Paste Magazine: Top 300 Albums

Paste Magazine: The Top 300 Albums

Paste magazine launched in July 2002 as a print publication after first starting as a website in 1998. In 2010, they went back to being online only. They started with a focus on music, specifically adult alternative, indie rock, and Americana. They have since expanded to include focus on movies, TV, books, and more. As explained on the Paste website: “For this list, we called on our entire writing cohort—including editors, staff writers, interns and freelancers far and wide—to send in their individual Top 20 lists. We then took those lists, along with editorial oversight, and compiled what we believe is a selection of music that represents what Paste believes is the best to have ever been recorded.” Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here. 1. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976) 2. The Cure Disintegration (1989) 3. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985) 4. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987) 5. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969) 6. OutKast Stankonia (2000) 7. Fishmans Long Season (1996) 8. Nina Simone Wild Is the Wind (1966) 9. Milton Nascimento & Lo Borges Clube da Esquina (1972) 10. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966) 11. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) 12. Miles Davis Bitches Brew (1970) 13. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971) 14. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971) 15. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975) 16. Janet Jackson The Velvet Rope (1997) 17. Funkadelic Maggot Brain (1971) 18. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) 19. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984) 20. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001) 21. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) 22. Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) 23. The Clash London Calling (1979) 24. Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club (aka “One Night Stand”) (1963) 25. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) 26. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) 27. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (1968) 28. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) 29. Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (2012) 30. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975) 31. Björk Post (1995) 32. Billie Holiday Lady in Satin (1958) 33. Carole King Tapestry (1971) 34. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) 35. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965) 36. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (2006) 37. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972) 38. Sufjan Stevens Illinois (2005) 39. Neil Young On the Beach (1974) 40. Patti Smith Horses (1975) 41. The Replacements Tim (1985) 42. PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love (1995) 43. Cocteau Twins Heaven or Las Vegas (1990) 44. De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) 45. The Beatles Revolver (1966) 46. The Roots Things Fall Apart (1999) 47. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959) 48. Julee Cruise Floating into the Night (1989) 49. Frank Ocean Blond (2016) 50. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (live, 1968) 51. Novos Baianos Acabou Chorare (1972) 52. Joni Mitchell Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975) 53. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992) 54. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) (1993) 55. Beyoncé Lemonade (2016) 56. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973) 57. Pharoah Sanders Karma (1969) 58. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968) 59. The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (1994) 60. Hole Live Through This (1994) 61. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) 62. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968) 63. Hüsker Dü New Day Rising (1985) 64. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962) 65. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) 66. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979) 67. A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory (1991) 68. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1968) 69. Nas Illmatic (1994) 70. My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991) 71. Madonna Like a Prayer (1989) 72. Kendrick Lamar Good Kid m.A.A.d. City (2012) 73. The Miracles Going to a Go-Go (1965) 74. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966) 75. Little Richard Here’s Little Richard (1957) 76. The Replacements Let It Be (1984) 77. Erykah Badu Baduizm (1997) 78. Charles Mingus The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1963) 79. Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970) 80. Alice Coltrane Journey in Satchidananda (1971) 81. D’Angelo Voodoo (2000) 82. Radiohead In Rainbows (2007) 83. Pixies Surfer Rosa (1988) 84. Sophie Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides (2018) 85. Nina Simone I Put a Spell on You (1965) 86. Kanye West The Life of Pablo (2016) 87. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989) 88. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993) 89. Television Marquee Moon (1977) 90. The Stooges Raw Power (1973) 91. Otis Redding Otis Blue (1965) 92. Deerhunter Halcyon Digest (2010) 93. War The World Is a Ghetto (1972) 94. Sade Love Deluxe (1992) 95. Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works Vol. 2 (1994) 96. Fleetwood Mac Tusk (1979) 97. Death Symbolic (1995) 98. Donna Summer Bad Girls (1979) 99. The Grateful Dead American Beauty (1970) 100. B.B. King Live at the Regal (live, recorded 1964, released 1965) 101. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) 102. Prince 1999 (1982) 103. Sunn O))) Black One (2005) 104. Bruce Springsteen The River (1980) 105. Paul & Linda McCartney Ram (1971) 106. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989) 107. Dilla, J. Donuts (2006) 108. This Heat Deceit (1981) 109. Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out (1997) 110. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986) 111. Godspeed You! Black Emperor Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennae to Heaven (2000) 112. Mariah Carey Music Box (1993) 113. Madvillain Madvillainy (2004) 114. System of a Down Toxicity (2001) 115. Lou Reed Transformer (1972) 116. Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992) 117. Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger (1975) 118. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967) 119. Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988) 120. Fugees The Score (1996) 121. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) 122. The Breeders Last Splash (1993) 123. Ramones Ramones (1976) 124. R.E.M. Murmur (1983) 125. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 126. Daft Punk Discovery (2001) 127. David Bowie Low (1977) 128. The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965) 129. Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (1984) 130. Herbie Hancock Head Hunters (1973) 131. George Michael Faith (1987) 132. PJ Harvey Rid of Me (1993) 133. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975) 134. Ellott Smith Either/Or (1997) 135. Tatsuro Yamashita For You (1982) 136. Metallica Master of Puppets (1986) 137. James Brown Live at the Apollo Volume 1 (live, 1962) 138. Sparks No. 1 in Heaven (1979) 139. Gang of Four Entertainment! (1979) 140. Spiritualized Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (1997) 141. Eric Dolphy Out to Lunch! (1964) 142. Boris Pink (2005) 143. Björk Homogenic (1997) 144. Paul Simon Graceland (1986) 145. Belle & Sebastian If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996) 146. Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt (1996) 147. Madonna Erotica (1992) 148. Boards of Canada Music Has the Right to Children (1998) 149. Frank Ocean Channel Orange (2012) 150. Radiohead OK Computer (1997) 151. Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell! ( (2019) 152. Slowdive Souvlaki (1993) 153. Fishmans Kuuchuu Camp (1996) 154. Jason Isbell Southeastern (2013) 155. The Dismemberment Plan Emergency & I (1999) 156. Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis (1969) 157. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971) 158. Waylon Jennings Dreaming My Dreams (1975) 159. Van Halen Van Halen (1978) 160. Gillian Welch Time (The Revelator) (2001) 161. Oasis Definitely Maybe (1994) 162. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) 163. The Pixies Doolittle (1989) 164. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) 165. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Rust Never Sleeps (1979) 166. Death Cab for Cutie Transatlanticism (2003) 167. X-Ray Spex Germ-Free Adolescents (1978) 168. Marvin Gaye I Want You (1976) 169. Talking Heads Fear of Music (1979) 170. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987) 171. Taylor Swift Red (2012) 172. Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998) 173. Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (1979) 174. Genius/GZA Liquid Swords (1995) 175. Swans Soundtracks for the Blind (1996) 176. Nick Drake Pink Moon (1972) 177. Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour (2018) 178. Yo La Tengo And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out (2000) 179. Angelo Badalamenti Twin Peaks (ST) (1990) 180. Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Supa Dupa Fly (1997) 181. John Prine John Prine (1971) 182. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971) 183. The Ronettes Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica (1964) 184. The Strokes Is This It (2001) 185. Beyoncé Beyoncé (2013) 186. Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell (2015) 187. Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) 188. Kate Bush The Dreaming (1982) 189. The Microphones The Glow Pt. 2 (2001) 190. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992) 191. TLC Crazy Sexy Cool (1994) 192. Dinosaur Jr. You’re Living All Over Me (1987) 193. Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020) 194. The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground (1969) 195. Vince Staples Big Fish Theory (2017) 196. Rush Moving Pictures (1981) 197. Slayer Reign in Blood (1986) 198. Various Artists Buena Vista Social Club (1997) 199. The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream (2014) 200. Massive Attack Blue Lines (1991) 201. Danger Mouse The Grey Album (2001) 202. Built to Spill Perfect from Now On (1997) 203. Leonard Cohen The Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) 204. Janelle Monáe Dirty Computer (2018) 205. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band Trout Mask Replica (1969) 206. American Football American Football (1999) 207. Tom Waits Rain Dogs (1985) 208. Joni Mitchell Court and Spark (1974) 209. The Stooges Fun House (1970) 210. The Blue Nile Hats (1989) 211. Fugazi Repeater (1990) 212. Grace Jones Nightclubbing (1981) 213. Lil Wayne Tha Carter III (2008) 214. Joanna Newsom Ys (2006) 215. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971) 216. Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs (1999) 217. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (1993) 218. The Band Music from Big Pink (1968) 219. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994) 220. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965) 221. The Supremes Where Did Our Love Go? (1964) 222. The Cure Pornography (1982) 223. Bruce Springsteen Nebraska (1982) 224. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) 225. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (soundtrack, 1972) 226. Solange A Seat at the Table (2016) 227. The Germs GI (1979) 228. The Avalanches Since I Left You (2000) 229. Beck Odelay (1996) 230. Carly Rae Jepsen Emotion (2015) 231. Ornette Coleman The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) 232. Portishead Dummy (1994) 233. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Déjà Vu (1970) 234. D’Angelo & the Vanguard Black Messiah (2014) 235. Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace (1972) 236. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979) 237. Danny Brown Atrocity Exhibition (2016) 238. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) 239. The Mountain Goats The Sunset Tree (2005) 240. Lady Gaga The Fame Monster (2009) 241. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) 242. The Promise Ring Nothing Feels Good (1997) 243. Alice Coltrane Turiya Sings (1982) 244. Four Tet There Is Love in You (2010) 245. Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full (1987) 246. LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver (2007) 247. The Shangri-La's Leader of the Pack (1965) 248. Steely Dan Aja (1977) 249. Joni Mitchell Hejira (1976) 250. Burial Untrue (2007) 251. Popol Vuh Hosianna Mantra (1972) 252. Lorde Melodrama (2017) 253. George Jones I Am What I Am (1972) 254. Nico The Marble Index (1969) 255. Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual (1983) 256. Marty Robbins Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959) 257. OutKast Aquemini (1998) 258. Janet Jackson Control (1986) 259. The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968) 260. PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) 261. The Meters Rejuvenation (1974) 262. Silver Jews American Water (1998) 263. Alvvays Blue Rev (2022) 264. Stars of the Lid The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid (2001) 265. Thin Lizzy Jailbreak (1976) 266. Mahmoud Ahmed Éthiopiques Vol 7: Erè Mèla Mèla (1975) 267. Dolly Parton Coat of Many Colors (1971) 268. Tom Petty Wildflowers (1994) 269. Fiona Apple When the Pawn… (1999) 270. Mississippi John Hurt Today! (1966) 271. Wire Chairs Missing (1978) 272. Blondie Parallel Lines (1978) 273. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970) 274. Songs: Ohia Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) 275. Kraftwerk Die Mensch Maschine (The Man Machine) (1978) 276. Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City (2013) 277. Pulp Different Class (1995) 278. Hiroshi Yoshimura Music for Nine Post Cards (1982) 279. Robyn Body Talk (2010) 280. Townes Van Zandt The Late Great Townes Van Zandt (1972) 281. Shin Joong Hyun & Yup Juns Shin Joong Hyun & Yup Juns (1974) 282. Brian Eno Another Green World (1975) 283. Bob Marley & the Wailers Burnin’ (1973) 284. Talk Talk Laughing Stock (1991) 285. Lil' Kim Hard Core (1996) 286. The KLF Chill Out (1990) 287. Bonnie “Prince” Billy I See a Darkness (1999) 288. The Who Tommy (1969) 289. Britney Spears …Baby One More Time (1999) 290. The Fall Wonderful and Frightening World of... (1984) 291. Camarón La Leyenda del Tiempo (1979) 292. David Bowie Scary Monsters (1980) 293. Ice Cube AmeriKKKas Most Wanted (1990) 294. Deulgukhwa March (1985) 295. Bad Brains Bad Brains (1982) 296. The Raincoats The Raincoats (1979) 297. Terry Riley A Rainbow in Curved Air (1968) 298. Queen Jazz (1978) 299. Rihanna Anti (2016) 300. Modest Mouse The Lonesome Crowded West (1997) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Best-of Album Lists by Publications/Organizations PasteMagazine.com (6/3/2024). “The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time” First posted 6/3/2024; last updated 6/6/2024.

