namepeace said:

This is why Stevie's 70's run is the greatest in small-r rock history.

Each album from Music of My Mind to Songs In The Key of Life , standing alone, would be the crowning achievement of almost any other artist's career.

When it comes to pop music, it is hard to argue against that. I don't think neither Prince, Paul
McCartney, Billy Corgan, Van Hunt, or Elliott Smith (who are all my favorite one-man band song-
writers/performers/producers/multi-instrumentalist) ever released five albums in a row that
could match this Wonder-ful feat.

The only knock I have against that run from 1972 to 1976 is that some of those albums kinda
sound the same. And, there is something to be said negatively for when something is just too
damn perfect consistently . . .

Dasein said:

namepeace said:

This is why Stevie's 70's run is the greatest in small-r rock history.

Each album from Music of My Mind to Songs In The Key of Life , standing alone, would be the crowning achievement of almost any other artist's career.

When it comes to pop music, it is hard to argue against that. I don't think neither Prince, Paul McCartney, Billy Corgan, Van Hunt, or Elliott Smith (who are all my favorite one-man band songwriters/performers/producers/multi-instrumentalist) ever released five albums in a row that could match this Wonder-ful feat.

The only knock I have against that run from 1972 to 1976 is that some of those albums kinda sound the same. And, there is something to be said negatively for when something is just too damn perfect consistently . . .

Very fair points.

206Michelle said:

I think it's his best album also, even though my personal favourite is Talking Book.

.

I believe that "Living for the City" is the greatest song Stevie ever created.

Indeed is his greatest song.

Dasein said:

namepeace said:

This is why Stevie's 70's run is the greatest in small-r rock history.

Each album from Music of My Mind to Songs In The Key of Life , standing alone, would be the crowning achievement of almost any other artist's career.

When it comes to pop music, it is hard to argue against that. I don't think neither Prince, Paul
McCartney, Billy Corgan, Van Hunt, or Elliott Smith (who are all my favorite one-man band song-
writers/performers/producers/multi-instrumentalist) ever released five albums in a row that
could match this Wonder-ful feat.

The only knock I have against that run from 1972 to 1976 is that some of those albums kinda
sound the same. And, there is something to be said negatively for when something is just too
damn perfect consistently . . .

Really? to me they sound different enough, every single one of them has their own sound.

214 said:

Dasein said:

When it comes to pop music, it is hard to argue against that. I don't think neither Prince, Paul
McCartney, Billy Corgan, Van Hunt, or Elliott Smith (who are all my favorite one-man band song-
writers/performers/producers/multi-instrumentalist) ever released five albums in a row that
could match this Wonder-ful feat.

The only knock I have against that run from 1972 to 1976 is that some of those albums kinda
sound the same. And, there is something to be said negatively for when something is just too
damn perfect consistently . . .

Really? to me they sound different enough, every single one of them has their own sound.

Yeah, I guess so, I mean, Wonder, during this run, was working within an R&B context that was
mostly pop which relied significantly on those awesome synth patches and various keyboards. If
he did a straight up rock n roll album or a jazz album while abandoning his pop sensibilities, for
example, then I would be willing to say that his work during this time period didn't sound the
same.

But, it's such a small knock against him because in order for you to have a "great run" in music, it
doesn't necessarily mean the albums released should all sound different. I am LOOKING to criticize
Wonder because actually any faults I discover or think is appropriate makes me appreciate his
art even more, in a wabi-sabi kinda way . . .

Dasein said:

NorthC said:

Dasein said:

When it comes to pop music, it is hard to argue against that. I don't think neither Prince, Paul
McCartney, Billy Corgan, Van Hunt, or Elliott Smith (who are all my favorite one-man band song-
writers/performers/producers/multi-instrumentalist) ever released five albums in a row that
could match this Wonder-ful feat.

The only knock I have against that run from 1972 to 1976 is that some of those albums kinda
sound the same. And, there is something to be said negatively for when something is just too
damn perfect consistently . . .

1999-Purple Rain-Around the World In a Day-Parade-Sign O' the Times-Lovesexy. Damn! That's 6 albums! And no one in their right mind would say they all sound the same. So I guess Stevie isn't the only singer-songwriter multi instrumentalist with an incredible row of stunning albums in a short period of time.

True, and I think Prince's 80's run is one of the very greatest in rock history. You could probably go back to Prince to fully capture his "Golden Age." No artist since Stevie has had that kind of run, and I'd put it up there not only with Stevie's run but with Miles' run in the 50's, Coltrane's run in the 60's, and the Beatles' run.

What separates Stevie's run from Prince's is that all 5 of the Stevie albums I mentioned were commercially and critically successful. The 6 Prince albums you mentioned have all been treasured by Prince fans since release, but at least 3 of them (ATWIAD, Parade, LoveSexy) were not warmly received and did not sell as well outside the fanbase, for a variety of reasons. LoveSexy, which for my is easily a top-5 album in the canon, was probably Prince's biggest flop. Those albums are receiving far more love now than they did back then (especially Parade).

