Editor’s Note: From Albumism’s inception back in 2016, we’ve remained unabashedly and unequivocally passionate about our mission of celebrating the world's love affairs with albums past, present and future.

But while our devotion to the album as an art form has remained steadfast, as evidenced by our deepening repository of individual album tributes and reviews, we’ve admittedly seldom taken the opportunity to explicitly articulate our reverence for the virtues of artists’ complete album repertoires as a whole.

Hence why we’ve decided to showcase what we believe to be the most dynamic discographies of all time in this recurring series. In doing so, we hope to better understand the broader creative context within which our most beloved individual albums exist, while acknowledging the full breadth of their creators’ artistry, career arcs, and overall contributions to the ever-evolving musical landscape.

We hope you enjoy this series and be sure to check here periodically for the latest installments.

STEVIE WONDER

From the moment he was signed aged 11 by Motown, it seemed Stevie Wonder was destined for great things. Surely though, nobody could have predicted the enormity of what he would achieve and the impact of his incredible discography. Through his teenage years he wrote and performed some of the most joyous examples of Motown’s genius before 1971’s transitional Where I’m Coming From began the maturation of his songwriting at the same time as helping to broaden the scope of Motown’s ambition beyond perfect three-minute singles.

From that point on for the next 5 or 6 years, he was untouchable. Hit records that were critically lauded flowed like water from the unparalleled genius. Talking Book also began his obsession with and groundbreaking use of the synthesizer T.O.N.T.O. that would influence entire generations of musicians. Music of My Mind, Innervisions, Fullfillingness’ First Finale and the monumental Songs in the Key of Life formed a sequence that has few, if any, equals. The breakneck speed of production slowed as he entered the ‘80s and beyond and whilst it would be churlish to suggest his albums reached the dizzying heights of the golden run, he still had the ability to deliver patches of brilliance.

During the crazed months of lockdown this strangest of years, I found myself reaching for his work more than anyone else’s and it helped crystallize what was so important to me about his music. His songs encompass joyous proclamations of love, scathing social commentary and forlorn works of broken-hearted genius, but all are shot through with a universal humanity that reaches inside and soothes the spirit. He offers hope where there is seemingly none and comfort when it is most needed, with an almost never-ending positivity.

Because of that innate positivity, it throws his moments of despair into even sharper relief. When he contemplates “Where were you when I needed you last winter?” in the second half of “Superwoman,” I feel it in the very pit of my soul as the lack of positivity is so stark and felt so much more harshly. Equally though, nothing lifts my spirit like the unbridled, unfettered euphoria of “Higher Ground” or “Sir Duke.”

All of life dwells in the work of Stevie Wonder and coming back to it always feels like coming home.

Patrick’s 3 Favorite Stevie Wonder Albums of All Time:

1. Innervisions (1973)
2. Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
3. Music of My Mind (1972)

LISTEN & WATCH: