Music of My Mind is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on March 3, 1972 (see 1972 in music). Many observers count this album as the beginning of Wonder's "classic period", though others look to the previous one or the following one.Some observers count six classic albums, some count five, and others count four. It is his fourteenth studio release. Music of My Mind showcases Wonder's earlier experiments with the synthesizer, and is a more assured recording than Where I'm Coming From (his first effort while holding the majority of artistic control). Also on display were his increasing musical ambitions, with him leveraging different genres of music and utilizing longer song forms. Stevie used synthesizers for many musical parts on this album. He also played drums as he frequently does on all of his albums.

The texture of the album was different from anything he had released on the Motown label to that point. Standout tracks include "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)", "Happier Than The Morning Sun" and "I Love Every Little Thing About You". This is one of the earliest works in black music to include the use of synthesizers, and was the first of a set of collaborations between Stevie and his co-producers Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 284 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Its enduring influence was confirmed with its UK re-release on September 22, 2008 to coincide with Wonder's autumn 2008 European tour.

Cover versions

*"Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" – by The Main Ingredient, Quincy Jones, Donny Hathaway and Ramsey Lewis. Sampled by Janet Jackson for the song "New Agenda (with Chuck D)" on the album janet.

*"Happier Than the Morning Sun" – by B.J. Thomas.

*"Girl Blue" – by The Main Ingredient.

*"Keep On Running" Recorded by F.B.I. in 1976 on their self titled Lp

*"Keep On Running" Recorded by Snafu on their 1975 Final Lp, "All Funked Up"

*"Seems So Long" Recorded by Les McCann on his 1975 Lp "Talk To The People"

*"I Love Every Little Thing About You" Recorded by Syreeta on her 1972 LP "Syreeta"

Charting singles

*1972: "Keep On Running" (Black Singles) – No. 36

*1972: "Keep On Running" (Pop Singles) – No. 90

*1972: "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" (Black Singles) – No. 13

*1972: "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" (Pop Singles) – No. 33

Album charts

*1972: Black Albums Chart – No. 6

*1972: Pop Albums Chart – No. 21

Chart information by Billboard ©VNU eMedia

References

Category:Stevie Wonder albums

Category:1972 albums

Category:Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios

Category:Tamla Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Stevie Wonder

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Artist/Band Information

Stevland Hardaway Judkins (born May 13, 1950), name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris, Stevie Wonder's mother's authorized biography states that his surname was legally changed to Morris when he signed with Motown in 1961. known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist.Perone, James E. (2006). The Sound of Stevie Wonder: His Words and Music. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing. ISBN 0-2759-8723-X. Pg. xi-xii Blind since shortly after birth, Wonder signed with Motown Records' Tamla label at the age of eleven, and continues to perform and record for Motown to this day.

Among Wonder's best known works are singles such as "Superstition", "Sir Duke", "I Wish" and "I Just Called to Say I Love You". Well known albums also include Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. He has recorded more than thirty U.S. top ten hits and received twenty-two Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a male solo artist. Wonder is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a holiday in the United States.Perone, James E. (2006). The Sound of Stevie Wonder: His Words and Music. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing. ISBN 0-2759-8723-X. Pg. 83 In 2009, Wonder was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's fiftieth anniversary, with Wonder at number five.

Early life

Stevie Wonder was born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1950, being the third of six children to Calvin Judkins and Lula Mae Hardaway. Owing to his being born six weeks premature, the blood vessels at the back of his eyes had not yet reached the front and their aborted growth caused the retinas to detach. The medical term for this condition is retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP, and while it may have been exacerbated by the oxygen pumped into his incubator, this was not the primary cause of his blindness.

When Stevie Wonder was four, his mother left his father and moved herself and her children to Detroit. She changed her name back to Lula Hardaway and later changed her son's surname to Morris, partly because of relatives. Morris has remained Stevie Wonder's legal name ever since. He began playing instruments at an early age, including piano, harmonica, drums and bass. During childhood he was active in his church choir.

