Looking Back (Stevie Wonder album)
Encyclopedia
Looking Back, also known as Anthology, is a triple LP anthology by American soul
musician Stevie Wonder
, released in 1977 on Motown Records
. Since its release in 12-inch Triple LP format, it has not been reissued and is considered a limited edition. The album chronicles 40 songs from Wonder's first Motown period, which precedes the classic period of his critically acclaimed albums.
. Twenty-four of those — including such radio staples as "Fingertips, Pt. 2", "Uptight (Everything's Alright)
", "I Was Made to Love Her
", "For Once in My Life
", "My Cherie Amour", and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
" — appear on Looking Back. Wonder's recordings in the '60s stand apart from most Motown acts partially because he was paired with producers and writers who very rarely worked with the Temptations
, Supremes, etc. In his early years, Wonder was often produced by Clarence Paul
and/or William Stevenson and, during the golden years, by Henry Cosby
. Then in 1970, Wonder started producing himself, beginning with Signed, Sealed & Delivered
. Most of his singles were written by Wonder himself in tandem with a variety of others, or by Ron Miller
. The hits alternated between stomping barn-burners and mid-tempo, understated ballads.
Before the long-awaited Wonder box set, At the Close of a Century, was issued, this triple-album set was the ultimate Wonder collection. It contains every major hit and many other vital singles from 1962–1971, showing his evolution from Ray Charles
' disciple
to assembly-line hitmaker to individualistic artist. Unlike its other anthologies, which have been carved down from three-volume vinyl LPs to double-disc sets, Motown simply deleted this one altogether, although vigilant collectors may be able to obtain it through used record stores. It wouldn't be until 1999's At the Close of a Century
that another Stevie Wonder anthology would be released.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
musician Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, released in 1977 on Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
. Since its release in 12-inch Triple LP format, it has not been reissued and is considered a limited edition. The album chronicles 40 songs from Wonder's first Motown period, which precedes the classic period of his critically acclaimed albums.
Overview
Between 1963 and the end of 1971, Wonder placed over 25 songs on Billboard's chartsBillboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Twenty-four of those — including such radio staples as "Fingertips, Pt. 2", "Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
"Uptight " is a 1966 hit single recorded by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label. One of his most popular early singles, "Uptight " was the first Stevie Wonder single to be co-written by the artist....
", "I Was Made to Love Her
I Was Made to Love Her (song)
"I Was Made to Love Her" is a hit single recorded by American soul musician Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label in 1967 . The song was written by Wonder, his mother Lula Mae Hardaway, Sylvia Moy and producer Henry Cosby; and included on Wonder's 1967 album I Was Made to Love Her...
", "For Once in My Life
For Once in My Life
"For Once in My Life" is a pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records' Jobete publishing company in 1967 . The composition was originally recorded by Jean DuShon, while other artists, such as Tony Bennett and The Temptations, recorded slow ballad versions of the song...
", "My Cherie Amour", and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" is a soul single by American musician Stevie Wonder, recorded for Motown's Tamla label. Released in June 1970, the song spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart...
" — appear on Looking Back. Wonder's recordings in the '60s stand apart from most Motown acts partially because he was paired with producers and writers who very rarely worked with the Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, Supremes, etc. In his early years, Wonder was often produced by Clarence Paul
Clarence Paul
Clarence Otto Pauling , better known as Clarence Paul, was a songwriter and record producer for Detroit's Motown Records....
and/or William Stevenson and, during the golden years, by Henry Cosby
Henry Cosby
Henry "Hank" R. Cosby was an African American songwriter and record producer for Motown Records...
. Then in 1970, Wonder started producing himself, beginning with Signed, Sealed & Delivered
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
Signed, Sealed & Delivered is Stevie Wonder's twelfth album on the Tamla label, released on August 7, 1970. Along with the hit title track, the album also featured the hits "Heaven Help Us All", "Never Had a Dream Come True" and Wonder's soul-styled cover of The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out"...
. Most of his singles were written by Wonder himself in tandem with a variety of others, or by Ron Miller
Ron Miller (songwriter)
Ronald Norman Miller was an American popular songwriter and record producer, who attained many Top 10 hits with ballads written for Motown artists in the 1960s and 1970s....
. The hits alternated between stomping barn-burners and mid-tempo, understated ballads.
Before the long-awaited Wonder box set, At the Close of a Century, was issued, this triple-album set was the ultimate Wonder collection. It contains every major hit and many other vital singles from 1962–1971, showing his evolution from Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
' disciple
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
to assembly-line hitmaker to individualistic artist. Unlike its other anthologies, which have been carved down from three-volume vinyl LPs to double-disc sets, Motown simply deleted this one altogether, although vigilant collectors may be able to obtain it through used record stores. It wouldn't be until 1999's At the Close of a Century
At the Close of a Century
At the Close of a Century is a box set album of Stevie Wonder's greatest hits from the 1960s through the 1990s. The box set spans four CDs and the songs are placed in chronological order. It reached #100 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 2000....
that another Stevie Wonder anthology would be released.
Side one
- "Thank You (For Loving Me All the Way)" - (2:30)
- "Contract on Love" - (2:02)
- "Fingertips - Part 2" - (2:52)
- "Workout Stevie, Workout" - (2:40)
- "Castles in the Sand" - (2:10)
- "Hey Harmonica Man" - (2:35)
- "High Heel Sneakers" - (2:58)
Side two
- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)Uptight (Everything's Alright)"Uptight " is a 1966 hit single recorded by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label. One of his most popular early singles, "Uptight " was the first Stevie Wonder single to be co-written by the artist....
