The Definitive Collection

Stevie Wonder | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 29, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1963
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Motown Universal
• ASIN: B00006JSS8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (218 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #1 in Music > R&B > Classic R&B
  • #1 in Music > R&B > Motown
  • #10 in Music > R&B > Soul > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Like the Beatles' The Beatles 1, this rundown of Stevie Wonder chestnuts is merciless in cutting a huge list of classic tracks down to a single disc's worth of the most recognizable. Anyone who's treasured even one or two of these songs and yet never bought a Wonder record will be more than pleased with the acquisition of The Definitive Collection. These records continue to ring with importance and history, but more important, all except two or three remain fresh and capable of surprising even veteran fans. Those listeners may note, though, that Wonder is among the few performers who could release a retrospective containing 15 No. 1 R&B hits and still invite the complaint that the album felt incomplete--not least in explaining how the man transformed himself from a multitalented teenage hitmaker into the funk-pop visionary of Talking Book, Innervisions, and Songs in the Key of Life. --Rickey Wright

Product Description

Stevie's first career-spanning, single-CD collection, featuring 21 hits from 1963's Fingertips Part 2 to 1985's Part-Time Lover ! And featured in between: the rare 45 version of You Are the Sunshine of My Life; I Was Made to Love Her; For Once in My Life; Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours; Superstition; Higher Ground; Living for the City; Boogie on Reggae Woman; Sir Duke; I Wish; Master Blaster (Jammin'); That Girl; I Just Called to Say I Love You; Hey Love , and more. A 16-page booklet puts Stevie's incredible career in context.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

115 of 122 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this May 5, 2007

By Joseph Siegler TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

This is another in the list of CD's in my collection that you wouldn't expect a metalhead to have. I mean, the guy who runs Black Sabbath's website - liking Stevie Wonder?!? To be honest, before I bought this, when I thought of Stevie Wonder, I thought of three things. First, he's blind. Second, Eddie Murphy used to parody him on Saturday Night Live. Third, his song "Superstition", which I loved. That was it.

In April 2007, my stepfather died, and due to that, I had to head over to Men's Wearhouse to buy a suit for the funeral. While I was in there, I was getting fitted, and a song came on. I thought it was Will Smith's "Wild Wild West" from the (bad) movie of the same name. However, as it went along, I realized "Hey, that's not Will Smith". Listened some more, and said "That sounds like Stevie Wonder". Turns out it was, it was his song "I Wish". I was quite amazed. Not only did Will lift the main "riff", there was a lot of the same song structure. I then realized I was quite deficient in Stevie Wonder music.

Then I listened to it. I was quite amazed at how much of Stevie Wonder's music I actually knew! As I listened to more of the music, I realized I knew just about all of this stuff, just not by name. To be honest, when I sat down to listen, I thought this would be one of these knee jerk purchases I make, which I later go "Why did I buy this?" Not this one, I enjoyed it a lot, especially the more I realized I knew. It's hard to quantify his music - some might say "funk", but that doesn't seem right. I just know it's good music. Worth picking up.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Music November 1, 2002

By Thomas Magnum HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Stevie Wonder has had many greatest hits packages released during his forty year career. This new collection is the first single disk set that takes into consideration his earliest work until his final days as a major chart force in the mid 1980's. Most fans of Mr. Wonder will already have all of these songs, but no one can ever complain about the quality of the music. Some of these twenty-one songs are among the best songs ever recorded including the epic "Living For The City", the jazzy "Sir Duke" and reggafied "Master Blaster" and the rocking "Superstition". While Mr. Wonder was at his ultimate peak in the 1970's, the 80's tracks are very strong including the overlooked classic "That Girl" and the gorgeous "Overjoyed". Stevie Wonder was dubbed the 12-year-old genius, but through the years, his age may have changed, but his genius hasn't.

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Single Disc Collection of Stevie Wonder's Hits October 4, 2006

By Dr. Marc Axelrod VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

It needs to be stated at the outset that Stevie Wonder has more than just 21 hits. But this cd brings together the best hits from the 1960s through the 1980s. They are also remastered with the best possible sound. You get "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," "Superstition," "Living for the City," "Higher Ground, the anti Nixon "You Haven't Done Nothing," "I Wish," "Do I Do," "My Cherie Amor," and many more on one disc. Completists will wish the cd had room for "Isn't She Lovely, Frontline, Ribbon in the Sky, and a few others, but no one can quibble with what IS contained on this disc. You can always download the ones that are missing.

Stevie Wonder was the most soulful and funky singer of the 1970s. Your pop/rock collection isn't complete without this cd.

65 of 74 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Stevie deserves better November 15, 2002

By Tom Sanders

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I suppose it is my own fault if I disagree with the material selection...it is a highly subjective matter. Personally I think there is too much of the earliest stuff on it that was made before he hit his mature genius. However, it is inexcusable that the recording quality is so dreadful! There are remastered versions of this material available that sound wonderful, and much of this sounds like a transistor radio. Another rip-off by a record label on us. One wonders if the engineers who put this stuff together have any pride at all in their work. I see no evidence of it here!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wrong place to start May 21, 2006

By Shon J. Hoon

Format:Audio CD

It's kind of ironic because this album is my first Stevie Wonder CD I've bought. But now that I know what I was missing, I don't want it to happen to other people.
Let me list some of the BEST songs that this disc is missing
- Isn't She Lovely
- Golden Lady
- As
- Send One Your Love
- Ribbon In The Sky
- Visions
- Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
- Send One Your Love
- Lately
etc.

I'm pretty sure there are people who think those missing songs can make up a better collection.

So don't even bother with this one and save money for these packages
- At The Close Of A Century (4 CD Box Set)
- Natural Wonder (2 CD Set LIVE)
- Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants (Tied with INNERVISIONS for Stevie's best album)

13 bucks was well worth for me to be introduced to the greatness of Stevie Wonder. So I don't regret anyway.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Stevie Wonder compilation October 12, 2003

By Peter Durward Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

It is easy to be confused by Stevie Wonder compilations. In the nineties, a double CD was released in America titled Song review, while a single CD was released in Britain with the same title and artwork. More recently, a single CD was released in America titled Definitive collection, so (conversely) a double CD was released in Britain with the same title and artwork. This British double CD is much better than the earlier American double CD titled Song review, which had fewer tracks and missed out some important songs. Indeed, this is the best compilation of Stevie's music that I've seen. Even on two CD's, it is not possible to include every Stevie Wonder recording worth hearing, but all the big hits in Britain and America are here.

You probably have your own favorites. I particularly like You are the sunshine of my life, For once in my life, Yester-me yester-you yesterday, Living for the city, I just called to say I love you, Sir Duke, A place in the sun, Lately and Happy birthday. Other classics (also excellent) include Superstition, I wish, Isn't she lovely, Ebony and ivory (with Paul McCartney), Never had a dream come true, Uptight and so many others.

If you only want one collection of Stevie Wonder music, this is by far the best. If you want to build a collection of his music, this is a great starting point.