STEVIE WONDER — Fulfillingness' First Finale (review)

STEVIE WONDER — Fulfillingness' First Finale album cover Album · 1974 · RnB Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
js
“Fulfillingness’ First Finale” is one of the finest albums by one of the finest pop artist/writers in the modern (post rock-n-roll) era. No creative stone is left unturned in the production of these tunes, and each one stands alone as its own unique fine polished gem. From a songwriting perspective, you would be hard pressed to find an album with more inventive chord changes and harmonic surprises at every turnaround. Stevie was already a master of the creative chord substitution before he put together “Finale”, but on here he pushes himself to new heights and unveils chord voicings that will have a major impact on pop, jazz and fusion for decades to come. All is not music theory though as Wonder matches these creative changes with lyrics that are often reflective and longing for a love that is always just out of reach and slipping away.

The other plus on here is the production. Following in the footsteps of folks like Brian Wilson and Jimmy Hendrix who pioneered the idea of a studio as a musical instrument, Wonder uses a wide variety of instruments and techniques to give every song its own unique color. Of particular interest is Wonder’s use of early analog synthesizers, which in the early 70s were still difficult to use in conventional tonal ensembles. Throughout this album you can hear these primitive electronic beasts adding background parts, counter melodies and tonal shadings giving the album an almost kitsch-like exoticism.

One of the best albums from a decade full of great albums, songwriting dos not get much better than this and it doesn’t hurt that Stevie also has one of the more likable singing voices of his time as well.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
Matt wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Great album, but weren't they all from little Stevie in the seventies

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin : Brasil Latin Jazz
LEE RITENOUR
Buy this album from MMA partners
From The North - Gogo Penguin Live In Manchester Nu Jazz
GOGO PENGUIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anthony Braxton Saxophone Quartet : Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022 Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sean Khan Presents The Modern Folk & Jazz Ensemble Nu Jazz
SEAN KHAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Yass Big Band : imMATHEMATICS Eclectic Fusion
TYMAŃSKI YASS ENSEMBLE / YASS BIG BAND
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Fall
SUNNY KIM
js· 12 hours ago
Twilight
RANDY SCOTT
js· 1 day ago
Trifecta - Beck and Call - official video (taken from The New Normal)
TRIFECTA
js· 2 days ago
Phoenix
GRÉGORY PRIVAT
js· 2 days ago
Karrin Allyson EPK for NEW Album "A Kiss For Brazil" Available May 17, 2024 ©Origin Records
KARRIN ALLYSON
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed