Songs in the Key of Life

***Songs in the Key of Life*** is the eighteenth studio album by American recording artist Stevie Wonder. It was released on September 28, 1976, by Tamla.

## Critical reception

_Songs in the Key of Life_ received widespread acclaim from critics.

### Original vinyl release

- Side one
1. "Love's in Need of Love Today" <small>(Stevie Wonder)</small> – 7:06
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Yamaha GX-1 synthesizer, bass synth, drums</small>
    - <small>Eddie "Bongo" Brown – kalimba</small>
1. "Have a Talk with God" <small>(Calvin Hardaway, Wonder)</small> – 2:42
    - <small>Stevie Wonder - all instruments synthesizer</small>
1. "Village Ghetto Land" <small>(Gary Byrd, Wonder)</small> – 3:25
    - <small>Stevie Wonder - Yamaha GX-1 synthesizer</small>
1. "Contusion" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 3:46
    - <small>Mike Sembello – lead guitar</small>
    - <small>Raymond Pounds – drums</small>
    - <small>Nathan Watts – bass</small>
    - <small>Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar</small>
    - <small>Greg Phillinganes – keyboard</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – all other instruments</small>
    - <small>Michael Gray, Josie James, Shirley Brewer, Artece May – vocals</small>
1. "Sir Duke" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 3:52
    - <small>Raymond Pounds – drums</small>
    - <small>Nathan Watts – bass</small>
    - <small>Mike Sembello – lead guitar</small>
    - <small>Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar</small>
    - <small>Hank Redd – alto saxophone</small>
    - <small>Raymond Maldonado – trumpet</small>
    - <small>Trevor Laurence – tenor saxophone</small>
    - <small>Steve Madaio – trumpet</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – all other instruments</small>

- Side two
1. "I Wish" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 4:12
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – vocals, Fender Rhodes, ARP 2600 synthesizer, vocoder, drums</small>
    - <small>Nathan Watts – bass</small>
    - <small>Hank Redd – alto saxophone</small>
    - <small>Trevor Laurence – tenor saxophone</small>
    - <small>Raymond Maldonado – trumpet</small>
    - <small>Steve Madaio – trumpet</small>
    - <small>Renee Hardaway - vocals ("you nasty boy!")</small>
1. "Knocks Me Off My Feet" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 3:36
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – vocals, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, drums, synth bass</small>
1. "Pastime Paradise" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 3:27
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – Yamaha GX-1 synthesizer, percussions</small>
    - <small>Raymond Maldonado, Bobbye Hall – percussions</small>
    - <small>Hare Krishna, West Angeles Church Choir – background vocals</small>
1. "Summer Soft" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 4:14
    - <small>Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar</small>
    - <small>Ronnie Foster – organ</small>
    - <small>Larry "Nastyee" Latimer – percussion</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – vocals, piano, bass synthesizer, drums</small>
1. "Ordinary Pain" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 6:16
    - <small>Mike Sembello – lead guitar</small>
    - <small>Hank Redd – alto saxophone</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, Fender Rhodes, bass synthesizer, drums</small>
    - <small>Minnie Riperton, Mary Lee Whitney, Deniece Williams, Syreeta Wright – background vocals</small>
    - <small>Shirley Brewer – reply</small>
    - <small>Linda Lawrence, Terri Hendricks, Sundray Tucker, Charity McCrary, Madelaine Jones – reply's background vocals</small>

- Side three
1. "Isn't She Lovely" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 6:34
    - <small>Greg Phillinganes – keyboard</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – Fender Rhodes, RMI Electra Piano, bass synthesizer, harmonica, drums</small>
1. "Joy Inside My Tears" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 6:30
    - <small> Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, background vocals, piano, bass synthesizer, drums</small>
    - <small>Greg Phillinganes – keyboard</small>
    - <small>Susaye Green – background vocals</small>
1. "Black Man"<small>(Byrd/Wonder)</small> – 8:27
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – Fender Rhodes, bass synthesizer, synthesizer, talk box, drums, percussion</small>
    - <small>Hank Redd – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone</small>
    - <small>Steve Madaio – trumpet</small>
    - <small>George Bohanon – trombone</small>
    - <small>Glen Ferris – trombone</small>

