I'm just realizing how impossible a task it would have had to have been for a blind guy to fiddle around with such an elaborate, gigantic synth. Didn't think i could have more respect for Stevie wonder but here we are. Crazy how much simpler every aspect of recording music has become in a relatively short time.
I totally agree. His subsequent, less acknowledged albums, contain material that puts Sheeran, Swift, Beyoncé , Adele et al. to shame.., I feel so sorry for the youth of today. The music of one’s youth is so formative and important.
@@Chicago_Podcast_Authority yes there is, the Bob Margouleff interview with Anthony Marinelli is the most in depth detailed interview. It’s on UA-cam enjoy !
Muy de acuerdo. Lo he pensado muchas veces: el período clásico se inicia con "Where I'm Coming From" y no con "Music of my Mind", como se ha venido difundiendo. La orientación instrumental y creativa se inicia ahí, lo que ocurre es que no es un álbum tan de autor, aún mantiene modos clásicos de la Motown y eso queda fuera con "Music of my Mind" definitivamente pero el inicio es del álbum anterior. Maravilloso sonido
Stevie’s run is unreal. Best music ever produced 1972 to 1980 It’s pretty painful to see how sappy and lame his 1980s output. Duets with Dionne ? Woman in red? Part time lover? I just called. Absolute garbage. He became a go to guy for cheap political causes. Disgusting awful dreadful. Prince and Mj made Stevie irrelevant by 1982 bro. And you know it.
Really good documentary! Also worth mentioning that Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff also worked with the Isley Brothers during their golden period - from 1973's 3+3 album ('That Lady,' 'Summer Breeze,') to the 1976 album Harvest For The World. What a dream team! A shame they never got fully credited or compensated for all their great work with Stevie.
It's rare for me to find a truly informative video on my favourite artists nowadays, thank you! The moment you started talking mic choices and synths I knew this was going to be a good video! The deepest impression that Stevie's use of synths left on me we're when he'd use two warm pads, one panned left and the other right, playing together in a polyphonic texture. You hear it in the transition during Superwoman, in You and I from talking book, and in They Won't Go When I Go. Knowing that they won't go was written around the same time period, it makes so much sense! I personally love the "sound" and "aesthetics" of Music of my mind the most because of this, whereas the best album ever made being SITKOL of course!
When Fairlight (an Australian Company) produced the first Digital hardware and software for a Windows computer, Stevie was a fan. This happened after analogue synthesisers and MIDI. Fairlight revolutionised the digital capture and editing that most musicians use today. Fairlight is now part of Blackmagic Design's Davinice Resolve editing suite. There is a free version. All their updates are free. As an Australian, I love Stevie Wonder. He was and is, the master of new music, and every musician since holds him in the highest regard.
Phenomenal vid! Love that period of Stevie's, and your recreation at the end is great. I'd love it if you went into more detail for each of these albums, or if it's easier the classic tracks he created at the time.
@@mixingmasteringonline Having just discovered your channel I see that's not what you do, although it would be awesome. Just having a Stevie marathon now but I'm looking forward to watching your other vids, starting with the Beatles ones.
There’s some type of synth sound or like my melon Tron sound I can’t really explain the term but it’s in his superwoman/where are you when I needed you song .the sound comes on when it switches to the second part of the song where we’re you when I needed you. The sound also appears in his song you & I it’s at like the climax of the song and it also comes in at the beginning of the song does anybody know what’s that sound? Or instrument called?
Secret life of plants is brilliant. So is hotter than July. That girl is amazing. After ebony and ivory Stevie is garbage. He was more interested in trite politics that no one cared about and being a lothario having sex with hundreds of young singers than making music. He was 12 children out of wedlock with 9 different women. So much for family unit. His own mother had to lecture him as did Emmanuel Lewis and Dr Cosby about the children out of wedlock 😢
So why was Stevie absolutely irrelevant and producing sappy garbage by 1982. He was irrelevant and out of musical ideas by 1982. Do I do? I just called? Part time lover ? That’s what Friends are for Absolute garbage. Stevie became a go to guy for cheap and irrelevant political causes. He now sings at funerals for a fee. Stevie has become a black version of Perry como. Has not produced funk and exciting music since he turned 30. He is a black version of Andy Williams. It’s disgraceful why he destroyed his career
So, Stevie found out about Malcolm and Robert while "reading" Rolling Stone? Right.... Stevie was a genius, but I don't think he was "reading" anything.
