05/2018



Stevie Wonder played a recent intimate show at The Peppermint Club in Los Angeles, and backstage at the event he chatted with Billboard about his forthcoming studio album, Through the Eyes of Wonder, and some other musical projects he's planning.

Wonder, who celebrates his 68th birthday this month, reports that he's "close" to finishing the record.


As for when the legendary singer thinks the record will be done, he said, "hopefully in a couple of months or so."

Other projects Stevie's planning include an album with vocal group Take 6, recording music in Africa with various singers and percussionists, and a gospel album that he long ago promised his mother he'd make.


Wonder also discussed the ideas he has for his next major tour, which he says will reflect the themes of his Peppermint Club show -- that is, celebrating life, love and music. Stevie revealed that he's planning to collaborate with actor/musician Donald Glover -- who joined him onstage during the club gig -- on interactive visual presentations that will be part of his concerts.


"I'm wanting people to…bring their photos to put into the show to celebrate life moments they've had with me via my songs," Stevie explained. "Since I've had a chance to talk with Donald a little bit to get a sense of what can be done visually, I want to have a marriage of visuals and music this time."

https://is.gd/2S5bqL

I wonder what happened to the country album and the duet album with Tony Bennett that he announced awhile back. That was before Lady Gaga released one with Tony.

I think it's best for artists to only talk about one project at a time. When they mention several different albums that they're "planning"....well,we all know what happens.Fans get excited and years later,we still won't have it.

In any case,I'm always excited to hear new music from Stevie Wonder.The Through The Eyes Of Wonder album,at least, seems like it's a sure thing.

Identity said:

Other projects Stevie's planning include recording music in Africa with various singers and percussionists

Interestingly,Carlos Santana is doing the exact same thing.Would be so cool if the two of them could collaborate.

I hope Stevie realizes this project and puts it out for us to hear. I sure enjoyed seeing him perform Songs In The Key Of Life in it's entirety a couple of years ago...

It's been 5 years since Stevie mentioned Through the Eyes of Wonder and the one promised to his mother before her passing, Gospel Inspired By Lula. And it's been a good long, long while since he released an album of new originals, so I'm over the moon.

Take a sieat and let's wait another 13 years.

maybe he'll do something with d'angelo...

Stevie has plans for a series of concerts in Las Vegas, according to various sources. I'm in.

Prince's Vault?? Hell: I WANNA SEE STEVIE'S "Vault"!!!!

Though the exact count is unknown, Wonder claims to have recorded several hundred tracks (!!!) during the Songs in the Key of Life sessions – nearly all of which remain in the vault. - Rolling Stone magazine, 2016.

Identity said:

Though the exact count is unknown, Wonder claims to have recorded several hundred tracks (!!!) during the Songs in the Key of Life sessions – nearly all of which remain in the vault. - Rolling Stone magazine, 2016.

I wish we could hear those songs.Awhile back,snippets of unreleased Stevie Wonder songs from the 70s began to appear on Youtube.Some of that stuff sounds incredible.

woogiebear said:

Prince's Vault?? Hell: I WANNA SEE STEVIE'S "Vault"!!!!

Last year, Neil Young uploaded 10 previously-unreleased albums and footage on his new archives website. Just imagine Stevie adopting this approach, allowing mere mortals a chance to hear a fraction of the songs he's been stockpiling for decades.

[Edited 5/15/18 13:56pm]

Identity said:

woogiebear said:

Prince's Vault?? Hell: I WANNA SEE STEVIE'S "Vault"!!!!

Last year, Neil Young uploaded 10 previously unreleased albums and footage on his new archives website. Just imagine Stevie adopting this approach, allowing mere mortals a chance to hear a fraction of the songs he's been stockpiling for decades.

that would be amazing!

SoulAlive said:

Identity said:

Though the exact count is unknown, Wonder claims to have recorded several hundred tracks (!!!) during the Songs in the Key of Life sessions – nearly all of which remain in the vault. - Rolling Stone magazine, 2016.

I wish we could hear those songs.Awhile back,snippets of unreleased Stevie Wonder songs from the 70s began to appear on Youtube.Some of that stuff sounds incredible.

With all of the deluxe editions with vault material Universal has reissued from The Supremes and a couple from Marvin Gaye, I'm curious as to why they have not done the same with Stevie's catalog? Maybe he owns all of the masters and, for some reason, has passed on deluxe editions?

[Edited 5/15/18 13:17pm]

Yes, Stevie owns all of his masters. There are tracks from the 70s circulating amongst collectors but I doubt any of it will leak anytime soon.

As far as I'm aware Stevie does not want to realease any of his unreleased material in any form or shape.

Allegedly, he had it in his well that his "vault" shall be destroyed when he passes away. If thats true, really heartbreaking news as a fan of his music, but at the end of day, its his music.

Hamad said:

Allegedly, he had it in his well that his "vault" shall be destroyed when he passes away. If thats true, really heartbreaking news as a fan of his music, but at the end of day, its his music.

Iread that as well, some time ago.

unreleased Stevie Wonder demo from 1973 or 1974----this definitely sounds like it's from the Innervisions era

^^I get chills when I listen to those unreleased song snippets! Makes me hungry for more!

SoulAlive said:

unreleased Stevie Wonder demo from 1973 or 1974----this definitely sounds like it's from the Innervisions era

What's the name please, I can't see YouTube links.

SoulAlive said:

unreleased Stevie Wonder demo from 1973 or 1974----this definitely sounds like it's from the Innervisions era

1974

my my my

We are so fragile yet so strong.

On a related note, here is part of a new Jeff Beck interview in Rolling Stone. He's promoting his documentary.

Kerry Grow: You put together another Jeff Beck Group and, towards the end of that lineup, you got with Stevie Wonder and wrote some music with him and recorded a solo on what became Talking Book. Was it a magical experience working with him?

Jeff Beck: Yeah. I'd already been to Motown in 1970 with [drummer] Cozy [Powell], which was an education I wouldn't have wanted to miss. I was sitting there for 10 days watching James Jamerson and all those players. So when Stevie agreed to do this [collaboration], which was an idea that Epic Records came up with, I was into it. I said, "I really love Stevie on the Music of My Mind album." It was completely a milestone. It was a revolution of what any musical album could be with all the synthesizers and the songs were great. I was mesmerized by them. And the next thing you know, I'm doing the follow-up album, thank you.

I wouldn't have cared if nothing had happened. Just to sit there and watch him work and get to know how it's done was great. The time just ripped by. I think it was three or four days, and it was just incredible. He could sit there and map out a song on the keyboard. It would be the first chorus – perfect – then go and put the drums or bass on.

KG: His hit, "Superstition," evolved from those sessions. You were playing drums and he liked the groove and wrote the keyboard part to it. Whatever happened to the version you recorded of that song with him? You never put it out because the second Jeff Beck Group broke up.

JB:I've got it. It's on a little three-inch reel. It hasn't been played since '72, so I don't know whether it's just decayed or not. But all the tapes that I can find are ready to be baked and processed.

KG: Is that a project you're working on?

JB: I've already done the live concert that [Beck, Bogert and Appice] did. We remixed and refined the sound of it. It sounds pretty good. The version of "Superstition" I did with BBA turned out to be a great heavy-metal song.

Tour Dates:

August 03 – Las Vegas, NV @ Park Theater at Park MGM
August 04 – Las Vegas, NV @ Park Theater at Park MGM
August 08 – Las Vegas, NV @ Park Theater at Park MGM
August 10 – Las Vegas, NV @ Park Theater at Park MGM
August 11 – Las Vegas, NV @ Park Theater at Park MGM
August 25 – Atlantic City, NJ @ The Event Center at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa
August 26 – Atlantic City, NJ @ The Event Center at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa
August 29 – National Harbor, MD @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor
August 30 – National Harbor, MD @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor

September 1 – Springfield, MA @ MassMutual Center at MGM Springfield

Stevie, the 8th Wonder of the world! So happy to see him still touring and performing. Such a great love for music he has. I have been jamming to "Hotter than July" alot lately and this year marks the 45th anniversary of the classic "Innvervisions".