Stevie Wonder

[MrBen]

I always dig a bit of Stevie. He's a genius.

But which, of his many albums, is the absolute must have?

Songs in the Key of Life?

[Eliza.D]

For me it's either Talking book or innervisions.

But I do like 'songs in the key of life'

[Salsaboy]

Songs in the key of life or Hotter than July, depending what mood I'm in.

[Atticus]

The Greatest hits was a seminal piece of work.

[Mick Mac]

The owner of our firm had Stevie Wonder play at his 50th birthday party, in his back garden. (I wasn't invited).

[Parkdrive]

Music of my Mind, Innervisions, Talking Book, Songs in the key of life and the earlier Where I'm coming from, all top notch .

[pk]

if it's only one i'd have to agree with songs in the key of life (may be in part as it's a double, with bonus tracks)

i'd put innervisions next

[Sue]

Atticus Wrote:

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

> The Greatest hits was a seminal piece of work.

:)-D

ETA: Erm, that was supposed to be a joke :)

[Jah Lush]

Innervisions, Talking Book, Fulfullingness First Finale, Songs In The Key Of Life, My Cherie Amour and Uptight.

[Jeremy]

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.

[MrBen]

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.

[Jeremy]

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.

[Jah Lush]

For a more political side of things start with Innervisions and in particular this track:-

[pk]

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

[StraferJack]

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?)

[Parkdrive]

Music of my mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, and Songs in the Key of life all contain great songs about political and social injustice.

[titch juicy]

Innervisions

Talking Book

[Jeremy]

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.

[Parkdrive]

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.

[Jeremy]

And I would suggest that Celine Dion and Joan Osbourne are probably more your sort of scene! All the soppy nonsense you can handle - knock yourself out.

Now shut it!

(actually... I don't mind The Smiths as it goes...)

[StraferJack]

I'm always suspicious of people who think the Smiths are genuinely miserable, and who can't see the many threads of humour

[Parkdrive]

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.

[Salsaboy]

Get back to Stevie.

[StraferJack]

Judging by the posts so far there isn?t a lot more to be said

Must Listen = 2 or 3 albums

Some good protest songs

Lots of gloopy ballads

The conversation hasn?t expanded much beyond that in several days

[*Bob*]

Stevie Wonder vs The Smiths?

I think, song for song, they've probably managed the same amount of Good Stuff. But then at least The Smiths had the decency to cram theirs into half a decade - as opposed to half a century.