Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium
Encyclopedia
Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I is a compilation album
by R&B/soul
musician Stevie Wonder
, released as Tamla 6002 in 1982. It collects eleven Top 40 hit singles, and one album track, taken from Wonder's "classic period" running from 1972 to 1980. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200
, at #1 on the Top R&B Albums
chart in the US, and went to #8 in the UK. It has been certified gold by the RIAA.
" was not released as a single from Songs in the Key of Life
, while "Superstition
", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life
", "You Haven't Done Nothin'
", "I Wish
", and "Sir Duke
" all topped the Billboard Hot 100
. "Living for the City
" and "Boogie On Reggae Woman
" appear in slightly different versions to those on their albums, and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is the single mix with the horns added.
The album also included four completely new songs, each tagged on as the last track on each album side: "Front Line", "Ribbon in the Sky
", "That Girl
", and "Do I Do
". The latter track features a solo by bebop
innovator Dizzy Gillespie
. The sides were loosely organized into funk
protest songs on side one, ballads on side two, dance music
on side three, and jamming songs
on side four.
except "Front Line" by Wonder and Gary Byrd. Arrangements and all vocals and instruments by Wonder except as indicated.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by R&B/soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
musician Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, released as Tamla 6002 in 1982. It collects eleven Top 40 hit singles, and one album track, taken from Wonder's "classic period" running from 1972 to 1980. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, at #1 on the Top R&B Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart in the US, and went to #8 in the UK. It has been certified gold by the RIAA.
Content
Eleven previously released tracks were taken as singles from their respective albums, with "Higher Ground" and "Master Blaster (Jammin')" released before the LP. "Isn't She LovelyIsn't She Lovely
"Isn't She Lovely?" is a song by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. In it he celebrates the birth of his daughter, Aisha. There are three verses, each ending with the phrase "isn't she lovely, made from love"...
" was not released as a single from Songs in the Key of Life
Songs in the Key of Life
Songs in the Key of Life is the 13th album by American recording artist Stevie Wonder, released September 28, 1976, on Motown Records. It was the culmination of his "classic period" albums. An ambitious double LP with a 4-song bonus EP, Songs in the Key of Life became among the best-selling and...
, while "Superstition
Superstition (song)
"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a 1973 pop single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder's third number-one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number one on the easy listening chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. This song was...
", "You Haven't Done Nothin'
You Haven't Done Nothin'
"You Haven't Done Nothin" is a 1974 funk single by Stevie Wonder featuring background vocals from The Jackson 5, taken from the album Fulfillingness' First Finale. The politically aware song became Wonder's fourth number-one pop hit, his tenth number one soul hit, and was one of his angriest...
", "I Wish
I Wish (Stevie Wonder song)
"I Wish" is a hit song by Stevie Wonder. It was released in 1976 as a single and included on the album Songs in the Key of Life. Written and produced by Wonder, the song focuses on his childhood...
", and "Sir Duke
Sir Duke
"Sir Duke" is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. Released as a single in 1977, the track topped the U.S...
" all topped the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. "Living for the City
Living for the City
"Living for the City" is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label, from his Innervisions album. Reaching #8 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #1 on the R&B chart, the record is driven by a slow bass synth groove that manages to exude a certain amount of tension, an appropriate...
" and "Boogie On Reggae Woman
Boogie On Reggae Woman
"Boogie On Reggae Woman" is a 1974 funk single by American Motown artist Stevie Wonder, from the album Fulfillingness' First Finale. The song, which was not in the reggae style, continued Wonder's successful Top Ten streak on the pop charts, reaching number three and also spent two weeks at number...
" appear in slightly different versions to those on their albums, and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is the single mix with the horns added.
The album also included four completely new songs, each tagged on as the last track on each album side: "Front Line", "Ribbon in the Sky
Ribbon in the Sky
"Ribbon in the Sky" is a hit 1982 R&B single released by Motown star, American singer Stevie Wonder. The ballad was first featured on the greatest-hits compilation, Original Musiquarium, and charted at #54 pop and #10 R&B when it was released...
", "That Girl
That Girl (Stevie Wonder song)
"That Girl" is a 1981 soul single by American Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. The song was the leading single off Wonder's album-era greatest-hits compilation, Original Musiquarium, as one of four newer songs from the collection. The song spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B...
", and "Do I Do
Do I Do
"Do I Do" is a song written and performed by Stevie Wonder, first released in 1982 on the album Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I. It reached #10 in the UK and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US....
". The latter track features a solo by bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
innovator Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
. The sides were loosely organized into funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
protest songs on side one, ballads on side two, dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
on side three, and jamming songs
Jam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
on side four.