 

Dave’s Music Database Hall of Fame: Album Inductees (Nov. 2019)

Originally posted 11/22/2019. January 22, 2019 marked the 10-year anniversary of the DMDB blog. To honor that, Dave’s Music Database announced its own Hall of Fame. This month marks the fourth batch of album inductees. Only 11 albums have achieved the trifecta of winning the Grammy for Album of the Year, being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and being named to the National Recording Registry. Two of these have already been inducted into the Dave’s Music Database Hall of Fame – The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Michael Jackson Thriller (1982). A third album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart is not eligible as it is a comedy album, not a music album. That leaves eight albums to be inducted this month. See the full list of album inductees here.

Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) Inducted November 2019 for “The Trifecta: Grammy for Album of the Year, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Recording Registry.”

“Intense, internal drama always adds a kick to a final piece of work…[and] few bands can equal Fleetwood Mac…[for] their angst.” DV “Keyboardist Christine McVie sparred with husband/bassist John, and singer Stevie Nicks scrapped with boyfriend/guitarist Lindsay Buckingham.” CDU “The resulting romantic pressure-cooker” AZ produced “a tour de force” BN which made Rumours “the ultimate hangover album for the lovestruck.” DV and “an album that defined a decade.” DV Read more.

Judy Garland Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961) Inducted November 2019 for “The Trifecta: Grammy for Album of the Year, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Recording Registry.”

Judy Garland became Hollywood royalty, thanks to performances in classics like The Wizard of Oz, but struggled personally and professionally in the late ‘50s. “This live recording…would (rightfully) bring the legendary icon back into the spotlight.” AZ “This is easily one of pop music’s greatest live recordings and a fine testament to Garland’s recorded legacy.” AZ “With relentless verve, Garland takes on her entire musical catalogue with astonishing aplomb. There is little sign of the decades of self-abuse which had left her frail by the early ‘60s.” AMG Read more.

Carole King Tapestry (1971) Inducted November 2019 for “The Trifecta: Grammy for Album of the Year, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Recording Registry.”

Carole King made a name herself in the 1960s as a songwriter with her husband Gerry Goffin, but on Tapestry “reaches even greater heights as a performer.” AMG She “created the archetype of the female singer-songwriter” TL by insisting she be heard as “human, with all the cracks and imperfections that implies.” RC “The music is loose, earthy, L.A. session-pop” AZ delivered “with a sharpness worthy of a Brooklyn girl.” RC Read more.

Henry Mancini Music from Peter Gunn (1959) Inducted November 2019 for “The Trifecta: Grammy for Album of the Year, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Recording Registry.”

In 1958, “Peter Gunn was one of the unexpected hits of the new television season, capturing the imagination of millions of viewers by mixing private eye action with a jazz setting. Composer Henry Mancini was more than fluent in jazz, and his music nailed down the popularity of the series.” AMG He created “a key piece of jazz and pop music history” AMG that is a “ valuable addition to any jazz or soundtrack collection of the era.” AMG Read more.

Paul Simon Graceland (1986) Inducted November 2019 for “The Trifecta: Grammy for Album of the Year, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Recording Registry.”

In 1984, Paul Simon was inspired by a bootleg tape of South African music and, despite the United States’ economic sanctions against the country because of its apartheid government, he arranged a visit. He threw “his ears open to a host of new players and singers” TL and created “exotically fanciful collaborations” UT with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and others. The resulting introduction of world music into a pop arena gave listeners “that magical combination: something they’d never heard before that nevertheless sounded familiar.” AMG Read more.

U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) Inducted November 2019 for “The Trifecta: Grammy for Album of the Year, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Recording Registry.”

In the early 1980s, U2 built a following first with college radio and then album rock. By the mid-‘80s, they were “spending more and more time with rock legends like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan” QM and were, as Rolling Stone magazine declared, “a band utterly determined to be Important.” RS With its “inspirational, larger-than-life gestures...that’s precisely what [The Joshua Tree] sounds like.” RS It wasn’t just the band’s blockbuster, but its “most varied, subtle and accessible album.” RS Read more.

Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976) Inducted November 2019 for “The Trifecta: Grammy for Album of the Year, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Recording Registry.”

After securing an unprecedented $13 million contract with Motown, Stevie Wonder took two years – “an eternity in R&B” TL – to write his “longest, most ambitious collection of songs.” AMG His “Grand Artistic Statement” EK “featured more true classics than even most great artists write in a lifetime.” TL It is “like stumbling into a cave full of treasure” JM and not knowing “which piece of gold to stuff into [one’s] pocket first.” JM It “touched on nearly every issue under the sun, and did it all with ambitious (even for him), wide-ranging arrangements and some of the best performances of Wonder’s career.” AMG Read more.

Various Artists (including the Bee Gees) Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (1977) Inducted November 2019 for “The Trifecta: Grammy for Album of the Year, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Recording Registry.”

