| Songs in the Key of Life |
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| Released | September 28, 1976 (1976-09-28) |
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| Recorded | 1974–76 |
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| Genre | |
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| Length | 85:21 |
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| Label | Tamla |
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| Producer | Stevie Wonder |
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- "I Wish"
Released: December 1976
- "Sir Duke"
Released: March 1977
- "Another Star"
Released: August 1977
- "As"
Released: October 1977
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Songs in the Key of Life is the eighteenth studio album by American recording artist Stevie Wonder. It was released on September 28, 1976, by Tamla.
Critical reception
| Professional ratings |
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| Review scores |
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| Source | Rating |
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| AllMusic | [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A[2] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
| The Great Rock Discography | 8/10[3] |
| MusicHound | 5/5[3] |
| Rolling Stone | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4.5/5[6] |
Songs in the Key of Life received widespread acclaim from critics.
Track listing
Original vinyl release
- Side one
- "Love's in Need of Love Today" (Stevie Wonder) – 7:06
- "Have a Talk with God" (Calvin Hardaway, Wonder) – 2:42
- Stevie Wonder - all instruments synthesizer
- "Village Ghetto Land" (Gary Byrd, Wonder) – 3:25
- "Contusion" (Wonder) – 3:46
- Mike Sembello – lead guitar
- Raymond Pounds – drums
- Nathan Watts – bass
- Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboard
- Stevie Wonder – all other instruments
- Michael Gray, Josie James, Shirley Brewer, Artece May – vocals
- "Sir Duke" (Wonder) – 3:52
- Raymond Pounds – drums
- Nathan Watts – bass
- Mike Sembello – lead guitar
- Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar
- Hank Redd – alto saxophone
- Raymond Maldonado – trumpet
- Trevor Laurence – tenor saxophone
- Steve Madaio – trumpet
- Stevie Wonder – all other instruments
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- Side two
- "I Wish" (Wonder) – 4:12
- Stevie Wonder – vocals, Fender Rhodes, ARP 2600 synthesizer, vocoder, drums
- Nathan Watts – bass
- Hank Redd – alto saxophone
- Trevor Laurence – tenor saxophone
- Raymond Maldonado – trumpet
- Steve Madaio – trumpet
- Renee Hardaway - vocals ("you nasty boy!")
- "Knocks Me Off My Feet" (Wonder) – 3:36
- Stevie Wonder – vocals, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, drums, synth bass
- "Pastime Paradise" (Wonder) – 3:27
- Stevie Wonder – Yamaha GX-1 synthesizer, percussions
- Raymond Maldonado, Bobbye Hall – percussions
- Hare Krishna, West Angeles Church Choir – background vocals
- "Summer Soft" (Wonder) – 4:14
- Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar
- Ronnie Foster – organ
- Larry "Nastyee" Latimer – percussion
- Stevie Wonder – vocals, piano, bass synthesizer, drums
- "Ordinary Pain" (Wonder) – 6:16
- Mike Sembello – lead guitar
- Hank Redd – alto saxophone
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, Fender Rhodes, bass synthesizer, drums
- Minnie Riperton, Mary Lee Whitney, Deniece Williams, Syreeta Wright – background vocals
- Shirley Brewer – reply
- Linda Lawrence, Terri Hendricks, Sundray Tucker, Charity McCrary, Madelaine Jones – reply's background vocals
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- Side three
- "Isn't She Lovely" (Wonder) – 6:34
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboard
- Stevie Wonder – Fender Rhodes, RMI Electra Piano, bass synthesizer, harmonica, drums
- "Joy Inside My Tears" (Wonder) – 6:30
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, background vocals, piano, bass synthesizer, drums
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboard
- Susaye Green – background vocals
- "Black Man"(Byrd/Wonder) – 8:27
- Stevie Wonder – Fender Rhodes, bass synthesizer, synthesizer, talk box, drums, percussion
- Hank Redd – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Steve Madaio – trumpet
- George Bohanon – trombone
- Glen Ferris – trombone
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- Side four
- "Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing" (Wonder) – 3:48
- Charles Brewer, Shirley Brewer, Renee Hardaway, Nelson Hayes, Marietta Waters, Nathan Watts, John Fischbach, Amale Mathews, Josette Valentino – background percussion
- Stevie Wonder – vocals, Koto synthesizer, bass synthesizer, drums
- Zulu translation by Thoko Mdalose Hall, Spanish translation by Raymond Maldonado
- "If It's Magic" (Wonder) – 3:12
- Dorothy Ashby – harp
- Stevie Wonder – vocal, harmonica
- "As" (Wonder) – 7:08
- Nathan Watts – bass, handclaps
- Dean Parks – guitar
- Herbie Hancock – Fender Rhodes, handclaps
- Greg Brown – drums
- Stevie Wonder – lead and background vocal, Fender Rhodes
- Mary Lee Whitney – background vocals
- Dave Hanson, Yolanda Simon, Josette Valentino – handclaps
- "Another Star" (Wonder) – 8:08
- Bobbi Humphrey – flute
- George Benson – guitar and background vocals
- Hank Redd – alto saxophone
- Raymond Maldonado – trumpet
- Trevor Laurence – tenor saxophone
- Steve Madaio – trumpet
- Nathan Alford, Jr. – percussion
- Carmello Hungria Garcia – timbales
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal and background vocals, piano, drums
- Nathan Watts – bass
- Josie James – background vocals
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The "A Something's Extra" 7" extended play was included with the special-edition version of the original LP. These tracks are also on most CD versions of the album, as well as the Blu-ray Audio.[7] They were either split between both discs or added to the end of the second disc.
