I played this in one my former bands (bass). The guitar player was mad I didn't do the horn hits too. Dude, you can't break up the pumping bottom bass for the horn hits. The freaking guitar should do those.....
@@thumbthump I played it in a couple of different bands, too, lol. The bass player kept threatening to tie my left hand behind my back, if I didn't stop playing the bass line..🤣
And guess who played all the instruments ? Drums, bass, keyboards and so on. The guy is up there with Lennon & McCartney, Dylan, Joni Mitchell etc as one of the greatest singer songwriters of all time. This album is just historic
Bass, drums and Horn section were not Stevie on this track. But the keyboards and any guitars were him. And you're not wrong in general -- there are plenty of songs in his 70's output where he IS the band.
The Beatles cut 12 s-Tier albums in a row in 7 years. And all of them cut S tier albums for up to 6 years after the Beatles split up. No one will EVER top them. They are on a whole different level than the rest...
@@jtf2dan Dude, early Beatles is cool and innovative, but, in my opinion, they only mastered their craft and entered S-tier territory (God-tier, I'd say) by the time they released Revolver; until then, they wrote incredible songs, but no fenomenal albums
When Paul Simon received the best album Grammy for Graceland, he thanked Stevie Wonder, who had won the previous 2 years, for not making an album that year. Stevie won his third the next year.
Songs In The Key Of Life is a masterpiece and to this day the album cover sits proudly on my wall of honor ! Love watching you both react to the joy 'I Wish' evokes in all of us. Here's to 2023 gentleman and a happy new year from us here in New Zealand !
@@barbarapearson5896 and to you as well Barbara ! Currently enjoying 23 degrees celsius ( no idea in fahrenheit sorry ! ) on a Monday afternoon Jan 2nd here in NZ, summer's well and truly here..yippee . All the best to you and the Pearson clan for 2023. Willy.
Agreed. They should just have a month where on each weekend, they listen to Talking Book, Fulfillngness First Finale, Innervisions and Songs In The Key of Life.
I was in the Air Force when this came out. I was living in the dorms. This was best played with the volume up and the door open. Everyone grooved to Stevie.
I played this in high school jazz band on trumpet a few years after its release and it's even more fun to perform than listen to. Fast forward to 20 years later and I bumped into him in a restaurant in Malibu. He beams supernatural white light. It was so intense his wife looked at me and smiled. She knew. He doesn't make music. Music is the essence of who he is. That is S-tier creator level.
My Dad bought me Songs In The Key Of Life for my 15th birthday in 1976, after I'd been badgering him for months. There was great anticipation at the time, it was delayed, and the music press ran ads for months prior to it's release. It was also the most expensive album released in the UK at the time. Back in the mid 70's the average price of an album was £2.99, a double was £4.99. SITKOL was a whopping £7.99, double album booklet and single, really lavish packaging for the time. My old man was a bit tight and really moaned about how much it was. Everytime I played it 'Don't you scratch it mind, cost 8 quid that did'.I've still got that album nearly 47 years later and alrhpugh I probably listen to Innervisions more I treasure it. Lots of great artists had a run of great albums. The Stones with Beggars Banquet through to Exile wrote the blueprint for what a modern rock band should sound like. Bowie of course, his 70's output was mind blowing. I love all these artists and more. But no one moves me like Stevie. That run of albums from Talking Book through to SITkOL. Genius is an overused word but Stevie is definitely one.
"I legit got dizzy" LOL that was too funny! Stevie's 60s work was top-notch soul and pop. His 80's work was again back more in the pop-oriented soul realm, and again it's pretty high-tier stuff. But his 70's stuff is simply UNREAL. In order: Talking Book ('72), Innervisions ('73), Fulfillingness' First Finale ('74), and Songs In the Key of Life ('76) are arguably the best four sequential albums ever released by any artist. I mean, ultimately it's down to one's taste but that is one hell of a legacy right there, even if you don't consider all his other output.
Songs in the key of life is one of my top 5 albums of all time! You should totally react to the album(s). So many iconic Stevie Wonder songs. He takes you on a musical journey from cradle to grave with such creativity and grace.
Stevie is my favorite solo artist of all time, and there is no close second. Golden Lady Another Star Heaven is Ten Zillion Light Years Away Boogie on Reggae Woman I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) Living For the City Jesus Children of America are just a few of my favorites (and not quite as well known)
When I was a kid, for a time, Stevie was maybe the biggest singer in the world. There was a Stevie Wonder medley that they made and played on the radio regularly. It was a medley of his hits. I remember asking my Mom if it was Stevie Wonder, or someone copying him. And she said something I've remembered since, 45-50 years later now. "It's Stevie Wonder, nobody else can sing like that." And I thought, Oh yeah, she's right.
The joy that Stevie brings you guys is absolutely infectious. Yes, Stevie resides in S-Tier Town and happens to be the Mayor as well. He’s been killing it since 1963 when he was 13. 13 with a number 1 hit, that is. Stevie renews my belief in a higher power and proves he is truly blessed. He will forever be on my own personal Mount Rushmore or artists. And there’s not a lot of room there.
Stevie was about 25 when he did "Songs In The Key of Life", so not an old man by any means. But he had hit that age where some backward reflection was probably warranted. Hands down, my favorite song of his and a MEGA Number One hit in the winter of 1976/77.
Stevie has always been my all-time favorite artist, hands down!!!! I saw him in concert a couple of years ago and it was a spiritual experience - for real.
