9.
Stevie Wonder – Music Of My Mind
In 1972 Stevie Wonder recorded Music of My Mind and Talking Book outside the control orb of Motown and then used the recordings to leverage a better deal with Motown, who had been shafting him Barry Gordy-style since puberty. These sessions mark the beginning of his grownass man period, which ends in 1994 when he collabs with Lenny Kravitz. I love the vibe of this record because Stevie plays all the instruments other than trombone and guitar, and the overdubs sound ‘gloriously artificial’ and sloppy and raw energied out. His Moog bass sounds sultry on ‘Superwoman’ which is proglike in its movement and gnarly chord changes. My favourite jam, ‘I Love Every Little Thing About You’ is the purest distillation of the phenomenon of your friends not liking your girlfriend but it not mattering.
