Songs in the Key of Life [Remaster]

Rating

Album: Songs in the Key of Life [Remaster]
#	Song Title		Time
	Disc 1
1)	Love's In Need Of Love Today Album Version	More Info...	7:06
2)	Have A Talk With God Album Version	More Info...	2:42
3)	Village Ghetto Land Album Version	More Info...	3:25
4)	Contusion Album Version	More Info...	3:46
5)	Sir Duke Album Version	More Info...	3:54
6)	I Wish Album Version	More Info...	4:12
7)	Knocks Me Off My Feet Album Version	More Info...	3:36
8)	Pastime Paradise Album Version	More Info...	3:28
9)	Summer Soft Album Version	More Info...	4:14
10)	Ordinary Pain Album Version	More Info...	6:23
	Disc 2
1)	Isn't She Lovely Album Version	More Info...	6:34
2)	Joy Inside My Tears Album Version	More Info...	6:30
3)	Black Man Album Version	More Info...	8:30
4)	Ngiculela-Es Una Historia-I Am Singing Album Version	More Info...	3:49
5)	If It's Magic Album Version	More Info...	3:12
6)	As Album Version	More Info...	7:08
7)	Another Star Album Version	More Info...	8:28
8)	Saturn Album Version	More Info...	4:54
9)	Ebony Eyes Album Version	More Info...	4:09
10)	All Day Sucker Album Version	More Info...	5:06
11)	Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call) Album Version	More Info...	3:57
3)	Village Ghetto Land	More Info...	0:03
4)	Contusion	More Info...	0:03
5)	Sir Duke	More Info...	0:04
6)	I Wish	More Info...	0:04
7)	Knocks Me Off My Feet	More Info...	0:03
8)	Pastime Paradise	More Info...	0:03
9)	Summer Soft	More Info...	0:04
10)	Ordinary Pain	More Info...	0:06
11)	Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)	More Info...	0:04

Album: Songs in the Key of Life [Remaster]
#	Song Title		Time
	Disc 1
1)	Love's In Need Of Love Today Album Version	More Info...	7:06
2)	Have A Talk With God Album Version	More Info...	2:42
3)	Village Ghetto Land Album Version	More Info...	3:25
4)	Contusion Album Version	More Info...	3:46
5)	Sir Duke Album Version	More Info...	3:54
6)	I Wish Album Version	More Info...	4:12
7)	Knocks Me Off My Feet Album Version	More Info...	3:36
8)	Pastime Paradise Album Version	More Info...	3:28
9)	Summer Soft Album Version	More Info...	4:14
10)	Ordinary Pain Album Version	More Info...	6:23
	Disc 2
1)	Isn't She Lovely Album Version	More Info...	6:34
2)	Joy Inside My Tears Album Version	More Info...	6:30
3)	Black Man Album Version	More Info...	8:30
4)	Ngiculela-Es Una Historia-I Am Singing Album Version	More Info...	3:49
5)	If It's Magic Album Version	More Info...	3:12
6)	As Album Version	More Info...	7:08
7)	Another Star Album Version	More Info...	8:28
8)	Saturn Album Version	More Info...	4:54
9)	Ebony Eyes Album Version	More Info...	4:09
10)	All Day Sucker Album Version	More Info...	5:06
11)	Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call) Album Version	More Info...	3:57
3)	Village Ghetto Land	More Info...	0:03
4)	Contusion	More Info...	0:03
5)	Sir Duke	More Info...	0:04
6)	I Wish	More Info...	0:04
7)	Knocks Me Off My Feet	More Info...	0:03
8)	Pastime Paradise	More Info...	0:03
9)	Summer Soft	More Info...	0:04
10)	Ordinary Pain	More Info...	0:06
11)	Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)	More Info...	0:04