- Side one
- "Saturn" (Michael Sembello, Wonder) – 4:54
- Mike Sembello – lead guitar
- Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar
- Gregory Phillinganes – keyboard
- Stevie Wonder – all other instruments
- "Ebony Eyes" (Wonder) – 4:11
- Nathan Watts – bass
- Jim Horn – saxophone
- Peter "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow – steel guitar
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, tack piano, talkbox, drums
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- Side two
- "All Day Sucker" (Wonder) – 5:06
- Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar
- Mike Sembello – rhythm guitar
- W. G. "Snuffy" Walden – lead guitar
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, background vocals, bass synthesizer, Clavinet, drums
- Carolyn Denis – background vocals
- "Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)" (Wonder) – 3:55
- Nathan Watts – bass
- Stevie Wonder – Fender Rhodes, harmonica, drums
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CD release
| Writer(s) |
| 1. |
"Love's in Need of Love Today" | Stevie Wonder |
7:06 |
| 2. |
"Have a Talk with God" | Wonder, Calvin Hardaway |
2:42 |
| 3. |
"Village Ghetto Land" | Wonder, Gary Byrd |
3:25 |
| 4. |
"Contusion" | Wonder |
3:46 |
| 5. |
"Sir Duke" | Wonder |
3:54 |
| 6. |
"I Wish" | Wonder |
4:12 |
| 7. |
"Knocks Me Off My Feet" | Wonder |
3:36 |
| 8. |
"Pastime Paradise" | Wonder |
3:28 |
| 9. |
"Summer Soft" | Wonder |
4:14 |
| 10. |
"Ordinary Pain" | Wonder |
6:23 |
| 11. |
"Isn't She Lovely" | Wonder |
6:34 |
| 12. |
"Joy Inside My Tears" | Wonder |
6:30 |
| 13. |
"Black Man" | Wonder, Byrd |
8:30 |
| 14. |
"Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing" | Wonder |
3:49 |
| 15. |
"If It's Magic" | Wonder |
3:12 |
| 16. |
"As" | Wonder |
7:08 |
| 17. |
"Another Star" | Wonder |
8:28 |
| Writer(s) |
| 18. |
"Saturn" | Wonder, Michael Sembello |
4:54 |
| 19. |
"Ebony Eyes" | Wonder |
4:09 |
| 20. |
"All Day Sucker" | Wonder |
5:06 |
| 21. |
"Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)" | Wonder |
3:57 |
Total length: |
1:44:54 |
Personnel
- Stevie Wonder – harmonica, arranger, keyboards, programming, vocals, drums
- Michael Sembello – guitar
- Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel
- George Benson – guitar, vocals
- Ronnie Foster – organ
- Herbie Hancock – keyboards, handclapping
- Dean Parks – guitar
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards
- W.G. "Snuffy" Walden – guitar
- Nathan Watts – bass guitar, vocals, handclapping
- Greg Brown – drums
- Raymond Lee Pounds – drums
- Hank Redd – alto and tenor saxophone
- George Bohannon – trombone
- Ben Bridges – guitar, sitar
- Dorothy Ashby – harp
- Bobbi Humphrey – flute
- Howard "Buzzy" Feiten – guitar
- Steve Madaio – trumpet
- Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone
- Glen Ferris – trombone
- Jim Horn – saxophone
- Deniece Williams – vocals
- Minnie Riperton – vocals
- Gary Byrd – vocals
- Michael Wycoff – vocals
- Larry Scott – sound effects
- Carol Cole – percussion
- Bobbye Hall – percussion
- Jay Boy Adams – vocals
- Nathan Alford, Jr. – percussion
- Henry America – vocals
- Linda America – vocals
- Baradras – vocals
- Brenda Barnett – vocals
- Khalif Bobatoon – vocals
- Starshemah Bobatoon – vocals
- Sudana Bobatoon – vocals
- Charles Brewer – percussion, programming, vocals
- Shirley Brewer – percussion, vocals, speaking part
- Berry Briges – vocals
- Cecilia Brown – vocals
- Eddie "Bongo" Brown – percussion
- Jean Brown – vocals
- Rodney Brown – vocals
- Colleen Carleton – percussion, vocals
- Addie Cox – vocals
- Agnideva Dasa – vocals
- Duryodhana Guru Dasa – vocals
- Jayasacinandana Dasa – vocals
- Jitamrtyi Dasa – vocals
- Vedavyasa Dasa – vocals
- Cinmayi Dasi – vocals
- Yogamaya Dasi – vocals
- Carolyn Dennis – vocals
