This is probably the underrated album of the classic period. Constantly people talk about Innervisions, Songs In The Key of Life and Talking Book, but what about Fulfillingness' First Finale? It's an astounding album. At his peak, Stevie TRULY was one of the greatest ever. Completely genius. I kid you not, I would even rank him up there with cats like Beethoven and Mozart. I've always wondered what the "sequel" sounded like.

Some gems from this record:

Oops, I posted the entire album.

Yes, it is (despite winning a well-deserved Grammy for Album of the Year). "Please Don't Go" gets me every time, "You Haven't Done Nothin'" may be his funkiest recording, "Creepin'" is definitely his sexiest song, and "Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" is a musical sermon that sounds heartfelt and self-assured without ever becoming preachy.

FFF is definitely better than Talking Book IMO and it rivals Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life as his best work.

[Edited 2/19/12 12:30pm]

If it's underrated,it's probably because the album that came before it ('Innervisions') and the album that came after it ('Songs In The Key Of Life') are generally considered to be Stevie's best works.So,FFF is "the album in the middle"...lol....but to me,it's just as strong as the other albums!

SoulAlive said:

If it's underrated,it's probably because the album that came before it ('Innervisions') and the album that came after it ('Songs In The Key Of Life') are generally considered to be Stevie's best works.So,FFF is "the album in the middle".

THIS^^

I always preferred this over Songs.

SoulAlive said:

If it's underrated,it's probably because the album that came before it ('Innervisions') and the album that came after it ('Songs In The Key Of Life') are generally considered to be Stevie's best works.So,FFF is "the album in the middle"...lol....but to me,it's just as strong as the other albums!

Yeah, but I'd put this album on the same level as Innervisions Songs In The Key of Life. That's how good it is.

[Edited 2/19/12 13:04pm]

I would definitely rank it above Songs in the Key of Life but below Talking Book and Innervisions. I think that the "problem" with the album is it may be the least cohesive of his albums circa 1972-1976. The songs are great but as an album I'm not sure that it has as strong of an identity as the other three albums from that era. Does that make sense?

rialb said:

I would definitely rank it above Songs in the Key of Life but below Talking Book and Innervisions. I think that the "problem" with the album is it may be the least cohesive of his albums circa 1972-1976. The songs are great but as an album I'm not sure that it has as strong of an identity as the other three albums from that era. Does that make sense?

Definitely.

smoothcriminal12 said:

AlexdeParis said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Definitely.

It does make sense; however, I'd counter that the true identity of the album is very much rooted in Stevie's near-death experience before its release. His post-accident outlook shines through in the resignation of "It Ain't No Use" and the subject matter itself of "Heaven...," not to mention the significantly increased ferocity in his second attack on Nixon in as many albums. There seems to be a common thread of "life is too short" throughout the album.

Hmm, I guess the ballads are a bit more melancholy than usual. I'm not really up on the timeline regarding the accident but it is interesting to note how quickly the album was written, recorded and released, especially when you consider that he slowed down quite a bit immediately afterwards.

rialb said:

AlexdeParis said:

smoothcriminal12 said: It does make sense; however, I'd counter that the true identity of the album is very much rooted in Stevie's near-death experience before its release. His post-accident outlook shines through in the resignation of "It Ain't No Use" and the subject matter itself of "Heaven...," not to mention the significantly increased ferocity in his second attack on Nixon in as many albums. There seems to be a common thread of "life is too short" throughout the album.

Hmm, I guess the ballads are a bit more melancholy than usual. I'm not really up on the timeline regarding the accident but it is interesting to note how quickly the album was written, recorded and released, especially when you consider that he slowed down quite a bit immediately afterwards.

The accident was a few days after Innervisions was released; Fulfillingness' First Finale was released a little less than a year later.

rialb said:

I would definitely rank it above Songs in the Key of Life but below Talking Book and Innervisions. I think that the "problem" with the album is it may be the least cohesive of his albums circa 1972-1976. The songs are great but as an album I'm not sure that it has as strong of an identity as the other three albums from that era. Does that make sense?

It makes sense because after 1974, Stevie wasn't focused on making a thematic concept album anymore. This album and Songs were good collections of songs. He did return to the concept themes with Journey. I forget it's a soundtrack half the time.

[Edited 2/19/12 14:07pm]

Has any contemporary popular artist had the creative runs of Stevie (72-76) or Prince (82-87)? The best of their work still sound fresh today. Both were incredibly ahead of their times and in an untouchable zone.

The material that P left off the "official" releases holds up against anything out at the time...and when you add his side projects and live material...goddamn.

This album is underrated but there is ZERO validity in the claims that this album is better than Songs In The Key Of Life. That is strictly opinion based.

Continue discussing this album's greatness

jdcxc said:

Has any contemporary popular artist had the creative runs of Stevie (72-76) or Prince (82-87)? The best of their work still sound fresh today. Both were incredibly ahead of their times and in an untouchable zone.

The material that P left off the "official" releases holds up against anything out at the time...and when you add his side projects and live material...goddamn.

!!!!!!!!!!

There is a reason why Stevie & Prince are my favorite artists of all time. Yes, at you picking up on such sheer genius.

PlayboyOriginal said:

This album is underrated but there is ZERO validity in the claims that this album is better than Songs In The Key Of Life. That is strictly opinion based.

Continue discussing this album's greatness

No one is claiming it's anything but an opinion. Why the need the remind us?

PlayboyOriginal said:

Lord Jesus I'm not even gonna address this.

(sings) "I'm not dealing with this todaaaaay..." (R) Nippy

smoothcriminal12 said:

PlayboyOriginal said:

This album is underrated but there is ZERO validity in the claims that this album is better than Songs In The Key Of Life. That is strictly opinion based.

Continue discussing this album's greatness

No one is claiming it's anything but an opinion. Why the need the remind us?

Because it came off as I read through this thread as if it was LAW and I had to throw up a quick disclaimer so my soul could be at rest.

Timmy84 said:

Lord Jesus I'm not even gonna address this.

(sings) "I'm not dealing with this todaaaaay..." (R) Nippy

O/T: I always knew you were a bigger Whitney fan then what you led the org to believe before her death.

Timmy84 said:

Timmy84 said:

I always preferred this over Songs.

Hey Timmy, wasn't he working on a sequel to, "Fulfillingnes"? I could have sworn I heard this mentioned on the Org, years ago.

shorttrini said:

silverchild said:

shorttrini said:

Hey Timmy, wasn't he working on a sequel to, "Fulfillingnes"? I could have sworn I heard this mentioned on the Org, years ago.

Stevie was working on a sequel to Fulfillingness' with the working title Fulfillingness' Second Finale and it was intended to be a double album. It kind've reminds me of what Prince would end up doing around '85 after ATWIAD.

Thought so! Thanks Silver....

shorttrini said:

Timmy84 said:

I always preferred this over Songs.

Hey Timmy, wasn't he working on a sequel to, "Fulfillingnes"? I could have sworn I heard this mentioned on the Org, years ago.

Yeah it was gonna be called Fulfillingness Pt. 2. He never got around to it.

Timmy84 said:

shorttrini said:

Hey Timmy, wasn't he working on a sequel to, "Fulfillingnes"? I could have sworn I heard this mentioned on the Org, years ago.

Yeah it was gonna be called Fulfillingness Pt. 2. He never got around to it.

Thanks Timmy!!

I love "Bird Of Beauty". That song always reminds me of something you'd hear going to some really beautiful tropical island.

I put it a notch below Innervisions(Stevie's best IMO) & Songs.