Track Listing

1. Look Around
2. Do Yourself A Favour
3. Think Of Me As Your Soldier
4. Something Out Of The Blue
5. If You Really Love Me
6. I Wanna Talk To You
7. Take Up A Course In Happiness
8. Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer
9. Sunshine In Their Eyes

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #148947 in Music
• Released on: 1993-09-01
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Where Stevie Wonder Came From
1972's Music Of My Mind was the first of Stevie Wonder's 5 monumental classic albums of the seventies, followed by Talking Book (72), Innervisions (73), Fullfillingness' First Finale (74), and peaking (arguably) in 1976 with the long awaited Songs In the Key of Life.

When 'Where I'm Coming From' was released in 1971 Stevie Wonder had already enjoyed a career that most well established artists would envy. The album marks Stevie Wonder's coming of age and a transition from the 1960s Motown formula to a new freedom in which he takes full control of his own music for the first time. Stevie's political awareness and sense of humour are unleashed on this album, his multi-instrumental virtuosity and songwriting ability flourish and his customary vocal tones and range are fully realised.

The technology of the day sounds a little dated in places, but songs like 'Look Around', 'Do Yourself A Favour' & 'Something Out Of The Blue' are outstanding, opening an exciting new chapter for Stevie, while 'If You Really Love Me' is a great Motown chartbuster in the more accustomed style. 'Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer' is a mature and beautiful ballad which belies Stevie's 21 years, and hints of the total genius that would follow on subsequent albums.

If you already have a copy of Stevie Wonder's five classic 70's albums and Hotter Than July, then 'Where I'm Coming From' will be a welcome addition. If you don't - GET THEM! and listen to them often, cherish them, lest we forget what music is really all about.

JAMIESON

Where Stevie Came From
1972's Music of My Mind was the first of Stevie Wonder's truly monumental albums, followed by Talking Book (72), Innervisions (73) Fullfillingness' First Finale (74) and peaking (arguably) in 1976 with a long awaited double album, Songs in the Key of Life. Everyone should own these 5 incredible albums.

Where I'm Coming From (71) marks Stevie's departure from the 1960's Motown era, where for the first time he truly takes control of the music himself, demonstrating his multi-instrumental virtuosity, playing nearly all the parts himself.

The songs on this album reflect the bridge between the old and new era's of Stevie's music. Some of the technology used on the recording sounds a little dated today but there are moments of songwriting brilliance on the album and Stevie's voice is fully realised. His sense of humour and political awareness are also reflected for the first time.

If You Really Love Me takes the Motown formula somewhere new, while Look Around, Do Yourself A Favour & Something Out of the blue mark a complete departure and a taste of things to come. I Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer is a masterpiece of songwriting and vocal passion which belie his 21 years. Remember he was only a young boy when those Motown classics were recorded.

This album marks Stevie Wonder's coming of age and the genesis of the most important stage of his career (so far!) - surely the greatest contribution to 20th century music that any one individual has ever made.

If you already own Stevie's five 70's classics and Hotter Than July, then Where I'm Coming From will be a welcome, if less spectacular addition. If not, GET THEM and listen to them often, lest we forget what music is really all about.