- Bhakta Eddie – vocals
- Doe Rani Edwards – vocals
- Jacqueline F. English – vocals
- Ethel Enoex – vocals
- Al Jocko Fann – vocals
- Barbara Fann – vocals
- Melani Fann – vocals
- Shelley Fann – vocals
- Tracy Fann – vocals
- John Fischbach – percussion, programming, vocals, engineer
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- Susie Fuzzell – vocals
- Carmelo Garcia – percussion, timbales
- Anthony Givens – vocals
- Audrey Givens – vocals
- Derrick Givens – vocals
- Mildred Givens – vocals
- Michael Lee Gray – vocals
- Mimi Green – vocals
- Susaye Greene Brown – vocals
- Bhakta Gregory – vocals
- Renee Hardaway – percussion, vocals
- John Harris – sound effects
- Jeania Harris – vocals
- John Harris – programming
- Troy Harris – vocals
- Nelson Hayes – percussion, sound effects, vocals
- Terry Hendricks – vocals
- H. David Henson – assistant engineer
- Don Hunter – programming, sound effects
- Adrian Janes – vocals
- Josie James – vocals
- Calvin Johnson – vocals
- Carol Johnson – vocals
- Patricia Johnson – vocals
- Madelaine Jones – vocals
- Bhakta Kevin – vocals
- Phillip Kimble – vocals
- James Lambert – vocals
- Linda Lawrence – vocals
- Irma Leslie – vocals
- Kim Lewis – vocals
- Carl Lockhart – vocals
- Gail Lockhart – vocals
- Raymond Maldonado – percussion, trumpet
- Carolyn Massenburg – vocals
- Article May – vocals
- Charity McCrary – vocals
- Linda McCrary-Campbell – vocals
- Lonnie Morgan – vocals
- Kim Nixon – vocals
- Lisa Nixon – vocals
- Larri Nuckens – vocals
- Larry Latimer – percussion, vocals
- Amale Mathews – percussion, vocals
- Gary Olazabal – engineer, bass sound
- Edna Orso – percussion, vocals
- Marietta Waters – percussion, vocals
- Josette Valentino – percussion, vocals, handclapping
- Gwen Perry – vocals
- Gregory Rudd – vocals
- Rukmini – vocals
- Yolanda Simmons – vocals, handclapping
- Keith Slaughter – vocals
- Rosona Starks – vocals
- Dennis Swindell – vocals
- Sundray Tucker – vocals
- Gary Veney – vocals
- Sheryl Walker – vocals
- Mary Lee Whitney – vocals
- Syreeta Wright – vocals
- Michael Gray – vocals
- Susaye Greene – vocals
- William Moore – vocals
- Fountain Jones – programming
- Aisha Morris – crying on "Isn't She Lovely"
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Singles
| Year
|
Single
|
Chart
|
Position
|
| 1976
|
"Another Star"
|
Club Play Singles
|
2
|
| 1977
|
Pop Singles
|
32
|
| Black Singles
|
18
|
| Adult Contemporary
|
29
|
| "I Wish"
|
Pop Singles
|
1
|
| Black Singles
|
1
|
| Adult Contemporary
|
23
|
| "Sir Duke"
|
Pop Singles
|
1
|
| Black Singles
|
1
|
| Adult Contemporary
|
3
|
| "Isn't She Lovely"
|
Adult Contemporary
|
23
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| "As"
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Adult Contemporary
|
24
|
| Black Singles
|
36
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| 1978
|
Pop Singles
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36
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References
- ↑ Bush, John. Review: Songs in the Key of Life. AllMusic.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Stevie Wonder". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 0899190251.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Songs in the Key of Life". Acclaimed Music. Archived from the original on 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
- ↑ Walters, Barry (June 2, 2005). "none". Rolling Stone. New York.
- ↑ Considine, J. D. (2004). "Stevie Wonder". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. pp. 885–87. ISBN 0743201698.
- ↑ Arp, Louis. Review: Songs in the Key of Life. Sputnikmusic.
- ↑ Sinclair, Paul. "Stevie Wonder Songs In The Key Of Life blu-ray audio". Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
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