@@mixingmasteringonlineI'm well aware of braille. I just thought it was a bit odd to phrase it that way in the video. And, ya know, plenty of people read Playboy for the articles. 😁
Stevie was buried in the 1980s by Prince and Michael Jackson. He was bankrupt of ideas and funk by 1982. The guy was middle of the road sappy Perry como for black folks. Plus he couldn’t stop having to butt in on trite and meaningless political causes. How could the greatest musical artist of the 1970s released duets with Dionne in 1983. What a farce what a joke. Berry Gordy said he bankrupt Motown. Stevie was recycling old songs and more busy having children out of wedlock with his 9 baby mamas than making music. He killed his career. Duets with Paul McCartney. Horrid sell out 😢
His best period musically no doubt was the 70s but Stevie had a lot of commercial success in the 80s. His most successful singles Part Time Lover and I Just Called To Say I Love You were huge hits. And he wrote some beautiful ballads in the 80s as well. As far as the political stuff, yeah I kinda agree.
@@austinstyles6393 sadly those songs and hits from the 1980s was fairly mediocre middle of the road pop. Ebony and ivory. I just called. Part time are horrid unimaginative pop. If one compare those horrid songs to princes when doves cry or mjs billie Jean. Stevie was outclassed and buried. Again he’s a black Andy Williams. His fake political causes are nauseating and vile
@@MalEvansUSA I didn’t care for his 80s pop sound. But he actually had his most commercial success with that stuff. Go figure? Definitely agree Prince and MJ were on fire and Stevie was past his peak. The truth is like a star will eventually run out of energy and die, the same goes for pretty much every great artist. They hit that creative wall, put out uninspired lackluster material and eventually get replaced by new artists who bring something fresh and interesting.
@@mixingmasteringonline Don Freeman here. all due respect mix, the classic period are the following records Stevie recorded with Bob Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil with their giant multi synth TONTO. Music Of My Mind 1972, Talking Book 1972, Innervisions 1973 and Fulfillingness’ First Finale 1974. Those are all linked together with those 3 people and TONTO. Secondly I’m a songwriter & keyboardist and know Bob Margouleff personally and worked with him when he produced the David Sanborn album As We Speak. Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Bill Withers, Jeffrey Osborne, George Duke, James Ingram, Hugh Masekela, Coldcut, Larry Carlton, Angela Bofill, Joan Armatrading, Jermaine Jackson, Jon Anderson are some of the artists I’ve written for and recorded with. Michael Sembello guitarist & writer who I co-wrote “ Carousel “ with for Michael Jackson played with Stevie Wonder for several years and between Michael & Bob Margouleff who I’m still in contact with weekly, I think I have more inside knowledge than you do with all due respect! Peace
It’s ok for you to have a different opinion on the semantics. I wouldn’t get so upset about it. I, like the majority, count ‘Songs in the key of life’ very much part his ‘classic period ‘of peak creativity and that’s my opinion. Nobody is wrong here.
I'm just realizing how impossible a task it would have had to have been for a blind guy to fiddle around with such an elaborate, gigantic synth. Didn't think i could have more respect for Stevie wonder but here we are. Crazy how much simpler every aspect of recording music has become in a relatively short time.
Absolutely, and more affordable when considering software. Imagine how much a synth like that would cost today!
the music beyond his “classic period” is still masterful and arguably even better in some ways and for some songs
I totally agree. His subsequent, less acknowledged albums, contain material that puts Sheeran, Swift, Beyoncé , Adele et al. to shame..,
I feel so sorry for the youth of today. The music of one’s youth is so formative and important.
There aren’t nearly enough well made videos talking about Stevie let alone his golden era. Thanks for your work ❤
Thank you! This period is fascinating to me, the level of creativity is incredible. True genius!
@@mixingmasteringonline perhaps a deep dive on each of the albums from the period is in order?
That would be fun to do, definitely!
@@Chicago_Podcast_Authority yes there is, the Bob Margouleff interview with Anthony Marinelli is the most in depth detailed interview. It’s on UA-cam enjoy !
