Top Five Deep Tracks from Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life

Stevie Wonder rolls into town tomorrow night at the Wells Fargo Center to play Songs In The Key of Life in its entirety, and we couldn’t be more excited.

Released in 1976, Songs was issued as two 2 LPs and a 4 song EP, and became Wonder’s most successful album in terms of the number of singles it spawned. “Sir Duke,” and “I Wish,” both hit number one on the Bilboard Pop music charts. Three other beloved songs from the album – “Another Star,” “Isn’t She Lovely,” and “As” – each placed high on various Billboard charts as well. The 21 song collection came out in September 1976 at a time when blockbuster albums by major artists were abundant. In 1976-77, the radio airwaves were filled with the classics from Wonder’s Songs, and was filled with songs from albums like Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs, The Eagles’ Hotel California, Rod Stewart’s A Night On The Town, Jackson Browne’s The Pretender, Station To Station by David Bowie, and Boston’s self-titled album, and Blue Oyster Cult’s Agents Of Fortune. It was a glorious year for pop music releases.

Over popular music’s vast 60 plus years, the word “masterpiece” has been thrown around a lot to describe an album. What makes Songs a true masterpiece, is its durability and relevance. It’s an album that both the critics and the masses – the community – gather around as a celebration of life and positivity and optimism, blurring lines between Black and White, Young and Old, Rock and Soul. Few artists have accomplished as monumental an achievement.

As Songs had its big hits – the ones that we’ll turn up the volume on as they come on the radio or our stereos – here’s five more songs from the album that speak to its eclectic creativity and genius.

“Knocks Me Off My Feet”

“Black Man”

“If It’s Magic”

“Joy Inside My Tears”

“Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing”