Stevie Wonder: Artist Essentials

First released: 1972 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1972 release history of Talking Book. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1972 studio recording
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Talking Book

Talking Book - original Motown album program
The original 1972 program identifies Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life and the selected album tracks. The original Sunshine album arrangement is distinct from the separately documented single version with added horns. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1976 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1976 release history of Songs in the Key of Life. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1976 studio recording
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Songs in the Key of Life

Songs in the Key of Life - original Motown program
The original 1976 program identifies Sir Duke, I Wish, Isn't She Lovely and the selected deeper tracks, including the four original additional-disc songs. Later singles, full-album tours and the 2026 EP reissue do not establish first release. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

Songs in the Key of Life - Motown original package history
The original 1976 release comprised two LPs plus a four-track seven-inch disc. The selected Ebony Eyes belongs to that original additional disc, not a newly recorded later bonus edition. Only year precision is used because the exact album day differs across sources. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1973 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1973 release history of Innervisions. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1973 studio recording
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Innervisions

Innervisions - original Motown album program
The original 1973 program includes the full seven-minute Living for the City, Higher Ground and the selected deeper tracks. Higher Ground's pre-album single was also in 1973; later singles do not move the remaining album recordings into 1974. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1970 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1970 release history of Signed Sealed and Delivered. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1970 studio recording
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Signed Sealed and Delivered

Signed Sealed and Delivered - original Motown album
The original 1970 program includes Signed, Sealed, Delivered, Heaven Help Us All and Stevie Wonder's We Can Work It Out. The cover was already on this album before its later single campaign; the Beatles recording is a different performance. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

Stevie Wonder - Motown recording and career history
The label history distinguishes the early Little Stevie Wonder credit, the live Fingertips single released in 1963, Uptight in 1965, later solo album development, the Paul McCartney duet and the new 2005 A Time to Love album. Promotional award/chart superlatives and medical claims are not used. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1969 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1969 release history of My Cherie Amour. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1969 studio recording
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: My Cherie Amour

My Cherie Amour - original Motown album program
The original 1969 album includes My Cherie Amour and Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday. The title song's earlier single also dates to 1969; composition/session anecdotes and current remaster dates are not release evidence. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1973 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1973 release history of Innervisions. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1973 full Innervisions album recording
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Innervisions

Innervisions - original Motown album program
The original 1973 program includes the full seven-minute Living for the City, Higher Ground and the selected deeper tracks. Higher Ground's pre-album single was also in 1973; later singles do not move the remaining album recordings into 1974. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1972 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1972 release history of Talking Book. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1972 Talking Book album recording without later single horn overdubs
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Talking Book

Talking Book - original Motown album program
The original 1972 program identifies Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life and the selected album tracks. The original Sunshine album arrangement is distinct from the separately documented single version with added horns. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1976 (year verified)

Motown documents the album release in 1976 before the November 1976 single. The later 1977 chart appearance is not the recording's first release.

Recording: Original 1976 studio recording
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Songs in the Key of Life

Songs in the Key of Life - original Motown program
The original 1976 program identifies Sir Duke, I Wish, Isn't She Lovely and the selected deeper tracks, including the four original additional-disc songs. Later singles, full-album tours and the 2026 EP reissue do not establish first release. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

I Wish - Motown album-before-single chronology
The label explicitly separates the 1976 original album from the later November 1976 single and 1977 chart appearance. The original recording's first year is 1976. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1968 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1968 release history of For Once in My Life. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1968 studio recording
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: For Once in My Life

For Once in My Life - original Motown album and singles
The original 1968 program includes For Once in My Life and Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day. Both retain 1968 single metadata; a default January 1 album display is treated as year precision only. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1976 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1976 release history of Songs in the Key of Life. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1976 studio recording
Credit: Stevie Wonder
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Songs in the Key of Life

Songs in the Key of Life - original Motown program
The original 1976 program identifies Sir Duke, I Wish, Isn't She Lovely and the selected deeper tracks, including the four original additional-disc songs. Later singles, full-album tours and the 2026 EP reissue do not establish first release. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

Songs in the Key of Life - Motown original package history
The original 1976 release comprised two LPs plus a four-track seven-inch disc. The selected Ebony Eyes belongs to that original additional disc, not a newly recorded later bonus edition. Only year precision is used because the exact album day differs across sources. | Reviewed 2026-10-17