Songs in the Key of Life
Songs in the Key of Life Released September 28, 1976 (1976-09-28 ) Recorded 1974–76 Genre Length 85 :21 Label Tamla Producer Stevie Wonder
Songs in the Key of Life studio album by American recording artist Stevie Wonder . It was released on September 28, 1976, by Tamla .
Critical reception
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
"Sir Duke " (Wonder) – 3:52
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
"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 vocalsShirley Brewer – reply Linda Lawrence, Terri Hendricks, Sundray Tucker, Charity McCrary, Madelaine Jones – reply's background vocals
Side three "Isn't She Lovely " (Wonder) – 6:34
"Joy Inside My Tears" (Wonder) – 6:30
Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, background vocals, piano, bass synthesizer, drums Greg Phillinganes – keyboardSusaye 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
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
"As " (Wonder) – 7:08
Nathan Watts – bass, handclaps Dean Parks – guitarHerbie Hancock – Fender Rhodes, handclapsGreg 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 vocalsHank 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
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]
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
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
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, vocalsRonnie Foster – organ Herbie Hancock – keyboards, handclapping Dean Parks – guitarGreg Phillinganes – keyboardsW.G. "Snuffy" Walden – guitarNathan Watts – bass guitar , vocals, handclappingGreg 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 – guitarSteve Madaio – trumpet
Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone
Glen Ferris – trombone
Jim Horn – saxophone Deniece Williams – vocalsMinnie Riperton – vocalsGary Byrd – vocals
Michael Wycoff – vocalsLarry Scott – sound effects
Carol Cole – percussion
Bobbye Hall – percussionJay 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 – vocalsBhakta 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
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 – vocalsBhakta 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 Charity McCrary – vocalsLinda McCrary-Campbell – vocalsLonnie 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 – vocalsMichael Gray – vocals
Susaye Greene – vocals
William Moore – vocals
Fountain Jones – programming
Aisha Morris – crying on "Isn't She Lovely"
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
"As"
Adult Contemporary
24
Black Singles
36
1978
Pop Singles
36
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 ↑ 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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