“Every so often, a piece of music comes along that defines a moment in popular culture history;” AMG The disco soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever epitomized the latter half of the 1970s and made the Bee Gees the biggest group since the Beatles. They had “been exploring disco and funk rhythms on two albums before this one.” TM However, “the disco boom had seemingly run its course, primarily in Europe, and was confined mostly to Black culture and the gay underground in America.” AMG “The soundtrack “made disco explode into mainstream…with new immediacy and urgency.” AMG Read more.

50 years ago: 13-Year-Old Stevie Wonder hit #1 with "Fingertips"

Fingertips (Part 2) Stevie Wonder

Writer(s): Henry Cosby, Clarence Paul Released: May 21, 1963 First Charted: June 22, 1963 Peak: 13 US, 14 CB, 13 HR, 16 RB, 8 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2.63 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: In 1963, “Fingertips – Part 2” was the first live song to hit #1 in more than a decade. It was primarily an instrumental to showcase this musician’s talents on the harmonica. It sounds like an unlikely hit, but one that a seasoned veteran – like Ray Charles – might pull off. The singer did share similarities with Charles – he was blind and black and is considered one of the greatest soul geniuses in history. One difference – he was a twelve-year-old kid when he recorded his masterpiece and only 13 when it hit the top of the charts. In the nearly fifty years since then, Stevie Wonder has solidified has place as one of the greatest musicians of all time. He ranks in the top ten of the Dave’s Music Database list of the top 100 acts of all time. The DMDB also includes him on its lists of top 100 singers and top 100 songwriters. He’s an inductee in the Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has also amassed more than twenty Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. No one knew what greatness was in store nearly fifty years ago, but a #1 song for a thirteen-year-old for his first chart entry isn’t a bad way to start. At first, some may have thought he was a novelty who would come and go quickly. After all, music history is littered with teen sensations whose careers died before they hit 20. It looked like Wonder might go that route initially – over the next couple years, he only chalked up a few minor top 40 hits. It took 2 ½ years before his next significant hit – “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)”, a #3 song in 1966. Jump to present day and Wonder can boast to landing more than two dozen top ten pop hits; nine of them went to #1. He has also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades. If he can chart something before 2020, he’ll have done it for six. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Stevie Wonder WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 8/10/2011; last updated 10/28/2022.

A Stevie Wonder Retrospective

A Retrospective: 1962-2005 Stevie Wonder

A Brief History: R&B singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer born Stevland Hardaway Morris né Judkins on 5/13/1950 in Saginaw, Michigan. He was a child prodigy who was blind since shortly after his birth. He signed with Motown at age 11; initially doing backup work. He started recording in 1962 as “Little Stevie Wonder” and became the youngest artist (age 13) to top the Billboard Hot 100 with “Fingertips.” Married to Syreeta Wright from 1970-72. When he turned 21, he reworked his Motown contract for more artistic freedom. Near-fatal auto accident on 8/16/73. He has won 25 Grammys, the most ever by a solo artist. His albums from 1972 to 1976, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life, are considered one of the best four-album runs in history. All four rank in the DMDB’s top 1000 albums of all time and the latter three won Grammys for album of the year.

