Stevie Wonder’s “Classic Five” of five consecutive (some say six) albums culminated with Songs In The Key of Life in 1976. This record is in the All-Time Albums list and for good reason.
Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Morris on May 13, 1950) signed to Motown Records’ Tamla Division as an 11-year old blind genius. Little Stevie Wonder sang and played drums, keyboards, and the harmonica on his albums. He began writing songs in the 1960s and by the end of the decade he was putting out hits of his own tracks like “My Cherie Amour” and “I Was Made To Love Her.”
The 1970s started with a bang as Stevie worked his way up to his well-known classic period. Now 21 years old, he solely produced his first album, which was the last on his original Motown contract. It was titled Where I’m Coming From. He used that as leverage for a new recording contract with total production control over his music. This is probably the greatest five-album run stretch ever.
1972 – Music of My Mind
1972 – Talking Book
1973 – Innervisions
1974 – Fulfillingness’ First Finale
1976 – Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie had been cutting up already before Songs In The Key Of Life was even out. He won six Grammys for his previous works Innervision and Fulfillingness’ First Finale. But this one was different. This was his swan song album, but after another exclusive contract was signed, he released Magnum Opus AKA Song In the Key of Life. The album was planned to hit store shelves in late 1975, the original title was Let’s See Life The Way It Is. He finally settled with Songs In The Key Of Life. The double album featured 17 tracks plus an additional 4 from a bonus EP A Something’s Extra. It was released on Sep 28, 1976. It ended up being the second best selling LP of 1977, only behind Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart. It was only the 3rd album up until that time to achieve this, and the first by an American. The album held the top spot for 13 consecutive weeks one the chart, 14 weeks in total. The album spent another 35 weeks in the top ten and 80 total weeks on the Billboard charts eventually going Diamond with sales of over ten million. Guest on the album included pianist Herbie Hancock, guitarist George Benson, his Funk Brother pal
from Motown Eddie “Bongo” Brown, and vocalists Minnie Riperton, Deniece Williams, and his current wife Syreeta Wright.
ALBUM
Songs In The Key Of Life
US Billboard 200 – #1 [14 Weeks]
US R&B – #1 [8 Weeks]
SINGLES
I Wish
US Billboard Hot 100 – #1 [5 Weeks]
US R&B – #1 [1 Week]
Sir Duke
US Billboard Hot 100 – #1 [1 Week]
US R&B – #1 [3 Weeks]
Another Star
US Billboard Hot 100 – #32 [2 Weeks]
US R&B – #18 [12 weeks]
Other songs from this album include “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Pastime Paradise,” “Love’s In Need Of Love Today,” and “Knocks Me Off My Feet.” These songs are such classics that you’d think they were singles like the records above.
Songs In The Key Of Life won Album won Album of the Year, Producer of the Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “I Wish.” The record was awarded with a 2002 Grammy Hall of Fame honor and in 2005, the National Recording Registry by the Literary of Congress deemed it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” After the success of Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie continued to record and win wide acclaim including helping MLK Day become a holiday.
Stevie Wonder was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1989. A documentary about the album was featured on VH1’s Classic Albums series. To commemorate the occasion, Stevie is releasing new music for the first time in over 20 years. He’s also embarking on a 50th Year Anniversary Tour of the record where he will perform every song from the album. The tour kicks off October 13 and ends in Detroit, home of Motown on Dec 9. Stevie Wonder is now 76 years old and Songs In The Key Of Life was released in 1976 …50 Years ago.
Written by: Kerry Lewis
The post Stevie’s Songs – The Keys Of His Life first appeared on The Fleet Mag.