Natural Wonder [Live]

Stevie Wonder | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 21, 1995)
• Original Release Date: November 21, 1995
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000001A9P
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,527 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Greatest Live Albums Ever Made, April 2, 2005

By 

Anthony Nasti "Tony" (Staten Island, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Natural Wonder (Audio CD)

1995's "Natural Wonder" captures the raw energy, unbrideled passion and undeniable excitement it feels to be at a Stevie Wonder concert. This is something few artists can do at their concerts. Stevie Wonder is one of those few. On this two disc collection (culled from his 1995 "Conversation Peace" tour), wonder performs 24 classic songs with all the skill and soul you'd expect from Stevie.

Stevie truly pours his heart into his songs. Just listen to the passion he puts into songs like "Love's In Need Of Love Today", "Stay Gold", "If It's Magic" "Ms. And Mr. Little Ones" (a new song when it was released and a personal favorite) and "Overjoyed". And naturally, Stevie isn't afraid to have a little fun, funking it up on "Sign Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "Sir Duke" and "I Wish", as well as transforming the tender ballad "Ribbon In The Sky" into an almost nine minute jazzy jam.

I was also glad that Stevie decided to revive several lesser knowns gems such as "Pastime Paradise", "Another Star", "Village Ghetto Land" and "Rocket Love". These songs stand well against concert warhorses such as "Higher Ground" and "Superstition".

My only gripe is basically the one another reviewer said, and that's that several songs ("Master Blaster (Jammin')", "Living For The City", "Another Star") were a lot shorter than the original versions. Usually when you go to a concert, you expect the songs to be longer than the studio versions. But I won't fault the entire album because of that. Also, I noticed the list of songs that reviewer would have liked seen on this album is the same as mine. But again, I won't fault the entire album for these minor complaints.

This is an album that I think everyone should own. Also worth picking up is "At The Close Of The Century" and all of Stevie's studio albums, which are among the greatest albums of all time.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Closest Thing to Being There!, February 26, 2005

By 

Reginald D. Garrard "the G-man" (Camilla, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Natural Wonder (Audio CD)

For those of us that live in the "boondocks" where artists rarely or never appear, "live" recordings provide us with the stadium or concert hall experience.

"Natural Wonder," recorded in both Israel and Japan is, as the title implies, a stupendous performance by one of the 20th century's true geniuses. Backed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and a band featuring instrumental heavyweights Nathan Watts, Darryl Jackson, along with others, the Motown legend delivers with an intensity that makes him the envy of his contemporaries and his successors.

The album begins with "Dancing to the Rhythm," a highly charged tune that has Wonder's mellifluous vocal instrument matched by an outstanding Paul Riser string arrangement. This song, along with "Stevie Ray Blues," and "Mr. and Mrs. Little Ones, are previously unreleased tunes but they meld seamlessly with his more familiar hits.

And what hits they are!!!

The Academy Award-winning "I Just Called to Say I Love You". The pop/R & B smashes "My Cherie Amour," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," and so many others.

One would have to be six feet under to not be moved by "Rocket Love" or "I Wish".

The album may be ten years old but Wonder's music is timeless, still resonating with soulful passion as they did when they were first heard.

And that makes Stevie one for the ages!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Curse the 90s and their blasted synths, November 25, 2008

By 

C. Drayton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Natural Wonder (Audio CD)

Stevie Wonder is one of the most talented artists of all time. I've rarely seen a songwriter with as extensive a songbook as his. Throughout the 70s his touring band was considered one of the best in the business because of its talent and sheer funkiness. Unfortunately, Stevie fell into the same trap many an artist did starting in the late 80s and throughout most of the 90s - he figured that synths were advanced enough to replace his once vaunted horn section.

He was wrong.

As a result, this live recording sounds a bit hollow and dated. And I don't mean dated in a "well, it's My Cherie Amore, it's SUPPOSED to be old" sort of way. I mean dated in a "Arsenio Hall Show house band" sort of way. I knew this was recorded in the mid-90s even before I checked the liner notes.

For people who don't notice those sort of things, or who do and don't care or even prefer the synth sound, they won't take issue with this live recording. For those of us who fondly remember his old school performances when he had a four piece horn section, you'll be slightly disappointed. To be sure, it's not TERRIBLE, but the prominence of the 90s instrumentation is a bit distracting, especially on songs that rely on groove and grittiness, like Superstition and I Wish.

But don't take my word for it. To get at what I'm talking about, go to YouTube and look up Stevie Wonder Sesame Street (it'll make sense once you're there). Listen to the version of Superstition that pops up and compare it to the version on this album to get a sense of contrast.

While you're at it, listen to all of the previews. Do you hear a perfectly competent horn section in each of the songs? If yes, then proceed to check out and enjoy your purchase. If no, then listen again and consider carefully before truly deciding.

I'm happy to report, however, that there is not a synthesized horn section to be found on his 2008 live tour. It's easily his best touring band in 30 years. And it's a magical experience because of it.