100 MOST ESSENTIAL STEVIE WONDER SONGS 
This post: #70-66. Continues in 2 days.

Caffè Lattè presents

THE 100 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS BY

STEVIE WONDER

70

FINGERTIPS

(Parts 1 and 2)

1963

Motown label head Berry Gordy Jr. had been impressed with the young Stevie Wonder and quickly recognized his talent as a musician. Despite his obvious prowess, Little Stevie’s first singles had all missed the Billboard Hot 100. A recording of one of the boy’s live performances inspired Gordy to release “Fingertips”. Captured in a live context, the energy and skill of the teenaged musician was undeniable and contagious. Stevie had just turned 13 when the single was released. It shot to #1 on both the R&B and Pop charts.

69

ORDINARY PAIN

1976

This track from ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ has two moods. The first segment features background vocals from Stevie’s ex-wife Syreeta Wright, Deniece Williams and Minnie Riperton. The second part features Linda Lawrence, a one- time member of The Supremes. Michael Sembello performs lead guitar on the track. He would achieve success in his own right in 1983 with the #1 hit “Maniac” from the ‘Flashdance’ movie soundtrack.

68

THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

1985

When Dionne Warwick heard the Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager composition “That’s What Friends Are For”, she thought it would be a perfect duet for her to record with Stevie. Present at the recording was Elizabeth Taylor. It was decided that the single’s proceeds would be donated to A.I.D.S. research. Bacharach then added 2 more vocalists to the recording: Elton John and Gladys Knight. Released as Dionne & Friends, the song was nominated for the Record Of The Year Grammy. It did win in the Best Pop Performance By A Duo / Group With Vocal category. The single topped the American, Canadian and Australian charts.

67

HE’S MISSTRA KNOW -IT- ALL

1973

By the time Stevie was recording what would become his ‘Innervisions’ album, his songs had started dealing with politics. In the wake of Nixon and Watergate, tracks such as this reflected the times. The single was a Top 10 hit in the UK.

66

PLEASE DON’T GO

1974

The closing track from Stevie’s ‘Fulfillingness’ First Finale’ features The Persuasions, Shirley Brewer and Deniece Williams on background vocals.