It's funny you just said that because even though I live in Chicago, that classic tune reminds me of the scene from Spike Lee's 1991 film, Jungle Fever, where Samuel L. Jackson's crack fiend character, Gator stole his Mama's TV and his younger brother, Flipper, had to try to get it back. But Gator had already smoked it up buying that crack! But the best thing about that scene was Stevie's Living For The City was playing and I think it suited the scene perfectly.


[Edited 7/15/07 21:36pm]

guys i GOT IT!!!!!

::appreciates the smell of dust on the case::

off 2 listen to it now

Well, you should be about done now. We'll give you time to listen to it again, but then you need to report back.

BTW, if you didn't have Innervisions, chances are you didn't have any of his other albums. You're not one of those people trying to "greatest hit" Stevie, are you?

AlexdeParis said:

So far, i have given the album about 6 spins. I'm seriously speechless.

I still need more time to comprehend what exactly was that magic going into my ears

We actually do own a decent amount of Stevie LPs in the house and i'd give them a listen every now and again, but, how do i put this, i never dug deeper into his work, i'd play something for the sake of chilling or just spin some of his well-known classics. In that collection though, i found a cassette my brother did a long time ago and it had Jesus Children..

Which ones? If they aren't from the '70s, you have a lot of mind blowing still to come! Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life all justifiably won Grammy awards for Album of the Year (and Innervisions probably prevented Talking Book from winning).

AlexdeParis said:

I recall Hotter than july, Signed Sealed, Talkin book,, key of life, Musiquarium and some few more.

Since i'm in the midst of my stevie-heat, how would you advise me to begin with his finest albums?

PricelessHo said:

How do you have "Jesus Children of America" without having Innervisions? It's not on any compilation that I know. More importantly, how can you like Stevie Wonder and not own Innervisions? That makes me sad.

But yeah, it's in my top 10. Love it!

PricelessHo said:

Here's the order I'd suggest:

1. Talking Book
2. Fulfillingness' First Finale
3. Songs in the Key of Life
4. Music of My Mind
5. Hotter Than July

At this point, break out Musiquarium. It's a nice review of his mind-blowing period. As a bonus, you get 4 great new songs, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" with horns, and "Send One Your Love," which should get you ready for another mind-blowing experience with:

6. Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
7. Where I'm Coming From
8. Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

By the time you get to this point, you should be willing to follow Stevie anywhere. The best post-HTJ album is Characters IMO. The '60s and '80s+ material is a little up and down, but there are plenty of gems ("Overjoyed," "My Cherie Amour," "Until You Come Back to Me," "I Was Made to Love Her," "Uptight," etc.).

PricelessHo said:

I went to see a favorite band of mine Soulive one night at the House of Blues.
At the time they were playing Jesus Children of America instrumentally as an encore.


This particular night they launched into it and guess who shows up unannounced?...





...That's right. The man himself.



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

AlexdeParis said:

So far, i have given the album about 6 spins. I'm seriously speechless.

I still need more time to comprehend what exactly was that magic going into my ears

uPtoWnNY said:

I'm saying and the credo of vocals bringing the song to a calmer conclusion... Stevie's background vocals sounded like they came from heaven. It was like a Broadway play produced right in the middle of, like you said, the South Bronx or something like that. I'm still shocked by the genius of the man.

It get's me all misty to see someone listen to Innervisions for the first time. Now listen to these inteligent people and go buy the rest of his 70's work starting with talking book.

I'm not a religious person but Stevie's work is just the voice of god to me.
[Edited 7/16/07 14:36pm]

THERE WAS A DOCUMENTARY...

broadcast in the UK with the British duo who produced Living in the City. In order to get Stevie to achieve the angry, passionate vocals at the end of the song, they wound him up incessantly. He's a mild-mannered guy and they had to make him record the part over and over until he delivered that raw, emotional sound.

Timmy84 said:

I like your style.

Here's the order I'd suggest:

1. Talking Book
2. Fulfillingness' First Finale
3. Songs in the Key of Life
4. Music of My Mind
5. Hotter Than July

At this point, break out Musiquarium. It's a nice review of his mind-blowing period. As a bonus, you get 4 great new songs, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" with horns, and "Send One Your Love," which should get you ready for another mind-blowing experience with:

6. Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
7. Where I'm Coming From
8. Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

By the time you get to this point, you should be willing to follow Stevie anywhere. The best post-HTJ album is Characters IMO. The '60s and '80s+ material is a little up and down, but there are plenty of gems ("Overjoyed," "My Cherie Amour," "Until You Come Back to Me," "I Was Made to Love Her," "Uptight," etc.).

I'm saying and the credo of vocals bringing the song to a calmer conclusion... Stevie's background vocals sounded like they came from heaven. It was like a Broadway play produced right in the middle of, like you said, the South Bronx or something like that. I'm still shocked by the genius of the man.

Timmy84 said:

I'm surprised no one produced a Broadway musical featuring Stevie's classic songs. We're talking about an American icon. I avoid Broadway musicals like the plague(because the music flat-out sucks), but for Stevie's music I'd make an exception.

uPtoWnNY said:

That'll be good but I don't know how Broadway musical based on classic urban music fly. Earth, Wind & Fire tried it two years ago and it flopped, I think, if I'm not mistaken but like you said Stevie's an American icon so he'll probably have success.

Sounds about an excellent plan. Thanks a lot!

Timmy84 said:

Tell me about it. I was born and raised in NYC. Every time I hear this song, it takes me back to the South Bronx.

And like you said, the anger slowly builds until it explodes at the song's finale - pure MFing genius. As much as I like Prince, Stevie's best was on another level.

uPtoWnNY said:

I adore both men but I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this (They are my #1 and #2 artists respectively). I think they excell in different. Not to downplay Stevie's extraordinary natural ability but he was schooled by the best in the business - the rhythmic geniuses of Jamerson on bass and Benjamin on drums, the melodic powerhouses of Holland-Dozier-Holland, and the lyrical majesty of Smokey Robinson. Then you have Earl Van Dyke on keys who Stevie credits as his mentor on the instrument. He also took lessons at USC to strengthen his songwriting and composing prowess. So the genius Stevie of the 70s was the backend of a lot of tlc from those that loved and cared for him at Motown. Prince on the otherhand, made his own way musically to a greater degree IMO. But at their respective heights, these two gentleman produced some of THE most genius musical works of the 20th century.
[Edited 7/17/07 23:31pm]

Funkmeimfamous said:

Prince admitted on the Larry king interview that he patterned himself on Stevie when he was trying to get out there...we already know about graham and sly and jimi..I think Prince had more than enough "Help"

prettymansson said:

And don't forget James & George

He patterned himself on dayumm near airbody