Sep 04, 2013 STEVIE WONDER. Album 'Songs In The Key Of Life'. Motown Records. By misummergrooves. Songs In The Key Of Life Stevie Wonder to stream in hi-fi, or to download in True CD Quality on Qobuz.com.
Yes, even though I feel 'Innervisions' is Stevie's best record, 'Songs In The Key Of Life' has the number 2 spot. Not to say that this album is not ambitious and brillant, because it is that and then some. In fact I might be persuaded to move to no. 1, only because it is a double-album(plus a small 45 type record on the side). Stevie pulled out all the stops here, in fact, if I was to do an overview of this moster of an album, it would not fit here! I will say this though, my two favorites on here are, 'As' and 'Ordinary Pain'.
Man, those two songs right there.well, let's just say that my wife is sick.and tired of hearing them!!!!! A definite MASTERPIECE..
• ' Released: December 1976 • ' Released: February 1977 (non-us single) • ' Released: March 1977 • ' Released: August 1977 • ' Released: October 1977 Songs in the Key of Life is the eighteenth album by American recording artist, released on September 28, 1976, by, through its division. It was the culmination of his 'classic period' albums. The album was recorded primarily at Crystal Sound studio in, with some sessions recorded at the in Hollywood, the in, and in. Final mixing was performed at Crystal Sound. An ambitious with a four-song bonus, Songs in the Key of Life became the best-selling and most critically acclaimed album of Wonder's career.
In 2003, it was ranked number 57 on magazine's list of. In the same year it was preserved into the by the, which called it 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.'
Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Background [ ] By 1976, Stevie Wonder had become one of the most popular figures in R&B and pop music, not only in the U.S., but worldwide. Within a short space of time, the albums, and were all back-to-back top five successes, with the latter two winning, in 1974 and 1975, respectively.
By the end of 1975, Wonder became serious about quitting the music industry and emigrating to to work with handicapped children. He had expressed his anger with the way that the was running the country.
A farewell concert was being considered as the best way to bring down the curtain on his career. Wonder changed his decision, when he signed a new contract with Motown on August 5, 1975, thinking he was better off making the most of his career. At the time, rivals such as and were also interested in him. The contract was laid out as a seven-year, seven LP, $37 million deal and gave him full artistic control, making this the largest deal made with a recording star up to that point. Almost at the beginning Wonder took a year off from the music market, with a project for a double album to be released in 1976. There was huge anticipation for the new album which was initially scheduled for release around October 1975.
It was delayed on short notice when Wonder felt that further remixing was essential. According to Wonder, the marketing campaign at Motown decided to take advantage of the delay by producing 'We're almost finished' T-shirts. Work on the new album continued into early 1976.
A name was finally chosen for the album: Songs in the Key of Life. The title would represent the formula of a complex 'key of life' and the proposals for indefinite success. The album was released on September 28, 1976 after a two-year wait as a double LP album with a four-track seven-inch EP titled A Something's Extra ('Saturn', 'Ebony Eyes', 'All Day Sucker' and 'Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)') and a 24-page lyric and credit booklet. Recording [ ].
Wonder used an RE20 microphone ( pictured) to record his voice for upbeat songs such as '. A variety of microphones were used for other songs. The working title was Let's See Life the Way It Is.
Wonder recorded the great majority of the album at Crystal Sounds in Hollywood, with Gary Olazabal as engineer, and studio owner John Fischbach as engineer. Some material was recorded at the Record Plant in Hollywood and the Record Plant in Sausalito. During a period when Crystal Sounds had a prior obligation to record another artist, Wonder and Fischbach traveled to the Hit Factory in New York City to work for about six weeks but only used one basic track.
As a perfectionist, Wonder spent long hours in the studio for almost every track he recorded. He was 'not eating or sleeping, while everyone around him struggled to keep up.' According to Wonder, 'If my flow is goin', I keep on until I peak.' A total of 130 people worked on the album, but Wonder's preeminence during the album was evident. Among the people present during the sessions, there were legendary figures of R&B, soul and jazz music – played Fender Rhodes on 'As', played electric guitar on 'Another Star', and and added backing vocals on 'Ordinary Pain'.
