POLLTIME PARADISE: ILM Artist Poll #9 Results -- Stevie Wonder

http://ih0.redbubble.net/work.2299322.2.flat,220x200,075,t.jpg

Alright. Just under 30 ballots total, but still enough to get some unique results. I'll admit that there are a few I didn't expect would make the top 10, so chew on that.

Not too much activity on the worst songs and albums side polls, so I'll start with those and then get on with the songs. Schedule:

Today: #40-26
Monday: #25-11
Tuesday: #10-1

YES!

YES!

DOO-DOO WOP

Start with the obvious.

WORST SONG

3. (1 vote each)
I Wanna Talk to You
Master Blaster (Jammin')
Superwoman (Where Were You Whan I Needed You)
Sweet Little Girl
That thing he did with Blue. Eurgh.
Village Ghetto Land

2. Ebony & Ivory (2 votes)

1. I Just Called To Say I Love You (3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV6qflI1Jsg

(I did not factor in any of those as negative votes on the main feature songs poll, btw.)

That thing he did with Blue. Eurgh.

Ha! I don't even need to find out what this is.

FAVORITE ALBUM

3. (three-way tie; 1 vote each)

http://bklynbywaycuse.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/1974fulfillingness_first_finale.jpg

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/300x300/57014011.jpg

http://jensenbrazil.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/frontblog9.jpg?w=300

2. (3 votes)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61rEBXLxaYL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

1. (8 votes)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZM1T93dVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Alright, onto

TOP STEVIE WONDER SONGS

40. ORDINARY PAIN (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 100 points, 8 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv1Wt4duDT8

(Grr, meant to bold that.)

I've heard SitKoL a couple times, but I'm not overly familiar with it. This song is great!

39. ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR (Innervisions, 1973) -- 103 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCNMy5NeEGQ

"All in Love is Fair" breaks my damn heart.
― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, November 8, 2003 3:42 PM (7 years ago)

Ordinary Pain starts out sorta lame and then becomes AWESOME

(I voted for it)

I should admit upfront that my ballot was basically just ranking the hits, almost no deep cuts. Oh well.

well, so many hits to choose from

I have one of those irrational attachments to "Superwoman" that goes back to adolescence--high on my own list, but not surprised to see it show up among the worst.

is Ordinary Pain a deep cut? kinda feel like everything on the peak trilogy albums is a hit tbh

I'd never heard of it before the poll started.

Dunno. I think anything not on At the Close of a Century could count as sort of a deep cut.

"Superwoman" is marvelous! It's sung so warmly that it makes the sexism creepier.

38. FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (For Once in My Life, 1973) -- 111 points, 9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxVyaYuGYE

i've never been to rickross.com once in my life
― J0rdan S., Thursday, April 3, 2008 2:02 AM (3 years ago)

the year is 1968.

the first one of mine to show up

was gonna ask, that's from '73!?

I'm going to be a treasure trove of C+P errors, for the record.

never heard that one - may have avoided it due to associations with the Righteous Bros song of the same name, which I def. don't dig

One more and then I have to grab some lunch.

37. SUMMER SOFT (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 128 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDnwWkxEnMY

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BITCHES! MY #1 SONG JUST BARELY MAKES IT!
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Friday, October 7, 2011 12:23 PM (0 seconds ago)

not really feelin that one

Enjoy your SB.

not really feelin that one
Sounds a lot like album filler to me. But I must admit that I haven't paid much attention to side 2 of SitKoL - sides 1 and 4 are far more interesting to me.

Seriously? I can think of no other Stevie Wonder composition (aside from "Golden Lady") that showcases his astonishingly complex changes and knack for embedding key changes into the songwriting in as non-gratuitous a way as imaginable.

yeah summer soft is a bit too twee for me iirc

voted for ordinary pain. could have voted for for once in my life on a diff day. all in love is fair is maybe my least fav song on innervisions and by that i mean it is just an 8/10 jam.

G-D you if I ever start listening to "Summer Soft" in the future and the word "twee" pops into my head.

I will hunt you down.

:)

35. (tie) BLAME IT ON THE SUN (Talking Book,, 1972) -- 131 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqr6XydnT0M

TS: Stevie Wonder's "Blame It On The Sun" vs Milli Vanilli's "Blame It On The Rain"

The winner is "Blame It On The Weatherman" by B*Witched.
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, August 16, 2006 8:55 AM (5 years ago)

35. (tie) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (Aretha Franklin, Let Me in Your Life, 1973) -- 131 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl7o7eZjLC4

this record has a real nice intro
― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Sunday, May 29, 2005 11:41 PM (6 years ago)

one of the best stevie wonder songs made by another artist, evah.
― blahbariantheoriginal, Monday, May 30, 2005 3:29 AM (6 years ago)

xxp - I'm afraid key changes don't excite me very much, but a good hook does. And I don't hear one in 'Summer Soft'. Yet.

two of mine back to back

i never knew he wrote that aretha song. but then i am a numpty. would have voted for it if id known.

Guess "Summer Soft" was one of those songs that got me to get beyond pop music just being "good hooks," but I hear tons of them in that song anyway so shut up.

Yes master.

34. PASTTIME PARADISE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 135 points, 9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DumOCxDxov4

Vergeet ook Ray's acht-en-een-halve-minuut durende wervelwind door Stevie Wonder's Pasttime Paradise niet. Que rico.
― GzZz (Gzz), Sunday, February 19, 2006 7:20 PM (5 years ago)

hmm never heard that Aretha before this poll (that "that's what I'm gonna do" refrain sounds familiar tho... hmm). not really into either too much, def prefer Stevie's version of Blame It on the Sun.

xp

I did vote for Pastime Paradise, but on reflection I don't find it a very pleasant listen.

Pasttime Paradise is such a weird song - def something groundbreaking going on there with that odd synth-gospel-lurch feel

i feel like there was a great cover of UYCBTM in the late nineties/early 00s but I can't for the life of me remember who did it

oh wait i know it from this mazing version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MArfC8z3mM

I like 'Blame It on the Sun', but I wish the chorus was a little bit stronger; the verses are so lovely.

I hadn't heard that Aretha song, and I'm afraid Coolio ruined 'Pastime Paradise' for me.

33. IT'S A SHAME (The Spinners, 2nd Time Around, 1970) -- 137 points, 6 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0B1KgPZn0A

"Doh!" Best songs given away by the writer to another band?

Oh! Stevie Wonder gave "It's a Shame" to the Spinners and "Tell Me Something Good" to Rufus & Chaka. Those two have to be near the top.
― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Sunday, March 26, 2006 10:24 AM (5 years ago)

amazing tune

oh shiiii another song i love and didn't know to vote for

OK, question time. When other polls want to split up ties, do they usually put the song with less votes/more passion higher up or the one with more votes/less passion?

My hunch is that more votes = higher position.

That's usual, yeah, but go with your gut.

Yeah, my first tiebreaker was # of votes.

oh shiiii another song i love and didn't know to vote for

― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Friday, October 7, 2011 1:05 PM (2 minutes ago)

My first tiebreaker would've been if there were any #1 votes attached, but as it shook out, none of the ties involved #1's.

So, yeah, I'm gonna let more votes = higher position.

I just kept mine as ties fwiw.

In the last one, I really had no choice.

32. BIG BROTHER (Talking Book, 1972) -- 140 points, 6 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqGvwGz7B6g

OK, I promise to stop posting weird videos of cute/awkward boys dancing to Stevie Wonder. Maybe.

31. LOVE HAVING YOU AROUND (Music of My Mind, 1972) -- 140 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so9_Vb5yY4k

I could have chosen any of the first four songs, but opted for Love Having You Around on the strength of Stevie's growly "baby, baby, bayby", followed by him doing the same thing through a vocoder. I LOVE that bit.
― Stew, Tuesday, August 19, 2008 8:02 AM (3 years ago)

Last five will have to wait for about an hour now. Work beckons.

I discovered 'Big Brother' just after I sent in my ballot - it would have been top 10 for me if the deadline had been extended just two more days...

hmmm dont rly care for big brother. love lhya though and voted for it p high iirc

damn. BIOTS, UYCBTM and It's A Shame are all too low. all three are on a short list of his greatest contributions to mankind

The most annoying thing about this poll has been the recognition of so many songs by their samples, instead of the original tunes. This one for example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSU73awbZUw

can't think of too many Stevie samples tbh, besides the two already mentioned (and the brief vocal snippet in Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos). Kinda assumed Stevie was largely anti-sampling

Shakey, surely you've heard the "I Can't Help It" sample in De La's "Breakadawn."

actually, Stevie has supported hip-hop from the beginning.

Wild Wild West?

Shakey, surely you've heard the "I Can't Help It" sample in De La's "Breakadawn."

thought this was a Michael Jackson song - is Stevie on it?

he wrote it, right?

apparently - this is news to me. altho I guess I really shouldn't be surprised whenever an MJ song turns out to not be written by MJ lol

but let's not derail this thread with that discussion...

He cowrote it.

he = Stevie

Here are some more (ex)samples.

Rocket Love seems a p big one imo.

Oasis - "Step Out"

btw lol at calling this a "sample"

Wild Wild West?

I'll try not to reveal much about the results here, but I will say that "WWW" got (at least) 1 vote.

Wild Wild West?

thankfully I have never heard this song

the Will Smith one that samples "I Wish"

30. JESUS CHILDREN OF AMERICA (Innervisions, 1973) -- 148 points, 9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM4wvq8MtHA

best songs that mention jesus

"Jesus children of America" by Stevie Wonder and "They aint makin' Jews like Jesus anymore" by Kinky Freidman
― Michael Bourke, Wednesday, March 7, 2001 7:00 PM (10 years ago)

yeah I know I looked it up. Will Smith is an abomination.

JCOA is p dope

"Jesus Children of America" is probably the quintessential Stevie deep cut.

Love the tone in his voice in the verse after the key change so much.

29. LOVE'S IN NEED OF LOVE TODAY (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 155 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euc7Yu7-O3Y

POLL IN THE KEY OF LIFE

My vote went to "Another Star," though if you'd asked me in fall 2001 it would have been "Love's in Need of Love Today."
― Joseph McCombs, Friday, December 14, 2007 11:09 PM (3 years ago)

I'll say it. I think "Love's In Need" is maybe one of the weakest opening salvos of any classic album ever.

Love "Love's in need of Love", my #2. It's incredibly soothing. The vocals are beautiful (and endlessly varying). I can remember one day in particular, wrung out and overtired, when I had it on repeat and couldn't listen to anything else.

28. TOO HIGH (Innervisions, 1973) -- 167 points, 14 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ODRdRYRso

Love's in Need of Love Today is one of his stupidest titles unfortunately

Too High more like TOO LOW

Too LOL

Too High more like TOO LOW

― unorthodox economic revenge (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 7 October 2011 20:39 (38 seconds ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

has stevie ever acknowledged/discussed any personal drug use...?

He said no after his stint opening for the Stones.

27. YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE (Talking Book, 1972) -- 170 points, 11 lurker votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOwAJ9JJTes

You are the sunshine of my life. The first and only love. You are the apple of my eye. You suck my blood. And I hate you more than life itself.
― marilyn manson

Ah c'mon, it's a good song. Didn't vote for it, though.

I'm cool with the original LP version. The Musiquarium version with the horns added, tho, is excruciating.

If I had to choose between "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and "My Love"--think they were probably on the radio at the same time--it'd be close. I don't hate either one, but neither do they retain any special nostalgic value for me, as they didn't register very strongly at the time.

Deeply nostalgic song for me, no matter how saccharine. Early childhood in the mid-to-late 70s sounded so much like this, and like classic album era Stevie in general. I guess Sesame Street had more than one song in this style?

...or at least with Big Brother style clear harmonica?

26. HEAVEN IS 10 ZILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 174 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIE6unjkXmc

That's all for today, folks.

I prefer Aretha's version of Until You Come Back to Me so much to Stevie's that I left it off my ballot.

I'll say it. I think "Love's In Need" is maybe one of the weakest opening salvos of any classic album ever.

Yes.

26. HEAVEN IS 10 ZILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 174 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote
27. YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE (Talking Book, 1972) -- 170 points, 11 votes
28. TOO HIGH (Innervisions, 1973) -- 167 points, 14 votes
29. LOVE'S IN NEED OF LOVE TODAY (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 155 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote
30. JESUS CHILDREN OF AMERICA (Innervisions, 1973) -- 148 points, 9 votes
31. LOVE HAVING YOU AROUND (Music of My Mind, 1972) -- 140 points, 7 votes
32. BIG BROTHER (Talking Book, 1972) -- 140 points, 6 votes
33. IT'S A SHAME (The Spinners, 2nd Time Around, 1970) -- 137 points, 6 votes
34. PASTTIME PARADISE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 135 points, 9 votes
35. (tie) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (Aretha Franklin, Let Me in Your Life, 1973) -- 131 points, 7 votes
35. (tie) BLAME IT ON THE SUN (Talking Book,, 1972) -- 131 points, 7 votes
37. SUMMER SOFT (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 128 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote
38. FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (For Once in My Life, 1968) -- 111 points, 9 votes
39. ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR (Innervisions, 1973) -- 103 points, 7 votes
40. ORDINARY PAIN (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 100 points, 8 votes

Only one 60's track so far.

I'll say it again: The Original Musicquarium is the only comp I own on which three-quarters of the new songs are awesome.

"AiLiF" is easily the worst song on Innervisions but I still like it.
"Jesus Children" being left off of the box set was its biggest mistake.

I love "Love's In Need", it touches me deep.

> I'll say it again: The Original Musicquarium is the only comp I own on which three-quarters of the new songs are awesome.

Yes! "Ribbon In The Sky" a solid contender for my fave SW track...

