Amazon.com Customer Reviews
How high can we rate an artist? - Review written on July 01, 2007
Rating: 5 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful.
You know, with Mr. Wonder we reach for superlatives and we slap them down on paper and looking back on it we realize that the meaning of our impression is deeper yet. Listening to this retrospective of his best hits I was dazzled at how many there were, how many I remembered, how many years ago it all started and how the purity just carries on. While there is a substantial pool of anger, resentment and rage amongst African Americans and many choose to vent their spleen in their music, Stevie Wonder chose a different path. Perhaps it is just a reflection of the love in his being, but his music always keeps pointed to a positive message, even when he is lamenting the scourge of ghetto life.
This master musician, singer, songwriter and story teller has no peer who eclipses his place. He has given us funk so hot you just have to get up and gyrate on the floor lest you fall off your chair. He has given us love songs so tender that dozens of other singers have sung them to great acclaim for their own careers. It is not an exaggeration to say that with this genius, his reach has never extended beyond his abilities. They go hand in hand, his ability to manifest his deepest creativity is unimpeded. A person cannot be without this compilation and say that they have surrounded themselves with the best of American Afro funk, jazz and pop. It only remains for us to wait for more music to fill up the already substantial opus that he has created. A greater joy in music is hard to come by. Essential.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this - Review written on May 06, 2007
Rating: 5 out of 5
27 customers found this review helpful.
This is another in the list of CD's in my collection that you wouldn't expect a metalhead to have. I mean, the guy who runs Black Sabbath's website - liking Stevie Wonder?!? To be honest, before I bought this, when I thought of Stevie Wonder, I thought of three things. First, he's blind. Second, Eddie Murphy used to parody him on Saturday Night Live. Third, his song "Superstition", which I loved. That was it.
In April 2007, my stepfather died, and due to that, I had to head over to Men's Wearhouse to buy a suit for the funeral. While I was in there, I was getting fitted, and a song came on. I thought it was Will Smith's "Wild Wild West" from the (bad) movie of the same name. However, as it went along, I realized "Hey, that's not Will Smith". Listened some more, and said "That sounds like Stevie Wonder". Turns out it was, it was his song "I Wish". I was quite amazed. Not only did Will lift the main "riff", there was a lot of the same song structure. I then realized I was quite deficient in Stevie Wonder music.
Then I listened to it. I was quite amazed at how much of Stevie Wonder's music I actually knew! As I listened to more of the music, I realized I knew just about all of this stuff, just not by name. To be honest, when I sat down to listen, I thought this would be one of these knee jerk purchases I make, which I later go "Why did I buy this?" Not this one, I enjoyed it a lot, especially the more I realized I knew. It's hard to quantify his music - some might say "funk", but that doesn't seem right. I just know it's good music. Worth picking up.
Stevie's WONDERful Higher Ground--but if only it were more complete! - Review written on March 25, 2007
Rating: 5 out of 5
16 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.
Stevie Wonder: The Definitive Collection contains great songs by Stevie Wonder that will bring back great memories for us all. Stevie's music shines throughout this CD; it's no wonder that his songs often shot to the very top of the R&B, Pop and Adult Contemporary charts all at the same time!
The CD opens with "Fingertips (Part 2)." Although I was frustrated that the track starts in the middle of the action, this number gives us proof that from the very start Stevie Wonder possessed superstar talent. His rapport with his audience is excellent judging by the way they cheer for Stevie and their back and forth chanting with him is great, too. They even laugh along with Stevie when he becomes somewhat mischievious on the harmonica. The band's backup for Stevie works very well.
The stunning and remarkable songs are presented in chronological order on this CD; but of course in my opinion some numbers work even better than others. Some of the wonderful tracks on this CD include the relentlessly upbeat and romantic "I Was Made To Love Her" with Stevie's great harmonica intro and singing; the musical arrangement just couldn't be better for this ballad. Stevie sings of his undying love for his woman. "For Once In My Life" continues in this same vein; Stevie celebrates his new love for a lady and he knows intuitively that they will stay together forever. Love those tambourines--and how's about Stevie's harmonica playing once again?
"My Cherie Amour" gives us a more mellow number about a man's unrequited love for a woman; Stevie sings this without a superfluous note. The drums, percussion and strings infuse the melody with a certain romatic style I rarely hear. Awesome! On the other hand, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" offers Stevie the chance to sing about his giving his heart to a woman he truly loves after he has taken too much time to make up his mind. The melody is infectiously catchy and the backup chorus works well on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours."
"Higher Ground" has a beat that showcases an angry side of Stevie Wonder; and "You Haven't Done Nothin'" lets Stevie rail against then-president Nixon. "Boogie On Reggae Woman" has a sensuality to it that makes you remember it almost instantly after you've heard it for the very first time. "I Wish" lets Stevie reflect on the more carefree days of youth; and "Sir Duke" represents a fine tribute to the African American artists who came before Stevie.
"Overjoyed" uses the piano, strings and Stevie's voice as instruments to create a very special, romantic and intimate ballad. This number displays the depth of Stevie's love for his woman. "Overjoyed" is one of the most beauitful love songs I've heard--ever. Stevie sings of his painstaking, difficult search for the woman who will be his perfect soulmate for the rest of his life. He also tries to encourage his one true love to see things the way he does. You will be moved by this ballad.
The CD ends just as it began: "Part-Time Lover" has a distinct pop flavor to it just like "Fingertips (Part 2)." Stevie sings of his relationship with a woman who has feelings for him--but she may not be completely free to live with Stevie.
The liner notes include great art work with pictures of Stevie; and Harry Weinger contributes an essay based on an interview with DJ Scott Regan. You get the song credits, too.
Unfortunately, something irks me about this CD. I cannot conceive of a "definitive collection" of Stevie Wonder's hits on a single CD. Many songs should have been added onto a second CD to make this collection truly complete. For example, where's "Isn't She Lovely" from Songs In The Key Of Life? What about "All In Love Is Fair?" Where are "Lately" and "Happy Birthday" from Hotter Than July? What about "Ribbon In The Sky?" I could go on; but you get my point. I have to take off at least one star for this; I had a hard time deciding but I think I will make this a four star review.
Overall, this remains a great CD, especially for the casual fan who wants a lot of the very best of Stevie Wonder on a single CD. True blue fans will pick this one up; but they will be more satisfied still with Stevie Wonder CD sets including the four CD set entitled At the Close of a Century.
Thank you, Stevie Wonder!
The Best Single Disc Collection of Stevie Wonder's Hits - Review written on October 04, 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5
22 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.
It needs to be stated at the outset that Stevie Wonder has more than just 21 hits. But this cd brings together the best hits from the 1960s through the 1980s. They are also remastered with the best possible sound. You get "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," "Superstition," "Living for the City," "Higher Ground, the anti Nixon "You Haven't Done Nothing," "I Wish," "Do I Do," "My Cherie Amor," and many more on one disc. Completists will wish the cd had room for "Isn't She Lovely, Frontline, Ribbon in the Sky, and a few others, but no one can quibble with what IS contained on this disc. You can always download the ones that are missing.
Stevie Wonder was the most soulful and funky singer of the 1970s. Your pop/rock collection isn't complete without this cd.