Customer Reviews

At the Close of a Century

5 star:		(119)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Even at four discs and 70 songs, this sprawling 36-year career retrospective will not be all things to all people. It goes without saying that a favorite track or two will be missing from everyone's list of personal favorites. However, it's hard to argue with the quality of the music.

Disc one provides us with his early Motown sides. [If there is a legitimate criticism of this box set, it's here. Of his first five albums, only "Fingertips-Pt 2" is included. In fact, his only solo singles missing are from this period: "Workout Stevie, Workout" from 1963 and "Hey Harmonica Man" from 1964. The now out-of-print Looking Back (which I have on LP) does a better job of covering his 1963-1971 period over the album's 40 tracks.] The music on this disc is all the more amazing when you stop to remember Stevie was only 22 when "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" charted in 1972--his 22nd Top 40 hit.

Discs 2 and 3 (1972-1980) cover what are arguably Wonder's peak years when he released classic albums like Talking Book (3 tracks), Innervisions (8 tracks--all but "Jesus Children of America"), Fulfillingness' First Finale (5 tracks), Songs in the Key of Life (5 tracks)and Hotter Than July (6 tracks). The Seventies were an incredibly fertile and creative period.

Disc 4 represents something of a decline--at least by the high standards Wonder set for himself in the Eighties. Sure, there were still hits, including a pair of No. 1's: "I Just Called to Say I Love You" and "Part-Time Lover," but he was no longer perched on the cutting edge.

Since my collection already includes the 3-LP Looking Back and the 2-LP Originial Musiquarium (which At the Close of the Century duplicates except for the glaring omission of "Front Line") , I've been waiting for the opportunity to add some Stevie Wonder to my CD collection. This set is nearly perfect. ESSENTIAL

I've always been a fan of Stevie's, but never knew where to start in my acquisition of his music. Everyone has their favorite album that you "must buy first" (Innervisions, Talking Book, Songs in the Key, etc.) and his career spans decades. In addition, the (abnormal) abundance of greatest hits packages were always missing a few classics.

Finally, this box set was issued and let me tell you it was worth the wait. This has every great song from the early Motown (Signed,Sealed; For Once in My Life, My Cherie Amour, etc.) through the seventies (Superstition, Higher Ground, Sir Duke, I Wish, Isn't She Lovely, Master Blaster, etc., etc,) and to the most recent tunes (Do I Do, Overjoyed, etc.)

You might think that buying a 4 CD box set as a "starter" album of an artist is a tad excessive, but this is a special case. Other reviewers say that there is a lack of B-sides and rarities, but I wasn't looking for those. Others say you have to buy the original albums, but that is a timely and expensive venture. "At the Close of the Century" is perfect how it is. Song after song of great Stevie songs. I love it.

Box sets are supposed to be comprehensive. There are not very many individuals who could do such a set of works without some filler. Not so here. Amazingly, Stevie Wonder's set, aptly titled to reference the past century (since he has recorded in most of it) even at four discs could have added a fifth or a even a sixth without losing a single step. With the same number of discs as the two volumes of Original Musicquarium, this set seems to span a longer time, and still include more hits.

It starts as it must with the joyous songs which made Little Stevie Wonder the young legend: "Fingertips", "Uptight" and "Shoo-Be-Do-Be-Doo-Da-Day". Then some more mature love songs like "I was Made to Love Her" and "My Cherie Amour", and then serious works from Fulfillingness First Finale and the masterpieces of Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. It also includes his later works from Hotter Than July and thereafter.

Listening to all this make you realize just how much great music Wonder has recorded over an incredible four or five decades. Sadly, though, the inescapable conclusion which I reached is that most of the best of his body of work came earlier. It would be unfair of us to expect every album to be an Innerisions or a S.I.T.K.O.L. It is kinda sad, though to listen and learn that he has not come up much of late which is as good as the music of the sixties and seventies.