Track listing and personnel
All songs written by Stevie WonderStevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
except "Front Line" by Wonder and Gary Byrd. Arrangements and all vocals and instruments by Wonder except as indicated.
Side one
- "SuperstitionSuperstition (song)"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
" (from Talking BookTalking BookTalking Book is the fifteenth album by Stevie Wonder, released on October 28, 1972. A signal recording of his "classic period", in this one he "hit his stride"...
) — 4:25- Trevor Laurence - saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
; Steve Madaio - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Trevor Laurence - saxophone
- "You Haven't Done Nothin'You Haven't Done Nothin'"You Haven't Done Nothin" is a 1974 funk single by Stevie Wonder featuring background vocals from The Jackson 5, taken from the album Fulfillingness' First Finale. The politically aware song became Wonder's fourth number-one pop hit, his tenth number one soul hit, and was one of his angriest...
" (from Fulfillingness' First FinaleFulfillingness' First Finale-Side One:#"Smile Please" – 3:28#*Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums#*Michael Sembello – electric guitar#*Reggie McBride – electric bass#*Bobbye Hall – congas, bongos#*Jim Gilstrap – background vocals...
) — 3:29- Reggie McBride - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
; The Jackson 5The Jackson 5The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
- vocals
- Reggie McBride - bass
- "Living for the CityLiving for the City"Living for the City" is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label, from his Innervisions album. Reaching #8 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #1 on the R&B chart, the record is driven by a slow bass synth groove that manages to exude a certain amount of tension, an appropriate...
" (different version as the one from InnervisionsInnervisionsInnervisions is the sixteenth album by American musician Stevie Wonder, released August 3, 1973 on Motown Records; a landmark recording of his "classic period"...
) — 7:26 - "Front Line" — 5:52
- Benjamin Bridges - electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
; Nathan WattsNathan WattsNathan Lamar Watts, born 1954 in Detroit, Michigan is an American session bass guitar player, best known for his work with Stevie Wonder from the 1970s to the present...
- bass
- Benjamin Bridges - electric guitar
Side two
- "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)"Superwoman " is a 1972 soul track by Stevie Wonder. Released as a single, it was the second track on Wonder's Music of My Mind album. In essence a two-part song, there is a coherence in that it tells a story of the singer's relationship with "Mary"...
" (from Music of My MindMusic of My Mind- Side One :# "Love Having You Around" – 7:21#* Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, talk box, drums, Moog bass#* Art Baron – trombone#* Background Singers – uncredited...
) — 7:57- Buzzy Feiten - electric guitar
- "Send One Your LoveSend One Your Love"Send One Your Love" is a 1979 soul single by American and Motown musician and singer Stevie Wonder. The song reached number four on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1979 and was the lead single off of Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants", which was a mostly instrumental...
" (from Journey through the Secret Life of PlantsJourney through the Secret Life of PlantsStevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants" is an album by Stevie Wonder, originally released on the Tamla Motown label on October 30, 1979...
) — 4:02- Benjamin Bridges, Rick Zunigar - electric guitar
- "You Are the Sunshine of My LifeYou Are the Sunshine of My Life"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a 1973 pop single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder's third number-one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number one on the easy listening chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. This song was...
" (single version; original version from Talking Book) — 2:51- Gloria Barley, Lani Groves, Jim GilstrapJim GilstrapJim Gilstrap is an American singer best known for his work as a session musician and his 1975 solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead to the theme from the TV series Good Times.-Career:...
- vocals; Scott Edwards - bass; Daniel Ben Zebulon - congas
- Gloria Barley, Lani Groves, Jim Gilstrap
- "Ribbon in the SkyRibbon in the Sky"Ribbon in the Sky" is a hit 1982 R&B single released by Motown star, American singer Stevie Wonder. The ballad was first featured on the greatest-hits compilation, Original Musiquarium, and charted at #54 pop and #10 R&B when it was released...
" — 5:35- Benjamin Bridges - acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
- Benjamin Bridges - acoustic guitar
Side three
- "Higher Ground" (from Innervisions) — 3:46
- "Sir DukeSir Duke"Sir Duke" is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. Released as a single in 1977, the track topped the U.S...
" (from Songs in the Key of LifeSongs in the Key of LifeSongs in the Key of Life is the 13th album by American recording artist Stevie Wonder, released September 28, 1976, on Motown Records. It was the culmination of his "classic period" albums. An ambitious double LP with a 4-song bonus EP, Songs in the Key of Life became among the best-selling and...
) — 3:52- Steve Madaio, Raymond Maldonado - trumpets; Trevor Laurence, Hank Redd - saxophones; Michael SembelloMichael SembelloMichael Sembello is an American musician and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Career:Sembello was born and raised in Philadelphia. He studied with jazz great Pat Martino and began his career as a professional musician by becoming a session musician, working increasingly with...