Stunning this level of Originality, Creativity, Talent. Few can claim residency here the way Steve Wonder, The Beatles, Steely Dan have... They all own mansions in this neighborhood.
It’s so apparent from even just the opening moments of the song that he’s a master. The way that straight ahead 8th note baseline comes in naked, you have no frame of reference to pick up any other groove than straight, then the guitar line comes in with a slight swing and you can literally feel your brain instantly shift its understanding of the song’s rhythm, then only a bar later the drums just slap you with massive groove and swing and the song immediately settles in nowhere near where you thought you were going to be. His genius is almost unfathomable
In 1976 In Paul Simon's acceptance speech for the Album of the Year award at the Grammy Awards ceremony, he jokingly thanked Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album that year, as he had won the award the previous two years. He proceeded to win it again the year after. Stevie Wonder is amazing!
Alex, you should always be ready to be knocked out of your seat by Stevie Wonder. Really, you should listen to his 4-album run in the mid-70s: Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfilliness' First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life. Maybe even add Music of My Mind to the front end of that run and that may just be all you ever need to listen to ever again. Genius!
Every time I see this album cover, I recall the year this album (and the songs) were nominated several times for various Grammy categories. And when they said "...and the Grammy goes to...", they just kept calling out Stevie's name. He was helped many, many times to the stage that night to accept his awards. He probably needed a wheelbarrow just to get them home that night. This album is a straight-up masterpiece. So glad you enjoyed it - love u guys! Happy New Year...❤🥳😄
Yep!!! I am so glad to be from a generation where great music was made and won awards for their merit and talent. Today. . . Not so much. Haven't watched the Grammys in a while. Because only the popular and mainstream are awarded. When a song like WAP wins awards, it isn't credible anymore.
Such a coincidence. I heard this song at work just yesterday and immediately thought “man, A&A need to hear this song!” And I thought this without even knowing it had already been heard by you. Such a great tune. Best Stevie song, imo.
Just came across this but you guys are cracking me up so much, lol. I'm a child of the 60s and 70s and I grew up with him and then like for example, Sir Duke, I learned that entire trumpet line to play it live in high school and I could play it in my sleep right now, but the point is here man, of all the Stevie Wonder songs, and there are no bad Stevie Wonder songs, this is my second-favorite. This is just so incredible everytime I hear it. Everything about it is just so I level. I guess I haven't searched to see but I have a feeling you guys have not reacted to an early hit of his which was huge on the radio in the early seventies when I was in grade school, Boogie on Reggae Women. And now that I'm older and a musician and have played in bands for years, that one still actually ranks up there as my favorite. So if you like this one, please believe that you should listen to Boogie on Reggae Women. And go for the long version and the long version is only 35 seconds longer than the short one. I don't know why the slightly shorter version exists on RU-vid at all. Because at any rate, the slightly longer version is what I always heard on the radio growing up in early grade school, but there's that 35 second slow fade that is mind-blowing.
Great reaction! I look forward to your Stevie reactions. The next Stevie you hit will also be an S-tier. Whether it be "Don't You Worry Bout a Thing", or "Boogie On Reggae Woman", or "Master Blaster", or "Isn't She Lovely" or "As" or "Another Star" and the list goes on. Can't wait for your next S-tier (maybe the S in S-tier should stand for Stevie) reaction to Stevie Wonder.
I'm always complaining about getting old but I'm so glad I was alive when this song was out on the radio. I have fun memories attached to this one mostly with my mom because she's the one who raised me on this music. (Thank goodness)
This was easily one of the greatest A&A reactions ever. It caught them completely off-guard (especially Alex), and their joy and exuberance was so fun to watch as the song evolved, particularly the first third of it. So enjoyable!
This entire album is almost all S Tier. Bold statement I know, but damn. Innervisions from 1973 is another. Flawless. He put out a string of albums that have stood the test of time: Music Of My Mind 1972 Talking Book 1972 Innervisions 1973 Fulfillingness’s First Finale 1974 Songs In The Key Of Life (double album) 1976
Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! Thanks very much for sharing your reaction video with us! Great Song! I hope you and your dear families have a wonderful New Year!! Lord be praised!
The Innervisions and Taking book albums should also be held high for Stevie and are well recommended. Talking book is a more gentle/ beautifully arranged collection although Superstition gives a flavour of things to come. Innervisions is very much harder edged and deeper in Stevie's thoughts and beliefs. I can also recommend his TamlaMotown material which is so slick and catchy. This world will lose possibly the greatest man of music when he passes. The great irony of course............A blind man who see's way more than any of us through his music. We are blessed to have access to his productions.
So glad A&A are back on the Wonder train! So many S tier songs… my favs are As Black Man Ordinary Pain Summer Soft You and I Boogie on Reggae Woman Higher Ground Etc., etc.
A double album was expensive for a kid in the 70’s so I asked a friend to let me borrow it for a couple of days and I nearly cried when I had to return it because I had listened nonstop and I wasn’t ready to let it go yet. So good!!
The word ‘genius’ gets tossed around like confetti. I once heard some fool on tv say Kanye was ‘a genius’. Wha? Ya sampling Stevie. Stevland Morris IS a musical prodigy, genius and all around WONDER. The real thing.
Had all his albums in 79 played him all the time in my dorm. Course throw in some Fleetwood Mac, Carol King, Todd Rundgren as a major part of my steady rotation.
I was in high school when this came out, in a nice middle class suburb. I thought the lyrics were really the story of MY life - -even though I knew our backgrounds were different in just about every way. Great song.
