This thread is in tribute of this album, which is often ignored when compared to everything from "Music Of My Mind" (the album after it) and onwards. Not going to write very much here, but I would say that most of what was contained on "Music Of My Mind" was also contained on the album before it.
Surely, there are not quite as many synths in there, but the synth is in use. And the ballads are also starting to come through like they would for the next golden age albums.
It is not my favourite Stevie Wonder album, but I feel that his "Golden Age" may well be stretched as early as 1971. Because this is a great album.
― Geir Hongro, Sunday, 2 November 2008 23:15 (sixteen years ago)
If You Really Love Me
― a time much hard one to resist (PappaWheelie V), Sunday, 2 November 2008 23:48 (sixteen years ago)
"I Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" may just be my favorite Stevie ballad.
― "JOE THE PLUMBER, I'LL WHUP YOUR ASS" (The Reverend), Monday, 3 November 2008 00:39 (sixteen years ago)
Eric to thread.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 3 November 2008 00:41 (sixteen years ago)
"I Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" is definitely my favourite track on this particular album at least. Even though I guess I prefer "You And I", "Blame It On The Sun", "They Won't Go When I Go", "Joy Inside My Tears" and "Love's In Need Of Love Today" as even better.
― Geir Hongro, Monday, 3 November 2008 01:12 (sixteen years ago)
I've never heard this -- never realized until recently that it's considered among the greats.
― Naive Teen Idol, Monday, 3 November 2008 01:25 (sixteen years ago)
Very very good album, though there is definitely a stretch of songs that just don't do it for me in either the fun assembly line manner of his '60s stuff ("Uptight," "For Once In My Life") or the oddball transitional experiments of Music of My Mind ("Girl Blue," "Seems So Long").
There's also this Broadway-circa-Hair vibe sort of creeping throughout that rubs me the wrong way, mostly in the middle section of "Sunshine in Their Eyes" (the section after the nice "Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing"-reminiscent opening and before the "Hey Jude" outro).
But "If You Really Love Me" and "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" are inarguably canon material. I'd throw in that first section of "Sunshine" and "Look Around" and "Do Yourself a Favor" in there as well.
― Eric H., Monday, 3 November 2008 05:31 (sixteen years ago)
I was almost going to say this ought to be a poll thread, but like anything other than "Really Love Me" and "Never Dreamed" would even get a vote.
Oh, and Geir, btw: there aren't any synths on this album
― "JOE THE PLUMBER, I'LL WHUP YOUR ASS" (The Reverend), Monday, 3 November 2008 07:00 (sixteen years ago)
"Do Yourself a Favour"
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 3 November 2008 07:24 (sixteen years ago)
Doesn't help the rep of this album that IT'S STILL OUT OF PRINT.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, 3 November 2008 07:42 (sixteen years ago)
it's on itunes & amazon mp3, which is something anyway
― "JOE THE PLUMBER, I'LL WHUP YOUR ASS" (The Reverend), Monday, 3 November 2008 08:05 (sixteen years ago)
It was just a few years ago that it was available, but now it seems to be out of print. You can get "Down To Earth", "For Once In My Life", "My Cherie Amour" and "Signed Sealed And Delivered", all of them OK albums if a bit patchy (bit too much cover material), but not this one for some reason.
― Geir Hongro, Monday, 3 November 2008 10:20 (sixteen years ago)
i have to say this is one of my favourite tracks on this album, for ther very reasons you cite...
― MacElby's Puddin'© (stevie), Monday, 3 November 2008 13:03 (sixteen years ago)
i always loved the tracks included on Looking Back off of this, but have never heard the whole thing.
― Ioannis, Monday, 3 November 2008 13:05 (sixteen years ago)
OTM
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Monday, 3 November 2008 13:05 (sixteen years ago)