I've recently had a medical issue that's put me on short term disability from work, and I've been enjoying the time away not listening to new music, but going back through great catalogs that I haven't listened to in a while.
When we talk about some of the best album runs in music history, it's mostly the usual suspects - The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, etc. But I've revisited Stevie Wonder's classic period over the past week and damn, I don't think we talk enough about how good he really was. Obviously the peak is considered Music Of My Mind to Songs In The Key Of Life, but there's an argument to be made that the albums directly before and after those five should be part of that discussion (not including Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants since that is a soundtrack), and I wanted to give them some love.
We all know the story. Berry Gordy had final say over Wonder's 60's output, which had remarkable singles intertwined with needless filler throughout the decade. And Wonder was able to negotiate a new deal in the 70's that gave him complete control, setting the stage for his most remarkable works, but the last album under the old deal, Where I'm Coming From in 1971, is really the starting point. Knowing that it was the final record to be delivered and he had all the leverage, Wonder created his first fully self-produced album of all original songs. It's not the most cohesive album - after all, here was a 20 year old bursting at the seams with all these musical ideas, but the stepping stones are there. Do Yourself A Favor is a musical pre-cursor to Superstition, opener Look Around introduces us to the beautiful clavinet sound that becomes a prominent mouthpiece in his upcoming masterpieces, and Sunshine In Their Eyes displays the first thoughts of stretching things out, here with horns and a chorus. Not everything on the album works - I Wanna Talk To You, for example, falls flat with its delivery and just comes off as extremely awkward, and he's still holding on to that 60's Motown sound at times that no longer jives with his new direction, but if you like what followed, you'll love this album.
At the other end, sometimes forgotten because Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants gave us a weird detour in between, is Hotter Than July, his last truly great album. What sets it apart from it's predecessors is the overall loose vibe found throughout, perhaps a result from Wonder's time spent with Bob Marley. Indeed, its biggest hit is a direct homage to him, and one of Wonder's very best singles. But beyond that, the album has a terrific blend of fantastic riffs (Did I Hear You Say You Love Me), ballads (Lately) and even a slight venture into country territory thanks to steel guitar echoes (I Ain't Gonna Stand For It). And it finishes with one of his best and most important songs ever, the MLK ode Happy Birthday. So if your Stevie Wonder classic period listening has generally ended with Songs In The Key Of Life, do not lose sight of this one.
That said, the mountaintop is still for most those five revered albums, although I personally slot Hotter Than July above Music Of My Mind, with Innervisions and Songs my personal top two. But really, every single album in this run is just a tremendous joy to listen to, especially with headphones.
1. Innervisions
2. Songs In The Key Of Life
3. Talking Book
4. Fulfillingness' First Finale
5. Hotter Than July
6. Music On My Mind
7. Where I'm Coming From