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.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Saturday, 8 October 2011 01:59 (twelve years ago) link
There are definitely a few going forward whose high positions perplex me deeply, but they're still good songs.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Saturday, 8 October 2011 02:00 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks to overplay in the last week, I keep praying that "Queen in the Black" will make it. Of course it won't.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 8 October 2011 02:08 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― alan2dyk (some dude), Saturday, 8 October 2011 11:57 (twelve years ago) link
summer soft is outstanding u fools
― ima.tumblr.com (@imsothin) (m bison), Saturday, 8 October 2011 13:18 (twelve years ago) link
also if i had more internet time in my life i would have voted the shit out of this poll :/
― ima.tumblr.com (@imsothin) (m bison), Saturday, 8 October 2011 13:19 (twelve years ago) link
hey guess what i voted for "summer soft" and u didn't so who's the fool huh :folds arms:
― shiroimarkershoes (some dude), Saturday, 8 October 2011 14:31 (twelve years ago) link
Unlike the goddamned documentary poll.
― clemenza, Saturday, 8 October 2011 14:33 (twelve years ago) link
There is a documentary poll?
― ArchCarrier, Saturday, 8 October 2011 17:11 (twelve years ago) link
I voted for "Sunshine.." I think it's far more complex that it gets credit for.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 8 October 2011 17:22 (twelve years ago) link
I voted for it too for basically that reason - it's constantly slightly surprising, where it goes.
― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 8 October 2011 17:26 (twelve years ago) link
Arch, the documentary poll was a couple of months ago -- An Impossible Job: ILX's 40 Favorite Documentaries
― Antonio Carlos Broheem (WmC), Saturday, 8 October 2011 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Saturday, 8 October 2011 19:42 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 8 October 2011 19:45 (twelve years ago) link
FFF gets the least press of the major albums, so, yeah, I'm surprised too despite voting for it.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 8 October 2011 19:53 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Saturday, 8 October 2011 20:03 (twelve years ago) link
it is one a pretty oddity.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Saturday, 8 October 2011 20:04 (twelve years ago) link
PS I voted for Summer Soft too, and I never even noticed you shilling for it
― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 8 October 2011 20:06 (twelve years ago) link
XP - Thanks William for the link to the docu poll; some interesting titles there!
― ArchCarrier, Saturday, 8 October 2011 20:28 (twelve years ago) link
I didn't vote, have no idea what's expected to win, but hope Sir Duke places highly
― Mister Potato shares Manchester United’s commitment to (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Saturday, 8 October 2011 21:50 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― Kitchen Person, Saturday, 8 October 2011 22:11 (twelve years ago) link
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).
― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 8 October 2011 22:26 (twelve years ago) link
OK, let's go!
― Iago Galdston, Monday, 10 October 2011 13:53 (twelve years ago) link
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)
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:06 (twelve years ago) link
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?
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:24 (twelve years ago) link
I bet.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:28 (twelve years ago) link
(Also, was a top 5 placer on my ballot.)
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:33 (twelve years ago) link
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
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:42 (twelve years ago) link
"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.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:43 (twelve years ago) link
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."
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:44 (twelve years ago) link
that "September" analogy is spot-on.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:45 (twelve years ago) link
I don't think I paid attention to OM - I thought it was just a comp?
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:52 (twelve years ago) link
With two fantastic and two okay new songs.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:55 (twelve years ago) link
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
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Monday, 10 October 2011 14:58 (twelve years ago) link
Eh, what - Master Blaster only #25?!
― Ismael Klata, Monday, 10 October 2011 14:59 (twelve years ago) link
im kinda glad mb(j) didn't come higher, even if i <3 it
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Monday, 10 October 2011 15:02 (twelve years ago) link
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)
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Monday, 10 October 2011 15:04 (twelve years ago) link
wonder if all of innervisions will make it
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Monday, 10 October 2011 15:05 (twelve years ago) link
Those acoustic guitars are soooo gorgeous!
― ArchCarrier, Monday, 10 October 2011 15:08 (twelve years ago) link
So, 'As' is regarded better than 'Another Star'? Hm.
― ArchCarrier, Monday, 10 October 2011 15:23 (twelve years ago) link
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)
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Monday, 10 October 2011 15:29 (twelve years ago) link
o_O at that vid
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Monday, 10 October 2011 15:34 (twelve years ago) link
Boogie on Striped Pants
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 October 2011 15:37 (twelve years ago) link
the song is about as fun as stevie got
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Monday, 10 October 2011 15:37 (twelve years ago) link
Boogie on Maggie Thatcher
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Monday, 10 October 2011 15:38 (twelve years ago) link
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 radioAll 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)
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)
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Monday, 10 October 2011 15:51 (twelve years ago) link
Doh! Totally forgot that one!
― ArchCarrier, Monday, 10 October 2011 15:57 (twelve years ago) link
Gotta say, for awhile, this was trending into the top 10.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Monday, 10 October 2011 16:04 (twelve years ago) link
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).
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Monday, 10 October 2011 16:10 (twelve years ago) link