Compilations: These compilations are featured on this page: G1 Greatest Hits (1968) G2 Greatest Hits Volume 2 (1971) LB Looking Back (1977) MQ Musiquarium (1982) SR A Song Review: A Greatest Hits Collection (1996) AC At the Close of a Century (1999) DC-UK The Definitive Collection: UK version (2002) DC-US The Definitive Collection: US version (2002) NO #1’s (2007) The Studio Albums: You can click on an album below to see a dedicated DMDB page for it. The snapshots on this page of the studio albums (and one live album) shown below indicate all songs featured on any of these compilations, noted with the codes above. Appearing after song titles are the songwriters in italicized parentheses, running times in brackets, and when relevant, the date the song was released as a single and its peaks on various charts. Click for codes to singles charts. The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie (1962): The album failed to chart and no songs were included on any of the compilations featured on this page. A Tribute to Uncle Ray (1962): Like its predecessor, this album failed to chart and no songs were included on any of the compilations featured on this page. The Twelve Year Old Genius Recorded Live (1963): Fingertips (Part 2) (Paul, Cosby) [3:10] (5/21/63, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 1 RB) G1, LB, DC-UK, DC-US, NO, “Fingertips (Parts 1 & 2)” AC, DC With a Song in My Heart (1963): No songs from this album are featured on any of the compilations on this page. Stevie at the Beach (1964): Castles in the Sand (Wilson, Davis, Gordon, O’Brien) [2:14] (2/29/64, 52 US, 52 US, 52 RB) G1, LB Hey Harmonica Man (Josie, Cooper) [2:36] (5/21/64, 29 US, 32 CB, 29 RB) G1, LB Up-Tight, Everything’s Alright (1966): Contract on Love (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Janie Bradford) [2:06] (12/62, --) G1, LB Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder) [2:52] (11/22/65, 3 US, 3 CB, 1 RB, 14 UK, airplay: 2 million) G1, LB, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, William Stevenson) [2:41] (4/16/66, 20 US, 20 CB, 4 RB) G1, LB, AC Blowin’ in the Wind (Bob Dylan) [3:02] (6/25/66, 9 US, 11 CB, 1 RB, 36 UK, 12 CN) G1, LB, AC, DC-UK, NO Ain’t That Asking for Trouble (Sylvia Moy, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder) [2:47] LB Down to Earth (1966): A Place in the Sun (Wells, Miller) [2:50] (11/12/66, 9 US, 10 CB, 29 AC, 3 RB, 20 UK, 6 CN) G1, LB, AC, DC-UK Hey Love (Paul, Broadnax, Wonder) [2:44] (4/22/67, 90 US, 92 CB, 9 RB) G1, LB, SR, AC, DC-US Thank You Love (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder) [2:50] LB Sylvia (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder) [2:33] LB Down to Earth (Ron Miller, Avery Vanderberg) [2:48] LB I Was Made to Love Her (1967): I Was Made to Love Her (Cosby, Hardaway, Wonder, Moy) [2:43] (6/3/67, 2 US, 2 CB, 1 RB, 5 UK, 5 CN, airplay: 1 million) G1, LB, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO I’d Cry (Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy) [2:22] LB Someday at Christmas (1967): No songs from this are featured on any of the compilations on this page. Greatest Hits Stevie Wonder Rating: 4.067 out of 5.00 (average of 7 ratings) Recorded: 1963-1967 Charted: April 27, 1968 Peak: 37 US, 6 RB, 25 UK Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, 2.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B Tracks: (1) Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (2) I’m Wondering (3) I Was Made to Love Her (4) Hey Love (5) Blowin’ in the Wind (6) A Place in the Sun (7) Contract on Love (8) Workout, Stevie, Workout (9) Fingertips (Part 2) (10) Castles in the Sand (11) Hey Harmonica Man (12) Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby About Greatest Hits: This collection offered a good sampling of the first five years of Wonder’s career, especially since none of the albums it covers were really essential. Of course, this set was rendered moot with 1977’s Looking Back, which covered every song on this and the next greatest hits collection. Workout, Stevie, Workout (Paul, Cosby) [2;41] (10/5/63, 33 US, 35 CB, 33 RB) G1, LB I’m Wondering (Cosby, Wonder, Moy) [3:00] (9/30/67, 12 US, 10 CB, 4 RB, 22 UK) G1, LB, AC, DC-UK Eivets Rednow (1968): Alfie (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) [2:58] (9/14/68, 66 US, 73 CB, 11 AC, 86 CN) LB More Than a Dream (Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder) [3:20] LB For Once in My Life (1968): Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder) [2:45] (4/6/68, 9 US, 7 CB, 1 RB, 40 UK) G2, LB, AC You Met Your Match (Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Stevie Wonder) [2:37] (7/13/68, 35 US, 28 CB, 2 RB, 28 CN) G2, LB, AC For Once in My Life (Ron Miller, Orlando Murden) [2:48] (11/2/68, 2 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 2 RB, 3 UK, 5 CN, airplay: 3 million) G2, LB, AC, DC-UK, DC-US I Don’t Know Why I Love You (Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder) [2:43] (2/15/69, 39 US, 41 CB, 16 RB, 14 UK, 41 CN) LB, AC, DC-UK I’d Be a Fool Right Now (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder) [2:53] LB My Cherie Amour (1969): My Cherie Amour (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder) [2:54] (5/31/69, 4 US, 3 CB, 3 AC, 4 RB, 4 UK, 14 CN, airplay: 4 million) G2, LB, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday (Ron Miller, Bryan Wells) [3:06] (10/18/69, 7 US, 9 CB, 10 AC, 5 RB, 2 UK, 10 CN) G2, LB, AC, DC-UK Angie Girl (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder) [2:56] LB Signed, Sealed, & Delivered (1970): Never Had a Dream Come True (Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy) [3:13] (1/31/70, 26 US, 22 CB, 31 AC, 11 RB, 6 UK, 22 CN) G2, LB, AC, DC-UK Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours (Lee Garrett, Lula Mae Hardaway, Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) [2:41] (6/20/70, 3 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 1 RB, 15 UK, 19 CN, airplay: 2 million) G2, LB, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Heaven Help Us All (Ron Miller) [3:13] (10/17/70, 9 US, 9 CB, 2 RB, 29 UK, 14 CN) G2, LB, AC, DC-UK We Can Work It Out (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) [3:19] (3/13/71, 13 US, 9 CB, 3 RB, 27 UK, 49 CN, airplay: 2 million) G2, AC, DC-UK I Gotta Have a Song (Don Hunter, Lula Mae Hardaway, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder) [2:32] LB Where I’m Coming From (1971): Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) [2:53] (6/19/71, 78 US) G2, LB, AC If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) [3:00] (8/14/71, 8 US, 9 CB, 10 AC, 4 RB, 20 UK, 60 CN) G2, LB, AC, DC-UK Something Out of the Blue (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) [2:58] LB Do Yourself a Favor (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) [5:58] LB Greatest Hits Volume 2 Stevie Wonder Rating: 4.075 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings) Recorded: 1967-1971 Charted: November 20, 1971 Peak: 69 US, 10 RB, 30 UK Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, 1.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B Tracks: (1) Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day (2) Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) (3) If You Really Love Me (4) For Once in My Life (5) We Can Work It Out (6) You Met Your Match (7) Never Had a Dream Come True (8) Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday (9) My Cherie Amour (10) Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer (11) Travelin’ Man (12) Heaven Help Us All About Greatest Hits, Volume 2: Like its predecessor anthology, this was a good compromise instead of the actual studio albums. It wasn’t until after this that Wonder truly hit his stride as an album artist. Also like the first greatest hits set, though, this one was rendered unnecessary when all the tracks were included on 1977’s Looking Back. Travelin’ Man (Ron Miller, Bryan Wells) [2:54] (3/4/67, 32 US, 41 CB, 31 RB) G2, LB Looking Back Stevie Wonder Rating: 4.498 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings) Recorded: 1962-1971 Released: November 30, 1977 Peak: 34 US, 15 RB, 31 CN Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Thank You for Loving Me All the Way (2) Contract on Love (3) Fingertips (Part 2) (4) Workout, Stevie, Workout (5) Castles in the Sand (6) Hey Harmonica Man (7) High Heel Sneakers (8) Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (9) Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby (11) Blowin’ in the Wind (12) Ain’t That Asking for Trouble (13) I’d Cry (14) A Place in the Sun (15) Sylvia (16) Down to Earth (17) Thank You Love (18) Hey Love (19) Travelin’ Man (20) Until You Come Back to Me That’s What I’m Gonna Do (21) I Was Made to Love Her (22) I’m Wondering Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day (2) You Met Your Match (3) I’d Be a Fool Right Now (4) Alfie (5) More Than a Dream (6) For Once in My Life (7) Angie Girl (8) My Cherie Amour (9) I Don’t Know Why I Love You (10) If I Ruled the World (11) Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday (12) Never Had a Dream Come True (13) Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours (14) Heaven Help Us All (15) I Gotta Have a Song (16) Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer (17) If You Really Love Me (18) Something Out of the Blue (19) Do Yourself a Favor About Looking Back: This collection rendered the first two greatest hits sets unnecessary as it gathered all of the songs from those albums along with seventeen more cuts from the same era. Thank You for Loving Me All the Way [2:30] (recorded 1962) LB High Heel Sneakers [2:58] (8/29/65, 59 US, 54 CB, 30 RB) LB Until You Come Back to Me That’s What I’m Gonna Do [3:06] (1967 single, --) LB, AC If I Ruled the World [3:31] (1969 recording) LB Music of My Mind (1972): Superwoman (Where Were You When I Need You) (Stevie Wonder) [7:58] (5/20/72, 33 US, 32 CB, 13 RB, 53 CN) MQ I Love Every Little Thing About You (Stevie Wonder) [3:55] AC Talking Book (1972): Superstition (Stevie Wonder) [4:26] (11/11/72, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 38 AC, 1 RB, 4 CL, 11 UK, 6 CN) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO You Are the Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder) [2:50] (3/17/73, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 1 AC, 3 RB, 8 CL, 7 UK, 5 CN) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO I Believe When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever (Stevie Wonder) [4:34] AC You and I (Stevie Wonder) [4:34] AC Innervisions (1973): Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder) [3:46] (8/18/73, 4 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 8 RR, 41 AC, 1 RB, 29 UK, 9 CN) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Living for the City (Stevie Wonder) [7:26] (11/10/73, 8 US, 6 CB, 5 HR, 10 RR, 1 RB, 15 UK, 17 CN) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing (Stevie Wonder) [4:45] (3/30/74, 16 US, 10 CB, 11 HR, 15 RR, 9 AC, 2 RB, 13 CN) AC He’s Misstra Know-It-All (Stevie Wonder) [5:36] (4/13/74, 10 UK) AC, DC-UK Too High (Stevie Wonder) [4:36] AC Visions (Stevie Wonder) [5:23] AC Golden Lady (Stevie Wonder) [4:47] AC All in Love Is Fair (Stevie Wonder) [3:43] AC Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974): You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (Stevie Wonder) [3:29] (8/3/74, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 1 RB, 30 UK, 1 CN) MQ, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Boogie on Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) [4:55] (11/9/74, 3 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 10 RR, 1 RB, 12 UK, 8 CN) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away (Stevie Wonder) [5:02] AC Too Shy to Say (Stevie Wonder) [3:29] AC Creepin’ (Stevie Wonder) [4:20] AC Songs in the Key of Life (1976): I Wish (Stevie Wonder) [4:13] (11/26/76, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 4 RR, 23 AC, 23 AC, 1 RB, 5 UK, 1 CN) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Isn’t She Lovely (Stevie Wonder) [6:33] (1/8/77, 23 AC, sales: ½ million) MQ, AC, DC-UK Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder) [3:51] (4/2/77, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 HR, 2 RR, 3 AC, 1 RB, 2 UK, 2 CN) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Another Star (Stevie Wonder) [8:22] (8/27/77, 32 US, 29 AC, 18 RB, 29 UK, 34 CN) AC As (Stevie Wonder) [7:09] (11/5/77, 36 US, 24 AC, 36 RB) AC, DC-UK Pastime