And I hold anyone who doesn't vote for this in suspicion.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 16:38 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
I love the bass and piano at the beginning. Like a lot of Stevie's songs from this period, it could go anywhere.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 16:42 (twelve years ago) link
I'm learning that other people rate Stevie's non-funk stuff way higher than I do
― unorthodox economic revenge (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 16:48 (twelve years ago) link
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
― 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!"
― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:12 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― Melle Mel and the Coconuts (thewufs), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:14 (twelve years ago) link
"Higher Ground" = my #1. Surprised "Golden Lady" did slightly better, but I voted for that too.
Great top 10 so far.
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:14 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:15 (twelve years ago) link
My favorite poll so far.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:16 (twelve years ago) link
05. AS (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 372 points, 17 votes, 3 #1 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjsAy7HFeX0
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:17 (twelve years ago) link
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".
― unorthodox economic revenge (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:18 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:19 (twelve years ago) link
I just don't like "Ebony & Ivory."
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:20 (twelve years ago) link
"As" is great. There've been some appalling cover versions of it though.
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:26 (twelve years ago) link
04. SIR DUKE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 381 points, 18 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MIjsANK_LQ
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:28 (twelve years ago) link
wow neither Sir Duke nor As at number 1? surprising!
― piscesx, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:31 (twelve years ago) link
o rly?
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:32 (twelve years ago) link
superstition v. uptight v. living for the city, right? genuinely can't tell what will win but all are good enough to.
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:33 (twelve years ago) link
Guess "I Don't Know Why" won't make it. Bummer. Was in my top 5.
― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:34 (twelve years ago) link
I hope Living for the City is not number one
― gospodin simmel, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:38 (twelve years ago) link
yyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
― Ravaging Rick Rude (a hoy hoy), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:40 (twelve years ago) link
xp I love it of course, but Superstition and Uptight feel like better choices for the top
― gospodin simmel, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:40 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:42 (twelve years ago) link
As - TOO LOW
― Melle Mel and the Coconuts (thewufs), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:42 (twelve years ago) link
I was kinda resigned earlier to 7 minutes of bathtime gurgles being #1. So yay ILM.
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:42 (twelve years ago) link
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!
― Iago Galdston, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:46 (twelve years ago) link
Heywhatabout "Tell Me Something Good"? Fuck y'all if you forgot about that one.
― Melle Mel and the Coconuts (thewufs), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:46 (twelve years ago) link
'Race Babbling' anyone?
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:48 (twelve years ago) link
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.'
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:50 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 17:59 (twelve years ago) link
TS: Album or single version?
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:04 (twelve years ago) link
Would love too see a post-Seventies (or even post-Musiquarium) Stevie poll, which is all too predictably slept-on here as elsewhere.
― Melle Mel and the Coconuts (thewufs), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:06 (twelve years ago) link
If you follow the official ILX list, your next chance will be somewhere around May of 2013...
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:07 (twelve years ago) link
I think I voted as many Hotter Than July tracks as any other album. Hella underrated.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:16 (twelve years ago) link
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
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:19 (twelve years ago) link
I've never once seen a Stevie Wonder poll in which "Superstition" didn't more or less run the table.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:20 (twelve years ago) link
For awhile, tho, I seriously thought "Uptight" would stage a big upset. You all sure do love that chugging old school '60s Motown, huh.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:21 (twelve years ago) link
'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.
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:22 (twelve years ago) link
Yes, cheers Eric for running this.