Was a prominent personality throughout the album, playing guitar on several tracks and also co-writing 'Saturn' with Wonder. Some of the most socially conscious songs of the album were actually written by Wonder with other people – these included 'Village Ghetto Land' and 'Black Man' (co-written with ) and 'Have a Talk with God' (co-written by Calvin Hardaway)., Wonder's newest bass player at the time, originally recorded a bass track for 'Isn't She Lovely' that Wonder replaced with his own keyboard bass for the final version. The same guide-track method was employed for 'Knocks Me Off My Feet'. Critical reception [ ] Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating A 8/10 5/5 10/10 4.5/5 At the time of release, reporters and music critics, and everyone who had worked on the album, traveled to, a recording studio in for a press preview of the album.
Everybody received autographed copies of the album and Wonder gave interviews. Critical reception was positive. The album was viewed as a guided tour through a wide range of musical styles and the life and feelings of the artist. It included recollections of childhood, of first love and lost love.
It contained songs about faith and love among all peoples and songs about social justice for the poor and downtrodden. On February 19, 1977, Wonder was nominated for seven, including, an award that he had already won twice, in 1974 and 1975, for Innervisions and Fulfillingness’ First Finale. Since 1973, Stevie’s presence at the Grammy ceremonies had been consistent – he attended most of the ceremonies and also used to perform on stage. But in 1976, he did not attend as he was not nominated for any awards (as he had not released any new material during the past year)., who received the Grammy for Album of the Year in that occasion (for ) jokingly thanked Stevie “for not releasing an album” that year. A year after, Wonder was nominated for Songs in the Key of Life in that same category, and was widely favored by many critics to take the award. The other nominees were by, by, Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs, and the other favorite, ’s, which was also a huge critical and commercial success.
Wonder was again absent from the ceremony, as he had developed an interest in visiting. In February he traveled to for two weeks, primarily to explore his musical heritage, as he put it.
A satellite hook-up was arranged so that Stevie could be awarded his Grammys from across the sea. Announced the results during the ceremony, and the audience was only able to see Wonder at a phone smiling and giving thanks.
The video signal was poor and the audio inaudible. Went on to make a public blunder when he asked the blind-since-birth Wonder, “Stevie, can you see us?” In all, Wonder won four out of seven nominations at the Grammys:,, and. Legacy and influence [ ] Over time, the album became a standard, and it is considered Wonder's signature album. 'Of all the albums,' he told Q magazine (April 1995 issue), ' Songs in the Key of Life I'm most happy about. Just the time, being alive then. To be a father and then letting go and letting God give me the energy and strength I needed.' Songs in the Key of Life is often cited as one of the greatest albums in popular music history.
It was voted as the best album of the year in 's annual critics poll; in 2001 the named it the seventh greatest album of all time; in 2003, the album was ranked number 57 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Many musicians have also remarked on the quality of the album and its influence on their own work. For example, Elton John said, in his notes for Wonder on the 2003 Rolling Stone 's list of 'The Immortals – The Greatest Artists of All Time' (in which Wonder was ranked number 15): 'Let me put it this way: wherever I go in the world, I always take a copy of Songs in the Key of Life. For me, it's the best album ever made, and I'm always left in awe after I listen to it.' In an interview with magazine, called Songs in the Key of Life his favorite Stevie Wonder album.
Cited the album as his favorite of all time and with covered 'As' for a 1999 hit single. Michael performed 'Love's in Need of Love Today' on his tour in 1988, and released it as a B-side to '. He also performed 'Village Ghetto Land' at the in 1988.
He later covered 'Pastime Paradise' and 'Knocks Me Off My Feet' in his 1991. R&B singers in particular have praised the album – called it the best album ever recorded, generally names the album as one of her favorites, and also remarked on the influence of Songs in the Key of Life on her singing. (During the photoshoot for her, as seen on its respective, the album was played throughout the photo sessions, at Houston’s request.) The album's importance has even been recognized by musicians, with singer describing a live performance of Songs in the Key of Life as 'a living, breathing miracle'. The album’s tracks have provided numerous for rap and hip-hop artists; for example, 'Pastime Paradise', which itself drew on the first eight and four of J.S. Bach's, [ ] was reworked by as '. In 1995, artist recorded a cover album titled Najee Plays Songs from the Key of Life, which is based entirely on Wonder's album.
