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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > 50th Anniversary of Stevie Wonder’s “Classic Period”
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Reply #30 posted 09/08/23 12:54pm

Superstition

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whodknee 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.



Same Old Story is really nice with a great vocal at the end.

Black Orchid is a great ballad.

Power Flower is one of the few songs Stevie sings with a lot of falsetto - and has a killer bass and groove.

Send One Your Love is up there with My Cherie Amour or Ribbon In The Sky.

Race Babbling sounds like early techno music.

A Seed’s A Star/Tree Medley is pretty epic.

So yeah, I agree. Actually, even though Signed, Sealed and Delivered is kind of a final “Motown-style” album for Stevie, it’s highly underrated because of what came later. But I also think Where I’m Coming From is up there with Music Of My Mind, which is the album most consider the first of his classic releases.

So pretty much Stevie’s entire 70’s run is up there for me. Hotter Than July was no slouch either, but perhaps less ambitious than the previous albums.
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Reply #31 posted 09/08/23 5:55pm

WhisperingDand
elions

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I kind of get his withholding of outtakes. When you got 5 LPs with a legacy like that why risk tainting it even a little bit?

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Reply #32 posted 09/18/23 9:55am

SoulAlive

Superstition said:



Hotter Than July was no slouch either, but perhaps less ambitious than the previous albums.


It’s a solid album.My favorite tracks are “Rocket Love” and “As If You Read My Mind”.
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Reply #33 posted 09/20/23 7:32pm

Marrk

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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.

I guess 'The Secret Life Of Plants' ended it? It's such a weird one that, I think i listened to it start to finish only once. 'Hotter Than July' was a great return to form. After that, I still bought his albums but apart from the occasional great song his drop off was obvious.

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Reply #34 posted 09/21/23 3:34am

funkaholic1972

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RJOrion said:

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

That is my favorite Stevie album! cool

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...
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Reply #35 posted 09/21/23 4:51pm

CynicKill

Marrk 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.


I guess 'The Secret Life Of Plants' ended it? It's such a weird one that, I think i listened to it start to finish only once. 'Hotter Than July' was a great return to form. After that, I still bought his albums but apart from the occasional great song his drop off was obvious.



Didn’t he debut in 1961?
It’s a testament to his talent that he put out anything good in the 80’s.
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Reply #36 posted 09/21/23 6:09pm

uPtoWnNY

Marrk 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.

I guess 'The Secret Life Of Plants' ended it? It's such a weird one that, I think i listened to it start to finish only once. 'Hotter Than July' was a great return to form. After that, I still bought his albums but apart from the occasional great song his drop off was obvious.

No one's great forever....after his fantastic 80s run, for me, Prince was hit-and-miss during the 90s.

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Reply #37 posted 09/22/23 7:59am

DonRants

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.

I agree. I can only "wonder" if their is some issue with his record company. I imagine Stevie[s reissues would be financialy profitable. Strange indeed.

To All the Haters on the Internet
No more Candy 4 U
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Reply #38 posted 09/23/23 2:06am

SoulAlive

CynicKill said:

Marrk 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.


I guess 'The Secret Life Of Plants' ended it? It's such a weird one that, I think i listened to it start to finish only once. 'Hotter Than July' was a great return to form. After that, I still bought his albums but apart from the occasional great song his drop off was obvious.



Didn’t he debut in 1961?
It’s a testament to his talent that he put out anything good in the 80’s.


Exactly,and I think ‘In Square Circle’ is a great album.The tracks “Overjoyed” and “Go Home” are excellent singles.
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Reply #39 posted 09/23/23 11:27am

S2DG

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The classic period is one of my favorites but I'm just a fan of everything Stevie Wonder. Not saying it's all gold but overall his body of work can't be touched.

I love Stevie and if he doesn't want outtakes coming out, then so be it.

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Reply #40 posted 09/26/23 8:03am

Cinny

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RJOrion said:

SoulAlive said:

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.

Seems like Berry Gordy (and Smokey Robinson) is sitting on a potential gold mine (if he still owns all the rights) with all the demos and outtakes from all those classic era Motown/Tamla/Gordy recordings...The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, Willie Hutch, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye etc.


I would love to hear some Beatles Anthology-type Motown outtakes... false starts.. early takes.. the final take where they fuck up and burp, but then continue.. but it is missing overdubs.. biggrin

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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > 50th Anniversary of Stevie Wonder’s “Classic Period”