It is a great set by any standards. Unless your library has each and every Stevie Wonder album, this is a worthwhile purchase.

IT'S ABOUT TIME! After settling for compilations that either a)focus on 60s era Stevie or 70s & beyond-era b)omit song to make room for tired favorites,a box set finally to quench a long thirst.Kudos for not including vault material(the kind that should stay in the vault),hopefully to be released on another compilation for us die-hard fans,and spare the casual listener(one of the biggist headaches when puchacing box sets). Now the gripes.Though it covers every era of Stevie's illustrious career,as well as include a majority of every hit,it still leave off essential songs including "Blame it on the Sun"(Talking Book )"Keep on Running"(Music of my Mind ),Summer Soft(SITKOL)Black Orchid(JTTSLOP)Free(Characters) "Make sure you're sure(Jungle Fever),Ebony & Ivory and "Whats That You're Doin'(McCartney'sTug of War)and the one off single 1990s Keep Our Love Alive.INNERVISIONS & SITKOL are over-represented(jut add Jesus Children of America and you have the whole INNERVISIONS album)and "Blowin' in the Wind"is in its truncated version. In all the fact that there's finally a box set,is enough reason for rejoice,and shows that the title of genius bestowed upon him 37 years ago is well justified

In my view, Stevie Wonder is the most important R&B and pop artist of the twentieth century. He has repeatedly shown the ease with which he can write and perform many different styles of music. This box set only scratches the surface fo what has been a remarkable career. In order for it to truly be an overview of his career, he would have needed it to be 10 or 12 discs. Stevie has rarely performed a stinker. Besides complementing this set with 'The Essential Stevie Wonder,' one should also purchasd 'Natural Wonder' which is also a 5 star purchase. Only dissapointment is the lack of With a Child's Heart on either of the sets, and I will now be searching for it on the internet. If you like Stevie, and evn if you have the albums from "Talking Book" through "Songs in the Key of Life," you need this set. The song selection and the liner notes are second to none.

Superb box set - 4 discs exploding with well-chosen content, no filler, exceptional sound quality, elegant booklet thick with terrific photos and useful information, sharp packaging. In 56 years, Stevie Wonder has woven himself into the American flag, everyone has a favorite song by "Little Stevie," we feel, in a sense, that he belongs to us and we to him. Because of this, it is easy to forget that he has been a revolutionary and constantly evolving creative dynamo for decades, touching millions of listeners and influencing an untold number of musicians.

Stevie Wonder and I are almost exactly the same age, born a week apart; I've had the pleasure of being present for every step of his journey. I remember being 13, listening to a transistor radio (look it up), and hearing Fingertips Part II blaring out of an AM radio station. The energy, excitement, and pure funk were irresistible. (Turns out Marvin Gaye was playing drums on that track!) The Top 40 years as Motown's child prodigy are covered particularly well in this box set.

When Wonder turned 21, he made the smartest decision of his life, and acted with incredible courage. Barry Gordy was running a plantation at Motown, exercising his unique gift for exploitation with regal power. Like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder battled for complete independence, total creative control and ownership of all his material - Motown heresy. His first album reflecting the new relationship, Music Of My Mind, was completely groundbreaking, and Talking Book, which followed, was otherworldly and nearly perfect. (Blame It On The Sun, from Talking Book, sadly did not make the cut here.) This raises another point. Even though this compilation has been collected with tremendous care, there are still omissions. (Where is With Each Beat Of My Heart?) Wonder has been so prolific and so consistently great that even 4 discs cannot do him justice; amazing.

The disks move chronologically, walking you through the evolution of a man who embodies the concept of a "complete package." Certainly he's a gifted performer, and a wonderful singer who holds nothing back. But his ability to compose a hit song is nothing short of masterful; it seems so simple when he does it. Most significant of all, I think, is the ability to roam the emotional landscape fearlessly - inviting us inside. Wonder makes himself vulnerable in a way that is virtually unknown. He takes you as high as you can stand and swoops down low to the places that could break you in half. Most of all, Little Stevie embraces life as it is. (As a child he used to climb trees and make his mother crazy with fear.) Personally I'm fond of Ribbon In The Sky but frankly, with Stevie, you simply can't go wrong.

