The musician produced, wrote, arranged, and composed the entire album, with only three songs in the credits appearing with a co-writer attached, and the breadth of its influence across the musical canon is staggering. In its rambling liner notes, he wrote, “Songs in the Key of Life is only a conglomerate of thoughts in my subconscious that my Maker decided to give me the strength, the love+love-hate=love energy making it possible for me to bring to my conscious an idea.” But the record’s scope proves that at its core, it’s a love letter to music and a glimpse into the heart of the beautiful soul that is Stevie Wonder.
Lyrically, Songs in the Key of Life is an eclectic mix ranging from a tender track written for Stevie’s daughter (Isn’t She Lovely) to a critical look at racism in America that sadly holds true in today’s tumultuous racial climate (Black Man). “Music is a world within itself with a language we all understand,” sings Stevie Wonder on Songs in the Key of Life treasure, Sir Duke, reminding us all that no matter what this thing we call life might throw our way, if we’ve got the music, we’ve got everything.įorty years later, the sprawling double album is a timeless blend of pop, jazz, and funk that remains the crown jewel of Wonder’s discography, representing the apex of his artistry during a nearly unmatched period of true musical creativity.