It is a real traditional, in a world the place that has turn into an overused quotation. The 18th album by Stevie Surprise was launched by Motown Data on September 28, 1976, and began a non-consecutive 14 weeks at No.1 on 18 October. Songs In The Key Of Life is among the many biggest albums of all time: it’s ranked No.4 on Rolling Stone’s checklist of the five hundred biggest albums; each Michael Jackson and George Michael referred to as it their favourite Stevie Surprise album. Lately, quite a few hip-hop artists have sampled it and Will Smith used “I Wish” as the premise for his No. 1, “Wild Wild West.”
This double album is absolutely the crème de la crème of what has been dubbed Surprise’s “classic period.” It was recorded partially on the Document Plant in Hollywood, Sausalito Music Manufacturing facility and the Hit Manufacturing facility in New York Metropolis, however the majority was captured at Crystal Sounds Hollywood. The tracks date from 1974 by to 1976.
Along with the double LP, the unique launch contained a four-song bonus EP which additional exhibits the breadth of Stevie’s imaginative and prescient and his seemingly limitless creativity. All too typically double albums gave the impression to be stretching the fabric, however each observe here’s a killer.
Someplace round 130 individuals labored on Key Of Life, however it’s Stevie that shines on each observe, dominating each side as each performer and producer. His supreme craftsmanship is there in each groove. Among the many individuals who labored on the album are Herbie Hancock, who performed Fender Rhodes on “As”; George Benson, who performed electrical guitar on “Another Star” and Minnie Riperton and Deniece Williams added backing vocals on “Ordinary Pain.” 22-year-old Michael Sembello performed guitar in a number of tracks and in addition co-wrote “Saturn” with Surprise.
The album is filled with socially conscious songs like “Village Ghetto Land” and “Black Man” (co-written with Gary Byrd), “Pastime Paradise” and the gorgeous “Have a Talk With God,” co-written with Calvin Hardaway. There are additionally some traditional Stevie love songs together with the opening observe, “Love’s In Need Of Love Today,” the aforementioned “As,” the beautiful “If It’s Magic” and the joyous “Isn’t She Lovely.”
Key Of Life grew to become the second-bestselling album of 1977 within the US, shifting ten million copies there alone. It was the highest-selling R&B/soul album on the Billboard year-end chart, in addition to making No.2 within the UK.
In February 1977, Surprise was nominated for seven Grammy Awards, together with Album of the Yr, an award that he had already received twice, in 1974 and 1975, for Innervisions and Fulfillingness’ First Finale. Within the occasion, he received 4 Grammys: Album of the Yr, Greatest Male Pop Vocal Efficiency, Greatest Male R&B Vocal Efficiency and Producer of the Yr.
Store for Stevie Surprise’s music on vinyl or CD now.
