rialb said:

AlexdeParis said:

... you mean like life?

Hey now, didn't we already have this conversation about Songs in the Key of Life?

Yeah, that's why I was giving you a good-natured ribbing.

PlayboyOriginal said:

Timmy84 said:

I actually think Songs would be better if he had trimmed the fat lol

Stevie seemed to be inspired by a lot of shit in the two years he made it. I think he originally intended to do a world album. "Ordinary Pain" sounded like it could've been a Wonderlove track but again it also sounded like Rufus & Chaka Khan (Khan was supposed to be on it but Shirley Brewer, the lovely woman in the glasses from the classic Stevie '74 performance tape, is singing on it). "Ngicuela" sounded like it might've been part of something Stevie was developing and the "Something Extra" EP sounded like Stevie was doing another album.

Maybe that's why he put it all together and simply called it Songs in the Key of Life. He signed a $13 million contract prior to doing the album so he was under more pressure than Marvin was when he created What's Going On.

The Something Extra EP is due to Stevie making Motown and the people wait so long for it. The album was pushed back countless times due to Stevie still working on it and getting it just right. I appreciate and love Shirley but I wish Chaka could have made that session. She would have tore it up!!! He had Minnie Riperton on backgrounds so she could have delivered as well.... just thinking about that makes me wonder how that would even sound

I don't know of any fat or high quality filler on Songs, I think it just takes musical mind to truly understand the scope of it. Sometimes an album can be so perfect that people start to look for cracks and flaws that aren't there

I agree.I love everything on SITKOL...there isn't anything that I would change or remove.It's the greatest album of all time.

PlayboyOriginal said:

thedance said:

^

that is what I like, the extended long versions of some songs.

still Stevie for me.

!!!!!!!!

I love that the songs are extra long.... hell I never want the album to end. I can play it over and over again and it just never gets old. I discover something new each time. Simply the best!!

I feel the same way.I love the fact that so many songs are extra long.The extended jam session on "Another Star" is one of the many highlights.SITKOL is the sound of freedom.Stevie had the freedom to take these songs exactly where he wanted them to go and that's what he does.No limitations,no editing.

As much as I love the 'What's Going On' album,it's not even my favorite Marvin Gaye album.'Let's Get It On' is Marvin's real masterpiece.

'Songs In The Key Of Life' is not only my favorite Stevie Wonder album,it's my favorite album of all time.

SoulAlive said:

As much as I love the 'What's Going On' album,it's not even my favorite Marvin Gaye album.'Let's Get It On' is Marvin's real masterpiece.

'Songs In The Key Of Life' is not only my favorite Stevie Wonder album,it's my favorite album of all time.

Damn what about the other Stevie albums?

Timmy84 said:

SoulAlive said:

As much as I love the 'What's Going On' album,it's not even my favorite Marvin Gaye album.'Let's Get It On' is Marvin's real masterpiece.

'Songs In The Key Of Life' is not only my favorite Stevie Wonder album,it's my favorite album of all time.

Damn what about the other Stevie albums?

They're amazing too but SITKOL just blows my mind,after all these decades.I listen to it at least once a week.

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

Damn what about the other Stevie albums?

They're amazing too but SITKOL just blows my mind,after all these decades.I listen to it at least once a week.

Fulfillingness' First Finale blows my mind more than Songs does.

Timmy84 said:

SoulAlive said:

They're amazing too but SITKOL just blows my mind,after all these decades.I listen to it at least once a week.

Fulfillingness' First Finale blows my mind more than Songs does.

Even though I love that album,I would place it behind SITKOL,Innervisions and Talking Book,if I was ranking these four masterpieces.

alphastreet said:

armpit said:

THIS is a good versus thread.

My personal favorite of the two is "Songs...", so there's my vote.

I still think "Pasttime Paradise" is the best song Wonder's ever done and it's my favorite.

That violin gives me chills...ever since I heard a certain hip hop song in the 90's and then learning sometime after it it was originally a Stevie song. And then a few months ago, some friends of mine put on the coolio song and were dancing around,and though it took me back, I felt like just shaking my head cause they had no idea....

"Pastime Paradise" is one of the most amazing songs that Stevie has ever done.When I listen to the album and I get to the middle of that song,that's when it really hits me.....the moment when I realize that I'm in the middle of something really incredible,an amazing journey that Stevie is taking us on!! That song makes it all clear to me.

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

Fulfillingness' First Finale blows my mind more than Songs does.

Even though I love that album,I would place it behind SITKOL,Innervisions and Talking Book,if I was ranking these four masterpieces.

I personally don't think FFF gets the props it deserved. I love how dark but inspiring it is in parts.

Timmy84 said:

SoulAlive said:

Even though I love that album,I would place it behind SITKOL,Innervisions and Talking Book,if I was ranking these four masterpieces.

I personally don't think FFF gets the props it deserved. I love how dark but inspiring it is in parts.

I think it doesn't get the props it deserves because it was sandwiched between two albums that many people consider Stevie's best: Innervisions and SITKOL.

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

I personally don't think FFF gets the props it deserved. I love how dark but inspiring it is in parts.

I think it doesn't get the props it deserves because it was sandwiched between two albums that many people consider Stevie's best: Innervisions and SITKOL.

Well if that's the case, then I look at the album like a tasty ham inside two nicely made breads.

SoulAlive is PREACHIN in this here thread.... every post is the TRUTH!!!

You know what I've never ranked Stevie's albums.... I just always recognized SITKOL as the crown gem of his masterpieces but all of his 70's work is definitive. That really is hard to rank them cuz you gotta listen to the musicianship, the lyrics, the vocal styles of each song, the concept of each album, the cohesiveness, the diversity of the material and then its place when it came out.

You can't just rank his albums like he's Milli Vanilli.

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

Fulfillingness' First Finale blows my mind more than Songs does.

Even though I love that album,I would place it behind SITKOL,Innervisions and Talking Book,if I was ranking these four masterpieces.

FFF is on par with SITKOL and Innervisions and it's ahead of Talking Book to me.

As far as Marvin's albums go, What's Going On and I Want You are both better than Let's Get It On.

PlayboyOriginal said:

SoulAlive is PREACHIN in this here thread.... every post is the TRUTH!!!

You know what I've never ranked Stevie's albums.... I just always recognized SITKOL as the crown gem of his masterpieces but all of his 70's work is definitive. That really is hard to rank them cuz you gotta listen to the musicianship, the lyrics, the vocal styles of each song, the concept of each album, the cohesiveness, the diversity of the material and then its place when it came out.

You can't just rank his albums like he's Milli Vanilli.

I've seen people rate his material prior and afterwards (1960s = too much filler with some glory here and there; 1980s = filler mixed with a few masterpieces; 1990s = mainly some folks think it was all filler; 2000s = questionable).

AlexdeParis said:

As far as Marvin's albums go, What's Going On and I Want You are both better than Let's Get It On.

No,they're not

SoulAlive said:

AlexdeParis said:

As far as Marvin's albums go, What's Going On and I Want You are both better than Let's Get It On.

No,they're not

Yes, they are.

SoulAlive said:

AlexdeParis said:

As far as Marvin's albums go, What's Going On and I Want You are both better than Let's Get It On.

No,they're not

Honestly I don't think either of you can say which album of Marvin's and Stevie's from the '70s was THE BEST because let's face it...

THEY ALL WERE!

SoulAlive said:

alphastreet said:

That violin gives me chills...ever since I heard a certain hip hop song in the 90's and then learning sometime after it it was originally a Stevie song. And then a few months ago, some friends of mine put on the coolio song and were dancing around,and though it took me back, I felt like just shaking my head cause they had no idea....

"Pastime Paradise" is one of the most amazing songs that Stevie has ever done.When I listen to the album and I get to the middle of that song,that's when it really hits me.....the moment when I realize that I'm in the middle of something really incredible,an amazing journey that Stevie is taking us on!! That song makes it all clear to me.

I know right?

Timmy84 said:

PlayboyOriginal said:

SoulAlive is PREACHIN in this here thread.... every post is the TRUTH!!!

You know what I've never ranked Stevie's albums.... I just always recognized SITKOL as the crown gem of his masterpieces but all of his 70's work is definitive. That really is hard to rank them cuz you gotta listen to the musicianship, the lyrics, the vocal styles of each song, the concept of each album, the cohesiveness, the diversity of the material and then its place when it came out.

You can't just rank his albums like he's Milli Vanilli.

I've seen people rate his material prior and afterwards (1960s = too much filler with some glory here and there; 1980s = filler mixed with a few masterpieces; 1990s = mainly some folks think it was all filler; 2000s = questionable).

Yeah the other decades can be ranked easily I would say he was a singles artist in the 60's but that was Motown's nature. The 80's he had to keep up with the times instead of just doing him. If he would have just made what he wanted then he probably would be what Prince was in the 90's. Do you count his soundtracks? Or just his actual work? 80's definitely rankable with ease

His 90's and 2000's works are him just giving his fans the music they love and keeping his creative wheels going. I don't put too much into those albums but enjoy seeing my fave still doing his thang.

Ok I'm gonna put myself in this. Songs In The Key Of Life is the clear winner in this battle, but What's Going On is definitely not that far off. When it comes to Stevie and Marvin, you can't easily determine which albums edges each other out. In the 70's, they were just on a different musical level and they were unparalleled.

As for Songs and WGO, I just think that both albums are transcendant masterpieces that have changed the landscape of not only Black popular music, but MUSIC in general. Stevie edges Marvin for the simple reason that it covers more musical ground and had him dealing with a broad subject, whereas Marvin was dealing with various serious things that were happening at that time. And plus, Stevie's is quite possibly, the most flawless double album with no fillers or weak cuts. Every cut serves a purpose. Thematically, WGO is a killer and every song shines on there as well. So, either one of them is special in my book, but Songs will always be my top album.

Timmy84 said:

I'm not choosing even if you put a lighter under my ass crack.

OH.

'Songs In The Key Of Life'.

Timmy Will be giving you an answer shortly...

Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

You bitches had to go there...

I won't choose.

Finally a well thought versus thread

I love both albums as well as these two incredible geniuses. While BOTH are masterpieces Songs in the Key of Life IS the greatest gift to the human ear a slight above Whats going on... Thank you Stevie and Marvin.. love you guys..

[img:$uid]http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac231/mjscarousal/stevie-wonder11.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac231/mjscarousal/marvin-gaye.jpg[/img:$uid]

Songs in the Key of Life wins this

mjscarousal said:

Finally a well thought versus thread

I love both albums as well as these two incredible geniuses. While BOTH are masterpieces Songs in the Key of Life IS the greatest gift to the human ear a slight above Whats going on... Thank you Stevie and Marvin.. love you guys..

[img:$uid]http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac231/mjscarousal/stevie-wonder11.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac231/mjscarousal/marvin-gaye.jpg[/img:$uid]

Songs in the Key of Life wins this

Yep.

TD3 said:

OH.

'Songs In The Key Of Life'.

Timmy Will be giving you an answer shortly...

I got an answer, they're both the greatest. TAKE THAT!

Cinnamon234 said:

GOOD comparison thread.

"What's Going On" is an absolute classic, but "Songs In The Key of Life" is a MASTERPIECE. One of the greatest albums i've ever heard.

I prefer Marvin overall as an artist, but I gotta go with Stevie here. That album is genius.

What's Going On is amazing! Truly a classic.