Ballad Collection - Stevie Wonder

Advantages: 17 great tracks on one CD
Disadvantages: none

The best of Stevie Wonder’s ballads on a single CD, there are 17 in total making this compilation CD a very good buy. I picked up my copy for £7.99 in the sales at Virgin Records. The track that caught my eye in the song list was ‘Golden Lady’ which I have always liked and have on a vinyl single. …and due to no deck anymore is not longer playable (along with a great collection of 150+ LP’s). Anyway closer inspection ...
...Amour’, ‘All in love is fair’, ‘Lately’ to name but a few. The majority of the tracks are quality items and still have listening appeal for all tastes of music. Stevie Wonder is a master craftsman; his lyrics are perfectly written and scored. The smooth harmonies are recognisable even by those who have never heard of the writer/singer Some of the tracks are re-mastered but the majority are in stereo as originally recorded. ... Read review

Advantages: It's just fab, fab, FAB
Disadvantages: None for me

17 great Stevie Wonder ballads on 1 CD. I got a really great bargain when I bought it from Ebay for £3.00 (even though I'd already got it......don't ask, I'm just very stupid and my memory's really bad - I think it must be my age. But at least I've now got one for the house and one for the car) It contains some of my very favourites - My Cherie Amour, You are the sunshine of my life and Lately to name just 3. AND it has my very very favourite - ... Read review

Advantages: some decent tunes
Disadvantages: too many mediocre ones

...their way here. Track 10) Hard Feelings ( B.Burnette / J. Silbar ) One word sums this up - boring . Sounds like a Beatles recording . Track 11) Freedom ( S. Nicks / M. Campbell ) Simply dire , lifeless . As per track 5) Track 12) When It Comes To Love ( B.Burnette / D. Morgan / S. Climie ) Almost a country feel to this tune , and for a change it actually works - one of the better tracks . Track 13) The Second Time ( S. Nicks / R. Vito ) Simple and understated , saving some of the best till last - a truly wonderful ballad , with a soulful performance on lead vocal by Stevie . ~ Overview ~ An album only for the true Mac fanatic , who collects the entire catalogue of recordings . The departure of Buckingham and with it his song writing talents and arranging talents is all too obvious . Of thirteen tracks , only four hit the mark , four... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Some great songs
Disadvantages: Not a true career retrospective

...thanks God for how beautiful his child is, has a wonderful energy and effervescence, 'For Once In My Life' sounds as sprightly and awe-inspiring now as it did the day it was recorded and 'My Cherie Amour' is still the sweetest thing ever put onto vinyl. However, there are times when the incessant balladeering, which isn't wholly representative of Stevie's career, even though the compilers of collection such as this would rather it be that way, gets a little too annoying and I found myself crying out for something just a little bit more abrasive. It's a pity that in these less enlightened times the impact of Stevie Wonder's career seems to have been dimmed by his success, indeed suggesting that 'I Just Called…' and its success meant that the public no longer saw Stevie as an artist who could make social commentary, which he done consistently... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful