Stevie Wonder-As

At some point in the last presidential campaign someone asked Obama about his favorite music. He mentioned a handful of artists, but he absolutely effused about Stevie Wonder and specifically mentioned the string of albums from "Music Of My Mind" through "Fullfillingness First Finale". It's an amazing string of pop albums that only a few other artists have ever matched. And if you don't believe me, go ask the President of the United States!

I messed up. Yes Onhwy61 what an oversight on my part to not mention "Fulfillingness First Finale" along with Stevie Wonder's other great recordings.

I have been in the concert space for three decades and my favorite performance of all time was a private show Stevie played for a Bay Area software company in 2000. Despite telling the audience that he might "cut it short due to a bout of the Flu", he then proceeded to play a 4 hour concert. A living treasure without equal; the Duke Ellington of my generation, and a truly inspiring musician I never tire listening to.

His prodigious musical output slowed dramatically after Musiquarium. He kept recording here and there, but definitely nothing to rival the magnitude of the albums that preceeded this greatest hits compilation.

And to think Musiquarium came out in 1982, when he was 32-33 years old. Amazing.

An underrated album is "Fullfillingness' First Finale". Incredible album and an absolute joy to listen to.

I purchased the remastered albums that came in the cardboard sleeves-they are definitely cool and were limited edition releases if I'm not mistaken.

But they didn't remaster "Where I'm Coming From" or "Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants". I've never heard either album, just the hit song from "Secret" included in Musiquarium called "Send One Your Love" and the harmonica instrumental version he did of the song "Alfie" which was on the "where I'm coming From" album.

And he did a duet with a female vocalist whose name I forgot. The song is called "Used to Be". Another great song that seems to have been forgotten.

I grew up listening to Stevie, Earth Wind and Fire and The Commodores.

Great music from an era that will never be duplicated.

Early 60's Stevie's "Contract on Love" with the background singers The Temptations before they made it big. Lately we heard Signed, Sealed and Delivered everywhere.

Truly, great music.
JT