Tracks

1. Love's In Need Of Love Today

2. Have A Talk With God

3. Village Ghetto Land

4. Contusion

5. Sir Duke

6. I Wish

7. Knocks Me Off My Feet

8. Lastime Paradise

9. Summer Soft

10. Ordinary Pain

11. Isn't She Lovely

12. Joy Inside My Tears

13. Black Man

14. Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing

15. If It's Magic

16. As

17. Another Star

18. Saturn

19. Ebony Eyes

20. All Day Sucker

21. Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)

Performer Notes

Aired on VH-1 and PBS, the video of SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE includes new interviews, performances, and additional footage not previously seen.
Personnel includes: Stevie Wonder (vocals, harmonica, piano, keyboards); George Benson (guitar, background vocals); Michael Sembello (guitar); Peter Kleinow (steel guitar); Dorothy Ashby (harp); Bobbi Humphrey (flute); Hank Redd (alto & tenor saxophones); Trevor Lawrence (tenor saxophone); Jim Horn (saxophone); Raymond Maldonado (trumpet, percussion); Glen Ferris (trombone); Ronnie Foster (organ); Herbie Hancock, Gregory Phillinganes (keyboards); Eddie Brown (collinga); Nathan Watts (bass, percussion); Raymond Pounds (drums); Carmello Hungria Gracia (timbales); Renee Hardaway (percussion); Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble, Minnie Riperton, Deniece Williams, Syreeta Wright, West Angeles Church Of God Choir, Hare Krishna Singers (background vocals).
Recorded at the Hit Factory, New York, New York, The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California and The Record Plant, Sausalito, California.
This is a limited edition digipak.
Personnel includes: Stevie Wonder (vocals, harmonica, piano, keyboards); George Benson (guitar, background vocals); Michael Sembello (guitar); Peter Kleinow (steel guitar); Dorothy Ashby (harp); Bobbi Humphrey (flute); Hank Redd (alto & tenor saxophones); Trevor Lawrence (tenor saxophone); Jim Horn (saxophone); Raymond Maldonado (trumpet, percussion); Glen Ferris (trombone); Ronnie Foster (organ); Herbie Hancock, Gregory Phillinganes (keyboards); Eddie Brown (collinga); Nathan Watts (bass, percussion); Raymond Pounds (drums); Carmello Hungria Gracia (timbales); Renee Hardaway (percussion); Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble, Minnie Riperton, Deniece Williams, Syreeta Wright, West Angeles Church Of God Choir, Hare Krishna Singers (background vocals).
Recorded at the Hit Factory, New York, New York; The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California; The Record Plant, Sausalito, California. Includes liner notes by Stevie Wonder
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Stevie Wonder (vocals, harmonica, keyboards, programming); George Benson (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Nathan Watts (vocals, hand claps, percussion, background vocals); David Henson, Yolanda Simmons (vocals, hand claps); Renee Hardaway, Shirley Brewer (vocals, percussion, background vocals); Larry Latimer (vocals, percussion); Linda Lawrence, Deniece Williams, Rosona Starks, Mary Lee Whitney, Sheryl Walker, Charity McCrary, Cinmayi Dasi, Ethel Enoex, Lonnie Morgan, Addie Cox, Linda McCrary-Campbell, Dennis Swindell, Sundray Tucker, Terri Hendricks, Yogamaya Dasi, James Lambert, Josie James, Minnie Riperton, Syreeta Wright , Michael Wycoff (vocals, background vocals); Jay Boy Adams, Gail Lockhart, Larri Nuckens, Baradras, Carol Johnson , Gregory Rudd, Kim Nixon, Phillip Kimble, Berry Briges, Madelaine Jones, Jacqueline F. English, Kim Lewis, Bhakta Eddie, Jeania Harris, Shelley Fann, Bhakta Kevin, Jean Brown, Derrick Givens, Gary Byrd, Agnideva D sa, JayasacŒnandana D sa, Mimi Green, William Moore , Bhakta Gregory, Melani Fann, Michael Lee Gray, Carolyn