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Stevie Wonder: #1's

6 Ratings: 4.5

2007 CD release

He's been wonder-ful for five decades. He's hit the top of every chart from Pop to R&B, Dance to Adult Contemporary, as a young kid and as a legendary influential artist with nearly two dozen GRAMMY's in his wake. But until now never has there been … see full wiki

Tags: Music, Albums, Oldies, Soul, Motown

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Fine career overview of this enduring and multi-talented artist.

Dec 4, 2008

by drifter51
posted in Music Matters

Rating:

He was a powerful force on the Billboard charts for more than a quarter century. Over the years this dynamic artist would prove to be not only a spendid singer but a talented musician and gifted songwriter to boot. His records were a fixture on American radio through most of the 60's, 70's and 80's. Yes, Stevie Wonder truly was and remains an American original. Now our friends at Motown/Universal have seen to release a marvelous single disc collection of 20 of Stevie Wonder's fantastic #1 Hits. "#1's" brings back all of those sensational hit records you would remember growing up. And the truly remarkable thing is that no two of these songs sound alike!

Now during the 1960's Stevie Wonder made quite a few memorable records. The cream of the crop are included here. You might recall his first big hit "Fingertips - Pt 2" which went all the way to the top of the charts in 1963! "Little" Stevie Wonder was just 12 years old when this tune was recorded and it quickly became obvious to all that this young man was a star in the making. One of my favorite Stevie Wonder discs was the rollicking 1967 hit "I Was Made to Love Her" which is also included here.

For all of the success he enjoyed in the 1960's Stevie Wonder would go on to even bigger and better things during the 1970's. A whole host of Stevie's tunes would find their way to the top of the charts and all of them are included here. This list of hits covers the full gamut from his funky 1972 smash "Superstition" to the enduring love song "You Are The Sunshine of My Life". You will also find other great 70's hits like "Sir Duke", "I Wish" and a personal favorite "Boogie On Reggae Woman" included here as well. And while the 1980's found Stevie Wonder's popularity diminishing just a bit one could argue that this just might have been his most creative period. Who can ever forget "I Just Called To Say I Love You" or his 1985 chart-topper "Part-Time Lover". Some may not be familiar with a pair of his hits from later on in the 80's but I must tell you that "Overjoyed" and "Skeletons" are two of my very favorite Stevie Wonder recordings.

Now as I indicated earlier what makes the 20 tunes included on "#1's" all the more impressive is that Stevie Wonder not only had a hand in writing many of these songs but he also plays on many of them as well. Just in case you didn't know, Stevie Wonder can be heard playing the harmonica, drums, bells, acoustic piano and a couple of different synthesizers on this disc. Being a big fan, I purchased the 1999 four disc set "At The Close of A Century" some years ago. For me it was worth every penny. But for most folks, "#1's" would be a more than adequate alternative. This is a disc that should be considered essential in any serious collection of American popular music. Very highly recommended!!