All in Love Is Fair is utterly gorgeous

I don't actually hate any of the songs that made the first batch of the countdown. "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is the closest I think the entire top 40 has to a dud track.

There are definitely a few going forward whose high positions perplex me deeply, but they're still good songs.

Thanks to overplay in the last week, I keep praying that "Queen in the Black" will make it. Of course it won't.

happy that i helped "For Once In My Life" make it. i also voted for "Summer Soft" even though i'm not that wild about it out of respect for eric for doing the poll.

summer soft is outstanding u fools

also if i had more internet time in my life i would have voted the shit out of this poll :/

hey guess what i voted for "summer soft" and u didn't so who's the fool huh :folds arms:

I don't actually hate any of the songs that made the first batch of the countdown. "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is the closest I think the entire top 40 has to a dud track.

Unlike the goddamned documentary poll.

There is a documentary poll?

I voted for "Sunshine.." I think it's far more complex that it gets credit for.

I voted for it too for basically that reason - it's constantly slightly surprising, where it goes.

Arch, the documentary poll was a couple of months ago -- An Impossible Job: ILX's 40 Favorite Documentaries

Forgot to say it yesterday, but "Heaven is 10 Zillion" is probably one of the only songs whose presence in the top 40 really outright puzzles me, even though I like it a lot. I say that knowing which of his enduringly popular ballads missed the list entirely, and knowing I browbeat voters to include "Summer Soft" in honor of me.

Aw no, it's great - not sure I'd ever paid it any heed before researching for this poll, and I certainly wasn't expecting much with that title, but it wowed me a bit.

FFF gets the least press of the major albums, so, yeah, I'm surprised too despite voting for it.

It is one a pretty oddity, tho. Somehow R&B spacey and lopingly Grand Ole Opry at the same time. One of the most jarring changes in his repertoire, too, when it diminishes as he reaches "but if there is a god."

Fantastic song, really.

it is one a pretty oddity.

PS I voted for Summer Soft too, and I never even noticed you shilling for it

XP - Thanks William for the link to the docu poll; some interesting titles there!

I didn't vote, have no idea what's expected to win, but hope Sir Duke places highly

Great list so far. Love's In Need Of Love Today was my number one. Really happy to see Blame It On The Sun and Zillion Light Years make it.

I'm really hoping some Syreeta pops up soon, not really sure which her most popular songs are though.

This process taught me that Sir Duke, amazing though it is, has a very clunky lyric. I'm grateful though - I've had the tune stuck in my head forever, but never actually found out what it was until this poll (I'd been 99% sure it was Stevie, I'd just never pinned it down before).

OK, let's go!

25. MASTER BLASTER (JAMMIN') (Hotter Than July, 1980) -- 181 points, 8 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv_wZQJYlo0

I am the Blaster Master
― Mickey (modestmickey), Sunday, February 6, 2005 9:10 PM (6 years ago)

24. ANOTHER STAR (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 185 points, 7 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9KKBvWTdMQ

Wanted to dig up the clip of this song's appearance in an episode of Quantum Leap. Sam played a Chippendale's dancer who became infatuated with a deaf girl dancer after he observed her running through some moves to this song. Hit a lot of my buttons, you know?

I bet.

(Also, was a top 5 placer on my ballot.)

23. DO I DO (Original Musiquarium, 1982) -- 190 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQEBZfG5SaY

I question the sanity of any voter who didn't include "Do I Do" in the top thirty.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), via email ballot

"Do I Do" was really the only song that ever replaced "Summer Soft" atop my list of all-time favorite Stevie joints for any extended period of time.

It seems his "September," his most purest expression of volatile joy.

The best scene in Michael Chabon's Mysteries of Pittsburgh unfolds in the novel's first third: our hero dances with a girl "to that summer's Stevie Wonder hit...something about chocolate kisses."

that "September" analogy is spot-on.

I don't think I paid attention to OM - I thought it was just a comp?

With two fantastic and two okay new songs.

oh, i guess i should check that out then :D still having new stevie to listen to after listening to like 40 hours of music = good times

Eh, what - Master Blaster only #25?!

im kinda glad mb(j) didn't come higher, even if i <3 it

22. VISIONS (Innervisions, 1973) -- 204 points, 9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aya94fiCCs8

I love love love the interplay of guitars in "Visions", it is a total trip. The bass is stellar, too.
― m bison, Thursday, July 12, 2007 8:44 PM (4 years ago)

wonder if all of innervisions will make it

Those acoustic guitars are soooo gorgeous!

So, 'As' is regarded better than 'Another Star'? Hm.

21. BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 204 points, 13 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tCeAZ1nQjk

"Boogie On Reggae Woman" may be the most This Song Is About Fucking song ever recorded by someone other than Prince.
― Digable James Cobo, Tuesday, October 29, 2002 3:09 AM (8 years ago)

o_O at that vid

Boogie on Striped Pants

the song is about as fun as stevie got

Boogie on Maggie Thatcher

Boogie on Random Butts

20. THE TEARS OF A CLOWN (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Make It Happen, 1967) -- 216 points, 10 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zww7FQILQec

the consolations of oldies radio

All I'm saying is if I hear "Tears of a Clown" one more time it's gonna get nasty.
― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, March 11, 2004 1:28 PM (7 years ago)

Doh! Totally forgot that one!

Gotta say, for awhile, this was trending into the top 10.

jam. forgot to vote for it tho. only voted for one song where stevie wasn't the lead voice on it, and i bet i'm the only person to do so (busta's been through the storm).

Can neither confirm nor deny.

19. MY CHERIE AMOUR (My Cherie Amour, 1968) -- 221 points, 11 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI3tCJ1qbu8

Why does Eddie get top billing and capitalisation?

That's a surprise.

That it placed so low or so high or at all?

So high; I figured most of you would find it too... cheesy?
(I really like it BTW, although I didn't think I voted for it.)

there's clearly no lack of appreciation for Wonder Cheese in these results, I'd say I hate at least a third of the things that have placed so far

eh maybe more like a quarter

18. CREEPIN' (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 225 points, 14 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gkqGCnK-nw

No cheese there imo.

dope song

Very, very pleased to see such broad support for that one.

"My Cherie Amour" is not Wonder cheese. It's Wonderful.

Great song! Also the first one of my list to place.

You had "Sunshine" on your ballot, too.

Ah yes, you are right.

17. WE CAN WORK IT OUT (Signed, Sealed & Delivered, 1970) -- 231 points, 12 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAItd_elNJ8

CREEPIN in a BEAST of a song.

If you don't like "Creepin'" you don't like things that are silky and sexy.

If someone doesn't like Creepin, well, I just don't think I'd like that person.

Pleased that WCWIO made it. One of the great Beatles Band covers.

always lol when stevie sings lyrics about seeing things. such a great cover; that funky distorted guitar!

16. SUPERWOMAN (WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU) (Music Of My Mind, 1972) -- 247 points, 13 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2lNf2WHxeI

I think I already mentioned this on some thread or another, but I regard the change from "Superwoman" into "Where Were You, et al" to be one of the greatest modulations in his entire songbook.

oof, we're up to #16 already => a whole bunch of tracks I thought would easily make the Top 40 apparently won't.

