Songs in the Key of Life
by Stevie Wonder
- Type: Album
- Released: September 28, 1976
- Label: Tamla
- Country: United States
- Length: 1:44:51
- Community rating: 4.52/5 from 77 ratings
Album Notes & Community Reviews
'Songs in the Key of Life' is an ambitious double album that serves as a culmination of Stevie Wonder's classic period, blending soul, funk, jazz, and pop into a seamless whole. [1, 5, 9] Thematically, the work is a comprehensive exploration of existence, moving from nostalgic childhood reflections and odes to musical heroes to sharp social commentary and spiritual inquiries. [7, 10] Recorded with meticulous perfectionism and featuring a host of guest artists, the Grammy-winning album is regarded as the creative apex of Wonder's career and a landmark recording that has influenced generations of musicians. [2, 3, 6, 8]
Genres
Descriptors: soulful, funky, groove-laden, orchestral, harmonies
Tracklist
- Love's In Need Of Love Today (7:05)
- Have A Talk With God (2:42)
- Village Ghetto Land (3:25)
- Contusion (3:45)
- Sir Duke (3:52)
- I Wish (4:12)
- Knocks Me Off My Feet (3:36)
- Pastime Paradise (3:27)
- Summer Soft (4:14)
- Ordinary Pain (6:23)
- Isn't She Lovely (3:19)
- Joy Inside My Tears (6:29)
- Black Man (8:29)
- Ngiculela-Es Una Historia-I Am Singing (3:48)
- If It's Magic (3:12)
- As (7:08)
- Another Star (8:28)
- Saturn (4:53)
- Ebony Eyes (4:08)
- All Day Sucker (5:05)
- Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call) (3:56)
Credits
- Stevie Wonder - lead vocals, backing vocals, handclaps, harmonica, synth bass, keyboards, drums, percussion, arrangement, producer, piano, fender rhodes, rmi electra piano, bass synthesizer, synthesizer, talk box, arranger, composed by, performer [musician], written-by
- Michael Sembello - guitar, co-writer, lead guitar
- Sneaky Pete Kleinow - pedal steel
- George Benson - guitar, vocals, backing vocals
- Ronnie Foster - organ
- Herbie Hancock - keyboards, handclapping, fender rhodes
- Dean Parks - guitar
- Greg Phillinganes - keyboards
- W.G. "Snuffy" Walden - guitar
- Nathan Watts - bass guitar, vocals, handclapping, bass, percussion
- Greg Brown - drums
- Raymond Pounds - drums
- Hank Redd - alto and tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
- George Bohannon - trombone
- Ben Bridges - guitar, sitar, rhythm guitar
- Dorothy Ashby - harp
- Bobbi Humphrey - flute
- Howard "Buzzy" Feiten - guitar
- Steve Madaio - trumpet
- Trevor Lawrence - tenor saxophone
- Raymond Maldonado - trumpet, liner notes [spanish translation]
- Nathan Alford, Jr. - percussion
- Carmello Hungria Garcia - timbales
- Josie James - background vocals, backing vocals
- Susaye Green - background vocals
- Glen Ferris - trombone
- Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble - verbal replies
- Shirley Brewer - additional backing vocals, handclaps, percussion, backing vocals, "ordinary pain" reply vocals
- Carolyn Dennis - backing vocals
- Michael Gray - backing vocals
- Renee Hardaway - backing vocals, percussion
- Hare Krishna (Choir) - backing vocals
- Deniece Williams - vocals, vocals (bckgr)
- Minnie Riperton - vocals, vocals (bckgr)
- Gary Byrd - vocals, co-writer, written-by
- Michael Wycoff - vocals, vocals (bckgr)
- Larry Scott - sound effects
- Carol Cole - percussion
- Bobbye Hall - percussion
- Jay Boy Adams - vocals
- Henry America - vocals
- Linda America - vocals
- Baradras - vocals
- Brenda Barnett - vocals
- Artece May - backing vocals
- Eddie "Bongo" Brown - collinga
- Amale Mathews - percussion
- Calvin Hardaway - co-writer, written-by
- Shatema Byrd - written-by
- Gary Olazabal - engineer
- John Fischbach - engineer
- AB - mastered by, lacquer cut by
- JS - mastered by, lacquer cut by
- Tony Warren - illustrations
- Andrew Berliner - mastering