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Title: Classic Stevie Wonder, close to his peak
Review: This 1973 album shows Stevie Wonder at close to his peak of creativity and accessibility. It won the 1974 "Album of the Year" Grammy. (When Paul Simon won the 1976 Grammy, he famously thanked Wonder for not having released an album that year; Wonder went on to win again the following year with "Songs in the Key of Life".) Lots of touchstone moments on this album. It kicks off with "Too High", a funky evocation of how it feels to be too high. "Living for the City", a huge hit which hit No. 8 on the U.S. Billboard chart, is a consciousness-raising expose of hard times in the city, with a memorable spoken word minidrama of a black naif arriving and promptly getting set up and busted for drugs. ("New York! Just like I pictured it! Skyscrapers and everything!") "Golden Lady" is a luscious slow-dance tune. And "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" is another Top 20 hit with a groove and soaring melody. A must-add to your music library for less than ten bucks.
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