Definitive Collection [2CD]

• Artist: Stevie Wonder
• Rating:
• Release Date: November 26, 2002
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

When you're putting together a lengthy 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. [This album was also released in the UK as a two-disc set featuring 38 tracks.] ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Superstition	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(4:28)
Sir Duke	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(3:54)
I Wish	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(4:14)
Master Blaster (Jammin')	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(5:09)
Isn't She Lovely	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(3:21)
I Just Called to Say I Love You	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(4:23)
Ebony and Ivory	Paul McCartney	Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder	(3:42)
As	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(3:29)
Never Had a Dream Come True	Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy	Stevie Wonder	(3:13)
I Was Made to Love Her	Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, Lula Mae Hardaway	Stevie Wonder	(2:37)
Heaven Help Us All	Ron Miller	Stevie Wonder	(3:13)
Overjoyed	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(3:44)
Lately	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(4:07)
For Your Love	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(5:02)
If You Really Love Me	Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright	Stevie Wonder	(2:59)
Higher Ground	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(3:44)
Do I Do	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(5:05)
Living for the City	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(3:41)
Part-Time Lover	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(4:14)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
For Once in My Life	Orlando Murden, Ron Miller	Stevie Wonder	(2:48)
Uptight (Everything's Alright)	Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy	Stevie Wonder	(2:53)
We Can Work It Out	John Lennon, Paul McCartney	Stevie Wonder	(3:15)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours	Lee Garrett, Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright, Lula Mae Hardaway	Stevie Wonder	(2:38)
Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday	Bryan Wells, Ron Miller	Stevie Wonder	(3:04)
I'm Wondering	Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy	Stevie Wonder	(2:54)
My Cherie Amour	Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy	Stevie Wonder	(2:52)
You Are the Sunshine of My Life	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(2:58)
I Don't Know Why (I Love You)	Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder, Lula Mae Hardaway	Stevie Wonder	(2:47)
A Place in the Sun	Bryan Wells, Ron Miller	Stevie Wonder	(2:49)
Blowin' in the Wind	Bob Dylan	Stevie Wonder	(3:04)
Send One Your Love	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(4:02)
Pastime Paradise	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(3:28)
I Ain't Gonna Stand for It	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(4:39)
Fingertips, Pts. 1-2	Henry Cosby, Clarence Paul	Stevie Wonder	(6:55)
Boogie on Reggae Woman	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(5:13)
You Haven't Done Nothin'	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(3:23)
He's Misstra Know It All	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(5:34)
Happy Birthday	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	(5:54)

Credits

Kevin Reeves (Digital Mastering), Harry Weinger (Liner Notes), Harry Weinger (Compilation Producer), Stevie Wonder (Harmonica), Stevie Wonder (Piano), Stevie Wonder (Keyboards), Stevie Wonder (Vocals), Vartan (Art Direction), Jeffrey Mayer (Cover Photo), Scott Regan (Liner Notes), Michael Bryan (Cover Image), Jeff Moskow (Compilation Producer), Ryan Null (Photo Coordination)