- lead guitar; Benjamin Bridges - rhythm guitar; Nathan Watts - bass; Raymond Pounds - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Steve Madaio, Raymond Maldonado - trumpets; Trevor Laurence, Hank Redd - saxophones; Michael Sembello
- "Master Blaster (Jammin')" (from Hotter Than JulyHotter than JulyHotter than July is the nineteenth album by Stevie Wonder, originally released on Motown's Tamla label on September 29, 1980. Despite the wide critical acclaim for Wonder's previous works such as Songs in the Key of Life and Innervisions, Hotter than July was his first album eligible for platinum...
) — 5:08- Larry Gittens - trumpet; Trevor Laurence - saxophone; Isaiah Sanders - organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
; Benjamin Bridges, Rick Zunigar - electric guitars; Nathan Watts - bass; Dennis DavisDennis DavisDennis Davis is an American drummer and session musician best known for his work with David Bowie.He was born and raised in Manhattan, New York City and studied with the late drummers Max Roach and Elvin Jones. He met guitarist Carlos Alomar when they were both playing with Roy Ayers...
- drums; Earl DeRouen - percussion; Shirley Brewer, Alexandra Brown Evans, Marva Holcom, Angela Winbush - vocals
- Larry Gittens - trumpet; Trevor Laurence - saxophone; Isaiah Sanders - organ
- "Boogie On Reggae WomanBoogie On Reggae Woman"Boogie On Reggae Woman" is a 1974 funk single by American Motown artist Stevie Wonder, from the album Fulfillingness' First Finale. The song, which was not in the reggae style, continued Wonder's successful Top Ten streak on the pop charts, reaching number three and also spent two weeks at number...
" (with intro not included on Fulfillingness' First Finale) — 4:55- Rocky Dzidzornu] - congas
- "That GirlThat Girl (Stevie Wonder song)"That Girl" is a 1981 soul single by American Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. The song was the leading single off Wonder's album-era greatest-hits compilation, Original Musiquarium, as one of four newer songs from the collection. The song spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B...
" — 5:15
Side four
- "I WishI Wish (Stevie Wonder song)"I Wish" is a hit song by Stevie Wonder. It was released in 1976 as a single and included on the album Songs in the Key of Life. Written and produced by Wonder, the song focuses on his childhood...
" (from Songs in the Key of Life) — 4:12- Steve Madaio, Raymond Maldonado - trumpets; Trevor Laurence, Hank Redd - saxophones; Nathan Watts - bass; Raymond Pounds - drums; Renee Hardaway - vocals
- "Isn't She Lovely?" (from Songs in the Key of Life) — 6:32
- Greg PhillinganesGreg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
; Brenda Barrett, Shirley Brewer, Colleen Carleton, Carole ColeCarole ColeCarole "Cookie" Cole was an American actress and music producer as the CEO of King Cole Productions. She was sometimes credited as Carol Cole.-Personal life:...
, Nelson Hayes, Dave Henson, Artece May, Edna Orso, Josette Valentino - handclaps
- Greg Phillinganes
- "Do I DoDo I Do"Do I Do" is a song written and performed by Stevie Wonder, first released in 1982 on the album Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I. It reached #10 in the UK and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US....
" — 10:27- Clifton AndersonClifton AndersonClifton Anderson is an American jazz musician, a trombone player. He grew up surrounded by music. His father was a church organist /choir director, and his mother a singer and pianist. It was no surprise that Clifton exhibited an affinity for music at an early age...
, Robert Eldgridge, Eugene Ghee, Larry Gittens, Virgil Jones, Earl McIntyre, J.D. Parran, Victor Paz, Janice Robinson, Robert Rutledge, Anthony Tooley, Frank WessFrank WessFrank Wess is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone and flute.-Biography:...
, Alfred Wilson, Britt WoodmanBritt WoodmanBritt Woodman was a jazz trombonist. He is perhaps best known for his work with Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus....
, Lorenzo Wyche - horns; Dizzy GillespieDizzy GillespieJohn Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
- trumpet; Isaiah Sanders - fender rhodes; Benjamin Bridges, Rick Zunigar - electric guitars; Nathan Watts - bass; Dennis Davis - drums; Earl DeRouen - percussion; Wendy Barnes, Shirley Brewer, Alexandra Brown, Melody McCully - vocals; Paul RiserPaul RiserPaul Riser is an American trombonist and Motown musical arranger who was responsible for co-writing and arranging dozens of top ten hit records. His legacy as one of the "Funk Brothers" is similar to that of most of the other "Brothers", as his career has been overlooked and overshadowed by the...
- string sectionString sectionThe string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
arrangements
- Clifton Anderson