Discarded plans to emigrate (Ghana), a new $37 million deal, a record company (Motown) that threw out “We’re Almost Finished” t-shirts when Stevie Wonder disappeared into the studio for a longer time: So That was when “Songs In The Key Of Life” was finally released in late September 1976. Rarely, perhaps never, has any expectation been less disappointed.
Because Wonder not only delivered a bestseller (14 weeks US number 1, third “Album of the Year” Grammy in a row), but also a good 104 minutes of music that fits the album title exactly. 21 songs penetrate key moments of human existence: joy and pain, love and hate, birth and death, longing for transcendence, knowledge, justice.
Stevie Wonder recorded many songs almost single-handedly
There is also comedy, born of desperation: when he wants to flee in the direction of “Saturn”, where the snow is orange, people are 205 years old and cars are superfluous, “’cause we’ve learned to fly”. Or when a classic synthesizer motif satirically underpins the foray through “Village Ghetto Land”.
Musically, “Songs In The Key Of Life” is a cornucopia that sums up African-American music: with the childhood ode “I Wish”, the Ellington tribute “Sir Duke”, the seething history lesson “Black Man”, with ” As, which balances song and funk jam. At the same time, Wonder points beyond that. How incredible harp and harp come together in “If It’s Magic”!
Wonder recorded many tracks (almost) single-handedly, supported by Nathan Watts (bass), Greg Phillinganes (keys), Mike Sembello (guitar). Plus guests like Herbie Hancock (“As”) and George Benson (“Another Star”). Retrospectively amazed that Wonder wasn’t swept away herself in this creative whirlwind. But he could rely on his ability to weave lyrics and music together in such a way that the heavy often feels lighter than it is, and the light never banal.
How embarrassing it can be to set the overwhelming feeling of the birth of your child to music! But “Isn’t She Lovely” simply lets the sheer joy of the moment ring out, unadulterated and contagious, instead of bothering you with a message.
Of course, Stevie Wonder can also convey a message
“Love’s In Need Of Love Today” sounds even more up-to-date today than it did back then and is also so good because it ends properly after a good seven minutes, after an eternally long ad-lib stretch, of which you don’t miss a second would like to.
While Wonder conjures up love here in a rather abstract way, other songs permeate everything interpersonal: “Joy Inside My Tears”, “Ordinary Pain” or the bitter “All Day Sucker”. The latter, a delightfully galvanized funk piece, like the aforementioned “Saturn” was still housed on a four-track bonus 7-inch single on the original vinyl version of the album.
There are good to very good double albums that would be even better if their essence had been concentrated on a simple work. “Songs In The Key Of Life” is certainly not one of them.
More highlights
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