" - (2:53) - "Nothing's Too Good for My Baby" - (2:38)
- "Blowin' in the WindBlowin' in the Wind"Blowin' in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan and released on his album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in 1963. Although it has been described as a protest song, it poses a series of questions about peace, war and freedom...
" - (3:45) - "Ain't That Asking for Trouble" - (2:47)
- "I'd Cry" - (2:22)
- "A Place in the SunA Place in the Sun (song)"A Place in the Sun" is a 1966 soul single by American and Motown musician Stevie Wonder. Written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, the song hit #9 on the Billboard pop singles chart, his third Top Ten hit since 1963, and one of Wonder's first songs to contain social commentary...
" - (2:52) - "Sylvia" - (2:33)
Side three
- "Down to Earth" - (2:48)
- "Thank You Love" - (2:50)
- "Hey Love" - (2:44)
- "Travelin' Man" - (2:54)
- "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" - (3:06)
- "I Was Made to Love HerI Was Made to Love Her (song)"I Was Made to Love Her" is a hit single recorded by American soul musician Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label in 1967 . The song was written by Wonder, his mother Lula Mae Hardaway, Sylvia Moy and producer Henry Cosby; and included on Wonder's 1967 album I Was Made to Love Her...
" - (2:35) - "I'm Wondering" - (2:52)
Side four
- "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-DayShoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day"Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" is a hit 1968 single released by American and Motown recording artist Stevie Wonder. The song, co-written by Wonder and produced by Henry Cosby and Sylvia Moy, was the first to showcase Wonder's talents at the clavinet and was one of his first successful co-written...
" - (2:44) - "You Met Your Match" - (2:36)
- "I'd Be a Fool Right Now" (New 1977 mix) - (2:53)
- "Alfie" - (2:58)
- "More Than a Dream" - (3:20)
- "For Once in My LifeFor Once in My Life"For Once in My Life" is a pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records' Jobete publishing company in 1967 . The composition was originally recorded by Jean DuShon, while other artists, such as Tony Bennett and The Temptations, recorded slow ballad versions of the song...
" - (2:16)
Side five
- "Angie Girl" - (2:56)
- "My Cherie Amour" - (2:54)
- "I Don't Know Why (I Love You)" - (2:43)
- "If I Ruled The WorldIf I Ruled the World"If I Ruled the World" is a popular song, composed by Leslie Bricusse and Cyril Ornadel, which was originally from the 1963 West End musical Pickwick...
" - (3:31) - "Yester-Me, Yester-You, YesterdayYester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" is a 1969 soul song written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, released by American Motown singer-songwriter-musician Stevie Wonder on the album My Cherie Amour. The song continued Wonder's success on the pop charts...
" - (2:57) - "Never Had a Dream Come True" - (2:59)
- "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm YoursSigned, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" is a soul single by American musician Stevie Wonder, recorded for Motown's Tamla label. Released in June 1970, the song spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart...
" - (2:46)
Side six
- "Heaven Help Us AllHeaven Help Us All"Heaven Help Us All" is a 1970 soul single composed by Ron Miller and first performed by Motown singer Stevie Wonder. The song, which showcased a departure from Wonder's earlier works displaying an earthier, gospel-infused sound, continued Wonder's string of Top 10 singles on the pop charts...
" - (2:59) - "I Gotta Have a Song" - (2:32)
- "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in SummerNever Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer"Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" is a 1971 song by Stevie Wonder. It comes from his album Where I'm Coming From. The song is a ballad, describing a failed relationship using the metaphor of changing seasons...
" - (2:56) - "If You Really Love MeIf You Really Love Me"If You Really Love Me" is the title of a song written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright. Wonder recorded the song and released his version as a single from his 1971 album Where I'm Coming From. The single proved very successful, peaking in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 , Billboard's R&B...
" - (2:53) - "Something Out of the Blue" - (2:58)
- "Do Yourself a Favor" - (5:58)
Production
| Producer | Side one | Side two | Side three | Side four | Side five | Side six |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Cosby Henry Cosby Henry "Hank" R. Cosby was an African American songwriter and record producer for Motown Records... |
1, 2, 4, 5, 7 | 1, 2, 6, 7 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | 1, 2, 4, 6 | ||
| Clarence Paul Clarence Paul Clarence Otto Pauling , better known as Clarence Paul, was a songwriter and record producer for Detroit's Motown Records.... |
1, 4 | 3, 4, 6 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |||
| Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist... |
2 | 3, 7 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | |||
| William Stevenson | 1 | 1, 2 | ||||
| Hal Davis Hal Davis Harold Edward "Hal" Davis was an African American songwriter and record producer, best known as the key figure in the latter part of the Motown career of The Jackson 5.... |
5, 6 | |||||
| Berry Gordy Berry Gordy Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:... |
3, 7 | |||||
| Ron Miller Ron Miller (songwriter) Ronald Norman Miller was an American popular songwriter and record producer, who attained many Top 10 hits with ballads written for Motown artists in the 1960s and 1970s.... |
1 | |||||
| Dozier–Holland | 2 | |||||
| Johnny Bristol Johnny Bristol Johnny Bristol , was an American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s... |
5 |
Chart history
| Title | Information |
|---|---|
| Looking Back |
|
| "Castles in the Sand" | Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... #52 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... #52 |
| "Nothing's Too Good for My Baby" |
External links
- Looking Back at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...