On September 28, 1976, “Motown” label released “Songs in the Key of Life”, the eighteenth Stevie Wonder studio album. It was recorded 1974 – 1976: at “Crystal Sound” in Hollywood; “Record Plant” in Los Angeles; “Record Plant” in Sausalito;”The Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by Stevie Wonder. The original double vinyl album was released with a four-song bonus EP. In 2005, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Song in the Key of Life” at number 57 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in UK by “BPI”; Diamond in the US by “RIIA”;
Personnel:
- Stevie Wonder– vocals, harmonica, keyboards, drums, arranger, programming
- Michael Sembello– guitar
- Sneaky Pete Kleinow– pedal steel
- George Benson– vocals, guitar
- G. “Snuffy” Walden– guitar
- Dean Parks– guitar
- Ben Bridges – guitar, sitar
- Howard “Buzzy” Feiten– guitar
- Ronnie Foster– organ
- Herbie Hancock– keyboards, handclapping
- Greg Phillinganes– keyboards
- Nathan Watts– vocals, bass guitar, handclapping
- Gary Olazabal – bass sound, engineer
- Greg Brown – drums
- Raymond Lee Pounds – drums
- Carol Cole – percussion
- Bobbye Hall– percussion
- Raymond Maldonado – percussion
- Carmelo Garcia – percussion, timbales
- Renee Hardaway – vocals, percussion
- Nelson Hayes – vocals, percussion, sound effects
- Jim Horn– saxophone
- Hank Redd – alto and tenor saxophone
- Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone
- Steve Madaio – trumpet
- Glen Ferris – trombone
- George Bohannon – trombone
- Bobbi Humphrey– flute
- Dorothy Ashby– harp
- Deniece Williams– vocals
- Minnie Riperton– vocals
- Gary Byrd – vocals
- Michael Wycoff– vocals
- Larry Scott – sound effects
- Jay Boy Adams – vocals
- Nathan Alford, Jr. – percussion
- Eddie “Bongo” Brown – percussion
- Edna Orso – vocals, percussion
- Marietta Waters – vocals, percussion
- Colleen Carleton – vocals, percussion
- Larry Latimer – vocals, percussion
- Amale Mathews – vocals, percussion
- Josette Valentino – vocals, percussion, handclapping
- Charles Brewer – vocals, percussion, programming
- Shirley Brewer – vocals, percussion, speaking part
- John Fischbach – vocals, percussion, programming, engineer
- Raymond Maldonado – percussion, trumpet
- Henry America – vocals
- Susie Fuzzell – vocals
- Anthony Givens – vocals
- Audrey Givens – vocals
- Derrick Givens – vocals
- Mildred Givens – vocals
- Michael Lee Gray – vocals
- Mimi Green – vocals
- Susaye Greene Brown– vocals
- Bhakta Gregory – vocals
- John Harris – sound effects
- Jeania Harris – vocals
- Troy Harris – vocals
- Terry Hendricks – vocals
- Adrian Janes – vocals
- Josie James – vocals
- Calvin Johnson – vocals
- Carol Johnson – vocals
- Patricia Johnson – vocals
- Madelaine Jones – vocals
- Bhakta Kevin – vocals
- Phillip Kimble – vocals
- James Lambert – vocals
- Linda Lawrence – vocals
- Irma Leslie – vocals
- Kim Lewis – vocals
- Carl Lockhart – vocals
- Gail Lockhart – vocals
- Linda America – vocals
- Baradras – vocals
- Brenda Barnett – vocals
- Khalif Bobatoon – vocals
- Starshemah Bobatoon – vocals
- Sudana Bobatoon – vocals
- Berry Briges – vocals
- Cecilia Brown – vocals
- Jean Brown – vocals
- Rodney Brown – vocals
- Addie Cox – vocals
- Agnideva Dasa – vocals
- Duryodhana Guru Dasa – vocals
- Jayasacinandana Dasa – vocals
- Jitamrtyi Dasa – vocals
- Vedavyasa Dasa – vocals
- Cinmayi Dasi – vocals
- Yogamaya Dasi – vocals
- Carolyn Dennis– vocals
- Bhakta Eddie – vocals
- Doe Rani Edwards – vocals
- Jacqueline F. English – vocals
- Ethel Enoex – vocals
- Al Jocko Fann – vocals
- Barbara Fann – vocals
- Melani Fann – vocals
- Shelley Fann – vocals
- Tracy Fann – vocals
- Carolyn Massenburg – vocals
- ArticleMay – vocals
- Charity McCrary– vocals
- Linda McCrary-Campbell– vocals
- Lonnie Morgan – vocals
- Kim Nixon – vocals
- Lisa Nixon – vocals
- Larri Nuckens – vocals
- Gwen Perry – vocals
- Gregory Rudd – vocals
- Rukmini – vocals
- Yolanda Simmons – vocals, handclapping
- Keith Slaughter – vocals
- Rosona Starks – vocals
- Dennis Swindell – vocals
- Sundray Tucker – vocals
- Gary Veney – vocals
- Sheryl Walker – vocals
- Mary Lee Whitney – vocals
- Syreeta Wright– vocals
- Michael Gray – vocals
- Susaye Greene – vocals
- William Moore – vocals
- Aisha Morris – crying
- Fountain Jones – programming
- John Harris – programming
- Don Hunter – programming, sound effects
- David Henson – engineer assistant
Track listing:
- Love’s in Need of Love Today – Stevie Wonder
- Have a Talk with God – Calvin Hardawa, Stevie Wonder
- Village Ghetto Land – Gary Byrd, Stevie Wonder
- Contusion – Stevie Wonder
- Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
- I Wish – Stevie Wonder
- Knocks Me Off My Feet – Stevie Wonder
- Pastime Paradise – Stevie Wonde
- Summer Soft – Stevie Wonder
- Ordinary Pain – Stevie Wonder
- Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
- Joy Inside My Tears – Stevie Wonder
- Black Man – Gary Byrd and Stevie Wonder
- Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing – Stevie Wonder
- If It’s Magic – Stevie Wonder
- As – Stevie Wonder
- Another Star – Stevie Wonder
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