Its original title was “The Last Day of Easter,” according to Steve Lodder’s “ Stevie Wonder: A Musical Guide to the Classic Albums.” Intended to be edgier and darker, this time, Wonder was responsible for writing every word himself. On 1972’s “Music of My Mind” and “Talking Book,” Wonder contributed lyrics to six songs each, with Syreeta Wright and Yvonne Wright (no relation) writing the words for the remaining songs.įollowing “Talking Book,” recorded after his break-up with Syreeta, Wonder wanted his next album to be a change in tone. Since 1971, when he received full creative control from Motown, Wonder slowly transitioned into writing lyrics to match the power and nuance of his compositions. With that modest self-deprecation of his handle on words, it’s baffling that the first single to include Wonder’s own lyrics was 1972’s “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You).”ĥ0 years of ‘Talking Book:’ How Stevie Wonder married emotions with machines “I was very bad in school at poetry, so I definitely am not a lyric writer,” the 20-year-old Wonder said. Just three years before, as a guest on “ The Dick Cavett Show,” Wonder explained that he’d usually let Sylvia Moy or future wife Syreeta Wright pen the lyrics to his songs, compensating for what he considered his weakest attribute. “Innervisions” marked the first time Wonder wrote the lyrics to every song on an album in his career. “Innervisions” is the album where Wonder stretched out his poetic aptitudes to deliver a lyrical onslaught that held a nation accountable for its chaos. Had Wonder left us then, the album would have stood as his final will and testament to the world, in which he would bequeath to society his internal disdain, a sonic prophecy of its feasible demise. His Grammy-winning album “Innervisions” turns 50 this year. Stevie Wonder performs in June 2010 at the Glastonbury Festival in Glastonbury, England.
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