Classic Period
In the 1970s, Wonder entered his “classic period,” releasing a slew of outstanding albums that cemented his reputation as a true artist. Slate’s Jack Hamilton reflected on this period in 2016, writing, “Most Americans follow up their 21st birthdays with a hangover. Stevie Wonder opted for arguably the greatest sustained run of creativity in the history of popular music.”
Classic Period
The Most Ambitious Work Ever Made
Wonder released Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life over the course of five years, from 1971 to 1976. Wonder’s last album, in particular, was a watershed moment in his career. But it meant a lot more than that. In his Slate article, Hamilton waxed poetic about Songs in the Key of Life, dubbing it “a monumental work of American popular culture” and “perhaps the most ambitious work ever made by a pop star at the height of his or her powers.”
The Most Ambitious Work Ever Made
