7th Nov 2014
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Photo: Ben A. Pruchnie



Stevie Wonder just kicked off his Songs in the Key of Life tour, which features him performing his classic album of that name in its entirety. But he's also got two entirely new albums in the works.

Stevie tells Billboard that he's so far got eight songs completed for a project called When the World Began. It's a series of orchestral remakes of his songs, done in conjunction with super producer David Foster.

"He had this idea of me doing a project with him and producing something with him where we'd take some of the songs I've done and give them a whole other interpretation by using a symphony orchestra," the music legend explains.

Wonder says that he's also changing up some of his classics, noting that he's taken "Isn't She Lovely" to "a whole other place" by adding a vocal by opera star Andrea Bocelli.

There's no release date for that project yet, but Stevie is also, he says, "75 percent" finished with an album called Through the Eyes of Wonder. When that finally comes out, it'll be his first studio collection of new material since 2005's A Time to Love.

"I've been kind of messing with that for a while, and I'm excited about that," he says of the disc. "There's so much that has gone on between, say, Songs in the Key of Life and now -- in my life, in lives, just in the world. There have been some incredibly great things that happened and there have been some incredibly horrible things that have happened.

There are some things that'll make you feel pessimistic that have happened, and there are some things that will make you feel optimistic as well at the end of the day."

"In that I've been able to witness all that, [the album] is kind of from the perspective as I see it. That's where I write from," he adds.

[Edited 11/7/14 9:13am]

What happened to the jazz, gospel, country, and Tony Bennett collabo albums he announced? Then he said he was thinking about doing Dancing With The Stars. He sang on it but didn't compete.

New Stevie Wonder's albums are the releases I am really yearning to put my hands and ears on. I miss him terribly. But there's been too much talk all these years, and nothing has come out of it yet. There was also talk of a gospel album that he promised to his mother, Songs For Lula or something like that... Let's hope we have something new soon...

Javi said:

New Stevie Wonder's albums are the releases I am really yearning to put my hands and ears on. I miss him terribly. But there's been too much talk all these years, and nothing has come out of it yet. There was also talk of a gospel album that he promised to his mother, Songs For Lula or something like that... Let's hope we have something new soon...

His last cd was pretty good. That was a short few years ago.

MickyDolenz said:

What happened to the jazz, gospel, country, and Tony Bennett collabo albums he announced?

It always seems like,when artists announce multiple projects,only one of them ever sees the light of day I love Stevie,but I think he should focus on *one* new album at a time.

SoulAlive said:

I love Stevie,but I think he should focus on *one* new album at a time.

Stevie is like Sade and Basia. Put out a record every 10 years.

Graycap23 said:

Javi said:

New Stevie Wonder's albums are the releases I am really yearning to put my hands and ears on. I miss him terribly. But there's been too much talk all these years, and nothing has come out of it yet. There was also talk of a gospel album that he promised to his mother, Songs For Lula or something like that... Let's hope we have something new soon...

His last cd was pretty good. That was a short few years ago.

A Time To Love came out 9 years ago. I enjoyed it too.

musicman said:

Graycap23 said:

His last cd was pretty good. That was a short few years ago.

A Time To Love came out 9 years ago. I enjoyed it too.

Snap...........that was 9 years ago?

Graycap23 said:

musicman said:

A Time To Love came out 9 years ago. I enjoyed it too.

Snap...........that was 9 years ago?

Yep! October 2005. Time goes by fast!

Right now I don't care about new stuff--can't wait to hear him perform one of my all time favorite albums live next month--Songs In The Key Of Life.

thedoorkeeper said:

The new Stevie Wonder cd will be released the same week as the new D'Angelo cd. I can't wait.

Stevie will beat Dangelo 4 sho. They are still RECORDING.........if u can believe that.

musicman said:

musicman said:

Dancelot said:

9 years already...?!?

Not counting compilations & re-releases, Stevie has released 4 albums since 1987. If you count Natural Wonder, then 5. He's done a lot of guest appearances on other acts records though.