In 1999, used 'I Wish' as the base for his US number-one single '. The song repeated the main melody of 'I Wish' as a riff and some lyrics re-formed. In April 2008, the album was voted the 'Top Album of All Time' by the Music Playlist Blog, using a formula that combined four parameters – 'Album Staying Power Value + Sales Value + Critical Rating Value + Grammy Award Value'. In December 2013, Wonder did a live concert performance of the entire Songs in the Key of Life album at the in Los Angeles. The event was his 18th annual House Full of Toys Benefit Concert, and featured some of the original singers and musicians from the 1976 double-album as well as several from the contemporary scene.
In November 2014, Wonder began performing the entire album in a in the U.S. The start of the tour coincided with the 38th anniversary of the release of Songs in the Key of Life.
Commercial performance [ ] Highly anticipated, the album surpassed all commercial expectations. It debuted at number 1 on the on October 8, 1976, becoming only the third album in history to achieve that feat and the first by an American artist (after British singer/composer 's albums and, both in 1975). In, the album achieved the same feat, entering at number one on the national albums chart on October 16. Songs in the Key of Life spent thirteen consecutive weeks at number one in the U.S., and 11 during 1976. It was the album with the most weeks at number one during the year.
In those eleven weeks, Songs in the Key of Life managed to block four other albums from reaching the top – in order, ’s, 's, 's for and 's. On January 15, 1977, the album finally dropped to number two behind ' and the following week it fell to number four. On January 29 it returned to the top for a fourteenth and final week. The album then began its final fall. It spent a total of 35 weeks inside the top ten and 80 weeks on the Billboard albums chart. Songs in the Key of Life also saw longevity at number one on the Billboard chart, spending 20 non-consecutive weeks there. In all, Songs in the Key of Life became the second best-selling album of 1977 in the U.S., only behind 's blockbuster, and was certified as a by the, for sales of 10 million units in the U.S.
Alone (each individual record or disc included with an album counts towards RIAA certifications). It was the highest selling R&B/Soul album on the chart that same year. Songs in the Key of Life was also the most successful Wonder project in terms of singles.
The lead-off, the upbeat ' was released in November 1976, over a month after the album was released. On January 15, 1977, it reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart, where it spent five weeks at the top. Seven days after, it also reached the summit of the, although it spent only one week at number one. The track became an international top 10 single, and also reached number five in the UK. 'I Wish' became one of Wonder's standards and remained one of his most sampled songs. The follow-up, the jazzy ', surpassed the commercial success of 'I Wish'. It was released in March 1977 and also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 (spending three weeks at the top starting on May 21) and the R&B chart (for one week, starting on May 28).
Sistemas Distribuidos George Coulouris Pdf Printer. It also reached number two in the UK, where it was kept off the top spot by the song ' by, who had provided backing vocals on the album. As sales for the album began to decline during the second half of 1977, the two other singles from Songs in the Key of Life failed to achieve the commercial success of 'I Wish' and 'Sir Duke'. ' was released in August and reached only number 32 on the Hot 100 (number 18 on the R&B chart, and number 29 in the UK) and ' came out two months later, peaking at number 36 on both the Pop and R&B charts. Though not released as a single, ' received wide airplay and became one of Wonder's most popular songs. It was soon released by as a single in 1977 and became a top 10 hit in the UK.
Track listing [ ] Original vinyl release. Side one • 'Saturn' (, Wonder) – 4:54 • Mike Sembello – lead guitar • Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar • Gregory Phillinganes – keyboard • Stevie Wonder – all other instruments • 'Ebony Eyes' (Wonder) – 4:11 • Nathan Watts – bass • – saxophone • – • Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, tack piano,, drums Side two • 'All Day Sucker' (Wonder) – 5:06 • Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar • Mike Sembello – rhythm guitar • W.
'Snuffy' Walden – lead guitar • Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, background vocals, bass synthesizer, Clavinet, drums • Carolyn Denis – background vocals • 'Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)' (Wonder) – 3:55 • Nathan Watts – bass • Stevie Wonder – Fender Rhodes,, drums CD release No. Title Writer(s) Length 1. 'Love's in Need of Love Today' Wonder 7:06 2. 'Have a Talk with God' Wonder, Hardaway 2:42 3. 'Village Ghetto Land' Wonder, Byrd 3:25 4. 'Contusion' Wonder 3:46 5. ' Wonder 3:54 6.
