Stevie Wonder's Most Misunderstood Album Is Also One of His Best

[@billwolfer4020]

I saw Stevie’s concert last night in Milwaukee-it was incredible! He has a 22 piece orchestra of killer musicians, and was amazing as always. In keeping with this video he did a solo version of SEND ONE YOUR LOVE that was gorgeous. If you have a chance to catch him on this short tour, I highly recommend it!

[@arijitsengupta9766]

This is one of my favourite Stevie Wonder albums. I never quite understood why it didn't get the appreciation it deserves among critics and fans. Please keep sharing more. I am a Stevie Wonder addict.

[@FUNKINETIK]

It’s a masterpiece. I was 14 when I bought the album upon its release, I watched the film for the first time only 3 years ago, this gave me a greater understanding of the album. Learning about the Dogon Tribe in Mali and their Po Tolo celebration- A Seed’s A Star, incredible. Shame the production of the film didn’t match the quality of the album, but it’s well worth watching.

[@ronwashington7319]

You and me both!

[@roberttaylor2916]

Me too

[@roberttaylor2916]

This voyage to India right

[@maze9929]

I first listened to this album in college over 20 yrs. ago. You nailed it, Bill. This album has some of the most beautiful melodies I've ever heard, so beautiful they've made me wanna cry. It may sound strange but I've had to stop listening to some of the songs over the years because I linked some of the beautiful, sometimes melancholic, melodies with some sad memories of mine. That's the power of Stevie's music.

[@nahigruv]

I still listen to this album regularly. There are some great pieces and songs on it!

[@nahigruv]

Hey Bill! I had your album in college and played it constantly. Actually met Finis Henderson at a comedy show in Columbia, SC years later. Chatted about your album and his with “Call Me” on it! Still listen to that one also!

[@1derment]

Thank you so much for sharing Bill. Hoping for more insights of the Secret Life from inside the Stevie engine room. I bought the book before the album was released, so I kinda understood the journey to a certain extent. I didn’t see the movie until 20 years later. On release, Stevie did an interview on Capital Radio in the UK, where he explained each track as the album played in the background. A pure masterpiece of composing and musicianship.

[@misstra_knowitall]

yes!! this was the album that many think ended his 'creative period', but i think this and hotter than july would go with it just fine. it's a beautiful art of work.

[@RainbowMandrills]

Excellent video Thank You Bill.... For me as an avid Stevie listener (I'm not a dancer I am a listener ;-) ) as a garden lover, as a prog rock fan (I add that as this is not Prog Rock but the ways that he keeps quoting the same melodies throughout the album is, I appreciate it as the Most connected 1 long piece of music Stevie has in his whole catalogue) , as a mysticism / Space fan I love the Dogon Tribe parts of the film & album (I even have the Book ) "Tree" & "Seeds a Star" are these songs... it made me research that star Po Tolo about 20 years ago... it lead me to writing 2 albums worth of music called "Po Tolo" and its sister star (not in the film) "Emme Ya Tolo".... the Stevie music video for the song "Secret Life of Plants" is my fav music video for the visuals of Stevie in the Sunflowers, and looking into his eyes (that even lead me to writing a song called "Felt Renewed" all about looking at Stevies eyes with all the lessons from Secret Life of Plants... Black Orchid my favourite Ballad of all time (nice video with the Ballerina too) so yes as you said it in the video All of it is 100% my Cup of Tea ;-) Stevie the best. Thank you for helping us experience Secret Life of Plants back then and right now. Love o see you playing bits of First Garden & Power Flower. & Yes please more story's please "What will it take For Heaven's sake For those who find what's real too hard to believe in? It's that same old story again" I had to put that lyric in for Story's, I connect SO MUCH to that song lyric on the album.... my usual viewpoint on things is routing for the underdog who trys to do something different than the normal things. so this album has everything for me... and your very own work of Race Babbling... the point of that song is so me as well. I am happier sitting in nature with music on my ipod instead of this world is moving much to fast ... it is my number 1 album (a few tied in the number 1 position Haha) anyway many thanks Bill Love from Pete on the Isle of Wight England who was only 5 month old little baby when Secret Life of Plants came out and it is still my favourite ;-)

[@1derment]

Well said Pete ❤

[@kev0802]

The timing of this video is spooky for me. I've been for the last week relistening to this album. I got this sudden urge to go back to it. I always liked it a lot, but relistening to it, I realized that I don't just like it a lot, but I love it. I keep listening to it all the way through every night. I'm actually starting to think it might be my favourite album. Which will definitely cause an identity crisis for me, because for the last 20 years it's been The White Album by The Beatles. Yes, I love double albums. Anyway, youtube suggested this video, you now have a new subscriber. Thanks for doing this one, I needed someone to talk about it. It's definitely brilliant and beautiful music. Everytime I reach the track Tree near the end of the album I get overwhelmed with emotions. Like I'm nearing the end of some great journey. And then, the finale, and I feel content and filled with happiness and peace. Love it!

