The Definitive Collection

by Stevie Wonder

Overview

When you're putting together a 21-song collection of a major artist who's had more than 40 Top 40 hits, inevitably there's going to be a lot of good stuff left out. Stevie Wonder's long and varied career (not over when this anthology appeared) really needs more than one disc to even adequately summarize the highlights. But this single-disc comp does squeeze in most of his best-known songs, from 1963's "Fingertips, Pt. 2" to the mid-'80s number one hits "Part-Time Lover" and "I Just Called to Say I Love You." Along the way there's "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," "I Was Made to Love Her," "For Once in My Life," "My Cherie Amour," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," "Superstition," "Higher Ground," "Living for the City," "You Haven't Done Nothin'," "Boogie on Reggae Woman," "I Wish," "Sir Duke," and more. There is a sharp decline in quality following "Masterblaster (Jammin')," but at least that only lasts five songs. Of course, there's a lot missing too: "A Place in the Sun," "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day," "If You Really Love Me," and "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," to pick only some obvious candidates. Why exactly the 1967 single "Hey Love" (a Top Ten R&B single that barely made the pop charts) is included is a mystery, though at least it breaks up the predictability. For casual fans it's a decent career-spanning overview, though, and even the most casual fan will sense the musical genius and enormous artistic growth that shines through most of the selections. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	10/29/2002
Label:	Motown
UPC:	0044006616421
Rank:	3369

Tracks

1. Fingertips, Pt. 2
2. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
3. Hey Love
4. I Was Made to Love Her
5. For Once in My Life
6. My Cherie Amour
7. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
8. You Are the Sunshine of My Life
9. Superstition
10. Higher Ground
11. Living for the City
12. You Haven't Done Nothin'
13. Boogie on Reggae Woman
14. I Wish
15. Sir Duke
16. Master Blaster (Jammin')
17. That Girl
18. Do I Do
19. I Just Called to Say I Love You
20. Overjoyed
21. Part-Time Lover

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist,Harmonica,Keyboards,Piano,Vocals
Paul McCartney   Primary Artist
Dan Barbiero   Primary Artist
Austin Godsey   Primary Artist
Luther Vandross   Guest Artist
Lani Groves   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
The Jackson 5   Guest Artist
Malcolm Cecil   Moog Synthesizer
Jim Gilstrap   Vocals (Background)
Gloria Barley   Vocals (Background)
Robert Margouleff   Moog Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Kevin Reeves   Digital Remastering,Digital Mastering
Clarence Paul   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Don Hunter   Composer
Jeff Moskow   Compilation Producer
Lee Garrett   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Producer,Programming,Horn Arrangements,Arranger,Composer
Harry Weinger   Liner Notes,Compilation Producer
Malcolm Cecil   Engineer,Programming,Associate Producer
Henry Cosby   Composer,Producer
William "Mickey" Stevenson   Producer
Syreeta Wright   Composer
Paul Riser   Composer,String Arrangements
Ron Miller   Composer,Composer
Vartan   Art Direction
Adam Starr   Product Manager
Morris Broadnax   Composer
Scott Regan   Liner Notes
Michael Bryan   Cover Image
Ramon Galbert   Product Manager
Charles Brewer   Programming
Scott Regen   Liner Notes
Monique McGuffin   Production Coordination
Ryan Null   Photo Coordination
Ronald Norman Miller   Composer
Ronald Miller   Composer
John Fischbach   Programming
John Lennon   Composer
Robert Margouleff   Engineer,Programming,Associate Producer
Lula Mae Hardaway   Composer
Orlando Murden   Composer
Stevland Morris   Composer
Bryan Wells   Composer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Producer
Sylvia Moy   Composer
Bob Dylan   Composer