- Side four

1. "Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 3:48
    - <small>Charles Brewer, Shirley Brewer, Renee Hardaway, Nelson Hayes, Marietta Waters, Nathan Watts, John Fischbach, Amale Mathews, Josette Valentino – background percussion</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – vocals, Koto synthesizer, bass synthesizer, drums</small>
    - <small>Zulu translation by Thoko Mdalose Hall, Spanish translation by Raymond Maldonado</small>

1. "If It's Magic" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 3:12
    - <small>Dorothy Ashby – harp</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – vocal, harmonica</small>

1. "As" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 7:08
    - <small>Nathan Watts – bass, handclaps</small>
    - <small>Dean Parks – guitar</small>
    - <small>Herbie Hancock – Fender Rhodes, handclaps</small>
    - <small>Greg Brown – drums</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – lead and background vocal, Fender Rhodes</small>
    - <small>Mary Lee Whitney – background vocals</small>
    - <small>Dave Hanson, Yolanda Simon, Josette Valentino – handclaps</small>

1. "Another Star" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 8:08
    - <small>Bobbi Humphrey – flute</small>
    - <small>George Benson – guitar and background vocals</small>
    - <small>Hank Redd – alto saxophone</small>
    - <small>Raymond Maldonado – trumpet</small>
    - <small>Trevor Laurence – tenor saxophone</small>
    - <small>Steve Madaio – trumpet</small>
    - <small>Nathan Alford, Jr. – percussion</small>
    - <small>Carmello Hungria Garcia – timbales</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – lead vocal and background vocals, piano, drums</small>
    - <small>Nathan Watts – bass</small>
    - <small>Josie James – background vocals</small>

#### _A Something's Extra_

The "A Something's Extra" 7" extended play was included with the special-edition version of the original LP. These tracks are also on most CD versions of the album, as well as the Blu-ray Audio. They were either split between both discs or added to the end of the second disc.

- Side one
1. "Saturn" <small>(Michael Sembello, Wonder)</small> – 4:54
    - <small>Mike Sembello – lead guitar</small>
    - <small>Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar</small>
    - <small>Gregory Phillinganes – keyboard</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – all other instruments</small>
1. "Ebony Eyes" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 4:11
    - <small>Nathan Watts – bass</small>
    - <small>Jim Horn – saxophone</small>
    - <small>Peter "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow – steel guitar</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, tack piano, talkbox, drums</small>

- Side two
1. "All Day Sucker" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 5:06
    - <small>Ben Bridges – rhythm guitar</small>
    - <small>Mike Sembello – rhythm guitar</small>
    - <small>W. G. "Snuffy" Walden – lead guitar</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, background vocals, bass synthesizer, Clavinet, drums</small>
    - <small>Carolyn Denis – background vocals</small>
1. "Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)" <small>(Wonder)</small> – 3:55
    - <small>Nathan Watts – bass</small>
    - <small>Stevie Wonder – Fender Rhodes, harmonica, drums</small>

## Personnel

- Stevie Wonder – harmonica, arranger, keyboards, programming, vocals, drums
- Michael Sembello – guitar
- Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel
- George Benson – guitar, vocals
- Ronnie Foster – organ
- Herbie Hancock – keyboards, handclapping
- Dean Parks – guitar
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards
- W.G. "Snuffy" Walden – guitar
- Nathan Watts – bass guitar, vocals, handclapping
- Greg Brown – drums
- Raymond Lee Pounds – drums
- Hank Redd – alto and tenor saxophone
- George Bohannon – trombone
- Ben Bridges – guitar, sitar
- Dorothy Ashby – harp
- Bobbi Humphrey – flute
- Howard "Buzzy" Feiten – guitar
- Steve Madaio – trumpet
- Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone
- Glen Ferris – trombone
- Jim Horn – saxophone
- Deniece Williams – vocals
- Minnie Riperton – vocals
- Gary Byrd – vocals
- Michael Wycoff – vocals
- Larry Scott – sound effects
- Carol Cole – percussion
- Bobbye Hall – percussion
- Jay Boy Adams – vocals
- Nathan Alford, Jr. – percussion
- Henry America – vocals
- Linda America – vocals
- Baradras – vocals
- Brenda Barnett – vocals
- Khalif Bobatoon	– vocals
- Starshemah Bobatoon – vocals
- Sudana Bobatoon	– vocals
- Charles Brewer – percussion, programming, vocals
- Shirley Brewer – percussion, vocals, speaking part
- Berry Briges – vocals
- Cecilia Brown – vocals
- Eddie "Bongo" Brown – percussion
- Jean Brown – vocals
- Rodney Brown – vocals
- Colleen Carleton – percussion, vocals
- Addie Cox – vocals
- Agnideva Dasa – vocals
- Duryodhana Guru Dasa – vocals
- Jayasacinandana Dasa – vocals
- Jitamrtyi Dasa – vocals
- Vedavyasa Dasa – vocals
- Cinmayi Dasi – vocals
- Yogamaya Dasi – vocals
- Carolyn Dennis – vocals
- Bhakta Eddie – vocals
- Doe Rani Edwards – vocals
- Jacqueline F. English – vocals
- Ethel Enoex – vocals
- Al Jocko Fann – vocals
- Barbara Fann – vocals
- Melani Fann – vocals
- Shelley Fann – vocals
- Tracy Fann – vocals
- John Fischbach – percussion, programming, vocals, engineer