The seeds were sown on an album prior, "Where I'm Coming From", you could here where he was heading to...
You’re right, he’d definitely started to evolve on that album!
Muy de acuerdo. Lo he pensado muchas veces: el período clásico se inicia con "Where I'm Coming From" y no con "Music of my Mind", como se ha venido difundiendo. La orientación instrumental y creativa se inicia ahí, lo que ocurre es que no es un álbum tan de autor, aún mantiene modos clásicos de la Motown y eso queda fuera con "Music of my Mind" definitivamente pero el inicio es del álbum anterior. Maravilloso sonido
Stevie’s run is unreal. Best music ever produced 1972 to 1980 It’s pretty painful to see how sappy and lame his 1980s output. Duets with Dionne ? Woman in red? Part time lover? I just called. Absolute garbage. He became a go to guy for cheap political causes. Disgusting awful dreadful. Prince and Mj made Stevie irrelevant by 1982 bro. And you know it.
@@mixingmasteringonlinewhere I am coming from is as brilliant as music of my mind.
@@mixingmasteringonlinewhere I am coming from is as brilliant as music of my mind.
Really good documentary! Also worth mentioning that Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff also worked with the Isley Brothers during their golden period - from 1973's 3+3 album ('That Lady,' 'Summer Breeze,') to the 1976 album Harvest For The World. What a dream team! A shame they never got fully credited or compensated for all their great work with Stevie.
Thank you! You’re right, they were so important in music at that time.
this is history
It's rare for me to find a truly informative video on my favourite artists nowadays, thank you! The moment you started talking mic choices and synths I knew this was going to be a good video! The deepest impression that Stevie's use of synths left on me we're when he'd use two warm pads, one panned left and the other right, playing together in a polyphonic texture. You hear it in the transition during Superwoman, in You and I from talking book, and in They Won't Go When I Go. Knowing that they won't go was written around the same time period, it makes so much sense! I personally love the "sound" and "aesthetics" of Music of my mind the most because of this, whereas the best album ever made being SITKOL of course!
Thank you! I absolutely love the sound of these records so I really enjoyed making this video.
Musical genius
When Fairlight (an Australian Company) produced the first Digital hardware and software for a Windows computer, Stevie was a fan. This happened after analogue synthesisers and MIDI. Fairlight revolutionised the digital capture and editing that most musicians use today. Fairlight is now part of Blackmagic Design's Davinice Resolve editing suite. There is a free version. All their updates are free. As an Australian, I love Stevie Wonder. He was and is, the master of new music, and every musician since holds him in the highest regard.
Phenomenal vid! Love that period of Stevie's, and your recreation at the end is great. I'd love it if you went into more detail for each of these albums, or if it's easier the classic tracks he created at the time.
Thank you! I’d love to go into more detail at some point.
@@mixingmasteringonline Having just discovered your channel I see that's not what you do, although it would be awesome. Just having a Stevie marathon now but I'm looking forward to watching your other vids, starting with the Beatles ones.
That’s great, thank you!
These videos are really great, man. Keep doing them.
Thanks Joshua! It's really encouraging to know they're appreciated. 😀. I'll keep 'em coming..
The clavinet on Superstition is a Hohner model C the red and white one. Totally different from a D 6.
Incredible video. I wish we got links for the plugins used at the end tho ;)
Love these videos!
Thank you!
There’s some type of synth sound or like my melon Tron sound I can’t really explain the term but it’s in his superwoman/where are you when I needed you song .the sound comes on when it switches to the second part of the song where we’re you when I needed you. The sound also appears in his song you & I it’s at like the climax of the song and it also comes in at the beginning of the song does anybody know what’s that sound? Or instrument called?
It is hard to understand and imagine how he never missed a note.
Harder than the understanding the physics of light.
I doubt he read that magazine himself.
There was a braille version of Rolling Stone magazine then and oddly a Playboy one too.
So what happened to him after this period? Why did it stop?
He did make some really good records after this, but this period for me is his best.
Umm… reading?😂
There was a braille version of Rolling Stone magazine then and oddly, a Playboy one too.
