VARIOUS ARTISTS / 3 More STEVIE COVERS Mixtape3
A genius is a natural wonder, someone within the context of theirown place and time excels, innovates, and in some fundamental way completely changes our appreciation of some aspect of human life. Geniuses are probably more numerous than we know, many of them go unrecognized.
Today, we recognize Stevie Wonder as a musical genius. Although early in his career many of his fans insisted on his legendary status, for certain the musical world universally recognized Stevie as a genius when he hit his golden period in the seventies beginning with Music Of My Mind and proceeding through the decade at an amazing pace with Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, Songs In The Key Of Life, and Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants.
When trying to rank Stevie Wonder as a composer, most of us place him in the top tier, and some of us argue that he is the greatest ever American composer of popular music. Without re-hasing any arguments pro and con for the all-time greatest designation, let me point to what I think is the clincher: unlike Ellington, Gershwin, Bacharach or whomever else one might proffer as worthy of the number one distinction, Stevie Wonder is both a musical composer and lyricist.
None of Stevie’s worthy rivals matches him at writing both music and lyrics. Indeed, some critics even think writing music and lyrics require two different kinds of talents. Regardless, the major issue is that no musician who is both a composer and lyricist has written as many pieces of influential songs as Stevie Wonder. We often take this achievement for granted, but if you stop and think about it, creatively and consistently composing both music and lyrics is an astounding achievement.
Here is Mixtape 3 and, just to titillate your imagination, there are already five more mixtapes in the can. Enjoy.
—Kalamu ya Salaam
“You Will Know”
01 For Once In My Life - Trijntje Oosterhuis
02 Wonderland – Stephane Belmondo
03 At The Close Of A Century – Stevie Wonder
04 Incredible – Mary Mary
“I Can’t Help It”
05 Off The Wall - Michael Jackson
06 Never Can Say Goodbye - Trijntje Oosterhuis
07 Sensual Journey – Will Downing
08 Never Can Say Goodbye – Bob Baldwin
09 Metamorphosis – Maysa
10 Man Or the Music 2 - J. Period, DJ Spinna featuring Yahzarah
“Ribbon In The Sky”
11 Godsend – Nancy Wilson
12 Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA – Boyz II Men
13 Maiden Voyage – Leny Andrade
14 Portraits Of Wonder – Matt Lemmler
15 Tuning Forked Tongue – Stephanie Renee
16 Natural Wonder (Live) – Stevie Wonder
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