16: INNERVISIONS | STEVIE WONDER
Innervisions is a brilliant album by the legendary singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder, released in 1973. It is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential albums of all time, as well as a masterpiece of soul, funk, and pop music.
The album consists of nine songs that are rich and diverse in musical styles, themes, and moods. The songs are mostly written, produced, and performed by Wonder himself, who played almost all the instruments on the album, including keyboards, drums, bass, harmonica, and synthesizers. The album also features guest appearances by musicians such as David Sanborn on saxophone, Ray Parker Jr. on guitar, and Malcolm Cecil on Moog bass.
The album showcases Wonder’s musical genius, creativity, and innovation, as well as his social and political awareness. The lyrics, written by Wonder and co-writers such as Yvonne Wright and Syreeta Wright, are often insightful and provocative, exploring topics such as racism, drug addiction, spirituality, and love. Some of the highlights of the album are “Living for the City”, a powerful and realistic depiction of urban poverty and injustice; “Higher Ground”, a funky and uplifting anthem of self-improvement and faith; “Don’t You Worry 'bout a Thing”, a catchy and cheerful song with a Latin flavor; and “He’s Misstra Know-It-All”, a scathing critique of corruption and hypocrisy.
The album was recorded in several sessions at Media Sound Studios in New York City, Electric Lady Studios in New York City, Crystal Sound Studios in Los Angeles, and Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles. The album was engineered by Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil, who also helped Wonder with the programming and operation of the synthesizers. The album cover was designed by Efram Wolff and featured a collage of Wonder’s face with various images related to the songs.
The album was released on 3 August 1973 on Tamla Records, a subsidiary of Motown Records. It was a critical and commercial success, reaching number four on the US Billboard 200 chart and number eight on the UK Albums Chart. It also spawned four hit singles: “Higher Ground”, “Living for the City”, “Don’t You Worry 'bout a Thing”, and “He’s Misstra Know-It-All”. The album received widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike, who praised its musical innovation, originality, and impact. The album has been included in several lists of the best albums of all time by publications such as Rolling Stone , NME , and Pitchfork . The album has also been reissued several times, with bonus tracks and remixes.
Innervisions is a timeless album that showcases Stevie Wonder’s genius and legacy. It is an album that transcends genres, boundaries, and expectations. It is an album that still sounds fresh and inspiring today, 50 years after its release.