[@billwolfer4020]

@@kev0802 Well said!

[@kev0802]

@@billwolfer4020 Thanks! I put on the White Album this morning. It's still number one, but Secret Life of Plants is really not far off. Hopefully you will make more videos on this wonderful album.

[@kevinkerr2942]

Coming off of the magnum opus that was SITKOL and waiting 3 years, 1 month and 1 day...people wanted SITKOL part II. Instead they got this largely instrumental album that went over critical and commercial heads. So I understand the backlash. It didn't end the Classic Period, it was a pause by commercial standards. But for the true fans, or at least for me, I would've LOVED to have gotten songs that were demos from previous albums. As Fulfillingness' First Finale was supposed to be a double album originally. But this, in and of itself, was BRILLIANT to this listener's ears. I was 5 when this was came out and was taken by it. He had Overjoyed , but held it off of this for later release, but it would have fit perfectly.

[@stevehofer3482]

I am glad you put that music with the film. Your context gave me greater appreciation for it.

[@FUNKINETIK]

It’s a masterpiece. I was 14 when I bought the album upon its release, I watched the film for the first time only 3 years ago, this gave me a greater understanding of the album. Learning about the Dogon Tribe in Mali and their Po Tolo celebration- A Seed’s A Star, incredible. Shame the production of the film didn’t match the quality of the album, but it’s well worth watching.

[@jimjosemusic5325]

"But who am I to doubt... or question the inevitable being ? " I have always loved that line - it's a part of me.

[@Cookefan59]

Hey Bill, this was a great video. Being the rabid Stevie fan that I have been since the 1960s, I first heard this incredible work while in the Marines in California. I’ll admit I was really confused and had to let go of expectations. I bought it on double cassette tape at that time so myself and another Marine would swap them back and forth. Pretty soon he wasn’t interested but I would fall asleep with that soundtrack playing in my headphones. Its not my favorite but it is my go to Stevie album when Ive heard the others enough. The First Garden. What i got out of that was the theory of evolution being played out. That harmonica starts off so sweet and innocent and young but by the end it is mature, full throated and funky. The rest of it with the cricket chirping in time is also very funky. I love that piece of work. The best for me is when the thunder and rain start up. Recorded so beautifully. Power Flower. That is definitely a masterpiece. Its light and airy and I found it very pop like. The chords being plucked on that Fender rhodes are warm and reassuring. Stevie bouncing around between falsetto and soul style is so magical. All those beautiful harmonics with the vocal overdubs and those unbelievably gorgeous and satisfying drum fills at the end make it really stand out. There is a KZbin of Power Flower LIVE that is fantastic to hear. I truly appreciate you coming out with this vide because i cannot stand it when people trash this album. Your points about this being an original sound track are right on point and its a shame it wasn’t released properly. People sure didn’t have any problems with his other Soundtracks for “Woman In Red” and “Jungle Fever” most likely because those works were much more commercial, well timed and promoted properly. I guess Stevie realized that he had to play by a few rules to get things done properly. Love this channel, love the stories. Could you please give more insight to the engineering process that went on during these sessions? I am a wannabe sound engineer and I have a fascination with analog recording and especially your contributions to this incredible piece of work. Thank you sir!

[@billwolfer4020]

Nice analysis. I can't really say too much about the audio engineering except that there was always close attention to detail. Gary and Bob were top notch, and always patient with my endless questions, as I wanted to know more about what they were doing. And although it waas an analog recording, this was one of the first albums to be mixed to Sony's new PCM 1600 digital two track system. It was exciting to see it and hear the results as the mixes were played back. Thanks for the kind words, and taking the time to write your post.

[@74quo]

Yeah a strange choice after my all time favourite album songs in the key of life,which I heard at the age of 15. Journey through the secret life of plants eventually grew on me. I love the sound of the synths on stevie albums I sit with my headphones on and let them synths whizz around my head,takes you to a different place What a surprise coming across your videos and knowing you where involved Pure magic👍

[@marcoaraujo2817]

Waiting anxiously

[@montecroft1174]

Unbelievably great album - extraordinary.

