BeardedHeckler

Marginally better than previous albums, but still has a long way to go from here. Who thought Stevie Wonder + surf was the right idea? Weird.

Fuck this is bad. I get why Gordy signed Stevie. He had a lot of potential. But he had absolutely no business recording albums at this point. He is so off key on most of these early records that it kinda hurts to listen to. I don't see why Gordy didn't just keep him in the training program before letting him release LPs that just aren't good.

Far too much of this record is comprised of stuff from the really awful 'Tribute to Uncle Ray' album, which is full of songs that were out of Little Stevie's range. Luckily, there is also the opening track, a wonderful live version of "Fingertips" that became a big hit for Wonder. I would stop after that song, though.

I may be overrating it slightly, but after listening to the "Tribute to Uncle Ray", this record is an absolute revelation by comparison. Weird to hear fully instrumental Stevie Wonder, but it has such a good groove, and to do it at that age is even more impressive.