SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE is a milestone in Stevland Morris' career and a masterwork of American popular music. Released in 1976, this double LP spent 14 of its 80 charting weeks at number one. From his sharp commentaries on American social history and pro-peace supplications to some of his most intimate professions of love, witness Stevie Wonder at a prolific point in his career, casting his music further beyond R&B, funk, and disco than ever before.
Present here are some of Stevie's greatest hits in their original context: the widely-sampled horn swirls of "Sir Duke", comical baby-noise-laced jamming of "Isn't She Lovely" and fiercely poetic declaration of "As" still shine as brightly as ever. Perhaps less well-known are tunes like, "Joy Inside My Tears", a slow, entrancing, synth-vamp on love's redemptive powers, or the fast-grooving funkout, "Black Man", a compelling salute to America's pioneers of colour. The keyboard sounds are as varied as ever, the bass as waggish as Bootsy, the arrangements a consummate preparation of melody and harmony. KEY OF LIFE is an inspired work in which Stevie marvels at life's unexpected miracles.|
Rovi
人生を生きる上で鍵となる喜怒哀楽の感情が歌と演奏に込められている。彼の最高傑作だし、音楽のエネルギーが2枚半のレコード盤に詰め込まれている。どの盤面に針を下ろすかで趣が異なるが、逆に、どこを切り取っても遜色はない。それほど個々の楽曲の完成度は高い。
リリースされて半世紀になろうかというのに、自分自身、未だ全曲を消化しきれていない。頂上を眺めて、既に征服した気になっているが、実はまだ頂上には立っていないのだ。難攻不落の城砦をずっと攻め続けている感じだ。視点を変えれば、攻略できていない分、アタックし続けることができる。さあ、再び針を下ろす時が来た。戦闘態勢を整えよう。