Massenburg, Susie Fuzzell, Al Jocko Fann, Do‚ Rain Edwards, Gwen Perry, Audrey Givens, Adrian Janes, Lisa Nixon, Artice May, Sudana Bobatoon, Carl Lockhart, Troy Harris, Henry America, Gary Veney, Brenda Barnett, Starshemah Bobatoon, Barbara Fann, Anthony Givens, Keith Slaughter, Jitamrtyi Dasa, Khalif Bobatoon, Tracy Fann, Susaye Greene Brown, Rukmini, Vedavyasa Dasa, Mildred Givens, Linda America, Irma Leslie, Rodney Brown, Duryodhana Guru D sa, Cecilia Brown, Linda McCrary, Lynda Laurence, Michael Gray, Patricia Johnson , Susaye Greene, Calvin Johnson (vocals); Ben Bridges (guitar, acoustic guitar, sitar); Dean Parks, Michael Sembello, W.G. Snuffy Walden (guitar, acoustic guitar); Dean Park, Howard "Buzz" Feiten (guitar); Dorothy Ashby (harp); Bobbi Humphrey (flute); Hank Redd (saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Trevor Lawrence (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Jim Horn (saxophone); Raymond Maldonado (trumpet, percussion); Steve Madaio (trumpet); George Bohannon, Glenn Ferris (trombone); Ronnie Foster (organ); Herbie Hancock (keyboards, hand claps); Greg Phillinganes (keyboards); Greg Brown , Ray Pound, Greg Brown, Raymond Lee Pounds (drums); Carmelo Garcia (timbales, percussion); Josette Valentino (hand claps, percussion, background vocals); Charles Brewer, John Fischbach (percussion, programming, background vocals); Nelson Hayes (percussion, sound effects, background vocals); Colleen Carleton, Marietta Waters, Edna Orso, Amale Mathews (percussion, background vocals); Nathan Alford, Jr., Carol Cole, Eddie "Bongo" Brown, Bobbye Hall (percussion); Don Hunter, John Harris (programming, sound effects); Fountain Jones (programming); Larry Scott (sound effects); Carolyn Dennis (background vocals).
Recording information: Crystal Industries Inc., Hollywood, CA; Hit Factory Studios, New York, NY; Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, CA.
Illustrator: Tony Warren.
Arranger: Stevie Wonder.
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE is a milestone in Stevland Morris' career and a masterwork of American popular music. Released in 1976, this double LP spent 14 of its 80 charting weeks at number one. From his sharp commentaries on American social history and pro-peace supplications to some of his most intimate professions of love, witness Stevie Wonder at a prolific point in his career, casting his music further beyond R&B, funk, and disco than ever before.
Present here are some of Stevie's greatest hits in their original context: the widely-sampled horn swirls of "Sir Duke," comical baby-noise-laced jamming of "Isn't She Lovely" and fiercely poetic declaration of "As" still shine as brightly as ever. Perhaps less well-known are tunes like, "Joy Inside My Tears," a slow, entrancing, synth-vamp on love's redemptive powers, or the fast-grooving funkout, "Black Man," a compelling salute to America's pioneers of color. The keyboard sounds are as varied as ever, the bass as waggish as Bootsy, the arrangements a consummate preparation of melody and harmony. KEY OF LIFE is an inspired work in which Stevie marvels at life's unexpected miracles.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.112) - Ranked #56 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "...[Wonder] displays his effortless mastery of funk, jazz, balladry, Afrobeat and even a string-quartet minuet..."

Q (10/99, p.161) - Included in Q Magazine's Best Motown Records Of All Time - "...the apex of Wonder's creativity....A big record in many senses."

Muzik (8/99, p.138) - "...[SONGS] best reflects [Stevie's] global influence on contemporary soul, jazz, funk, rap and pop....[it] speaks to the adult mind, politically, racially and emotionally. It shows how shockingly talented Wonder is..."