Superwoman at first seems not that great but with like every second it hypnotises you a little bit more. It becomes such a perfect moment that you kind of zone out.

Kinda worrying my #1 won't make it. It is a p prominant album cut but there are so many big name singles still to come that i dunno...

Need to take a lunch break. Remaining 5 in a little bit.

Also, I'll say it again. Some of the songs that fell outside of the top 40, much less top 20, really surprised me.

one song i am intrigued to see its overall ranking is happy birthday. i dont suppose it is anywhere near the top 15 but i kinda thought it would make the top 40

The last four songs were all on my ballot so I'm not too worried about the rest of the top 20. I only have big doubts for my number 2.

And I think we still have a lot of 60s singles to look forward to.

Uptight and....?

You serious? 'Shoo-be-doo-be-doo-da-day', 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered', 'If You Really Love Me', 'I Was Made to Love Her'... The list goes on and on.

... and on, indeed.

15. I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER (I Was Made To Love Her, 1967) -- 254 points, 15 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pYux5-d1Es

Nutso bassline.

ok yeah

you mean "Yeah ... yeah ... yeah!"

The bass on that is my first (or maybe second, after "Bernadette") pick for what to play for people who don't know who James Jamerson was, or what he did, or why he was a genius.

14. IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME (Where I'm Coming From, 1971) -- 268 points, 13 votes, 2 #1 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIFVh_5cfmw

Which is, despite '71 release, IMO the last great hurrah for '60s Stevie.

13. I BELIEVE (WHEN I FALL IN LOVE IT WILL BE FOREVER) (Talking Book, 1972) -- 274 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls68jEnN7Ik

guess it's not fair to say anything is too low on this list, but Tears of a Clown and Do I Do really are

yay I Believe is my #1. I love that bit before the end chorus when it seems like the band is going to another verse and Stevie is like, naw I believe still! More chorus! And then in the end when Stevie goes all Super Saiyan....!

High Fidelity did good by including it in the soundtrack.

Sometimes I wonder how much that movie is responsible for my generation's veneration of that particular ballad. It's never been my favorite, I regret to say, but maybe it'll click for me.

12. YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN' (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 278 points, 17 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DclVLRhlX3g

Oh man I love watching Andy Williams bopping to the intro of this one.

Sometimes I wonder how much that movie is responsible for my generation's veneration of that particular ballad. It's never been my favorite, I regret to say, but maybe it'll click for me.

Frears chose wisely though. I remember how shocked I was in the theatre (I had one of those "Yeah!") moments. It'd be churlish of me to wish he'd picked "Maybe Your Baby" instead.

And wrapping up for today:

11. HE'S MISSTRA KNOW IT ALL (Innervisions, 1973) -- 317 points, 13 votes, 2 #1 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AajR5MjMK4

Hats off to the other Stevie Wonder fan with the impeccable taste to rank this first.

i have a feeling it was my #2 maybe

Is "You Haven't Done Nothin'" Stevie's most openly political song?

Maybe the most directly aimed at an individual. "Big Brother" seems a lot more overall political.

Hey, kornrulez, that was yours truly--I see I am in fine company myself!

Yes! It should have been everybody's favorite.

But when you say they're voting wrong, they tell you they know they're voting right.

Still hoping "You Will Know" will place

If you haven't heard the bootleg of SW at the Rainbow Room, NYC in 1973, it's unsurprisingly incredible
http://bootlegsfrombucklberry.blogspot.com/2009/03/stevie-wonder-new-york-1973.html

...Sir Duke... I've had the tune stuck in my head forever, but never actually found out what it was until this poll (I'd been 99% sure it was Stevie, I'd just never pinned it down before).

Ditto, but for Master Blaster

11. HE'S MISSTRA KNOW IT ALL (Innervisions, 1973) -- 317 points, 13 votes, 2 #1 votes
12. YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN' (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 278 points, 17 votes
13. I BELIEVE (WHEN I FALL IN LOVE IT WILL BE FOREVER) (Talking Book, 1972) -- 274 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote
14. IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME (Where I'm Coming From, 1971) -- 268 points, 13 votes, 2 #1 votes
15. I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER (I Was Made To Love Her, 1967) -- 254 points, 15 votes
16. SUPERWOMAN (WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU) (Music Of My Mind, 1972) -- 247 points, 13 votes
17. WE CAN WORK IT OUT (Signed, Sealed & Delivered, 1970) -- 231 points, 12 votes, 1 #1 vote
18. CREEPIN' (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 225 points, 14 votes
19. MY CHERIE AMOUR (My Cherie Amour, 1968) -- 221 points, 11 votes
20. THE TEARS OF A CLOWN (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Make It Happen, 1967) -- 216 points, 10 votes
21. BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 204 points, 13 votes
22. VISIONS (Innervisions, 1973) -- 204 points, 9 votes
23. DO I DO (Original Musiquarium, 1982) -- 190 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 vote
24. ANOTHER STAR (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 185 points, 7 votes
25. MASTER BLASTER (JAMMIN') (Hotter Than July, 1980) -- 181 points, 8 votes
26. HEAVEN IS 10 ZILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 174 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote
27. YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE (Talking Book, 1972) -- 170 points, 11 votes
28. TOO HIGH (Innervisions, 1973) -- 167 points, 14 votes
29. LOVE'S IN NEED OF LOVE TODAY (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 155 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote
30. JESUS CHILDREN OF AMERICA (Innervisions, 1973) -- 148 points, 9 votes
31. LOVE HAVING YOU AROUND (Music of My Mind, 1972) -- 140 points, 7 votes
32. BIG BROTHER (Talking Book, 1972) -- 140 points, 6 votes
33. IT'S A SHAME (The Spinners, 2nd Time Around, 1970) -- 137 points, 6 votes
34. PASTTIME PARADISE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 135 points, 9 votes
35. (tie) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (Aretha Franklin, Let Me in Your Life, 1973) -- 131 points, 7 votes
35. (tie) BLAME IT ON THE SUN (Talking Book,, 1972) -- 131 points, 7 votes
37. SUMMER SOFT (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 128 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote
38. FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (For Once in My Life, 1968) -- 111 points, 9 votes
39. ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR (Innervisions, 1973) -- 103 points, 7 votes
40. ORDINARY PAIN (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 100 points, 8 votes

Is "You Haven't Done Nothin'" Stevie's most openly political song?

― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, October 10, 2011 4:15 PM (2 hours ago) Book

"Skeletons" too.

"It's Wrong (Apartheid)"
"Livin' for the City"
"Higher Ground"

Also, "Happy Birthday" and "Cash in Your Face."

Also: I'm gay, so every love song is political.

More like sci-fi to me. A solid match with the Clavinet lines.

Was out golfing, so missed today's countdown...I think four of my top five showed up today.

Alright. Last 10 coming your way momentarily.

I was having a think about this last night and could only name six nailed-ons for the top ten.

