

During a long and amazing Stevie concert (must have been sometime in the '80's), I was moved to tears at one point. It was a spiritual moment, you could feel the energy in the room.