Looking Back (Stevie Wonder album)

Infobox Album
Name = Looking Back - Anthology
Type = compilation
Longtype =
Artist = Stevie Wonder


Released = November 30, 1977
Recorded = 1962–1971
Genre = R&B/Soul
Length = 103:57
Label = Motown
M-804LP3
Producer = Clarence Paul
William Stevenson
Henry Cosby
Stevie Wonder
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dpfwxqq5ldje~T0 link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|5|5 [http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rs5star_ed1.htm link]
Last album = "Songs in the Key of Life"
(1976)
This album = "Looking Back"
(1977)
Next album = "Journey through the Secret Life of Plants"
(1979)

"Looking Back", also known as Anthology, is a triple LP anthology by Stevie Wonder, released in 1977 on Motown Records. [http://www.steviewonder-unofficial.com/albums.html Album page at Wonder's website] Since its release in 12' Triple LP format, it has not been reissued and is considered a limited edition. [http://www.vinylrecords.ch/S/ST/STE/Stevie_Wonder/Looking/looking_back.html Vinyl Records Collector's Guide: Looking Back description] ] 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, Stevie Wonder placed over 25 songs on Billboard's charts. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fzfyxq8gld0e~T51 Stevie Wonder Billboard singles at Allmusic.com] 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 Stevie 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.

Track listing

ide 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)

ide two

# "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" - (2:53)
# "Nothing's Too Good for My Baby" - (2:38)
# "Blowin' in the Wind" - (3:45)
# "Ain't That Asking for Trouble" - (2:47)
# "I'd Cry" - (2:22)
# "A Place in the Sun" - (2:52)
# "Sylvia" - (2:33)

ide 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 Her" - (2:35)
# "I'm Wondering" - (2:52)

ide four

# "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" - (2:44)
# "You Met Your Match" - (2:36)
# "I'd Be a Fool Right Now" - (2:53)
# "Alfie" - (2:58)
# "More Than a Dream" - (3:20)
# "For Once in My Life" - (2:16)

ide five

# "Angie Girl" - (2:56)
# "My Cherie Amour" - (2:54)
# "I Don't Know Why (I Love You)" - (2:43)
# "If I Ruled The World" - (3:31)
# "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" - (2:57)
# "Never Had a Dream Come True" - (2:59)
# "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" - (2:46)

ide six

# "Heaven Help Us All" - (2:59)
# "I Gotta Have a Song" - (2:32)
# "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" - (2:56)
# "If You Really Love Me" - (2:53)
# "Something Out of the Blue" - (2:58)
# "Do Yourself a Favor" - (5:58)

Personnel

*Stevie Wonder - Vocals, piano, harmonica, keyboards

Production

Chart and single history

References

External links

* [http://www.discogs.com/release/556049 Looking Back info/sales at Discogs.com]