' Wonder 4:12 7. ' Wonder 3:36 8. ' Wonder 3:28 9. 'Summer Soft' Wonder 4:14 10.
'Ordinary Pain' Wonder 6:23 11. ' Wonder 6:34 12.
'Joy Inside My Tears' Wonder 6:30 13. ' Wonder, Byrd 8:30 14. 'Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing' Wonder 3:49 15. 'If It's Magic' Wonder 3:12 16.
' Wonder 7:08 17. ' Wonder 8:28 A Something's Extra No.
Title Writer(s) Length 18. 'Saturn' Wonder, Sembello 4:54 19. 'Ebony Eyes' Wonder 4:09 20. 'All Day Sucker' Wonder 5:06 21. 'Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)' Wonder 3:57 Total length: 1:44:54 Personnel [ ]. • –,,,,, • – • – • – guitar, vocals • – • – keyboards, • – guitar • – keyboards • – guitar • –, vocals, handclapping • Greg Brown – drums • Raymond Lee Pounds – drums • Hank Redd – and • George Bohannon – • Ben Bridges – guitar, • – • – • – guitar • Steve Madaio – • Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone • Glen Ferris – • – • – vocals • – vocals • Gary Byrd – vocals • – vocals • Larry Scott – • Carol Cole – • – percussion • Jay Boy Adams – vocals • Nathan Alford, Jr. Weekly charts [ ] Chart (1976/77) Position 6 Austrian Albums Chart 15 1 1 1 Italian Albums Chart 2 Japanese Oricon Albums Chart 40 5 6 9 2 U.S.
1 23 Year-end charts [ ] Chart (1976) Position Australian Albums Chart 49 3 Dutch Albums Chart 14 French Albums Chart 11 UK Albums Chart 21 Chart (1977) Position Australian Albums Chart 39 Canadian Albums Chart 5 Dutch Albums Chart 7 Italian Albums Chart 9 UK Albums Chart 18 U.S. Billboard 200 2 Certifications [ ] Region Certification /Sales Canada () 2× Platinum 200,000 ^ France () Gold 100,000 * United Kingdom () Platinum 300,000 ^ United States () Diamond 5,000,000 ^ *sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone See also [ ] • • • • Notes [ ]. • Grimstad, Paul...
Retrieved 1 October 2016. • Some observers count six classic albums, some count five, and others count four. Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2001). Hal Leonard Corporation.
Cramer, Alfred William (2009). Musicians and Composers of the 20th Century. Brown, Jeremy K. Stevie Wonder: Musician. Black Americans of Achievement.
Infobase Publishing. • ^ Buskin, Richard (December 2007).. Sound on Sound. • Lundy, Zeth.., January 17, 2007. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
• ^ Lundy, Zeth 33 1⁄ 3 Songs in the key of life, pp. 14/15. • Lundy, Zeth 33 1⁄ 3 Songs in the key of life, p.
Rolling Stone Magazine. • ^ Davis, Sharon Stevie Wonder: Rhythms of Wonder p. • Lundy, Zeth 33 1⁄ 3 Songs in the key of life, pp. 8/9. • ^ Lundy, Zeth 33 1⁄ 3 Songs in the key of life, p. • Lundy, Zeth 33 1⁄ 3 Songs in the key of life, p.
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Archived from on 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-03-25. Enter Songs in the Key of Life in the search field and then press Enter. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH References [ ]. • Davis, Sharon. Stevie Wonder:Rhythms of Wonder. • Lundy, Zeth.
Songs in the key of life. • Nathan Brackett; Christian Hoard (2004). (Completely Revised and Updated 4th ed.)... • Colin Larkin (2002). External links [ ] • at (list of releases) • at • at • at SuperSeventies • at Acclaimed Music • Preceded by by by October 16, 1976 – January 14, 1977 January 29 – February 4, 1977 Succeeded by by Hotel California by Eagles Preceded by by Eagles by Frampton Comes Alive! By Peter Frampton October 16, 1976 – November 20, 1976 December 25, 1976 – January 15, 1977 February 12, 1977 Succeeded by Frampton Comes Alive!
By Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! By Peter Frampton Wings over America by Wings Preceded by by Dutch Mega Chart number-one album November 6, 1976 – November 13, 1976 Succeeded. Download Free Software On Democracy Dahl Pdf Free.