Lookback: Stevie Wonder’s Masterpiece ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ Turns 50 – He Celebrates With EP Of Four Outtakes From ’76

I saw that Stevie Wonder was celebrating the 50th anniversary (yesterday, September 28th) of his landmark 1976 double-album Songs In The Key Of Life. In order to commemorate that auspicious anniversary, he’s released Songs In The Key Of Life EP, with four outtakes from the original album sessions. The new tune were even prepped by the original team who did the album in ’76. Here’s the EP cover art:

I didn’t really start listening to music until late ’77 or ’78 and back then I was strictly a hard rock guy. I was too young for a lot of music that came out in the early 70s and missed out.

However, I have to be honest, despite living in a world devoid of music – I only turned the radio on when I wanted to listen to a baseball game – even I knew who Stevie Wonder was. He was that big. Even a musical ignoramus like me could hum his songs.

Blind since shortly after birth Wonder had been with Motown since he was 11 and had his first number one song at 13. I can’t imagine what a terror I’d have been as a 13 year old with a number 1 hit, so kudos to Stevie for continuing to develop into one of America’s greatest artists. He’s so influential in rock n roll, soul, jazz, and his use of synths was groundbreaking. And have I mentioned his harmonica playing?

Songs In The Key Of Life in ’76 was really the culmination of what is known as his “classic period.” They ought to call it his genius period… It’s not that he didn’t have great records before or since – Hotter Than July was amazing and it came out in ’80 – but his records from ’72 to ’76 were simply masterpieces, one and all.

Emboldened by what Marvin Gaye had done, in terms of taking over creative control of his music from Barry Gordy at Motown, Wonder began to have significantly more input into his music. What a winning streak: Music Of My Mind (72), Talking Book (72), Innervisions (73), Fulfillingness’ First Finale (74) and finally, this wonderful record, Songs In The Key Of Life (76). Seeing them listed all in order like that takes my breath away a little bit. No wonder even I knew who he was.

I’m embarrassed to admit I was slow on picking up on Motown. I was too busy listening to Van Halen. I remember the soundtrack to one of my favorite movies The Big Chill had a bunch of Smokey Robinson on it and that was the beginning of my infatuation with Motown.

Martha And the Vandellas’ “No Where To Run,” used in Good Morning, Vietnam so well is my favorite all time Motown song. Marvin Gaye and later the Temptations, who both the Stones and Faces covered, were my gateway into Motown.

I’m embarrassed to tell you the only Wonder I had in my collection, even after college, was “Ebony And Ivory” on McCartney’s Tug Of War album… to my shame. But that would eventually change.

When I was in college I picked up a Rolling Stone magazine dedicated to “the 500 greatest albums” of all time (approximately 1986). The magazine had gold version of a vinyl LP on the cover and man, I consumed that thing. It took years but finally, in the 90s, I started to buy the albums on the list. Two of those were Talking Book and Innervisions and those records turned me into a life long Stevie Wonder fan.

Strangely, I never purchased Songs In The Key Of Life on CD. I am still to this day holding out for finding a pristine vinyl copy. It has become, oddly, my “white whale.” I have included tracks from Stevie on each of my Playlists dedicated to certain years – beginning with our 1971 and then 1972 through 1973 – 1974 – 1975 and this year’s for 1976.

What a fabulous album Songs In The Key Of Life is. “Sir Duke,” “I Wish” (which Big Momma Ray used to do at her Harlings’ blues jams, and “Isn’t She Lovely” were the big monster hits. But Wonder does it all on this album and it is captivating. Whether it’s the Latin-tinged “Another Star” or a soulful ballad like “As,” every song on here hits you in the heart. “Pastime Paradise” was sampled by Coolio.

I’ve always dug “Love’s In Need Of Love Today” and “Knocks Me Off My Feet,” but I’ve always dug ballads. “Ebony Eyes” has been hastily added to my Playlist: Songs About Eyes. There is not a bad song on this album. Every music fan should have not only this record, but each of the ’72 to ’76 albums.

Rather than issue the usual “Super Deluxe Edition” with these new four songs as outtakes, Stevie has just gone ahead and released an EP. I have to say these tracks are all of a piece with the original album and I’m thrilled. I’ll take anything associated with Songs all day long.

“It’s Easier” is my favorite of the four. It could have easily been a hit. “Story Of Love” and “I Can See The Sun In Late December” are both fabulous ballads. I don’t know if this stuff has been bootlegged but I can’t believe they’ve remained in the vault this long!

“I’m Into Livin'” is the final track and I just love this one. It’s got a fabulous saxophone. Again, this could have been a hit. I listen to this and just want to stand in front of my stereo, arms outstretched, and proclaim, “Behold the genius of Stevie Wonder!”

I think this EP is a fabulous way to celebrate one of the greatest albums of all time. I like this music as much as I did last year’s Zeppelin release, Live – EP, released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Physical Graffiti. It gives us all a reason to celebrate.

I hear this double album, and these 4 songs from the vault and I can’t help but think – they just don’t make music like this anymore… music with an epic sweep, that holds together and holds the attention across two vinyl albums.

Celebrate Stevie’s magnum opus today by cranking the new EP and the original album. You’ll thank me. This is a man who has given us so much fabulous music and is such a wonderful guy, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with 4 new songs from those historic sessions!

Cheers!