Oops, just noticed an error. "Misstra Know It All" got 316 points. Which only matters in that ...

10. I WISH (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 317 points, 18 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi-BUgf8Ohw

Don't all jump in with comment at once.

One of the problems with discovering a whole body of work at once is having to remind yourself what half of these things are. I didn't vote for this. Turns out I didn't vote for a lot of things I'd thought I'd cast for.

I always remembered the middle verse as:

"..writing something nasty on the wall (you nasty boy..)
You grow up and learn that it's not the thing to do
but while you were doing it, boy did it feel good?
I wish those days...."

Then I heard it again and realised I'd remembered an English version, and not the original American version!

^ OTM

Nice autobiographical lyrics - his childhood was pretty hard (just reading about his mother's first husband gives you the chills). I like this observation:

"Tryin' your best to bring the water to your eyes
Thinkin' it might stop her from woopin' your behind"

I also have to take a look at that Classic Albums episode - looks cool!

(The 'OTM' was for Ismael.)

Oh, and speaking of the lyrics, that line break in

Why did those days ev-
er have to go

is UGLY.

The biggest problem with that VH1 special is that the story behind the making of the album ... isn't really all that interesting.

09. SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I'M YOURS (Signed, Sealed & Delivered, 1970) -- 318 points, 17 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEbPHu8T5lQ

XP I guess they don't interview Margouleff and Cecil, who don't have a lot of good words for the album, or its production, in the biography I read.

Man, that would've been a great get.

There are times when I really love the sound of SITKOL, tho. I kind of like the claustrophobic, cramped mix on "Another Star."

Cecil has a great quote in that book, something about how Stevie didn't know how to program a synthesizer and only used factory presets on SitKoL.

Sadly, the remainder of his career would tend to confirm that claim.

Haha, right.

For those few lost souls who don't recognize the greatness of the early singles, here's the original version for archival purposes. And because it ROCKS of course!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inXC_lab-34

You don't know how close I came to posting Michael McDonald's "Signed, Sealed."

08. DON'T YOU WORRY 'BOUT A THING (Innervisions, 1973) -- 337 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zywDiFdxopU

I speak VERY FLUENT SPANISH

I can actually lip sync to that whole bit now.

Craigery Morgan : Kristen Wiig characters on SNL :: Me : Stevie Wonder

07. HIGHER GROUND (Innervisions, 1973) -- 366 points, 16 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCPjeOPjH5Y

So I guess we can safely say all of Innervisions will place?

i voted for 7/9 of them. i approve.

Now, that one would have been my Number One. Except maybe for.... (soon come, I guess)

06. GOLDEN LADY (Innervisions, 1973) -- 368 points, 16 votes, 2 #1 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTX2Db6naaU

Good job, ILX voters. This one bobbed in and out of the top 10 for awhile. Then it began bobbing in and out of the top 5 before settling just outside. <3 all those who voted for it.

Bleh, more album filler :)

I think you're kidding. But then again, you didn't vote for it.

And I hold anyone who doesn't vote for this in suspicion.

I think it was pretty clear from the start that our tastes are not very alike ('Summer Soft'??). And I didn't vote for it because I think it's the worst song on Innervision.

I love the bass and piano at the beginning. Like a lot of Stevie's songs from this period, it could go anywhere.

I'm learning that other people rate Stevie's non-funk stuff way higher than I do

Cecil has a great quote in that book, something about how Stevie didn't know how to program a synthesizer and only used factory presets on SitKoL.

― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, October 11, 2011 11:37 AM (1 hour ago)

Sadly, the remainder of his career would tend to confirm that claim.

― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, October 11, 2011 11:39 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

But were there such things as factory presets on analog synths in 1976?

Eric H OTM. My first thought (which I think I've posted elsewhere) when I heard "I Just Called..." was, "Oh, he wrote a song around the 'demo' button on a Casio." My second was that he must've thought, "Hey, I don't have to play the drums anymore! This keyboard plays them for me!"

XP - If by "non-funk stuff" you mean his ballads, that's about 2/3 of his output - even on his greatest albums - right there. And if you don't love at least a few of Stevie's ballads...well I don't mean to judge, but gosh. I feel sorry for your ears.

"Higher Ground" = my #1. Surprised "Golden Lady" did slightly better, but I voted for that too.

Great top 10 so far.

I think it was pretty clear from the start that our tastes are not very alike

Um, you voted in a Stevie Wonder poll. They can't be THAT far off.

My favorite poll so far.

05. AS (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 372 points, 17 votes, 3 #1 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjsAy7HFeX0

If by "non-funk stuff" you mean his ballads, that's about 2/3 of his output - even on his greatest albums - right there.

there's plenty of Stevie ballads that I like, and some of the pre-70s stuff is okay, but they're all kind of secondary in my mind behind stuff like Superstition, Higher Ground, You Haven't Done Nothin, I Wish, etc.

"As"? more like "ass".

I'm an equal-opportunity Stevie fan-maniac. I love his funk stuff as much as his ballads as much as his twee album filler.

I just don't like "Ebony & Ivory."

"As" is great. There've been some appalling cover versions of it though.

04. SIR DUKE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 381 points, 18 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MIjsANK_LQ

wow neither Sir Duke nor As at number 1? surprising!

o rly?

superstition v. uptight v. living for the city, right? genuinely can't tell what will win but all are good enough to.

Guess "I Don't Know Why" won't make it. Bummer. Was in my top 5.

I hope Living for the City is not number one

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

xp I love it of course, but Superstition and Uptight feel like better choices for the top

Yeah, I'm kind of surprised at the direction this top 5 is taking. I would never have guessed 'As' would place this high. But I'm pretty sure 'Uptight' will win.

As - TOO LOW

I was kinda resigned earlier to 7 minutes of bathtime gurgles being #1. So yay ILM.

I hate when people jump in and start listing the top three or whatever, even if we don't know the order--let us enjoy the g.d. results in real time!

Heywhatabout "Tell Me Something Good"? Fuck y'all if you forgot about that one.

'Race Babbling' anyone?

I hope Living for the City is not number one

03. LIVING FOR THE CITY (Innervisions, 1973) -- 483 points, 22 votes, 3 #1 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSRyf5G2uI8

Yep, Innervisions went 9/9. I call it "the Innervisions effect.'

I've no problem with that (the 9/9). I think I voted for more songs from Hotter Than July though, which is evidently the most underrated Stevie LP around these parts.

TS: Album or single version?

Would love too see a post-Seventies (or even post-Musiquarium) Stevie poll, which is all too predictably slept-on here as elsewhere.

If you follow the official ILX list, your next chance will be somewhere around May of 2013...

I think I voted as many Hotter Than July tracks as any other album. Hella underrated.

Alright, top two time.

02. UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT) (Up-Tight, 1966) -- 527 points, 21 votes, 2 #1 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14hskyBXkPo

01. SUPERSTITION (Talking Book, 1972) -- 637 points, 25 votes, 2 #1 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE

I've never once seen a Stevie Wonder poll in which "Superstition" didn't more or less run the table.

