Stevie Wonder Songs In The Key Of Life

When people talk about classic Stevie, most people go for "Songs In The Key Of Life" or "Innervisions" - but, to my mind, they have serious competition in this classic from late-74. It is probably overlooked as there was only 2 singles from it (the excellent funky, stinging Nixon rebuke "You Have n't Done Nothin'", and the cool "Boogie On Reggae Woman"), but every track is a classic. More reflective than "Innervisions" or "Songs", and bit more down-tempo, but there are some real beauties.

The West Coast's answer to The Last Poets, The Watts Prophets played an integral part in the raising of black consciousness and laying the foundations for rap. Formed at the Watts Writer's Workshop, Anthony "Amde" Hamilton, Otis O'Solomon, and Richard Dedeaux began performing together as Watts Prophets, setting their socially and politically conscious poetry to spare, often jazzy musical backing. They made high-profile guest appearances on Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key of Life and Quincy Jones' Mellow Madness. And were later the subject of an Emmy-nominated documentary, Victory Will Be My Moan. In 1969, the group debuted with The Black Voices: On the Streets in Watts and, two years later, followed with Rappin' Black in a White World, which featured accompaniment by ex-Motown songwriter/pianist DeeDee McNeil. The radical, incendiary tone of their work fit right in with the emerging black power movement and attracted unfavorable notice from the government, with the home of the Watts Writers Project being destroyed by fire in 1975 after having been infiltrated by an FBI informant. Throughout the years, they've remained sporadically active as performers, and were rediscovered by the hip-hop generation as their records were sampled frequently by many hip-hop artists including Ice Cube, Digable Planets, and Coolio. The Watts Prophets remain dedicated community activists today, promoting creative self-expression and the arts to young people around Southern California and beyond. Two bonus tracks. Deluxe Arigato Pak! Water Records. 2005.

One of the most distinctive vocalists who arrived during the soul era, Deniece Williams is known for soaring, four-octave soprano voice, late-'70s and early-'80s R&B classics such as "Free" and "Silly," and the 1984 number one pop hit "Let's Hear It for the Boy." Born June Deniece Chandler in Gary, Indiana, she grew up singing in a Pentecostal church, which forbid the congregation to listen to anything but gospel music. Outside of wanting a 1959 Thunderbird, she had no serious ambitions but was deeply interested in music. Her favorite singers were Carmen McRae (for her diction) and Nancy Wilson, who, for Williams, exemplified class and elegance. However, her she also looked up to her parents, both of whom sang. From 1968 through 1970, Williams recorded a handful of singles for the Chicago-based Lock and Toddlin' Town labels as Deniece (or Denise) Chandler. None of them charted, but "I'm Walking Away" and "Mama, I Wish I Stayed Home" became Northern soul cult classics.

At The Close Of A Century is a 4CD box set by legendary American singer, Stevie Wonder. It features many of his hit songs throughout his career, beginning with "Fingertips Pts. 1 & 2" and goes through different decades, eras, phases, and everything in between, including key album cuts. Four decades of Wonder's music explored here.

29 Huge tracks from one of the greatest years in music. Guaranteed floor fillers all in one continuous mix! You Sexy Thing is a song recorded by the British group Hot Chocolate. It was written by Hot Chocolate's lead singer Errol Brown, and produced by Mickie Most. It Sir Duke is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder, from his album Songs in the Key of Life. The Hustle is a disco song by songwriter/arranger Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony. Baby, Dont Change Your Mind is a song by Gladys Knight & The Pips. Knowing Me, Knowing You is a hit single recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. Night Fever is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees. Strictly DJ Use Only.

"X" is Chicago’s highly acclaimed 1976 gem. This pivotal outing was a worldwide hit, giving Chicago their first U.K. chart album in several years and reached #3 on the Billboard 200. The album features the hits “You Are On My Mind”, “Another Rainy Day In New York City” and “If You Leave Me Now”. “If You Leave Me Now” would win two GRAMMY Awards and "X" was nominated for Album of the Year, losing to Stevie Wonder’s "Songs In The Key Of Life". This quintessential album is a must-have.