#10 - Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life

Release Year: 1976

Genre: R&B

How much do I like my favorite track on the album? 15.2 points

I Wish

THAT BASS LINE. As a bass player and someone who has performed this on multiple occasions, this is such a blast to play. The occasional and uncharacteristic growl from Stevie is the sauce. The chorus is one of my favorites of all time. The horn hits add another layer to the solid and consistent bass heartbeat carried under the entire tune.

How did/does this album influence my own taste in music overall? 12.8 points

Very little overall taste influence here - though - I will give a similar answer as I did for Neil Young here. It’s hard to deny the influence Stevie had on many of the artists that show up in my top 25 including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Adele, Beyonce, and Lizzo.

Does this album hold up since its release? 14.4 points

Absolutely. It is a timeless entrant on this list.

What percentage of the album do I listen to? 7.6 points

Very few skippers on this double album,

What did/do the critics think of this album? 8.7 points

Critics universally love this album - which is why it is surprising this doesn’t rate somewhere in the 90s. But here we are.

What is the sentimental value to me of the album? 12.8 points

Some of the sentimentality is around my own live performance of several of these tunes.

What was the artists involvement of the production of the album - songwriting, instrumentals, vocals, uniqueness? 15.2 points

Subliminal songwriting that is autobiographical in nature. Just so. Damn. Good.

Overall Rating out of 100 points = 86.7 points

Let’s face it. This very easily could have been the number one album on the list. It’s just that good. The thing is, they are all really good at this point in the list, so I started to get really critical. This is hands down, no arguments needed the greatest album that Stevie ever made. His other stuff is great - in fact, many artists would kill to have as many all time great albums as he had. Which really makes it all the more impressive that his other works don’t even come close to touching this. Seriously, this capped off an impressive streak in which he won 3 Album of the Year Grammy Awards in 4 years (1974 for Innerversions, 1975 for Fulfillngness’ First Finale, and 1977 for Songs in the Key of Life). We will never see that kind of accomplishment again. It’s his version of an autobiography set to song. The other awesome thing about this record is how often future artists sampled this work and gave him all the credit in the world. Pastime Paradise. Love’s in Need of Love Today. I Wish. Sir Duke. As. Isn’t She Lovely. I could keep going - it’s like 50% of the album was sampled and turned into further mega hits. Perhaps what’s even more impressive is that the artist himself acknowledges this is it. His magnum opus. Not many other albums on my list are as universally beloved as this one. Maybe it’s the joy. Maybe it’s the funk. Or maybe it’s that he is the true original King of Pop. Moral of the story: this is a safe, safe bet and in the kind of way that makes you look like a genius and not a cop out. Play it at your next cocktail party and no one will be upset. If they are, you should probably kick them out anyways.