For awhile, tho, I seriously thought "Uptight" would stage a big upset. You all sure do love that chugging old school '60s Motown, huh.

'Uptight' is literally my favorite song I discovered all year, and I probably hadn't if it weren't for this poll. So thank you Eric! It was great fun.

Yes, cheers Eric for running this.

01. SUPERSTITION (Talking Book, 1972) -- 637 points, 25 votes, 2 #1 votes
02. UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT) (Up-Tight, 1966) -- 527 points, 21 votes, 2 #1 votes
03. LIVING FOR THE CITY (Innervisions, 1973) -- 483 points, 22 votes, 3 #1 votes
04. SIR DUKE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 381 points, 18 votes
05. AS (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 372 points, 17 votes, 3 #1 votes
06. GOLDEN LADY (Innervisions, 1973) -- 368 points, 16 votes, 2 #1 votes
07. HIGHER GROUND (Innervisions, 1973) -- 366 points, 16 votes, 1 #1 vote
08. DON'T YOU WORRY 'BOUT A THING (Innervisions, 1973) -- 337 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote
09. SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I'M YOURS (Signed, Sealed & Delivered, 1970) -- 318 points, 17 votes
10. I WISH (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 317 points, 18 votes
11. HE'S MISSTRA KNOW IT ALL (Innervisions, 1973) -- 317 points, 13 votes, 2 #1 votes
12. YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN' (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 278 points, 17 votes
13. I BELIEVE (WHEN I FALL IN LOVE IT WILL BE FOREVER) (Talking Book, 1972) -- 274 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote
14. IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME (Where I'm Coming From, 1971) -- 268 points, 13 votes, 2 #1 votes
15. I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER (I Was Made To Love Her, 1967) -- 254 points, 15 votes
16. SUPERWOMAN (WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU) (Music Of My Mind, 1972) -- 247 points, 13 votes
17. WE CAN WORK IT OUT (Signed, Sealed & Delivered, 1970) -- 231 points, 12 votes, 1 #1 vote
18. CREEPIN' (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 225 points, 14 votes
19. MY CHERIE AMOUR (My Cherie Amour, 1968) -- 221 points, 11 votes
20. THE TEARS OF A CLOWN (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Make It Happen, 1967) -- 216 points, 10 votes
21. BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 204 points, 13 votes
22. VISIONS (Innervisions, 1973) -- 204 points, 9 votes
23. DO I DO (Original Musiquarium, 1982) -- 190 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 vote
24. ANOTHER STAR (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 185 points, 7 votes
25. MASTER BLASTER (JAMMIN') (Hotter Than July, 1980) -- 181 points, 8 votes
26. HEAVEN IS 10 ZILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 174 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote
27. YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE (Talking Book, 1972) -- 170 points, 11 votes
28. TOO HIGH (Innervisions, 1973) -- 167 points, 14 votes
29. LOVE'S IN NEED OF LOVE TODAY (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 155 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote
30. JESUS CHILDREN OF AMERICA (Innervisions, 1973) -- 148 points, 9 votes
31. LOVE HAVING YOU AROUND (Music of My Mind, 1972) -- 140 points, 7 votes
32. BIG BROTHER (Talking Book, 1972) -- 140 points, 6 votes
33. IT'S A SHAME (The Spinners, 2nd Time Around, 1970) -- 137 points, 6 votes
34. PASTTIME PARADISE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 135 points, 9 votes
35. (tie) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (Aretha Franklin, Let Me in Your Life, 1973) -- 131 points, 7 votes
35. (tie) BLAME IT ON THE SUN (Talking Book,, 1972) -- 131 points, 7 votes
37. SUMMER SOFT (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 128 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote
38. FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (For Once in My Life, 1968) -- 111 points, 9 votes
39. ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR (Innervisions, 1973) -- 103 points, 7 votes
40. ORDINARY PAIN (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 100 points, 8 votes

Superstition's a monster, was gonna be real surprised if it didn't win

Next 10 for the round 50:

41. I DON'T KNOW WHY (98/6)
42. RIBBON IN THE SKY (89/5)
43. (tie) KNOCKS ME OFF MY FEET (87/5)
43. (tie) LATELY (87/5) <-- um, seriously?! How did this miss the top 40?
45. OVERJOYED (87/4/1#1)
46. NEVER DREAMED YOU'D LEAVE IN SUMMER (86/6)
47. I AIN'T GONNA STAND FOR IT (78/6)
48. THEY WON'T GO WHEN I GO (78/4)
49. ISN'T SHE LOVELY (77/7)
50. PLEASE DON'T GO (77/6)

Kind of shocked "Isn't She Lovely" didn't make the top 20, at least.

THEY WON'T GO WHEN I GO

thought this would be higher, one of my favorite Stevie ballads

Beyond "Overjoyed," the only songs that received #1 votes that missed the top 40 entirely were also, coincidentally, those respective song's sole vote. With 40 points each:

CONTUSION
ANGIE GIRL

I'M GOIN' LEFT was the highest ranking Syreeta track, in case anyone was curious -- 72 points on 4 votes.

Are you going to upload the whole list somewhere? I'm curious if I was the only one who voted for 'Look Around', my nr. 2.

Superstition > everything else (except maybe I Heard it Through the Grapevine)

My ballot:

01. Summer Soft
02. Golden Lady
03. You And I
04. Creepin'
05. Another Star
06. Jesus Children Of America
07. Do I Do
08. Did I Hear You Say You Love Me
09. Too High
10. Lately
11. Isn't She Lovely
12. Living For The City
13. Seems So Long
14. Visions
15. Do Like You
16. Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer
17. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)
18. I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
19. Rocket Love
20. Please Don't Go
21. Too Shy To Say
22. I Can't Help It
23. If You Really Love Me
24. I Wanna Be By Your Side (feat. G.C. Cameron)
25. Look Around
26. Feeding Off The Love Of The Land
27. I'm Goin' Left
28. Superstition
29. Perfect Angel
30. I Was Made To Love Her

I think I did this right. Full spreadsheet here.

LOOK AROUND is actually in slot #51, ArchCarrier -- 77 points on 4 ballots.

Nice to see that "Overjoyed" got massive support from those who voted for it (other than me), although I can understand why it might be a sappy nonentity if overlush ballads aren't your thing.

XP: TOO LOW! :D

Here's my ballot. Songs in bold didn't place in the top 40.

1. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
2. Look Around
3. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)
4. I Was Made to Love Her
5. Higher Ground
6. We Can Work It Out
7. Superstition
8. I Don't Know Why
9. Shoo-be-doo-be-doo-da-day
10. Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
11. Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer
12. Living for the City
13. If You Really Love Me
14. You Are the Sunshine of My Life
15. Nothing's Too Good for My Baby
16. Joy Inside My Tears
17. I Love Every Little Thing About You
18. Creepin'
19. Race Babbling
20. I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)

If I had to vote again, I would have voted for 'Big Brother', 'Love Having You Around' and 'Blame It on the Sun'.

Most underappreciated pre-classic period Stevie song: "Never Had A Dream Come True"

^ that should have read "classic period," BTW

my ballot, with placements in the poll

Overjoyed
Golden Lady #6
As #5
Another Star #24
Uptight #2
He's Misstra Know-it-all #11
Sir Duke #4
I Wish #10
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours #9
I Was Made to Love Her #15
That Girl
Higher Ground #7
Superstition #1
Living For the City #3
You Are the Sunshine of My Life #27
The Spinners - It's a Shame #33
Do I Do (single edit) #23
My Cherie Amour #19
Visions #22
Bird of Beauty
For Once in my Life #38
If You Really Love Me #14
Too High #28
Jesus Children of America #30
Pastime Paradise #34
I Believe (When I fall in love it will be forever) #13
I Love Every Little Thing About You
Maybe Your Baby
You Haven't Done Nothin #12
Fun Day

^A good one

Thanks for running this one, Eric!

If You Really Love Me
Boogie On Reggae Woman
Superstition
Living for the City
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
You Haven't Done Nothin'
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Higher Ground
Master Blaster (Jammin')
My Cherie Amour
Light My Fire
As
Alfie
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
I Was Made to Love Her
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)
I Wish
For Once in My Life
Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
Sir Duke
Tears of a Clown
You've Got It Bad Girl
I Just Called To Say I Love You
Overjoyed
Send One Your Love
Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day
A Place in the Sun
Lookin' for Another Pure Love
Isn't She Lovely
Fingertips Pt. 2

In retrospect I wish I'd dropped "I Just Called" for an album cut.

Think "You and I" is the only one in my top 5 to miss entirely. Not sure what people hear in "I Believe" and "Blame it on the Sun" that they don't also hear in "You and I." :shrugs:

Thanks Eric. I didn't really have time to post during the rollout but I enjoyed following it. Nice being reminded how many of Stevie's songs resonate with points in my life. Love Having You Around reminds me of meeting my wife, Joy Inside My Tears was an important tune for her when she went through some family drama, Visions got some heavy play after my dad died, Love's in Need of Love Today was a friend's wedding song, and so on. The man knows how to hit the emotional spot.

Non-placers on my ballot:

Joy Inside My Tears
All I Do
Heaven Help Us All
Do Yourself a Favor
Fingertips
Maybe Your Baby
I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
Have a Talk With God

Thanks, Eric--that was a great poll.

Argh! I was taking a seminar tonight when I should've been digging this. No complaints from me, that's a really solid top ten.

Thanks for your efforts, Eric!

Mine:

1. Golden Lady
2. Superstition
3. Visions
4. Boogie On Reggae Woman
5. Until You Come Back To Me
6. That Girl
7. Big Brother
8. We Can Work It Out
9. Higher Ground
10. All In Love is Fair
11. Blame It on the Sun
12. Let's Get Serious
13. The Tears of a Clown
14. Do I Do
15. Go Home
16. Uptight
17. Did I Hear You Say You Love Me
18. I Can't Help It
19. Lately
20. Part-Time Lover
21. Tell Me Something Good
22. Skeletons
23. These Three Words
24. You Haven't Done Nuthin'
25. You & I
26. Make Sure You're Sure
27. Creepin'
28. For Once In My Life
29. Heaven is a Zillion Light Years Away
30. Master Blaster

LEAST FAVORITE: "I Just Called to Say I Love You"

Alfred, I think your ballot may be spiritually closest to mine on the whole.

i.e. "Did You Hear Me Say I Love You"

1. “If You Really Love Me” – 40
2. “My Cherie Amour” – 36
3. “Tears of a Clown” (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) – 30
4. “Uptight (Everything Is Alright)” – 27
5. “Until You Come Back to Me” (Aretha Franklin) – 25
6. “Superwoman” – 23
7. “It’s a Shame” (Spinners) – 22
8. “Feeding Off the Love of the Land” – 21
9. “I Wish” – 20
10. “Jungle Fever” – 17
11. “Superstition” – 14
12. “Living for the City” – 10
13. “Tell Me Something Good” (Rufus & Chaka Khan) – 6

Thirteen's a weird number, I know--I originally sent in a Top 10, then later added three things I'd missed. As I mentioned to Eric, the core hits from all the Grammy-winning '70s albums are a little overplayed for me at this point in my life. "Superstion" is an amazing song, but I really included it to fill out my ballot. Going back to the experience of first hearing it on the radio in 1972, it definitely was a startling song.

Despite my I-love-the-eighties reputation, I'm seriously baffled by the the lack of curiosity in the post-HTJ albums. Wonder suffered no serious decline.

6. “Superwoman” – 23
7. “It’s a Shame” (Spinners) – 22
8. “Feeding Off the Love of the Land” – 21

cool sequence, clemenza

My ballot:

1. Living For The City
2. I Don't Know Why
3. Sir Duke
4. Uptight
5. I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
6. Superstition
7. Signed, Sealed, Delivered
8. You Haven't Done Nothin'
9. I Was Made To Love Her
10. Boogie On Reggae Woman
11. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
12. Love's In Need Of Love Today
13. Higher Ground
14. Too High
15. Big Brother
16. Love Having You Around
17. I Wish
18. You And I
19. As
20. the drum solo on YouTube

I won't argue that the seventies work is more exciting than, say, "Skeletons" or "Queen of the Dark," but they're great songs by any standards.

I really need to start voting in these things. And also noticing when the results threads go up.

Many thanks to Eric for running this poll. There will always be a place for it in the Talking Book of my heart.

My Ballot:

He’s Misstra Know It All
Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing
Jesus Children Of America
Living For The City
Big Brother
Pastime Paradise
Golden Lady
Superstition
You Haven’t Done Nothin’
Higher Ground
Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away
I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
As
Please Don't Go
Sir Duke
It Ain’t No Use
Ordinary Pain
Ribbon In The Sky
Tuesday Heartbreak
I Was Made To Love Her
Village Ghetto Land

There won't be a poll for an artist I love as much as Stevie or Prince unless three years down the road there's an Erykah Badu poll or something tho. :/

Hold on, where's 'They Won't Go When I Go'?!

^^^didn't make it!

48th! For shame.