[@andrecalhoun4376]

Stevie's soundtrack work on the Spike Lee's film Jungle Fever also gets overlooked. Feeding off the Love of the Land is one of my favorite songs and is a masterpiece akin to something Shakespeare would write IMO

[@Cookefan59]

@@andrecalhoun4376 Jungle Fever soundtrack had som killer Stevie. My favorite was “Gotta Have You”. Yours right,It wasn’t taken very seriously but he had already won an Oscar for “I Just Called To Say I love You” in 1984. Isn’t that something? That is just incredible.

[@Cookefan59]

My favorite song and lyrics on that album are “Come Back As A Flower” some of the most beautiful and poetic lyrics ever written. Especially that second verse: The dew had finished making love to many A rainbow smelling sweet was in the air I envied all the silence I saw growing So unmoved by things outside themselves It just doesn’t get much better than that. 🎶 ❤

[@FUNKINETIK]

Syreeta sings it so sweetly.

[@johnwilliams-ih3pv]

Ecclesiastes is earmarked for my funeral !

[@blackvx]

Thank you, Bill! Wheb you mentioned Han Zimmer, i thought about his pop song "video killed the radio star" 😊 I like when you demo the song on your keyboard 👏👏👏

[@billwolfer4020]

@@blackvx Ha! I was thinking about that song, too! It’s exactly what I mean about putting an artist in a box with expectations. Thanks for the kind words!

[@Cookefan59]

Let’s not forget that Stevie won an Oscar in 1984 for “I Just Called To Say I Love You” for the movie “The Woman In Red”.

[@Minister_ronbrown]

This is one of my favorite Stevie albums, second only to Songs in The Key. It is a broad expansion of his creativity. I was impressed that he was able to do this type of music. Let alone, with the background he is known for. Fantastic album!

[@aminaghazali]

Amazing album. There is a bit of fluff, but truly a work of genius and a demonstration of Stevie’s depth and breadth as a musician and composer

[@stevehofer3482]

We had this album in our dorm radio station library when I started there in 79-80. I auditioned it and couldn’t find anything to play on the air. I was a bit disappointed because our old Stevie Wonder records were worn out.

[@kevinpaige5746]

My favorite Stevie album! The epic ending piece that wraps all the melodies in to one, is breathtaking. Bill, PLEASE tell what you can/know about the bass sound on much of this album. Particularly the upright/fretless bass tone. What synth/patch was used? Such an elusive patch. "Song In The Key Of Life" has a similar patch on "Knocks Me Off My Feet". "Send One Your Love" uses this tone. Thank you!

[@billwolfer4020]

It's a Yamaha CS80. I'm working on a quick tutorial to show how you can get that sound with a CS80 plugin (and to think I said I don't do tutorials! HA!). But I've been asked about that sound many times, so it deserves to be shown. Thanks for your comment!

[@godivor]

'Same old Story'.... is Beautiful as is' Black Orchard' i play the secret Life of Plants often since it was released in the 70s. its a MasterPiece & as you said its the soundtrack to the Movie , released by Motown ( its on you tube ) which was Inspired by the book of the same name by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird . i had the honour to meet Stevie in Edinburgh Scotland after his gig when he was touring his 'In Square Circle' tour' in the 80s, it was a dream come true for me as i am a Huge Stevie Wonder fan.... i have seen him 7 times throughout his career....thank you Bill for Sharing Precious memories...which .i really enjoyed hearing.

[@statefromjakefarm1]

It would be cool if you talked to Greg Phillinganes since he played with Stevie too, I’m not sure if it was at the same time as you or not.

[@andytupaia]

Thanks bill now we know the truth behind that album still remember when I played it to my friends they were so disappointed that it broke my heart but it’s just a matter of taste and style

[@billwolfer4020]

@@andytupaia it’s also a matter of context: if you know it’s a film soundtrack, you aren’t going to expect a full-on pop record. Thanks for watching.

[@jp-tf6dr]

Absolute masterpiece some people just don't get it 🤷

[@scottcjohnson59]

Id like to think that musicians got it but it was imho over the heads of the general public

[@billwolfer4020]

Respectfully, I have to disagree. I don't think the music is inaccessible to the non-musician. In my opinion, it was about expectations and context: the former being a general thought that this was just another Stevie Wonder album, and the latter due to the lack of emphasis on the fact that the music originated as a film soundtrack. But we both may be right. Thanks for watching!