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:25 (twelve years ago) link
01. SUPERSTITION (Talking Book, 1972) -- 637 points, 25 votes, 2 #1 votes02. UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT) (Up-Tight, 1966) -- 527 points, 21 votes, 2 #1 votes03. LIVING FOR THE CITY (Innervisions, 1973) -- 483 points, 22 votes, 3 #1 votes04. SIR DUKE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 381 points, 18 votes05. AS (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 372 points, 17 votes, 3 #1 votes06. GOLDEN LADY (Innervisions, 1973) -- 368 points, 16 votes, 2 #1 votes07. HIGHER GROUND (Innervisions, 1973) -- 366 points, 16 votes, 1 #1 vote08. DON'T YOU WORRY 'BOUT A THING (Innervisions, 1973) -- 337 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote09. SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I'M YOURS (Signed, Sealed & Delivered, 1970) -- 318 points, 17 votes10. I WISH (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 317 points, 18 votes11. HE'S MISSTRA KNOW IT ALL (Innervisions, 1973) -- 317 points, 13 votes, 2 #1 votes12. YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN' (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 278 points, 17 votes13. I BELIEVE (WHEN I FALL IN LOVE IT WILL BE FOREVER) (Talking Book, 1972) -- 274 points, 15 votes, 1 #1 vote14. IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME (Where I'm Coming From, 1971) -- 268 points, 13 votes, 2 #1 votes15. I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER (I Was Made To Love Her, 1967) -- 254 points, 15 votes16. SUPERWOMAN (WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU) (Music Of My Mind, 1972) -- 247 points, 13 votes17. WE CAN WORK IT OUT (Signed, Sealed & Delivered, 1970) -- 231 points, 12 votes, 1 #1 vote18. CREEPIN' (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 225 points, 14 votes19. MY CHERIE AMOUR (My Cherie Amour, 1968) -- 221 points, 11 votes20. THE TEARS OF A CLOWN (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Make It Happen, 1967) -- 216 points, 10 votes21. BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 204 points, 13 votes22. VISIONS (Innervisions, 1973) -- 204 points, 9 votes23. DO I DO (Original Musiquarium, 1982) -- 190 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 vote24. ANOTHER STAR (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 185 points, 7 votes25. MASTER BLASTER (JAMMIN') (Hotter Than July, 1980) -- 181 points, 8 votes26. HEAVEN IS 10 ZILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY (Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974) -- 174 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote27. YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE (Talking Book, 1972) -- 170 points, 11 votes28. TOO HIGH (Innervisions, 1973) -- 167 points, 14 votes29. LOVE'S IN NEED OF LOVE TODAY (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 155 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote30. JESUS CHILDREN OF AMERICA (Innervisions, 1973) -- 148 points, 9 votes31. LOVE HAVING YOU AROUND (Music of My Mind, 1972) -- 140 points, 7 votes32. BIG BROTHER (Talking Book, 1972) -- 140 points, 6 votes33. IT'S A SHAME (The Spinners, 2nd Time Around, 1970) -- 137 points, 6 votes34. PASTTIME PARADISE (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 135 points, 9 votes35. (tie) UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME (Aretha Franklin, Let Me in Your Life, 1973) -- 131 points, 7 votes35. (tie) BLAME IT ON THE SUN (Talking Book,, 1972) -- 131 points, 7 votes37. SUMMER SOFT (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 128 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote38. FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (For Once in My Life, 1968) -- 111 points, 9 votes39. ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR (Innervisions, 1973) -- 103 points, 7 votes40. ORDINARY PAIN (Songs in the Key of Life, 1976) -- 100 points, 8 votes
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:26 (twelve years ago) link
Superstition's a monster, was gonna be real surprised if it didn't win
― unorthodox economic revenge (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:29 (twelve years ago) link
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)
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:31 (twelve years ago) link
Kind of shocked "Isn't She Lovely" didn't make the top 20, at least.
― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:32 (twelve years ago) link
THEY WON'T GO WHEN I GO
thought this would be higher, one of my favorite Stevie ballads
― unorthodox economic revenge (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:32 (twelve years ago) link
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:
CONTUSIONANGIE GIRL
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:32 (twelve years ago) link
I'M GOIN' LEFT was the highest ranking Syreeta track, in case anyone was curious -- 72 points on 4 votes.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:34 (twelve years ago) link
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.
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:36 (twelve years ago) link
Superstition > everything else (except maybe I Heard it Through the Grapevine)
― gospodin simmel, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:36 (twelve years ago) link
My ballot:
01. Summer Soft02. Golden Lady03. You And I04. Creepin'05. Another Star06. Jesus Children Of America07. Do I Do08. Did I Hear You Say You Love Me09. Too High10. Lately11. Isn't She Lovely12. Living For The City13. Seems So Long14. Visions15. Do Like You16. Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer17. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)18. I Ain't Gonna Stand For It19. Rocket Love20. Please Don't Go21. Too Shy To Say22. I Can't Help It23. If You Really Love Me24. I Wanna Be By Your Side (feat. G.C. Cameron)25. Look Around26. Feeding Off The Love Of The Land27. I'm Goin' Left28. Superstition29. Perfect Angel30. I Was Made To Love Her
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:37 (twelve years ago) link
I think I did this right. Full spreadsheet here.
― michael assbender (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:38 (twelve years ago) link