Stevie Wonder - Original Musiquarium I
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Free Music Notes for Original Musiquarium I
Free Music Review: Wonder, genius, romance
Hit: 5 Stars
This mix of urban and romantic music bears witness to Stevie Wonder's profound musical talents and singing ability. "Superstition" is an excellent funky song and, of course, one of Stevie's trademarks, but I prefer "Living for the City," an at once very gritty and musically smooth depiction of the urban scene. "I Wish" and the reggae (sort of) "Master Blaster (Jammin')" are rhythmically very cool. But what stick out as pure genius in this collection are Stevie's romantic numbers. What if I told you that "Isn't She Lovely" and its great harmonica and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" are not the best moments, as good as they are? The lush and elaborate "Superwoman/Where Were You When I Needed You" and the relatively sparser "Ribbon in the Sky" are absolutely precious, and "Send One Your Love" and "That Girl" are not far behind. But for a combined display of romance and musicianship, "Do I Do" is the one. Rich and very pretty, and employing quite an entourage, it contains one of the most gorgeous extended instrumentals the rock genre has ever seen. Wonder and his keyboards never cease to amaze, hearing is believing.Free Music Review: He's Got More Sense Than Many
Hit: 5 Stars
During the 1970s Stevie Wonder's success, both critical and commercial, was so great that it became monotonous and the butt of a thousand jokes. A standup comic's act wasn't considered complete unless he did at least one imitation of Wonder giving an acceptance speech in every set.All of the accolades Wonder received were deserved. The level of writing and playing--remember, Wonder played the majority of instruments on the majority of his hits--is a cut above anything else on the charts at the time. One reason people (like me) found it so easy to ridicule later Stevie Wonder records, like "I Just Called To Say I Love You," is that his earlier work, most notably "You Haven't Done Nothing," "Living In The City," and "Higher Ground," were just light years better.
Wonder didn't treat "Musiquarium" with the flippant, toss-away mentality so often found in Greatest Hits/Best Of packages. The songs flow, one into the next, often merging seamlessly with not break in between. Like everything else he did in the 1970s, this is a quality LP worthy of high praise.
Free Music Review: Take A Swim In The Musiquarium
Hit: 5 Stars
Between the strict hitmaking machinery of Motown between 1963-1971,and his MOR 80's and beyond,are these historical recordings from 1972's Music Of My Mind,through 1980's Hotter Than July.Musiquarium focuses strictly on the hits(Superstition,...Sunshine..,Sir Duke,etc)as well as include four new songs,three of which are now regarded as Wonder classics(That Girl,Ribbon In The Sky and Do I Do).Unfortunately,Stevie's gift for making music of this calibre has dissipated,but Misiquarium is a great intro for anyone who thinks his best songs includes I Just Called To Say I Love You,and other 80's songs.The newly Remastered CD is also an essential purchase,especially in light of the previous pressing which is sonically inferior considering that Stevie digitally remastered the old tracks when compiling Musiquarium in '82.Free Music Review: Everyone Should Swim In This Essential "Musiquarium"
Hit: 5 Stars
It says much for how consistent Stevie Wonder's 1970s music was that "Original Musiquarium," joining his best-known songs from his most successful era with four then-new recordings, fits together lyrically, musically, emotionally as a concept album. Wonder's innovation during this remarkable period never seemed to cease; this continued right up to "Musiquarium's impeccable pacing. "Ribbon In The Sky" slides beside classic Wonder ballads like "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life," and 1971's haunting "Superwoman." The war protest "Front Line" furthers a social protest timeline begun by "Superstition" and "You Haven't Done Nothin'." Wonder's Carribean-flavored "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and "Master Blaster," play nicely against each other while the curtain-closer "Do I Do" (with Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet) pieces with "Songs In The Key Of Life"'s most jazz/R&B-flavored moments.
The four new songs not withstanding for completists, this is why "Musiquarium" is the only greatest hits collection essential even to those owning the original LPs. How many artists can you say that about?
Free Music Review: Wonder Hits
Hit: 5 Stars
Original Musaquarium I is a greatest hits album that spans the most fruitful period of Stevie Wonder's career, 1972-1980. The album does not leave out any of the hits from that era. You get "Higher Ground", "Superstition", "Master Blaster", "Isn't She Lovely", "I Wish", "Sir Duke" among others. If you already own these songs on other releases, there is a bonus of four new songs. "Front Line" has a rock edge to it and is a stinging condemnation of the treatment of Vietnam vets, "Ribbon In The Sky" is a classic Wonder love song, "Do I Do" spans twelve minutes and shows off a jazzy side and "That Girl" shows off his vocal prowess and has some great harmonica playing. Many people are considered musical geniuses, but only a few actually are. Stevie Wonder is one of the few.