These albums don't get name-checked by gen-Z as much as they did when I was on the come-up with "great legacy" albums.

Society's evolved to a more singles/Spotify-playlist oriented culture, maybe that has something to do with it.

Either way it's a shame because his classic period is one of the few highly rated artistic phases that 100% delivers in spades. Those albums are all incredible, the full albums top-to-bottom. A playlist or smattering of hits really doesn't even broach the level of genius Stevie functioned in. It's one of the best "zones" anyone has ever gotten into in the history of art.

[Edited 8/26/23 17:51pm]

Superstition said:

Stevie had an amazing run in the 70s.One classic album after another.Songs In The Key Of Life is my absolute favorite album.I find time,every few weeks or so,to give it a full listen.A truly mindblowing masterpiece.Innervisions is also a favorite.

Superstition said:

There’s so much material from the 70’s (and 80’s) that I would like to hear, including demos of songs Stevie worked on but didn’t record until years or decades later. There’s a version of “Crying Through The Night” that was a filler on the Characters album, but the 70’s version sounds like a funky Donny Hathaway jam. Stuff like that is was I’d love to check out, not to mention completed tracks that have just not been released.

"So Much In Love----demo from the SITKOL sessions.Recorded in 1975

Stevie Wonder - So Much I... - YouTube

I love hearing the snippets of unreleased Stevie Wonder tracks.....gives me chills

Superstition said:

If the 50th Anniversary of Songs In The Key of Life happens with no release, I will be shocked. Stevie did a whole tour with an orchestra in which he performed the album in its entirety - they could easily have a live album from that.

I'd love a massive box set of that album,with vinyl,CDs and a DVD.They need to go all out for such a big,important,and hugely successful album.

RJOrion said:

1976 Spirit

interestingly,Spirit was released in September 1976....around the same time that Stevie released Songs In The Key Of Life wasn't it great to be alive at a time when so much amazing music was being released?

..

[Edited 8/27/23 17:00pm]

RJOrion said:

"Talking Book" is a Masterpiece...doesnt get enough acknowledgement

it's just a perfect album,isnt it? "You've Got It Bad,Girl"...."Looking For Another Pure Love"...."I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever"....Maybe Your Baby"....."Superstition"! Wow,wow,wow! A strong,consistent album from beginning to end!!

Love this period of Stevie as every album's a masterpiece. With that said, Fulfillingness is my favorite to play from start to finish.

SoulAlive said:

Superstition said:

It’s almost kind of remarkable we’ve not seen a deluxe or anniversary version of all these albums, but certainly at least Innervisions.

I heard that Stevie is not interested in releasing demos and outtakes,which may explain why previous reissues of these albums are just straight reissues with no bonus content.

SoulAlive said:

kitbradley said:

Agreed. All classic, timeless 70s albums. Cant say the same for his 80s catalog. Except for "Hotter Than July", those 80s albums have not aged well at all.

His legacy was already cemented way before the 80's even came. He really didn't have to release anything after the 70's.

Every true artist is a product of their time.

RJOrion said:

kitbradley said:

SoulAlive said:

If ANY series of albums has deserved Super Deluxe Editions with interviews, outtakes, 5.1 sound, and ANY other upgrade it's these classics. His 70s run is as good as it gets. Only EWFs is on this level for consecutive classics on this level. I LOVE Stevie!!!

RJOrion said:

I loved those Stevie Wonder albums...but Earth Wind & Fire's classic period 1974-1980 was even greater... 1974 Open Our Eyes 1975 Thats The Way Of The World 1975 Gratitude 1976 Spirit 1977 All N All 1978 Volume 1 1979 I Am 1980 Faces

Throw 1973's "Head to the Sky" on there and brother you just made a friend for life!!! The ELEMENTS, greatest group ever for me!

BalladofPeterParker said:

Superstition said:

Arguably one of the greatest strings of consecutive album releases ever, many consider Stevie Wonder’s classic period to be the five album stretch beginning with Music of My Mind in 1972, and ending with Songs In The Key of Life in 1976. I was dismayed to see the anniversary come and go with no virtually no news, much less any sort of release with rarities. For a man who is arguably one of the more prolific singer/songwriters/performers of all time, it feels like sort of a missed opportunity. I would love to hear the versions of songs Stevie recorded for these albums but ended up releasing later, or the demos of songs he wrote and gave to others. Luckily, Stevie still features on others albums and performs live quite a bit, but we’ve had no album in 18 years and virtually never had a true reissue with additional material. The 2005 digital “Complete Stevie Wonder” is as close as we’ve had.

He closed out the decade with "Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants" which is on par with the others, artistically if not commercially. It's not as acclaimed as the others but as Prince fan's would largely agree that SOTT wasn't the end of Prince's great run in the 80's (Lovesexy anyone?) SITKOL wasn't the end of Stevie's 70's run.

RJOrion said:

"Talking Book" is a Masterpiece...doesnt get enough acknowledgement

My desert island album.

BalladofPeterParker said:

SoulAlive said:

If ANY series of albums has deserved Super Deluxe Editions with interviews, outtakes, 5.1 sound, and ANY other upgrade it's these classics. His 70s run is as good as it gets.

Hell yeah! These albums are timeless classics.Stevie was definitely at the top of his game.

SoulAlive said:

I'm sure the majority will say "Songs in the Key of Life" was Stevie's greatest, but for me it's "Innervisions", mainly because of "Living for the City". Growing up in the South Bronx projects at that time, the song hit me like lightning. It's about urban frustration, and Stevie nailed it perfectly.

RJOrion said:

BalladofPeterParker said:

Throw 1973's "Head to the Sky" on there and brother you just made a friend for life!!! The ELEMENTS, greatest group ever for me!

WORD!....id even put 1972 "Last Days & Time" and 1981 "Raise" on there, personally ...but most music critics start it off with the great Charles Stepney's involvement with the group, in 1974...but brother im with you 100% and then some...to me, ALL of their albums are classics...except for "Electric Universe"...and even that one isnt as disappointing now, as it was when it was first released in 1983...EW&F is easily the greatest band and my favorite band of ALL time

I liked "Raise" more that "Faces"...couldn't get into it.