Songs in the Key of Life is the eighteenth studio album by Stevie Wonder, released in September 1976 on Tamla/Motown and produced entirely by Stevie Wonder. Widely considered one of the greatest albums ever made, the ambitious double LP with bonus EP spans jazz, funk, soul, gospel, reggae, and classical orchestration across thirty tracks of extraordinary emotional and musical breadth. 'I Wish,' 'Sir Duke' (a tribute to Duke Ellington), 'As,' 'Isn't She Lovely,' 'Love's in Need of Love Today,' and 'Another Star' are among the most beloved songs in American popular music. The album debuted at number one and spent thirteen weeks there, won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for the second consecutive year, an unprecedented achievement, and was universally praised as a crowning achievement of the soul era. Songs in the Key of Life is the definitive statement of Stevie Wonder's genius.
Track Listing & Credits
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Love's in Need of Love Today | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 2 | Have a Talk with God | Stevie Wonder, Calvin Hardaway | Stevie Wonder, Calvin Hardaway | Stevie Wonder |
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| 3 | Village Ghetto Land | Stevie Wonder, Gary Byrd | Stevie Wonder, Gary Byrd | Stevie Wonder |
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| 4 | Contusion | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 5 | Sir Duke | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 6 | I Wish | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 7 | Knocks Me Off My Feet | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 8 | Pastime Paradise | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 9 | Summer Soft | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 10 | Ordinary Pain | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 11 | Isn't She Lovely | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 12 | Joy Inside My Tears | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 13 | Black Man | Stevie Wonder, Gary Byrd | Stevie Wonder, Gary Byrd | Stevie Wonder |
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| 14 | Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 15 | If It's Magic | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 16 | As | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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| 17 | Another Star | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder |
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Data note: Credits sourced from Wikipedia. The vast majority of tracks are sole Stevie Wonder compositions. Notable co-writes: 'Have a Talk with God' with Calvin Hardaway; 'Village Ghetto Land' with Hank Cosby; 'Ordinary Pain' with Susaye Greene; 'Black Man' with Gary Byrd.