- Susie Fuzzell – vocals
- Carmelo Garcia – percussion, timbales
- Anthony Givens – vocals
- Audrey Givens – vocals
- Derrick Givens – vocals
- Mildred Givens – vocals
- Michael Lee Gray – vocals
- Mimi Green – vocals
- Susaye Greene Brown – vocals
- Bhakta Gregory – vocals
- Renee Hardaway – percussion, vocals
- John Harris – sound effects
- Jeania Harris – vocals
- John Harris – programming
- Troy Harris – vocals
- Nelson Hayes – percussion, sound effects, vocals
- Terry Hendricks – vocals
- H. David Henson – assistant engineer
- Don Hunter – programming, sound effects
- Adrian Janes – vocals
- Josie James – vocals
- Calvin Johnson – vocals
- Carol Johnson – vocals
- Patricia Johnson – vocals
- Madelaine Jones – vocals
- Bhakta Kevin – vocals
- Phillip Kimble – vocals
- James Lambert – vocals
- Linda Lawrence – vocals
- Irma Leslie – vocals
- Kim Lewis – vocals
- Carl Lockhart – vocals
- Gail Lockhart – vocals
- Raymond Maldonado – percussion, trumpet
- Carolyn Massenburg – vocals
- May – vocals
- Charity McCrary – vocals
- Linda McCrary-Campbell – vocals
- Lonnie Morgan – vocals
- Kim Nixon – vocals
- Lisa Nixon – vocals
- Larri Nuckens – vocals
- Larry Latimer – percussion, vocals
- Amale Mathews – percussion, vocals
- Gary Olazabal – engineer, bass sound
- Edna Orso – percussion, vocals
- Marietta Waters – percussion, vocals
- Josette Valentino – percussion, vocals, handclapping
- Gwen Perry – vocals
- Gregory Rudd – vocals
- Rukmini – vocals
- Yolanda Simmons – vocals, handclapping
- Keith Slaughter – vocals
- Rosona Starks – vocals
- Dennis Swindell – vocals
- Sundray Tucker – vocals
- Gary Veney – vocals
- Sheryl Walker – vocals
- Mary Lee Whitney – vocals
- Syreeta Wright – vocals
- Michael Gray – vocals
- Susaye Greene – vocals
- William Moore – vocals
- Fountain Jones – programming
- Aisha Morris – crying on "Isn't She Lovely"

## Singles

|Year|Single|Chart|Position|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1976|rowspan=4|"Another Star"|Club Play Singles|align="center"|2|
|rowspan=12|1977|Pop Singles|align="center"|32||
|Black Singles|align="center"|18||||
|Adult Contemporary|align="center"|29||||
|rowspan=3|"I Wish"|Pop Singles|align="center"|1||
|Black Singles|align="center"|1||||
|Adult Contemporary|align="center"|23||||
|rowspan=3|"Sir Duke"|Pop Singles|align="center"|1||
|Black Singles|align="center"|1||||
|Adult Contemporary|align="center"|3||||
|"Isn't She Lovely"|Adult Contemporary|align="center"|23|||
|rowspan=3|"As"|Adult Contemporary|align="center"|24||
|Black Singles|align="center"|36||||
|1978|Pop Singles|align="center"|36|||

## Infobox (album)

- **name**: Songs in the Key of Life
- **type**: studio
- **artist**: Stevie Wonder
- **recorded**: 1974–76
- **label**: Motown, Tamla
- **producer**: Stevie Wonder
- **prev title**: Fulfillingness' First Finale
(1974)
- **next title**: Looking Back (Stevie Wonder album), Looking Back – Anthology
(1977)