#1. Angie Girl
02. Golden Lady
03. He's Misstra Know-It-All
04. Ribbon In The Sky
05. Too High
06. Visions
07. All In Love Is Fair
08. Creepin'
09. Don't You Worry Bout A Thing
10. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
11. If You Really Love Me
12. Superwoman
13. Hey Love
14. Living For The City
15. Jesus Children Of America
16. Boogie On Reggae Woman
17. I Go Sailing
18. You've Got It Bad Girl
19. Signed, Sealed, Delivered
20. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
21. I Was Made To Love Her
22. More Than A Dream
23. As
24. I Wish
25. Nothings Too Good For My Baby
26. Ain't That Asking For Trouble
27. RUFUS - Tell Me Something Good
28. SYREETA - I Wanna Be By Your Side
29. SYREETA - Come And Get This Stuff
30. SYREETA - Spinnin' And Spinnin'

fave Stevie ALBUM (by a mile): INNERVISIONS

ranking beyond the top 10 or so was difficult, especially comparing the Rufus and Syreeta songs vs Stevie.
"They Won't Go When I Go" the main cut I thought of after I hit send. kinda burned out on Superstition by now!

surprised Hey Love was a no show in Top 50

wait Tell Me Something Good didn't place either?! BAH

It would have been top-3 for me if I'd been paying better attention to what he wrote for other artists.

mine

Superstition
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Higher Ground
Tears Of A Clown, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
We Can Work It Out
You Haven't Done Nothin'
Part-Time Lover
Living For The City
I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)
I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
Sir Duke
I Was Made to Love Her
Do Yourself A Favor
Isn't She Lovely
Look Around
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever, Four Tops
Boogie On Reggae Woman
He's Misstra Know It All
Summer Soft
Have A Talk With God
Lately
Ebony & Ivory
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away
Maybe Your Baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Pastime Paradise
Golden Lady
I Just Called to Say I Love You
Love Light In Flight

Rufus' "Tell Me Something Good" has got to be one of the most amazing "given away" songs ever. One of these great songs that sounds like nothing else.

my ballot:

Do I Do
Superstition
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
If You Really Love Me
Sir Duke
My Cherie Amour
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Living For The City
For Once In My Life
Please Don't Go
Fingertips, Part 2
Lately
You Haven't Done Nothin'
Never Had A Dream Come True
Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer
Tears of a Clown (Smokey Robinson)
I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares
I'm Wondering
Tuesday Heartbreak
Golden Lady
We Can Work It Out
I Call It Pretty Music But The Old People Call It The Blues Pt. 1
Funny How Time Slips Away
Hey Love
I Don't Know Why
Ebony And Ivory
Never Gonna Give You Up (with Raphael Saadiq)
Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
Shoo Be Doo Be Do Da Day

my favorite album:
Talking Book

my least favorite track:
Master Blaster (Jammin')

"Do I Do" was your #1, al???

Consider this love.

Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing
Master Blaster (Jammin')
They Won't Go When I Go
I Was Made To Love Her
Uptight
Superstition
Light My Fire
Another Star
Higher Ground
All In Love Is Fair
Sir Duke
A Fool For You
I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
As
Golden Lady
Living For The City
Give You Love
Black Man
Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years
Keep On Running
Something Out Of The Blue
Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
Boogie On Reggae Woman
Creepin'
Nothing's Too Good For My Baby
Sunset
He's Misstra Know-It-All
Summer Soft
We Can Work It Out

Album: Innervisions
rotter: Superwoman

i'm not sure if i want some candy, Alfred, but i'll take the compliment

i assure you all that anything in bold on my ballot that you haven't heard is way more fun to listen to than boring old "As"

01. He's Misstra Know It All
02. Sir Duke
03. Superwoman
04. Uptight
05. Signed Sealed Delivered
06. Golden Lady
07. Don't You Worry Bout a Thing
08. I Wish
09. Superstition
10. My Cherie Amour
11. Creepin'
12. Living for the City
13. Boogie On Reggae Woman
14. Blame It On The Sun
15. Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer
16. I'm Goin Left (Syreeta)
17. You Haven't Done Nothin'
18. I Was Made to Love Her
19. Isn't She Lovely
20. Ordinary Pain
21. Don't Know Why I Love You
22. I Believe (When I Fall in Love)
23. Spinnin' and Spinnin' (Syreeta)
24. Joy Inside My Tears
25. Send One Your Love
26. Ribbon in the Sky
27. Please Don't Go
28. All in Love Is Fair
29. Hey Love
30. Jesus Children of America

I am -- honestly -- shocked that "Part Time Lover" didn't place at all.

it's not as widely disliked as "i just called" but it is as widely dismissed

So much the better arrangement though -- the Vandross scatting, the long melody lines.

It's also the randy stepbrother/antithesis of "I Just Called..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epEQhxslprE

Gary Byrd and the GB Experience - "The Crown" (Produced by Stevie Wonder)

I've always though that the overtly Stevie parts of this (roughly 4:22-6:40) belong in his canon.

But, the Gary Byrd "raps" are pretty awful.

anybody make a spotify for this? i mean i've heard most of these anyway but still

http://open.spotify.com/user/ephender/playlist/3s10R5EfPD2hpKojGccxQd

http://sjuonlinenews.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/vault-boy.jpg

No "Fingertips"? Fuck this bullshit poll that I didn't vote in.

WTF I was the only voter for "You Met Your Match." Happy to see 2 other people voted for "All Day Sucker."

ha rev otm, i thought "fingertips" was a lock

xp Aw, Gary Byrd's Are You Ready for Black Power? is great.

I thought Fingertips would be Top 10, easy. So much joy in that record.

My ballot, non Top 50 bolded:

01. Higher Ground
02. Master Blaster (Jammin')
03. Sir Duke
04. I Wish
05. I Love Every Little Thing About You [Stevie / Syreeta]
06. For Once in My Life
07. Superstition
08. Do Like You
09. He's Misstra Know It All
10. Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing
11. Golden Lady
12. Living for the City
13. We Can Work It Out
14. Rocket Love
15. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
16. Happy Birthday
17. You Haven't Done Nothin'
18. I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
19. Pastime Paradise
20. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
21. As
22. Black Orchid
23. As If You Read My Mind
24. Summer Soft
25. Too High
26. Isn't She Lovely?
27. Lately
28. Do I Do
29. Happier than the Morning Sun
30. I Can Tell When Christmas Is Near [Smokey Robinson & The Miracles]

So..."If It's Magic" didn't even place.

I'm SO going to the Chicago show.

only if he does Hotter Than July in its entirety.

Maybe for an encore.

I'd vote "Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" #1 if we redid this. really I'd vote Stevie's drum playing #1, so into that today. do we have a thread just for Wonder as a drummer?

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/wonder_week.html

Slate's Wonder Week, "telling our greatest living musician how much we care."

No arguments here.

that piece on his drumming is o_O

fabulous article

Happy birthday, Stevie!

man, I BELIEVE (WHEN I FALL IN LOVE IT WILL BE FOREVER), you just knock me out

good #1, alfred--one of my fav songs to play on the piano

Happy birthday again!

Ranking those albums.

Talking Book is the one album in the whole classic run that just doesn't connect with me on the same level as the rest.

(Musiquarium has four new songs too.)

That's me and Songs xpost

I garbled that sentence. I was trying to say that two of the new songs were best-ever cuts.

Ah, got it. Yes, "Front Line" is neither fantastic nor a classic.

Inspired by Chris's Hit Parade podcast, and upon realization this hadn't been turned into a Spotify playlist ...

https://open.spotify.com/user/ephender/playlist/5hayJcMGy0BoMFQ517MNen?si=f4THhSknQaO8m93KXiByiA

I rank his pop top tens.

I'm surprised that he had so few of them tbh.