It is a fact of life that hard line Motown fans/collectors don’t give two hoots for Stevies’ output after 1969 and probably before 1964. It was his recording from 64-69 that serve him best although one cannot take away the real talent that he possesses. After all he’s still around. Talking to Martha Reeves she told me that Stevie was the most talented artist at Motown in the sixties and almost forty years on he still has a following out there worldwide.

‘Uptight’ is still THE Stevie Wonder track for me and I remember like yesterday the first time I heard that thunderous beat come crashing over the huge sound system at some Mecca ballroom at Preston in 1966 and I’ve never forgotten it to this day. That track opens the proceedings.

‘Fingertips’ (Parts 1&2) follows next and whilst showing Stevie’s talent at such a young age, fails to ignite the same passion as Uptight did. Other early UK issued classics follow with ‘Workout Stevie, Workout’ and ‘Music Talk’, yet it wasn’t until 1966 when he covered Bob Dylan's’ ‘Blowing in the Wind’ did he see his next chart placing. The song was a good version and on this CD we find Motown songwriter Clarence Paul adding his vocals.

Clarence Paul and Sylvia Moy were responsible for writing much of Wonder’s sixties material and again Paul is heard on ‘Little Water Boy’ from around 1963.

The million selling single from 1967 ‘I Was Made To Love Her’ sounds as good today as it ever did, as does his 1969 outing ‘Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday’.

A couple of oddities are included for added sales potential. Those being the coupling of the great Levi Stubbs on the song ‘Teach Me Tonight’ . His versions of great standards ‘Ebb Tide’ and ‘Beyond the Sea’ are equally as good as any version around.

Eighteen tracks in all, and a fair portrayal of this great mans music between 1962-1969. Love him or hate him, he was one of the giants of Motown.

Personal rating 6/10
Expect to pay £6.99 in the UK
Available now

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