Secret life of plants is brilliant. So is hotter than July. That girl is amazing. After ebony and ivory Stevie is garbage. He was more interested in trite politics that no one cared about and being a lothario having sex with hundreds of young singers than making music. He was 12 children out of wedlock with 9 different women. So much for family unit. His own mother had to lecture him as did Emmanuel Lewis and Dr Cosby about the children out of wedlock 😢
And how do you know this Sh*t head
So why was Stevie absolutely irrelevant and producing sappy garbage by 1982. He was irrelevant and out of musical ideas by 1982. Do I do? I just called? Part time lover ? That’s what Friends are for Absolute garbage. Stevie became a go to guy for cheap and irrelevant political causes. He now sings at funerals for a fee. Stevie has become a black version of Perry como. Has not produced funk and exciting music since he turned 30. He is a black version of Andy Williams. It’s disgraceful why he destroyed his career
So, Stevie found out about Malcolm and Robert while "reading" Rolling Stone? Right.... Stevie was a genius, but I don't think he was "reading" anything.
Blind people use braille to read and there was a braille version of Rolling stone. Strangely, even Playboy had a braille version.
@@mixingmasteringonlineI'm well aware of braille. I just thought it was a bit odd to phrase it that way in the video. And, ya know, plenty of people read Playboy for the articles. 😁
Of course they do 😅. I don’t know how else to phrase it, ‘rubbed his finger over tiny bumps to learn’ is a bit of a mouthful 😅
Stevie was buried in the 1980s by Prince and Michael Jackson. He was bankrupt of ideas and funk by 1982. The guy was middle of the road sappy Perry como for black folks. Plus he couldn’t stop having to butt in on trite and meaningless political causes. How could the greatest musical artist of the 1970s released duets with Dionne in 1983. What a farce what a joke. Berry Gordy said he bankrupt Motown. Stevie was recycling old songs and more busy having children out of wedlock with his 9 baby mamas than making music. He killed his career. Duets with Paul McCartney. Horrid sell out 😢
His best period musically no doubt was the 70s but Stevie had a lot of commercial success in the 80s. His most successful singles Part Time Lover and I Just Called To Say I Love You were huge hits. And he wrote some beautiful ballads in the 80s as well. As far as the political stuff, yeah I kinda agree.
@@austinstyles6393 sadly those songs and hits from the 1980s was fairly mediocre middle of the road pop. Ebony and ivory. I just called. Part time are horrid unimaginative pop. If one compare those horrid songs to princes when doves cry or mjs billie Jean. Stevie was outclassed and buried. Again he’s a black Andy Williams. His fake political causes are nauseating and vile
@@MalEvansUSA I didn’t care for his 80s pop sound. But he actually had his most commercial success with that stuff. Go figure? Definitely agree Prince and MJ were on fire and Stevie was past his peak. The truth is like a star will eventually run out of energy and die, the same goes for pretty much every great artist. They hit that creative wall, put out uninspired lackluster material and eventually get replaced by new artists who bring something fresh and interesting.
Songs In The Key of Life is not part of his classic period .
It’s not only a part of his classic period but a hugely important part of it.
@@mixingmasteringonline Don Freeman here. all due respect mix, the classic period are the following records Stevie recorded with Bob Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil with their giant multi synth TONTO. Music Of My Mind 1972, Talking Book 1972, Innervisions 1973 and Fulfillingness’ First Finale 1974. Those are all linked together with those 3 people and TONTO. Secondly I’m a songwriter & keyboardist and know Bob Margouleff personally and worked with him when he produced the David Sanborn album As We Speak. Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Bill Withers, Jeffrey Osborne, George Duke, James Ingram, Hugh Masekela, Coldcut, Larry Carlton, Angela Bofill, Joan Armatrading, Jermaine Jackson, Jon Anderson are some of the artists I’ve written for and recorded with. Michael Sembello guitarist & writer who I co-wrote “ Carousel “ with for Michael Jackson played with Stevie Wonder for several years and between Michael & Bob Margouleff who I’m still in contact with weekly, I think I have more inside knowledge than you do with all due respect! Peace
It’s ok for you to have a different opinion on the semantics. I wouldn’t get so upset about it. I, like the majority, count ‘Songs in the key of life’ very much part his ‘classic period ‘of peak creativity and that’s my opinion. Nobody is wrong here.