Discovery and early Motown recordings

Ronnie White of The Miracles gives credit to his brother Gerald White for persistently nagging him to come to his friend's house in 1961 to check out Stevie Wonder.Werner, Craig. Higher Ground. New York: Crown Publishers, 2004. Print. Afterward, White brought Wonder and his mother to Motown Records. Impressed by the young musician, Motown CEO Berry Gordy signed Wonder to Motown's Tamla label with the name Little Stevie Wonder. Before signing, producer Clarence Paul gave Wonder his trademark name after stating "we can't keep calling him the eighth wonder of the world". He then recorded the regional Detroit single, "I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues", which was released on Tamla in late 1961. Wonder released his first two albums, The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie and Tribute to Uncle Ray, in 1962, to little success.

Music career

Tim "Herb" Alexander (born April 10, 1965 in Cherry Point, North Carolina) is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band Primus. Tim played on the Primus recordings Suck on This to Tales from the Punchbowl, before leaving the band in 1996, only to rejoin in 2003 for the EP Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People. Although Alexander has been quoted saying he was originally inspired to become a rock drummer by legendary drummers like John Bonham, Neil Peart and Shaun O'Connor, Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde claims Alexander's drum beats are mostly influenced by African Jùjú music.

Prior to joining Primus, he played and recorded with Major Lingo, which at the time was a ska-based rhythm band that featured a lap steel guitar as the lead instrument, played by Tony Bruno. When Major Lingo toured through the Bay Area Tim met members of Primus and would go on to remain there trying out for the band.

Following Alexander's departure from Primus, he went on to form his own group, Laundry. Alexander released two albums with the band Laundry; Blacktongue and Motivator. Alexander has also collaborated with experimental bass player Michael Manring and guitarist Alex Skolnick to form the group known as Attention Deficit.

Alexander was the first drummer of A Perfect Circle, performing early live shows with the band, and recording drums for the track "The Hollow" on the band's debut album, Mer de Noms. He is listed as a member in the band's DVD/CD release aMOTION.

Alexander joined the theatrical group Blue Man Group, and has occasionally played with the Las Vegas-based improvisational rock band Uberschall.

Despite being primarily known for his drum work Alexander is an accomplished guitarist and singer. He performed live guitar with the group Born Naked and held the lead vocal duties on Laundry's second album and supporting tour.

Alexander was involved throughout 2008-09 in a project known as Into The Presence which features songs by Luis Carlos Maldonado. Their debut album was released on Razor and Tie Records and includes performances from bassist Paz Lenchantin and cellist Ana Lenchantin. Both Into The Presence and the Fata Morgana release were recorded and produced at Alexander's own Ghost Town Studios.

As of 2010 Alexander is actively involved as a member of Maynard James Keenan's Puscifer project. He has toured with them and can be heard on their most recent released recordings.

Discography

Primus

* Suck on This (1989)

* Frizzle Fry (1990)

* Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991)

* Miscellaneous Debris (1992)

* Pork Soda (1993)

* Tales from the Punchbowl (1995)

* Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People (2003)

Laundry

* Blacktongue (1994)

* Motivator (1999)

A Perfect Circle

* Mer de Noms (2000) (Appears on "The Hollow")

Attention Deficit

* Attention Deficit (1998)

* The Idiot King (2001)

Fata Morgana

* This Is A Dream (2005

Equipment

Drums:

TAMA,

* 18"x20" Bass Drum

* 16"x18" Bass Drum

* 5.5"x14" Bronze PBZ355 Snare Drum

* 6"x14" Starclassic G Maple Snare Drum

* 8"x8" Tom Tom

* 9"x10" Tom Tom

* 10"x12" Tom Tom

* 14"x14" Floor Tom

* 14"x20" Gong Bass Drum

* 16"x16" Floor Tom

* Octoban Low-Pitch Set

Hardware:

TAMA,

many various boom and straight cymbal stands

Cymbals:

Zildjian,

* 9.5" & 6" Zil-Bells

* 13" Z Custom Dyno Beat Hi-Hats

* 18",17" & 16" A Medium Crashes

* 18" A Rock Crash

* 6" & 8" A splash

* 12" A Special Recording Hi-Hats

* 13" A New-Beat Hi-Hats

* 18" Oriental China Trash

* 22" K Custom Ride.

Sticks:

Zildjian,

Tim Alexander Artist Series (16" length, 0.53" diameter)

Heads:

REMO

References