‘Love having You Around’ is the opening track of Stevie Wonder’s 1972 album Music of My Mind, the first Motown album on which he had full creative control. The record marked Wonder’s first extensive use of synthesizers.
As he would on most of his records, Wonder contributed almost every sound on Music On My Mind. On this track, for example, only the trombone work of Art Baron didn’t come from Wonder himself.
Stevie Wonder released not one but two classic albums in 1972 — Music of My Mind in March and Talking Book in October.
He followed those records with Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life over the next four years.
You could say it was a productive period for Stevie.
What better way to close out the week than with a 9-minute performance by Beyoncé from this week’s Stevie Wonder tribute show?
Queen B, joined by Ed Sheeran and Gary Clark, Jr., tore through ‘Fingertips,’ ‘Master Blaster’ (Jammin’)’ and ‘Higher Ground’ in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
I’ve never liked Stevie Wonder as much as I feel I probably should. Certainly Songs in the Key of Life deserved consideration for my list of the best 70s albums, but I never gave it a second thought. As much as I appreciate this album, and Wonder’s music in general, I’ve never found it in me to love it.
Today’s Random Weekend selection is a perfect encapsulation of my feelings about Stevie Wonder — it’s brilliant right up until it stops being brilliant and starts being annoying.
OK, now I’m going to blow your mind.
Stevie Wonder was just 22 years old when he released Talking Book, the critically-acclaimed album that contained ‘Superstition.’ No, that’s not the part that should blow your mind. This is: It was his 17th album!
Seventeen albums in ten years, starting as a boy of 12. And he followed up Talking Book with a trio of albums as well-reviewed and well-loved as any ever recorded: Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life. Then he turned 26.
Meet Me In Montauk 