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Pop Culture Recommendations

Great Music: Old School Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder Children of the '80s and '90s, hear my cry: Pay no heed to the Stevie Wonder of your youth. All that "I Just Called to Say I Love You" schmaltz need not cloud your minds to the genius of this man.

Case in point: '70s era Stevie. I challenge you to listen to anything he produced in the '70s and not fall into a deep, satisfying groove. Every note is absolutely glorious -- its as though he had a decade-long hot streak and we, the hungry listener, are the prime beneficiary.

A few suggestions to whet your '70s Stevie appetite:

  • "Superstition" -- One of the greatest song intros ever. EVER. I used to play this song on my college radio station all the time, much to my cooler-than-thou program director's chagrin (suck it PD!).

  • "Boogie On Reggae Woman" -- My entree to this song was through Phish (they did a killer live version), but Stevie's is still the standard against which all Boogying Reggae Ladies are judged. (Sidenote: How the hell do you spell boogying?)

  • "Sir Duke" -- The world needs more horn sections. Listen to this joyous song and you'll know exactly what I mean.

  • "I Wish" -- I wish I could wake up to this bassline every day.
This is just a taste. If you've got your own Stevie favorites, post 'em below!

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Posted by Mac on April 28, 2006 1:33 PM
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Groove on Stevie!!!

Besides those, here my list

Isn´t she lovely
Uptight
Lately
Do I do
All I do
That Girl
Higher Ground
Love light in flight
Overjoyed
Signed, sealed, delivered...


Just a taste of sheer genius. I´m in debt to Stevie, every time I listen him, my heart sings along.

-- Posted by: djjoeycool at April 28, 2006 2:54 PM

Stevie brought electronic music to the rock/pop world, an accomplishment which he's hardly ever given the necessary dues. The music he composed with those synthesizers seamlessly interwoven with traditional acoustic instruments, from 1972's Music of My Mind to 1980's Hotter Than July was phenomenal.

A must in any collections are those amazing run of albums:

Music of My Mind
Talking Book
Innervisions
Fullingness' First Finale
Songs In The Key of Life
Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
Hotter Than July

For more info on Stevie visit this site:
www.steviewonder.org.uk

-- Posted by: 1derment at April 29, 2006 2:32 AM

i enjoy listen to your songs when my hard day at work god bless you

-- Posted by: annie brown at May 18, 2006 1:08 PM

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