#350 of 500
· Rolling Stone
“#350 feels right for this one. Music of My Mind is a product of the 1970s, and Stevie Wonder delivered something that still resonates. The original pressing rewards close listening on a good turntable.”
Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Morris, 1950) is a legendary multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who became one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century despite losing his sight at infancy. Rising to prominence as a child prodigy at Motown Records in the 1960s, he achieved unprecedented creative control over his work in the 1970s, a decade that produced some of his most celebrated albums including Music of My Mind (1972), Innervisions (1974), and Songs in the Key of Life (1976). His mastery of keyboards, harmonica, and percussion, combined with his sophisticated songwriting and production skills, revolutionized soul and R&B music. Wonder continued innovating through the 1980s and beyond, earning 28 Grammy Awards and cementing his status as one of the most respected artists in popular music history.
Style
Wonder's sound blends soul, R&B, funk, and pop with jazz and world music influences, characterized by his virtuosic keyboard playing, rich vocal harmonies, and complex arrangements that showcase sophisticated harmonic structures and rhythmic innovation.
Significance
Stevie Wonder is essential to vinyl collectors as a pioneering artist who demonstrated artistic autonomy within the major label system and whose albums from the 1970s are considered masterpieces of contemporary music, consistently appearing on lists of greatest albums ever recorded and representing peak-era Motown soul and progressive R&B.
Music of My Mind, released in 1972, marked a creative watershed for Stevie Wonder at just 22 years old. Recording primarily at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, Wonder played virtually every instrument on the album—keyboards, harmonica, drums, and percussion—establishing himself as a multi-instrumentalist rather than merely a vocalist. Working with producer John Fischbach, Wonder crafted an introspective, synthesizer-driven sound that departed from Motown's traditional approach. The album showcased his growing control over his artistic direction, following his earlier renegotiation with Motown Records that granted him unprecedented creative freedom. Tracks like "Love Having You Around" and the title track demonstrated his sophisticated harmonic sensibilities and pioneering use of the Moog synthesizer in soul music.
Historical Context
Music of My Mind arrived during a pivotal moment in 1972 when soul and funk were absorbing progressive rock influences and electronic instrumentation. The album preceded Wonder's commercial breakthrough by just two years—it was a critical and moderate commercial success that proved he could helm his own productions. Contemporary artists were exploring synthesizers, but Wonder's application felt distinctly soulful rather than coldly experimental. The album's success helped establish the template for his masterpiece run of the mid-1970s (Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, Songs in the Key of Life) and influenced the broader acceptance of electronic instruments in Black popular music.
Pressing Notes
The original 1972 Tamla pressing (TS-314) is the first edition collectors seek, identifiable by its gatefold jacket design. Early pressings feature deep, warm sound characteristic of Motown's 1970s vinyl mastering. The album has been reissued multiple times, including 180-gram audiophile pressings in recent decades. Collectors should note that original Tamla pressings can vary in pressing plant quality—Los Angeles and Memphis plants produced notably different sound signatures. The gatefold artwork, with Wonder's distinctive design aesthetic, remains collectible. Later reissues may offer improved clarity but often lack the sonic character of early pressings, making original first editions desirable despite higher prices.
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
A sensual soul masterpiece with lush orchestration and intimate vocals that shares the same sophisticated R&B sensibility as Stevie's work.
Curtis
Curtis Mayfield
Features Curtis's warm, expressive vocals and intricate production with social consciousness, embodying the same artistic depth and soul authenticity.
Live
Donny Hathaway
Showcases virtuosic musicianship and emotional vulnerability with rich orchestral arrangements that parallel Stevie's multi-instrumental approach.
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
Delivers smooth, melodic soul with meticulous production and warm instrumentation that complements the refined R&B aesthetic of Music of My Mind.
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