I brought Stevie's Secret Life Of Plants two weeks ago from Circuit City and the first time I heard it, I was amazed at his diversity and the way he could do something different. I was also amazed by the way he played the synthesizers and all the other instruments. I mean, everything sounds different on the album and the instrumentals sound beautiful. Songs In The Key Of Life, on the other hand, is the man's crowning achievement and masterpiece. On this album, he covers every thing about life and it's also one of those all-bases covered albums (just like The Beatles' White Album or Prince's Sign O The Times). So, my pick is Songs In The Key Of Life.

So what is your pick?




[Edited 4/18/05 18:54pm]

I pick SITKOL, but you probably should have held out on that purchase of Secret Life of Plants. It's getting remastered and released in Japan next week.

psykosoul said:

Actually I have 2 copies. Circuit City sent me an extra one, I don't know why.

Songs in the Key of Life, no question.


...but Innervisions is Stevie's greatest, IMO.

I vote for Songs In The Key Of Life....it's a Stevie Wonder masterpiece!!!

Now don't laugh, but Music Of My Mind is also worth a listen. It's Stevie Wonder playing a superhuge Moog Synthesizer. Amazing!!!

I'm not that crazy about 'Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants'

It's an odd album with only a few songs that I really like.

'SITKOL',on the other hand,is my all-time favorite album.Nothing compares to it.

TonyVanDam said:

Noone should laugh at the album which has one of the best songs ever on it: Superwoman (Where Were You when I Needed You)

they are too differnt, almost another catgory, and for my part impossible to compare...

if I am forced to choose, still I will pick SITKOL

You already know. If you don't, ask somebody or better yet check the avatar.

okaypimpn said:

don't play hide & seek, everyone around here knows your all time fave is Conversation peace

okaypimpn said:

You're copping that remaster, right?

Dancelot said:

psykosoul said:

But of course!

DavidEye said:

Isn't "Power Flower" great ,tho ...? ...

I guess I'd go with "...Plants" if I had to choose. Mostly because I also got into this album later in life and it sounded fresh to me. I grew up on SITKOL (which I'm not trying to deny its brilliance). Many non-Prince fans look at me crazy when I tell them that I'd choose 'Parade' over a now classic like 'Purple Rain'. All great music, but the one's that are obscure in the publics eye are easier for me to enjoy. Just my two cents.

Journey holds a very special place in my heart as it blew my mind the first time I heard it.

MrTation said:

I'm lovin' that song!

MrTation said:

It's a good song,as is "Outside My Window" and "Send One Your Love".But there aren't too many other songs here that I can really get into.I appreciate his artistry,and his attempt to do something different,but it's not an album that I listen to very often.

Besides ALL the songs, I always loved Venus Fly Trap And The Bug and Race babbling lots.

But I always dream away on Earth's Creation too.

silverchild said:

It would be nice to hear Stevie do more songs in that same falsetto.

SITKOL. This shouldn't even be asked.

DavidEye said:

I agree. The best stuff should've been condensed into a single album. SITKOL is a lengthy bugger, too. But there's only one song on it I really don't care for.

NakedPreacherLady said:

Not to mention HIGHLY overrated.
[Edited 4/20/05 11:05am]

okaypimpn said:

Only to you.

NakedPreacherLady said:

There are others on here who feel the same way.

okaypimpn said:

Well, they need help, too.

NakedPreacherLady said:

No, they just recognize artistry at its peak that's all.

"Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants" is a good example of the kind of thing Stevie really could be doing...a lot of fans didn't like it, but some music crtics, especially in Jazz publications, were hailing it at the time, and predicting that Stevie would become like Ellington, and go on to create several Jazz and classical pieces...instead he got stung by the other negative reviews, and now it seems unlikely that we'll ever see that kind of free flowing creativity again...

paligap said:

Sad, but true.

okaypimpn said:

It is sad... that Black Bull vault is probably filled to capacity with music that Stevie second guessed, and now no one gets to hear it...they can't even agree on a date for A Time To Love....I wish he was a little more like the Man from Minneapolis in that regard...with Prince, if you like, or don't like the latest album , fine, he can live with it either way...but it's coming out...you don't like it, catch the next one....

I remember background vocalist Jim Gilstrap, who worked with Stevie, once said that they would always hear some incredible music that they would beg Stevie to release, but it still hasn't seen the light of day...


...
[Edited 4/20/05 11:53am]