Innervisions by Stevie Wonder

Innervisions

by Stevie Wonder

Released: August 03, 1973

Progressive soul, funk, soul, rock, jazz

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

01

The Album

"Innervisions" is Stevie Wonder's sixteenth studio album, released on August 3, 1973, by Tamla, a Motown Records subsidiary. It is a landmark release in Wonder's career, marking his transition from the "Little Stevie Wonder" known for romantic ballads to a more mature, socially conscious artist. The album features extensive use of the T.O.N.T.O. (The Original New Timbral Orchestra) synthesizer system, developed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff, showcasing Wonder's innovative approach to music.

02

Inside the Recording

At the 16th Grammy Awards, Innervisions won Album of the Year and Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording, with the track "Living for the City" winning Best R&B Song.

Start listening here

Essential Tracks

01

Visions

"Innervisions" is Stevie Wonder's sixteenth studio album, released on August 3, 1973, by Tamla, a Motown Records subsidiary.

02

Living For The City

At the 16th Grammy Awards, Innervisions won Album of the Year and Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording, with the track "Living for the City" winning Best R&B Song.

Then

Reception

The album achieved significant commercial success, peaking at number four on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart and reaching number one on the Billboard Soul LPs chart. It finished at number four on the 1974 Top Pop Albums chart. At the 16th Grammy Awards, Innervisions won Album of the Year and Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording, with the track "Living for the City" winning Best R&B Song.

Now

Legacy

Innervisions is widely regarded as one of Stevie Wonder's greatest works and a major influence on the sound of soul and black music. It was ranked number 34 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2020 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Innervisions" is Stevie Wonder's sixteenth studio album, released on August 3, 1973, by Tamla, a Motown Records subsidiary. It is a landmark release in Wonder's career, marking his transition from the "Little Stevie Wonder" known for romantic ballads to a more mature, socially conscious artist. The album features extensive use of the T.O.N.T.O. (The Original New Timbral Orchestra) synthesizer system, developed by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff, showcasing Wonder's innovative approach to music.

The album achieved significant commercial success, peaking at number four on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart and reaching number one on the Billboard Soul LPs chart. It finished at number four on the 1974 Top Pop Albums chart. At the 16th Grammy Awards, Innervisions won Album of the Year and Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording, with the track "Living for the City" winning Best R&B Song.

Innervisions is widely regarded as one of Stevie Wonder's greatest works and a major influence on the sound of soul and black music. It was ranked number 34 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2020 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

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