NorthC said:

Lovesexy was HUGE in Europe. It was a hype. People were going crazy over the album, the shows, it got to the point where a Dutch DJ named Jack Spijkerman pretended to have Prince in his radio show. People turned up at the studio. Only later did they realize it was an impersonator. Prince did his secret gig at the Paard van Troje, which became legendary. A flop in the US maybe, but Europe experienced Princemania back then so much that it would keep people coming back to his concerts for years to come even if his albums didn't sell. Purple Rain was a hype in the US, but on our side of the Atlantic, it was the 1986-88 years that truly made Prince into a star.

Good points, it was a pretty big hit in Europe, including the legendary German broadcast of the show. I told that to all my non-Prince fans who'd listen, in defense of the album at the time.

But that's what sets Stevie's run apart from Prince's according to the album groupings we discussed. All of the albums in Stevie's grouping were unqualified successes. LoveSexy was a qualified success, with hugely disappointing sales in the US and good sales across the pond. The same could be said for Parade as well.

Dasein said:

214 said:

Really? to me they sound different enough, every single one of them has their own sound.

Yeah, I guess so, I mean, Wonder, during this run, was working within an R&B context that was
mostly pop which relied significantly on those awesome synth patches and various keyboards. If
he did a straight up rock n roll album or a jazz album while abandoning his pop sensibilities, for
example, then I would be willing to say that his work during this time period didn't sound the
same.

But, it's such a small knock against him because in order for you to have a "great run" in music, it
doesn't necessarily mean the albums released should all sound different. I am LOOKING to criticize
Wonder because actually any faults I discover or think is appropriate makes me appreciate his
art even more, in a wabi-sabi kinda way . . .

He could have made a rock album, really, just listen Maybe Your Baby, Superstition, I Believe and Front Line. I could say that Michael Jackson had a 5 albums row of genius or i could even say 7 albums row starting with Destiny ending with Blood On The Dancefloor.

NorthC said:

I think it's his best album.

It is....'Living for the City' is just as powerful and revelant now as it was back in 1973.

uPtoWnNY said:

NorthC said:

I think it's his best album.

It is....'Living for the City' is just as powerful and revelant now as it was back in 1973.

Truly a timeless classic! Both in music and subject matter

My FAVE Stevie Album!!!!

alphastreet said:

uPtoWnNY said:

It is....'Living for the City' is just as powerful and revelant now as it was back in 1973.

Truly a timeless classic! Both in music and subject matter

I'm a native New Yorker who was 12 when that song came out....44 years later, NYC is still as cruel and cold like Stevie described it. The issues he brought up haven't gone away.

uPtoWnNY said:

alphastreet said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I'm a native New Yorker who was 12 when that song came out....44 years later, NYC is still as cruel and cold like Stevie described it. The issues he brought up haven't gone away.

Exactly And mista know it all is hitting me harder today than it did when I first heard it in light of who the president is.

Isn't it amazing - a blind man sees what many with sight refuse to see!

alphastreet said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I'm a native New Yorker who was 12 when that song came out....44 years later, NYC is still as cruel and cold like Stevie described it. The issues he brought up haven't gone away.

Exactly And mista know it all is hitting me harder today than it did when I first heard it in light of who the president is.

Isn't it amazing - a blind man sees what many with sight refuse to see!

alphastreet said:

A funk/rock album would have been amazing! It's not too late

It's not too late. It would have been amazing.

214 said:

alphastreet said:

A funk/rock album would have been amazing! It's not too late

It's not too late. It would have been amazing.

It would be great if he could get that off his bucket list! An album full of numbers like living for the city, maybe your baby, with a little more upbeat elements, and killer vocals

Has he ever done a collaboration with nile rogers? They are both great on their own and really don't need each other, but it would an amazing collaboration to see what they can both come up with from a jam session for the pure love of music

[Edited 12/2/17 13:08pm]

alphastreet said:

214 said:

It's not too late. It would have been amazing.

It would be great if he could get that off his bucket list! An album full of numbers like living for the city, maybe your baby, with a little more upbeat elements, and killer vocals

Has he ever done a collaboration with nile rogers? They are both great on their own and really don't need each other, but it would an amazing collaboration to see what they can both come up with from a jam session for the pure love of music

[Edited 12/2/17 13:08pm]

Yes with Nile Rogers would be great or with Bootsy.

One thing i don't understand is why on Earth Jesus Children Of American and the Hotter Than July album are not available on Spotify?

"Jesus Children..." and Hotter Than July are available to stream on Spotify.

Identity said:

"Jesus Children..." and Hotter Than July are available to stream on Spotify.

That's weird, perhaps for some odd reason here in Mexico they are not available.

The show at STAPLES was pretty great....

TALKING BOOK and INNVERSISIONS

HOWEVER... the company doing the FOH mixing was horrendous... just damn awful.

I worked in the field of live sound for years, and this was by far the worst I'd encountered....and it had nothing to do with the acoustics or any weird noise pockets...it was all due to lack of attention and coordination....more than likely planning as well... it was embarrassing.

Worse than the time I saw Prince at Nokia (LowusFlow3r per4mance #1)

I loved the show at Staples the other night. There were some problems with the sound and it seemed like they didn't know what to do at times, but I was able to hear what was going on for the most part. And Stevie was in amazing form, as good as any time I've seen him.

(Funny that you mention that Prince show at the Nokia Theater... I remember one of the mains was blown, farting like crazy through the whole show. This wasn't as bad as that, IMO.)

bobzilla77 said: