I recently came across this thread on the Steve Hoffman forum in which it is made clear that the first-generation master tapes from Stevie Wonder's "classic period" are kept on lockdown by Stevie, so all recent reissues come from second-generation tapes:

http://www.stevehoffman.t...p?t=228543

Does anyone know why Stevie keeps his original master tapes locked up? I can't find any explanation in the Hoffman forum. I thought Prince was unusual in keeping his classic material locked up, but apparently Stevie Wonder is doing the same thing.

It's been long rumored that Stevie has it in his will that all unreleased songs and demos are to be destroyed upon his death.

MickyDolenz said:

It's been long rumored that Stevie has it in his will that all unreleased songs and demos are to be destroyed upon his death.

That would be unfortunate. Maybe Obama could issue a decree to have them confiscated immediately and put in the National Archives? Sort of like when FDR confiscated all the gold during the Depression.

electricberet said:

I recently came across this thread on the Steve Hoffman forum in which it is made clear that the first-generation master tapes from Stevie Wonder's "classic period" are kept on lockdown by Stevie, so all recent reissues come from second-generation tapes:

http://www.stevehoffman.t...p?t=228543

Does anyone know why Stevie keeps his original master tapes locked up? I can't find any explanation in the Hoffman forum. I thought Prince was unusual in keeping his classic material locked up, but apparently Stevie Wonder is doing the same thing.

That wouldn't surprise me. A lot of artists send record companies copies finished copies of their work. A lot of them keep copies of the original masters and mixes.

Write Stevie at KJLH (his radio station) and ask him. He might send you a letter back. Especially if you include a peach cobbler along with that mail.

MickyDolenz said:

It's been long rumored that Stevie has it in his will that all unreleased songs and demos are to be destroyed upon his death.

It was a rumor but if true he has since changed his mind....

MickyDolenz said:

It's been long rumored that Stevie has it in his will that all unreleased songs and demos are to be destroyed upon his death.

Even if that's what he wants, it won't happen. Really.

Bulldog said:

All kidding aside, I think he should will them to Prince. I think he would take care of them properly, but if Prince passes, then who would get them? [Edited 4/7/11 17:18pm]

From listening to that clip, it sounds like he has already made appropriate arrangements.

electricberet said:

Bulldog said:

All kidding aside, I think he should will them to Prince. I think he would take care of them properly, but if Prince passes, then who would get them? [Edited 4/7/11 17:18pm]

From listening to that clip, it sounds like he has already made appropriate arrangements.

I'm sure he has. Stevie has too many children NOT to have his stuff together.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

MickyDolenz said:

It's been long rumored that Stevie has it in his will that all unreleased songs and demos are to be destroyed upon his death.

Even if that's what he wants, it won't happen. Really.

Yeah,you have to wonder....who would actually be the person to destroy these tapes? His lawyer? One of his children? His wife? I can't believe that anybody close to Stevie would have the courage to destroy this music.

Well as you can hear in the clip where he talks about the "michael" album....it sounds like he had a change of heart for the most part.

Stevie Wonder---Lost And Found: The 70s Box---a 4-CD box set containing 73 unreleased Stevie Wonder tracks recorded between 1972-1979,including all the outtakes from his 70s albums.

Wouldn't you guys love to see something like that?? I would lose my mind!

I've got an unreleased album he did with Richard Simmons.

Mong said:

I've got an unreleased album he did with Richard Simmons.

the exercise guy??

I remember in the early 80s,hearing about an album that John Travolta was doing,produced by Stevie Wonder.That might have been interesting (lol) but I guess it was never completed.