Songs in the key of life series#
It turned out to be the last in a series of classic ‘70s albums (following Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions and Fulfillingness’ First Finale) and simultaneously heralded the arrival of a patchier period. Looking back, Songs In The Key Of Life marks a pivotal point in Wonder’s career.
It debuted at number one in the Billboard chart on 8 October 1976, spent 13 consecutive weeks there and went on to sell over ten million copies in the US the following year. Gordy initially baulked at having to pay what, at the time, was a huge sum, but was quickly appeased after the album’s much-delayed release. Prior to completing Songs’, Wonder’s contract with Motown was up, and, according to label boss Berry Gordy, it took $13 million of his company’s money to make him sign a new one. In 1975, Stevie Wonder was reported to be seriously considering leaving the music industry to go and work with handicapped children in Ghana a noble idea, certainly, but surely few who’ve heard his double-LP (plus bonus EP) opus would deny that philanthropy’s loss was very much music’s gain. The story goes that Songs In The Key Of Life is an album that nearly didn’t get made.