The first song I truly remember hearing by Stevie Wonder was "Ain't Gonna Stand For It" when I was 7 or 8 years old. Great introduction to the man, right? But like a Seinfeld episode, even the not-so-great songs are better than anything else out there. Of course, by then he had been making music for almost 20 years and that legacy of the legend is here in "At the Close..." It has EVERYTHING...well, almost everything, and is a DEFINITE, DEFINITE, must have, whether you're a casual fan or rabid groupie. And the lack of certain songs doesn't negate how great this boxed set is, that's why I gave it a 5-star. You'll reminisce and remember songs that you may have heard but not really LISTENED to, and may grow a new appreciation for those songs you may not have liked before. I have "Song Review" as well and my opinion is that if you get these two combined, you'll have the definitive Stevie Wonder, short of buying ALL his albums. You HAVE to run out and get this boxed set; don't let it pass you buy. As for those reviewers saying certain songs aren't on there, check again, cause you're missing out too.

I have to admit that I didn't really much care for Stevie during his "Little Stevie Wonder" Motown days. But during the '70s, when he metamorphosed into possibly the finest R&B performer of his era, I did a quick turnaround.

This set is about as definitive as you're going to find. It's all here, fans. With only a couple of the '60s AM fluff, this boxed set goes right to the core of this brilliant artist's later output. It basically boils down to pre, versus post, dreadlocks. With the dreadlocks came the serious approach to music. This is an amazing recording and collection. It goes on for hours and reminds you why he was and is one of the titans of Rock, R&B, Soul, or however else you want to catagorize him. I can't praise this compilation enough!!

BEK

There are just so many artists right now that really are trying to have a impact on true R&B, and yet, they all just fall back quite hard on their feet. Yet, so many of them just don't have that kind of everlasting appeal in the way that greats like Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, and the biggest R&B legend of them all have had, Stevie Wonder. His feelings for great pop music have been absolutely amazing. Throughout his legendary career, he has been a constant in not just inspirational music, but with his music in general. Yet, with so much, Stevie Wonder has had adequate, but not everlasting reflections with greatest hits records. However, a boxed set does hit the mark very well.

Stevie Wonder: At The Close Of A Century, is a very well and originated reflection upon one of the greatest artists, and musicians of all time. This boxed set is a true reflection of Stevie's legendary career. Unlike most box sets or greatest hits packages, there really isn't anything missing here. Every single track you could imagine is displayed in perfection here including classics like Fingertips part 2, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Sir Duke, Part-Time Lover, Uptight, and soulful ballads like Overjoyed, For Your Love, and As. The collection also includes tracks overshadowed from previous Stevie Wonder hits packages like Isn't She Lovely, Go Home, These Three Words, Rocket Love, and Boggie On Reggae Woman. The collection is remastered beautifully without any flaws what so ever, and the feeling of Wonder's music is detailed in perfection.

While box sets aren't worth much to people in the way of money, Stevie Wonder's At The Close Of A Century is really worth the money it is bought with, especially since it is just a perfection must have for any Stevie Wonder fan, or anybody who is just interested in his great music. This definitely hits the nail on the head.

Songs: A

Price: A

Mastering: A

Enjoyment: A

Overall: A+

I wondered whether or not to buy this box set since I already own 95% of the songs. But I decided to go ahead and buy it and I am so glad I did! It is so good to be able to listen to the evolving music of Stevie Wonder. It just reinforces my belief that he is most certainly a genius of this century. It brought back so many memories.The booklet that comes with it is invaluable for any Stevie Wonder fan. I almost wish that vinyl was back so the pictures in the booklet would be bigger.I will cherish this.