Paradise (Stevie Wonder) [3:27] AC, DC-UK Knocks Me Off My Feet (Stevie Wonder) [3:36] AC Ngiculela ~ Es Una Historia ~ I Am Singing (Stevie Wonder) [3:48] AC If It’s Magic (Stevie Wonder) [3:12] AC Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants (1979): Send One Your Love (Stevie Wonder) [4:00] (11/3/79, 4 US, 5 CB, 12 HR, 12 RR, 1 AC, 5 RB, 52 UK, 7 CN) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK Hotter Than July (1980): Master Blaster (Jammin’) (Stevie Wonder) [5:08] (9/13/80, 5 US, 1 CB, 15 HR, 1 RB, 12 CL, 2 UK, 22 CN) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO I Ain’t Gonna Stand for It (Stevie Wonder) [4:39] (12/13/80, 11 US, 13 CB, 18 HR, 15 RR, 20 AC, 4 RB, 10 UK, 9 CN) AC, DC-UK Lately (Stevie Wonder) [4:04] (3/7/81, 64 US, 88 CB, 33 AC, 29 RB, 3 UK) SR, AC, DC-UK Happy Birthday (Stevie Wonder) [5:58] (7/25/81, 70 RB, 2 UK) AC, DC-UK All I Do (Stevie Wonder, Paul, Broadnax) [5:16] SR, AC Rocket Love (Stevie Wonder) [4:39] AC Musiquarium Stevie Wonder Rating: 4.410 out of 5.00 (average of 4.5 ratings) Recorded: 1971-1982 Charted: May 29, 1982 Peak: 4 US, 13 RB, 8 UK, 18 CN, 9 AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, 0.1 UK, 4.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Superstition (2) You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (3) Living for the City (4) Front Line (5) Superwoman (Where Were You When I Need You) (6) Send One Your Love (7) You Are the Sunshine of My Life (8) Ribbon in the Sky Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Higher Ground (2) Sir Duke (3) Master Blaster (Jammin’) (4) Boogie on Reggae Woman (5) That Girl (6) I Wish (7) Isn’t She Lovely (8) Do I Do Total Running Time: 84:44 About Musiquarium: Even those artists who have a successful enough career to make it to a third greatest-hits set don’t usually put one out that doesn’t duplicate songs previously covered by other compilations. However, this captures Wonder’s peak years, which included three Grammy winners for Album of the Year and #1 hits with “Superstion,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” “I Wish,” and “Sir Duke.” Four new songs were also included. That Girl (Stevie Wonder) [5:13] (1/16/82, 4 US, 1 CB, 3 HR, 2 RR, 10 AC, 1 RB, 39 UK) MQ, SR, AC, DC-US, NO Do I Do (Stevie Wonder) [10:28] (5/29/82, 13 US, 14 CB, 16 RR, 25 AC, 2 RB, 10 UK) MQ, SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US Ribbon in the Sky (Stevie Wonder) [5:37] (9/11/82, 54 US, 57 CB, 21 AC, 10 RB, 45 UK) MQ, SR, AC Front Line (Stevie Wonder, Gary Byrd) [5:57] MQ Paul McCartney’s Tug of War (1982): Ebony and Ivory (with Paul McCartney) (Paul McCartney) [3:40] (3/29/82, 1 US, 1 CB, 40 HR, 1 RR, 1 AC, 8 RB, 34 AR, 1 UK, 1 CN, 2 AU, sales: 1 million) SR, DC-UK, NO from the movie The Outsiders (1983): Stay Gold (Stevie Wonder, Carmine Coppola) [3:33] SR The Woman in Red (1984): I Just Called to Say I Love You (Stevie Wonder) [4:21] (8/1/84, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 RR, 1 AC, 1 RB, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, sales: 4 ½ million) SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Love Light in Flight (Stevie Wonder) [6:54] (12/1/84, 17 US, 16 CB, 14 RR, 10 AC, 4 RB, 44 UK, 39 CN) SR, AC In Square Circle (1985): Part-Time Lover (Stevie Wonder) [3:43] (9/6/85, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 RR, 1 AC, 1 RB, 3 UK, 1 CN) SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder) [3:41] (2/22/86, 24 US, 29 CB, 27 RR, 1 AC, 7 RB, 17 UK, 55 CN) SR, AC, DC-UK, DC-US, NO Go Home (Stevie Wonder) [5:19] AC Dionne Warwick’s Friends album (1985): That’s What Friends Are For (Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager) (with Dionne Warwick, Elton John, & Gladys Knight, 11/9/85, 1 US, 1 AC, 1 RB, 16 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, sales: 1.1 million) NO Characters (1987): Skeletons (Stevie Wonder) [5:24] (10/17/87, 19 US, 32 CB, 30 RR, 1 RB, 59 UK, 43 CN) AC You Will Know (Stevie Wonder) [4:00] (1/16/88, 77 US, 87 CB, 16 AC, 1 RB) SR, AC Jungle Fever (1991): Gotta Have You (Stevie Wonder) [6:26] (6/1/91, 92 US, 3 RB) AC These Three Words (Stevie Wonder) [4:53] (11/30/91, 7 RB) SR, AC Conversation Peace (1995): For Your Love (Stevie Wonder) [4:03] (2/25/95, 53 US, 30 AC, 11 RB, 23 UK, 12 CN) SR, AC, DC-UK Song Review: A Greatest Hits Collection Stevie Wonder Rating: 4.183 out of 5.00 (average of 6 ratings) Recorded: 1965-1996 Released: December 10, 1996 Peak: 100 RB, 19 UK, 4 AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK, 3.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Part-Time Lover (2) I Just Called to Say I Love You (3) Superstition (4) Sir Duke (5) My Cherie Amour (6) I Was Made to Love Her (7) Overjoyed (8) Hey Love (9) Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours (10) You Are the Sunshine of My Life (11) Ribbon in the Sky (12) Master Blaster (Jammin’) (13) Living for the City (14) Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (15) Lately (16) Do I Do Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Send One Your Love (2) Ebony and Ivory (with Paul McCartney) (3) All I Do (4) That Girl (5) For Your Love (6) I Wish (7) You Will Know (8) Boogie on Reggae Woman (9) Higher Ground (10) These Three Words (11) Stay Gold (12) Love Light in Flight (13) Kiss Lonely Goodbye (14) Hold on to Your Dream (15) Redemption Song About Song Review: This two-disc overview was Wonder’s most comprehensive set yet, covering his then thirty-year career. The non-chronological track listing is annoying, but this is the first Wonder album to feature “Ebony and Ivory,” his #1 duet with Paul McCartney. Hold on to Your Dream (Stevie Wonder) [4:19] (1996, from The Adventures of Pincchio soundtrack) SR Kiss Lonely Goodbye (Stevie Wonder) [4:05] (1996, from The Adventures of Pincchio soundtrack) SR Redemption Song (Bob Marley) [3:46] (from the Get on the Bus soundtrack) SR At the Close of a Century Stevie Wonder Rating: 4.762 out of 5.00 (average of 5 ratings) Recorded: 1962-1997 Released: November 23, 1999 Peak: 100 RB Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK, 0.