Most of Stevie's early works are classics and should be enjoyed by all the youngsters of today. In addition, most if not all of his hits should never be covered by any other artist cuz they would just ruin it. Songs in the Key of Life is around the time my cousins and I were just getting into music. It's the best.

My appreciation goes about as far as Innervisions, which is truly a great album. Unfortunately I find that much of Stevie's other stuff is lyrically simplistic and bland. The music's often somewhat remarkable, though.

Stevie Wonder, I feel the need to add, is not the greatest African American solo artist of all time. That accolade goes to Prince, who is imo more talented and undoubtedly has a lot more depth.

I never got the love for Songs In The Key Of Life. The first half, great as it is, does not make up for the second half which seems to be filled up with some of the most boring, innocuous songs I've ever heard.

Songs in the Key of Life is the most successful Stevie Wonder project in terms of singles...

It is fantastic!

It produced 5 singles, out of 17 songs, over a period of 3 years...... Out of those 5, the only genuinely successful pop hits were I Wish and Sir Duke. Not particularly impressive when you look at the actual facts.

Innervisions had more serious hits than SitKoL. 3 major r&b chart toppers, and there were only 9 songs on the album. Innervisions is much better than SitKoL in pretty much every way and I struggle to see for a second why any music critic or journalist, or FAN for that matter, would see otherwise.

I know! It's almost as though everyone has their own opinions and tastes. Crazy bastards! :crazy:

Personally, I think Talking Book is better than either of those albums.

lol. I understand people have their own opinions and tastes. But there are always motivations behind those opinions and tastes, and usually you can understand what the motivations are. My point is that I cannot understand what possible motivation there could be for preferring SITKOL over Innervisions, given that the former is overly long and contains a bundle of especially boring duds.

I agree that Songs In the Key Of Life is overly long and has some duds ("Village Ghetto Land" comes to mind as a particularly hideous example) but I think the best songs on the album are much better than the best songs on Innervisions. For that reason I think I'd have to rate Songs In the Key Of Life somewhat above Innervisions.

Bit of a exaggeration. Prince is good but Stevie Wonder blows Prince out the waters vocally even in (song writing ability) IF your point was Prince is a better singer than Stevie. Prince is average best vocal. His a great musician though but so is Stevie Wonder. In my opinion, I think its fair to say Stevie Wonder is ONE of the greatest black solo artists of all time because HE IS. Marvin and Stevie both.

I love all of Stevie's work I really can't pick one but Songs in the key of life from the list.

I never really got in his music, but I really respect him for really putting work in his song and his impact on music in general.
however I can't get past that scene from "High Fidelity", absolutely hilarious...damn you Jack Black