Jump to content

Stevie Wonder


MrBen

Recommended Posts

I do like Stevie Wonder... but honestly, I can't listen to any of the albums all the way through, because I just can't stand the schmaltzy songs.


The idea of an album as a complete body of work that should be listened to as a whole, has always struck me as rather silly and pretentious. Even before CDs, I never listened to music in that way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Then it's the "Greatest Hits" at Tesco's for you Jezza.


As a child of the Eighties my first intro was "I just called to say..." pure schmaltz-pop but it sold millions. Then you hear "Superstitious" at your first wedding and start to realise what came before. Then listen to "Songs in the Key..." with its 8 min tracks (a remixers dream) and all of a sudden Prince don't look so clever.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

MrBen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Then it's the "Greatest Hits" at Tesco's for you Jezza.


No way! That's probably the worst place to start, and in no way guarantees schmaltz-free listening. Some of his best songs were album tracks... You Met Your Match, Do Yourself a Favour, All Day Sucker, etc.


But I don't think I could listen to any of his albums all the way through without having to skip at least a couple of tracks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The idea of an album as a complete body of work

> that should be listened to as a whole, has always

> struck me as rather silly and pretentious. Even

> before CDs, I never listened to music in that way.


i've always thought that was what made some albums special - like innervisions which i still listen to from start to end occasionally (and still probably think of as side A and side B)


may be that makes me pretentious, but i don't think so

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I partly with Jeremy here but mostly not


For better or worse, an album captures a moment in time in the artist?s life.


Most of the albums that I love have flaws , but I love them because they are an entity and not a collection of bits (I accept that many albums are exactly that from an artists POV mind you ? a collection of bits)


But even then there will be songs I skip (has anyone who likes Ziggy Stardust for example, EVER needed ?It ain?t easy? at the end of side 1?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

StraferJack Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I partly with Jeremy here but mostly not


I'm well aware that I'm going against the grain! Maybe it's because I have a short attention span, maybe because I look for quite specific qualities in music... but I rarely listen to an album in its entirety. Even when I was growing up with vinyl and tapes, I wouldn't sit through a song which I wasn't keen on. And this is particularly true of Stevie Wonder - no matter what heights he reaches, you know there's a dull ballad or some nonsense about god coming up in a few minutes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> StraferJack Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I partly with Jeremy here but mostly not

>

> I'm well aware that I'm going against the grain!

> Maybe it's because I have a short attention span,

> maybe because I look for quite specific qualities

> in music... but I rarely listen to an album in its

> entirety. Even when I was growing up with vinyl

> and tapes, I wouldn't sit through a song which I

> wasn't keen on. And this is particularly true of

> Stevie Wonder - no matter what heights he reaches,

> you know there's a dull ballad or some nonsense

> about god coming up in a few minutes.


Try the Smiths, probably more your sort of scene. "Heaven knows I'm miserable now" would be a good place for you to start.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

StraferJack Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm always suspicious of people who think the

> Smiths are genuinely miserable, and who can't see

> the many threads of humour


Right, so many of their tunes were tongue in cheek eh? Well I'll be damned.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...