A stellar cast of soul stars from the 60s, 70s and 80s performing songs written by the one and only Stevie Wonder comprise this terrific new volume in Ace Records’ “Black America Sings…” series.
When the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975, middle brother Jermaine quit the group to pursue a solo career on the label. After a string of underwhelming releases, he called on Wonder to assist with his sixth album. The LP was co-produced by Wonder, who had writing and performance credits on three of its tracks, including the punchy funk of ‘Let’s Get Serious’, the title song. Wonder’s fingerprints are all over the track, from Jackson’s vocal inflections to the unmistakable sound of its co-writer’s backing vocals, drums, piano, guitar and synth.
That opening track is a sign that Wonder did not necessarily keep his best songs for himself. Moreover, this collection also features ‘Tell Me Something Good’ by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan; Marvin Gaye’s minor key gem ‘You’re The One For Me’; Margie Joseph’s version of ‘To Know You Is To Love You’, a song first recorded by Syreeta; ‘Open Up Your Heart’ by LaBelle; the great ‘Bad Weather’ by the early 70s-era Supremes; Randy Crawford’s delicious recording of ‘We Had A Long So Strong’, originally a Smokey Robinson & the Miracles album track; ‘What Are You Going To Do With It’ by Betty Wright, who co-wrote the song; and the Four Tops’ ‘What Else Is There To Do (But Think About You)’ – of which all are further examples of great Stevie Wonder songs with no known recording by the man himself.
Other highlights here include Aretha Franklin’s 1973 smash hit ‘Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)’; Quincy Jones’ killer version of ‘Superstition’, with Wonder among the backing vocalists; the Bar-Kays’ blistering treatment of ‘I Was Made To Love Her’; and disco star Sylvester’s fervent electro-gospel take on ‘Living For The City’, Wonder’s scathing examination of racial injustice, class and migration. Lou Rawls’1972 long-player “A Man Of Value” ended – as does this compilation – with his breathtaking interpretation of ‘Evil’, also the closing track on Wonder’s “Music Of My Mind” album.
Together, this score of Stevie Wonder covers show the reverence in which he is held among the Black Americans he was writing for and about. And he’s still out there today, still doing his thing, still inspiring and delighting audiences everywhere.
