200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS: #3. Continues next week.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included. This is a personal listing of the albums I enjoy the most to this day.

#3

SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE:

 STEVIE WONDER

 

 [1976] 

Precious few artists ever record a body of work as influential and multi-layered as the opus 'Songs In The Key Of Life'. Not only was it an ambitious double album from the extraordinarily talented musician Stevie Wonder, but it also included an E.P. featuring 4 more tracks. The tracks cover an astonishing range of themes and styles. Wonder contributed to the writing of all the songs as well as producing them. This LP serves career staples "Sir Duke", "I Wish" and "Isn't She Lovely". The album primarily contains jazz, soul, disco, Latin rhythms and funk. Its tracks have influenced almost every trend in R&B since its release. Coolio's worldwide hit "Gangsta's Paradise" is based around the song "Pastime Paradise". Many tracks are empowering for the African-American community; most notably "Black Man". But Wonder does address social issues, on "Love's In Need Of Love Today" and most effectively on the confronting "Village Ghetto Land".  Bonus track "Saturn" is a visionary ballad that imagines an idyllic and advanced existence on the distant planet. "Summer Soft" revisits the heartache covered on "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)". There is something for everyone to enjoy on this masterwork from Wonder at the zenith of his genius.

Highlight tracks:

* Knocks Me Off My Feet

* As

* Another Star

* Sir Duke

* I Wish

* Isn't She Lovely

* Summer Soft

* Village Ghetto Land

* Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing