Innervisions
by Stevie Wonder

The 1974 winner at the Grammys for album of the year.

Comparisons are so very ugly.
Is this better than Songs in the Key of Life?
Nope but it is shorter and utterly brilliant.
Of the five great Wonder albums, five in a row, this is one of the two best.

From HoldenM 08/09/2024 15:48 | #304694

Love it. Political, spiritual, groovy as hell.

A great album. The A-side is stronger than the B-side, but still very listenable. 9.5/10!

I will never tire of this absolute masterpiece. The song Don't You Worry About a Thing is a tremendous vocal exercise, Living for the City is a bold conscious effort, Golden Lady and All is Fair in Love and the title track are simply sublime, and Jesus Children and Higher Ground are such funky fun.

Essential

Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Higher Ground
B-Side; Don't You Worry Bout a Thing

This is one of Stevie Wonder's most consistently great records. Every song shows a brilliant side to Stevie Wonder with the peak of the record coming on the 7 minute epic that is Living For The City. A lot of the other songs come close to this one in terms of quality but this is definitely the stand out track that is undeniably the best on here. You get to experience everything that is great about Stevie Wonder on this song with some fantastic song writing, complex music and a beautiful vocal display. Every time I revisit this album I am blown away by this track all over again as it truly demonstrates how much of a genius musician Stevie Wonder is. Overall, this is probably his most consistent release with every song feeling significant and being filled with that classic charm, character and quality we expect from one of the greatest artists of all time.

Solid album

Top 3 Songs

1. Living For The City
2. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
3. Higher Ground

One of the greatest albums of all time bar none. Carrying the tradition paved by himself (the previous year's 'Music of My Mind') and Marvin Gaye ('What's Going On') to writing more than just standard love songs for the Motown machine, Wonder unleashes a collection of songs dealing with drug abuse ('Too High'), spirituality ('Higher Ground'), critique of organized religion ('Jesus Children of America'), a calm but harsh Nixon rebuke ('He's Misstra-Know-It-All'), and the centerpiece of the record, the towering 7 minute epic 'Living for the City', painting a vivid picture of economic hardship, racism, and struggle in the cold, brutal city. Even the love songs (the Latin tinged 'Golden Lady' and 'Don't You Worry Bout a Thing') on this record are stellar and a big cut above the rest of pop music at the time. Eagerly awaiting the moment this recieves the 'Revolver/Sgt Peppers' or 'Off the Wall/Thriller' reevaluation as Wonder's best record over (the admittedly just as stellar) 'Songs in the Key of Life'.

Essential picks: Too High, Visions, Living For the City, Golden Lady, Higher Ground, Don't You Worry Bout a Thing, He's Misstra-Know-It-All

Album Rating: 79.22
(713/9)

1.Too High. 69
2.Visions. 70
3.Living For The City. 87
4.Golden Lady. 69
5.Higher Ground. 86
6.Jesus Children Of America. 71
7.All In Love Is Fair. 92
8.Don’t You Worry 'Bout A Thing. 88
9.He's Misstra Know-It-All. 81