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Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
41–50 of 58 posts
Re: Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
#42Stevie is amazing, but for "greatest creative run in popular music history," I feel like we still have to give that to The Beatles, no? In 5 years they released Help, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour, Sgt. Pepper's, The White Album, Abbey Road and Let it Be.
Re: Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
#43Re: Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
#44Did you know that Stevie got a street named after him in Detroit today? Just off Woodward near the Motown museum.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/region/detroit/city-of-detroit-to-u...
Re: Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
#45I remember "discovering" a second hand copy of Innervisions whilst at university in the early 90s. Up to that point I knew Stevie Wonder as the guy who recorded "I Just Called to Say I Love You", a song I hated as a kid. Well that opinion changed pretty sharpish I can tell you. I've bought so many albums and singles since that I really, really like but I don't think Innervisions has ever been bettered. Just my humble…
My first rule of music is that any artist that became popular before the '80s, was terrible in the '80s. Look at Aretha Franklin. Who's Zoomin' who? What? Aretha darling, what were you thinking? There are a few exceptions to the rule, like Michael Jackson.
Re: Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
I love Prince. Prince was maddeningly talented, shockingly prolific, and produced an amazing and wildly underrated (still!) opus over his career. Prince will be remembered as one of the most important pop musicians in history. Yet there is no 5 year stretch in Prince's career that compares to what Stevie Wonder did from 1972-1976.
I know I will get down-voted for this, but I just never really got the Prince vibe. I can appreciate his work, and the love a lot of people have for him. But I can't name one song that struck a chord with me. Sorry
Prince wasn't super high on my list until I saw him live twice 7-8 years ago. Blew my mind. Almost entirely different repertoire both times. Completely in a league of his own. Amazing energy, musicianship, really incredible player, and he wasn't young anymore either but just kept hitting it hard. Played a show like that every day in London for weeks. Plus afterparties a couple of times a week where he would play for hours sometimes. It was probably the best live show I have ever been to.
Stevie has a special place for me as a songwriter but as a performer Prince was next level. Different artists, love both
Re: Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
#47That five year stretch is indeed stunning. So many songs that are harmonically sophisticated and yet singable/relatable to non-musicians. Without any doubt one of the best song writers of all time.
This +100. I don't think there has been anyone in recent years who has combined those qualities as well, consistently. Earth, Wind & Fire is in the same category for me but yeah going back decades
Similarly I was very very surprised by Phil Collins - Hello I must be going. The overall big band funk groove in a pop album (and a successful one at that). And then his drumming. It's a bit like The Police, you don't hear the sophistication at first; but it's there.
Re: Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
#48I love the linked article on Stevie's drumming prowess: he is indeed a fantastic drummer, one of the best. Stevie also had the great bassist James Jamerson on many of these tunes: check out Jamerson's amazing lines on "For once in my life"!
Jamerson's tl;dr: he's the Alan Turing of the bass.
Similarly everwhere foundational, quite unknown and a ~dramatic end.
Re: Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
#49On Talking Book's album opener (and #1 hit), You Are the Sunshine of my Life, Stevie let background vocalists sing the opening lines. That always seemed incredibly cool and selfless to me.
He also propped Minnie Riperton who was barely a vocalist at the time, into full fledged solo career (well deserved considering her vocal skills)
Re: Stevie Wonder’s “classic period”
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
I know I will get down-voted for this, but I just never really got the Prince vibe. I can appreciate his work, and the love a lot of people have for him. But I can't name one song that struck a chord with me. Sorry
Prince wasn't super high on my list until I saw him live twice 7-8 years ago. Blew my mind. Almost entirely different repertoire both times. Completely in a league of his own. Amazing energy, musicianship, really incredible player, and he wasn't young anymore either but just kept hitting it hard. Played a show like that every day in London for weeks. Plus afterparties a couple of times a week where he would play for…
Prince, even today, is still underrated. He carried mountains of music on his shoulders, while being an overwhelming rock star persona, and a live genius, and quite an ok human being (goofy and a bit precious at times but well).
After his passing I saw videos of rehearsal, where he would drive sound stage check calmly with people, dropping jazz classics from his pocket and being cool with the crew.
A lot of what he did was so brilliant, for so many years, in so many genre.
ps: he also managed to make rock guitarists drop their jaw at the george harrison celebration, all done unrehearsed (for better surprise effect).