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Fingertips (Parts 1 & 2) (2) Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (3) Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby (4) Blowin’ in the Wind (5) A Place in the Sun (6) Hey Love (7) I Was Made to Love Her (8) Until You Come Back to Me That’s What I’m Gonna Do (9) I’m Wondering (10) Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day (11) You Met Your Match (12) For Once in My Life (13) I Don’t Know Why (14) My Cherie Amour (15) Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday (16) Never Had a Dream Come True (17) Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours (18) Heaven Help Us All (19) We Can Work It Out (20) If You Really Love Me (21) Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer (22) Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) (23) I Love Every Little Thing About You Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Superstition (2) You Are the Sunshine of My Life (3) You and I (4) I Believe When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever (5) Too High (6) Visions (7) Living for the City (8) Golden Lady (9) Higher Ground (10) All in Love Is Fair (11) Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing (12) He’s Misstra Know-It-All (13) You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (14) Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away (15) Too Shy to Say (16) Boogie on Reggae Woman (17) Creepin’ Tracks, Disc 3: (1) Sir Duke (2) I Wish (3) Knocks Me Off My Feet (4) Pastime Paradise (5) Isn’t She Lovely (6) Ngiculela ~ Es Una Historia ~ I Am Singing (7) If It’s Magic (8) As (9) Another Star (10) Send One Your Love (11) All I Do (12) Rocket Love (13) I Ain’t Gonna Stand for It (14) Master Blaster (Jammin’) (15) Lately (16) Happy Birthday Tracks, Disc 4: (1) That Girl (2) Ribbon in the Sky (3) Do I Do (4) Love Light in Flight (5) I Just Called to Say I Love You (6) Overjoyed (7) Part-Time Lover (8) Go Home (9) You Will Know (10) Skeletons (11) Gotta Have You (12) These Three Words (13) For Your Love (14) How Come, How Long (with Babyface) About At the Close of the Century: Stevie Wonder’s first box set covers most of the material from his previous anthologies as well as a slew of album tracks, mostly from his classic ‘70s albums. The only “new” song from the album was 1996’s duet with Babyface from the latter’s album, but it showed that Wonder still had it after three decades. How Come, How Long (Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Stevie Wonder) [5:15] (with Babyface, 1996) AC The Definitive Collection (UK version) Stevie Wonder Rating: 4.534 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings) Recorded: 1962-1998 Released: October 29, 2002 Peak: 35 US, 28 RB, 11 UK, 66 AU Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, -- UK, 4.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Superstition (2) Sir Duke (3) I Wish (4) Master Blaster (Jammin’) (5) Isn’t She Lovely (6) I Just Called to Say I Love You (7) Ebony and Ivory (with Paul McCartney) (8) As (9) Never Had a Dream Come True (10) I Was Made to Love Her (11) Heaven Help Us All (12) Overjoyed (13) Lately (14) For Your Love (15) If You Really Love Me (16) Higher Ground (17) Do I Do (18) Living for the City (19) Part-Time Lover Tracks, Disc 2: (1) For Once in My Life (2) Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (3) We Can Work It Out (4) Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours (5) Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday (6) I’m Wondering (7) My Cherie Amour (8) You Are the Sunshine of My Life (9) I Don’t Know Why I Love You (10) A Place in the Sun (11) Blowin’ in the Wind (12) Send One Your Love (13) Pastime Paradise (14) I Ain’t Gonna Stand for It (15) Fingertips (Parts 1 & 2) (16) Boogie on Reggae Woman (17) You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (18) He’s Misstra Know-It-All (19) Happy Birthday Awards: About The Definitive Collection: While the double-disc UK version of this album is, pound for pound, the best Stevie Wonder collection out there, it is unfortunate that it couldn’t be compiled chronologically. By contrast, the single-disc US version is chronological, covering from 1962 to 1984. It contains the following tracks: (1) Fingertips (Part 2) (2) Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (3) Hey Love (4) I Was Made to Love Her (5) For Once in My Life (6) My Cherie Amour (7) Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours (8) You Are the Sunshine of My Life (9) Superstition (10) Higher Ground (11) Living for the City (12) You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (13) Boogie on Reggae Woman (14) I Wish (15) Sir Duke (16) Master Blaster (Jammin’) (17) That Girl (18) Do I Do (19) I Just Called to Say I Love You (20) Overjoyed (21) Part-Time Lover. All of these songs, except “Hey Love” and “That Girl” are featured on the UK version. A Time to Love (2005): So What the Fuss (with Prince & En Vogue) (Stevie Wonder) [5:06] (3/26/05, 96 US, 40 AC, 34 RB, 19 UK) NO Number Ones Stevie Wonder Rating: 4.273 out of 5.00 (average of 4.5 ratings) Recorded: 1962-2005 Released: August 21, 2007 Peak: 171 US, 40 RB, 23 UK, 89 AU Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B Tracks: (1) Fingertips (Part 2) (2) Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (3) Blowin’ in the Wind (4) I Was Made to Love Her (5) Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours (6) Superstition (7) You Are the Sunshine of My Life (8) Higher Ground (9) Living for the City (10) You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (11) I Wish (12) Sir Duke (13) Master Blaster (Jammin’) (14) That Girl (15) Ebony and Ivory (with Paul McCartney) (16) I Just Called to Say I Love You (17) That’s What Friends Are For (with Dionne Warwick, Elton John, & Gladys Knight) (18) Part-Time Lover (19) Overjoyed (20) So What the Fuss (with Prince & En Vogue) About Number Ones: This UK collection compiled 20 cuts in a single-disc chronological package. It’s the first to include “That’s What Friends Are For,” the #1 superstar duet with Dionne Warwick, Elton John, & Gladys Knight. The title is a mystery, though. Many of these were #1 songs, but others were far from it (“So What the Fuss”?). Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Stevie Wonder SL Steve Lodder (2005). Stevie Wonder: A Musical Guide to the Classic Albums. Backbeat Books: San Francisco, CA. First posted 6/20/2008; last updated 8/3/2021.