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List Price: $55.98 | | Label: Universal Japan/Zoom
Salesrank: 332693
Released: June 23, 2009 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
Japanese only SHM pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Universal. 2009.
Description of Songs in the Key of Life:
One of the first albums to debut at No. 1 in Billboard, Songs in the Key of Life was the highest high-point of Stevie Wonder's career. More sprawling than Innervisions and Talking Book, this 2 LP-plus-EP was also less of a consistent stunner than either of those masterworks. That Songs retains an enormous amount of visionary relevance, though, is demonstrated not only in Coolio's borrowing of "Pastime Paradise" as a template for "Gangsta's Paradise," but in the cold-as-ice synthesized string quartet of "Village Ghetto Land." This is Stevie, so naturally that cut's anger is balanced by the ultra-buoyant "I Wish," "Sir Duke," and "Another Star." --Rickey Wright
Songs in the Key of Life Reviews:
The greatest album from one of the greatest entertainers of all time 
2009-11-17 - This album is a rarity. I cannot think of another double disc album that has no filler whatsoever. Also, "Love's in Need Of Love Today" is one of Stevie's best opening tracks. The opening line "Good morn or evening friends, here's your friendly announcer.." perfectly sets up the entire album. Other standout tracks include "Have a Talk With God", "Sir Duke", "Pastime Paradise", "Ngiculela", "If it's Magic", "I Wish", "Isn't She Lovely". Do you notice how many songs I have listed? The whole album is not only filled with standout tracks, but they are perfectly sequenced and blend in with each other exquisitely. If you like Stevie Wonder but don't have any of his albums, this is the one to start with. Then, pick up "Music Of My Mind", "Innervisions", "Talking Book", "In Square Circle". and "A Time To Love". These albums represent the best of the best.
Songs, keys, and true life, too
2009-11-04 - It's no surprise that Elton John thinks this is the greatest album ever recorded. Stevie Wonder and Elton John are made from the same mold (how's that for equality?), both talented pop artists whose greatest talent is making their music seem holier than it is. The different between them is that E.J. is a decent pop artist and S.W. is a truly gifted pop artist: John's grand double-album opus, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," is up and down and mostly intriguing for its flaws; Wonder's grand double-album opus is the real deal, all highs that never let up, and it comes with an E.P., too. I'm not sure what Elton's after, if anything. Stevie just wants everyone to get along and to see the beauty in the world, a statement he can make without the need to acknowledge its irony. Nevertheless, "Black Man," on which Stevie gets a little angry, is the most exciting song and sounds like the sincerest to me--but not by much. On an album full of songs built around melody, that's something. And since the President has named it his favorite record, add "patriotism" to its list of merits.
An Album for a Generation!
2009-09-28 - I love this Double LP for so many reasons, but one of the most relevant is that each song reminds me of periods of my life as i was growing up. It seems Stevie was taking all of us on a trip down memory lane with him and i found myself being familar with each of the stops along the way. One of the Greatest Compliments i've heard concerning this album was from Elton John.
He stated that this was the greatest album of all time and even to this day whenever & wherever he travels, "Songs in the Key of Life" travels with him. This album took about 3 years for Stevie to make and it was time well spent. He touches just about every different genre of music in popular music.
The lyrics are thought provoking, the music compositions are wonderfully crafted & the vocal arrangements are other worldly. There are many highlights from the standards "Sir Duke", "I Wish", "Summer Soft" & "Isn't She Lovely" to the lyrical masterpieces like "Village Ghetto Land", "Ordinary Pain", "If It's Magic" & the song that was a gift from the universe, the epic "As".
This album was yet another statement by Stevie that he along with the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Maurice White, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Bob Marley, etc. was a musical Avatar of the highest order. He's songs were really unlike anything else and you would hear them played in the public schools (by teachers & students alike!) to movie theatres, parks, parties, radio and even in church's!
He Truly is a Genius in every since of the word and this was his hallmark album, the one everyone would know him by the world over!
Easily one of the best albums ever
2009-06-30 - When people have conversations about what the best albums of all-time are, most of the time I hear "Songs in the Key of Life" mentioned. I have appreciated Stevie Wonder for a long time, but after listening to "Songs in the Key of Life", I think I'm in love! What a beautiful, creative, inspirational and sincere piece of work this is! This album was released in 1976, but somehow each and every song sounds crisp and fresh. It sounds so good that it sounds like it was recorded yesterday.
There are a string of hits on "Songs in the Key of Life" like "Isn't She Lovely?", "As", "Pastime Paradise", "Sir Duke" and "I Wish." Though those tracks were released, each and every song is worth listening to and Wonder obviously put time into each track. My personal favorite song is the amazing "Knocks Me Off My Feet." Everything about this song is great from the melody to the magnificent production, namely the piano chords. "As" sends chills through me with every listen. This song was sampled by a rapper named Nonchalant; she called her version "Until the Day." The lyrics to "As" are very profound. "Ebony Eyes" is another highlight. This song immediately grasps your attention and holds it until song's end.
If "Songs in the Key of Life" is not in your collection, I don't know what's wrong; you need to add it quickly! This is music. This is music at it's very best!
Mikeisha's Top 5
1. "Knocks Me off My Feet"
2. "As"
3. "Pastime Paradise"
4. "I Wish"
5. "Isn't She Lovely"
Sing out loud with Stevie Wonder
2009-06-22 - I owned this album in cassette version in the 70's and I had forgotten how fabulous it was. I used to call it my happy album, because it just plain made me feel good and I am so glad to own it again in cd. I find myself playing it over and over again as a blast from the past and singing at the top of my lungs with it. I especially love "I am singing" on cd #2. Buy it! You won't believe how good it feels.
