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Sunday, May 21, 2017

CLASSIC STEVIE WONDER

The legend that is Stevie Wonder released three albums (some might argue four, some might argue more) in a row that revealed a period not dissimilar to the years '68/'69 when there such a creative outpouring of artistic mystery. Stevie in my opinion released the albums 'Talking Book', 'Innervisions' & 'Fulfillingness' First Finale' from 1972 - 1974 acknowledged by many as his 'classic' period and some would included 'Music of My Mind' earlier in '72 but for my money it starts with 'Superstition' and all the work afterward as there is not a duff track for the next three albums IMHO. I bought all three as they came out and a wonderment they continue to be, play Talking Book if you don't believe me . . . . . . . . 
Here acknowledged by Jeff Harris is perhaps one of the best and most perfect pop love songs of all time



On this day in music history: May 19, 1973 - “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” by Stevie Wonder hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week, topping the Adult Contemporary chart for 2 weeks on April 28, 1973, also peaking at #3 on the R&B singles chart on May 5, 1973. Written and produced by Stevie Wonder, it is the third pop chart topper for the Motown superstar. Issued as the follow up to the chart topping “Superstition”, it is the second single from the album “Talking Book”. The track features singers Jim Gilstrap and Gloria Barley singing the songs first chorus before Stevie sings the first verse. The original LP and hit single mixes of the song differ, as the single version adds a horn section that not present on the original album version. Entering the Hot 100 at #76 on March 17, 1973, it climbs to the top of the chart nine weeks later. The song quickly becomes a pop standard, being covered by numerous artists over the years including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, and Johnny Mathis to name a few. “Sunshine” also wins Stevie a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, one of four Grammy Awards he picks up in 1974. When accepting his award for the single, Wonder thanks the audience by saying “I would like to thank all of you for making this night the sunshine of my life!” Stevie Wonder’s version of “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2002.
another from Jeff Harris' wonderful music blog 

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