It’s no secret that Stevie Wonder is my favorite solo artist. The man was a hit maker from the very beginning, scoring Motown’s first #1 record with his first single, “Fingertips.” He’s found success in every decade, but there can be no doubt that the ‘70s were his classic period. This is a comparison of the songs from these landmark albums grouped by track number. The two double albums that ended the decade will have two entries each. Here's my take, but let me know what you think.

Track 1 - The Opener

Stevie certainly knew how to start an album, didn’t he? This is an impressive group of songs, with all of them good and only a couple not being out-and-out brilliant.

10. Earth’s Creation - This instrumental piece is an appropriately trippy way to begin Stevie’s most enigmatic album. I wish more people would give Secret Life of Plants a fair shake, because most of the compositions are stunning. This is one of the album’s best, but it’s hard to beat out other Stevie Wonder songs when Stevie isn’t singing.

9. Never Had a Dream Come True - This is a feel-good song that can seem deceptively unspectacular until you find it floating around in your head. Still, as nice a song as it is, this is exactly the type of song Stevie spent the rest of the decade trying to avoid. It still has echoes of the ‘60s Motown sound.

8. Look Around - Where I’m Coming From found Stevie finally exercising more control over his material. He chose to begin the album with this haunting song that was unlike any other he recorded to that point. The first lines really set the tone: “We are idle strangers / Married to our dangers / Into space we go to change our ways / Flying to our heavens / We are all together / Into hell we chase the light of day.” Stevie’s de facto position as conscience of the human race took flight right here.

7. Send One Your Love - Easily the best-known song from Secret Life of Plants, this one finds Stevie singing in that soft, sweet voice that seems to float magically above the music (e.g. “Until You Come Back to Me” and “Summer Soft”). I’m going to go on record and say it’s virtually impossible to dislike this song. If you do, congratulations; you’re a freak.

6. Love Having You Around - This is one of many Wonder songs that always makes me smile. It’s like a concentrated blast of joy. If there’s one flaw, it’s that it may run just a little too long. Then again, when you’re groovin’ like this, maybe not.

5. Love’s in Need of Love Today - This is Stevie-as-conscience once again. Among his many gifts is the ability to preach without coming across as preachy. The idea of love itself needing to be loved is a clever little play on words and Stevie casting himself as an radio announcer is also a nice touch.

4. Too High - The unorthodox nature of this song does well to convey the effect of drugs. It’s funky enough, but there’s an edge there that doesn’t let the listen get completely comfortable.

3. Smile Please - Speaking of unorthodox, here’s a sweet-sounding song that has a “chorus” with no real words. Regardless, it helps elicit the desired effect; put this one on whenever you need to a pick-me-up.

2. You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Cheesy? No, just straightforward and earnestly beautiful. The simplicity of the lyrics helps the melody stand out even more. This one is a well-deserved classic.

1. Isn’t She Lovely - This is another song that has something of a bad rap between being called cheesy and being slaughtered on American Idol. Let’s be honest: this song would be fantastic without any words at all. You have to respect the decision not to make this one a single, because a groove like this shouldn’t be chopped up just to make a 4-minute radio edit. As for the lyrics, let me just say that Stevie makes having a kid sound like the greatest thing on earth. How can you not appreciate that?

I agree with you on the "Secret Life of Plants." I spin that one on the regular. Black Orchid, Same Old Story and A Seed's a Star/A Star's a Seed are the jams... But the whole project sings.

As for openers, "Love's in Need of Love" gets my vote.

AlexdeParis said:

Also interesting to note that the very first voice you heard on the album opener (to Talking Book) did not belong to Stevie.

Alex maybe you should make a key for your top ten that notes which album and year it is from. I thought myself to be a fan until I was searching myself for the answer a couple times.

2. You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Cheesy? No, just straightforward and earnestly beautiful. The simplicity of the lyrics helps the melody stand out even more. This one is a well-deserved classic.

[[/quote]

I think a lot of people dismiss the song as kind of cheesy, but the background harmonies are really beautiful, plus the restraint he uses when singing; it really comes together despite its deceiving simplicity

Supersition, Creep,Knocks Me Off My Feet, Just Enough For The City, You Haven't Done Nothing, Higher Ground,

MsLegs said:

Openers! Openers.

Cinnie said:

I had one as a table, but I didn't translate it to the post. Here you go:

1970 - Signed Sealed & Delivered - "Never Had a Dream Come True"
1971 - Where I'm Coming From - "Look Around"
1972 - Music of My Mind - "Love Having You Around"
1972 - Talking Book - "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
1973 - Innervisions - "Too High"
1974 - Fulfillingness' First Finale - "Smile Please"
1976 - Songs in the Key of Life - "Love's in Need of Love Today"
1976 - Songs in the Key of Life - "Isn't She Lovely"
1979 - Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants - "Earth's Creation"
1979 - Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants - "Send One Your Love"

CoolTarik1 said:

AlexdeParis said:

I don't have this album, which is what confused me.

Cinnie said:

You should get it. It's not a bad album at all; actually, it was easily the best album he'd made until that point. It just doesn't compare favorably to anything he released the rest of the decade. It's a little too long, but he corrected that mistake starting with Where I'm Coming From. The four singles were all successful: "Never Had a Dream Come True" peaked at #11 R&B, but the others all made the top 3 -- "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" #1, "Heaven Help Us All" #2, and his awesomely funky cover of "We Can Work It Out" #3. SSDIY and HHUA also were top-10 pop singles, with the former peaking at #3.

If you haven't heard what he did to "We Can Work It Out," drop whatever you're doing and handle that.

AlexdeParis said:

I'm at work.










K someone just said my name and I jumped. I'm gonna log off.