Customer Reviews

Original Musiquarium I - 2 disc set

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This collection consists of 12 of Wonder's best '70's tracks, plus four tracks that were new at the time of this collection's release. What's amazing is that the new tracks are on a par with the best-of material. The timelessness of this music--it mostly sounds as fresh today as it did when it was recorded 20-25 years ago--makes a strong argument for Wonder as THE artist of the '70's. What keeps this collection from a full five stars is the exclusion of any material from his '60's and early '70's Motown albums. And what makes listening to this album a bit sad is the realization that he would never really hit these artistic heights again.

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Between the strict Motown hit making machinery between 63-71,and the MOR 80's and beyond,are these historical recordings from 1972's Music Of My Mind through 1980's Hotter Than July.Musiquarium focuses strictly on the hits(Superstition,..Sunshine..,Sir Duke etc)as well as include four new songs,three of which are now regarded as Wonder Classics(the melancholy,yet seductive That Girl,the ultimate love song Ribbon in The Sky,and the jammin' yet overlong Do I Do).Unfortunatly Stevie's gift of making music of this caliber has dissipated,but Musiquarium is a great introduction for anyone who thinks his best songs include I Just Called To Say I Love You and other 80's tracks.

I've had this Set for many Years.and It Reflects his Grand Genius.So Many Great Songs From A Mind that never stopped Clicking.As Writer,Arranger,Producer,Instrumentalist,Vocalist Stevie Wonder Has Inspired a WHole Generation&a half with his Quality Work.he has had time periods.his 60's stuff was hit&Miss.in the 70's UNSTOPPABLE.80's Hit,Miss&Close.90's So-So at best.but Look at how many Decades He has been Around and The Many Lives His Music has Touched?He will always be Special to me.

Bridging the gap between his schmaltzy 60's (the best in that genre BTW) lil' Stevie tunes and the bizarrely-impulsed Stevie that brought us "Woman in Red" and "Jungle Fever" is this masterpeice. Dizzyingly soulful in delivery, political, full of loving and love-lorn vibes, and at times danceable--this album (okay, double album) provides all. I recommend this wholeheartedly to any music lover period--it is not to be missed, and, when coupled with "Songs in the Key of Life", completes the essential Stevie Wonder collection (not that I don't recommend the inessential Stevie collection as well).

Get some Stevie Wonder in your collection. This is worthwhile for "The Sunshine of My Life" or "Isn't She Lovely" alone.

Also recommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.

This CD set is 'music' at its best. Original lyrics and talented musicians are lost arts in today's sample, remake, digital instrument society. I listen to these songs often, yet they continue to get better with time. I would name a few of my favorites, but I must honestly say that I like them all! I will always recognize and appreciate Stevie Wonder as the musical genius he is.

I love this collection! It's got all the most uplifting tunes from this enormously talented man. Some of the best pop songs ever appear on this double album and it reminds the listener just how clever and exuberant a musician Stevie can be.

Believe it or not guys, it was Mariah Carey who turned me on to this double album. I think it was sometime in 2002 when I read an interview on her official website. When asked about her favourite album, she replied: "Stevie Wonder's Musiquarium."

Gathering all the highlights from the super-successful 1970's and adding four classy new songs, "The Original Musiquarium I" (1982) works as a greatest hits album as well a concept long-player -- something that few entertainers ever could afford. So high was the quality of Wonder's albums between 1972-1980!

This is probably the best-possible introduction to Stevie's prolific discography and maybe the best choice if you want to own one album of this artist. All tracks are just top and even if I decided to pick highlights, I would get pretty close to naming all songs here. But let's try... "Living For The City", "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "Ribbon In The Sky", "Higher Ground", "That Girl", "Do I Do" (one of the best jams I've ever heard) -- and more!

If there will ever be another "musiquarium", I doubt it will be this good...

Before I acclaim 'The Original Musiquarium,' I have to criticize it. It seems that Wonder's associates unintentitionally left out some of the top 20 of Wonder's songs- "Golden Lady," "All I Do," and "Lately." Without them, songs like "Do I Do," with a great horn section/tempo and a guest contribution from Dizzy Gillespie, distract the listener from that. The better part of the album includes "Sir Duke" (again with a nice horn session), "Superwoman" (with a nice transition to a sentimental piece), and "That Girl," (which is sort of a mainstream R & B cut). Looking at the impact Wonder has had in the music industry, I really believe that he has been one of the greatest entertainers for a good 40 years and has a knack for songwriting and good melody. Overall, 'T.O.M.' should be in any true R & B fans tape rack.

Despite the inclusion of a couple of overlong, pedestrian ballads ("Ribbon in the Sky" and the abominable "Superwoman"), this is one of the finest hits collections ever assembled by any artist. Three of Stevie's four new songs ("That Girl," "Do I Do" and the searing "Front Line") are first rate, while the fourth (the aforementioned "Ribbon") is one of those sugary, saccharine Stevie ballads that everyone but his most devoted fans can't abide. However, from "Living for the City" to "Master Blaster (Jammin')," these are some of the most innovative, original, fully realized pop/soul songs ever recorded. I cannot recommend this collection highly enough.