Some observers count six classic albums, some count five, and others count four. The album has been regarded by music journalists as the culmination of Wonder's "classic period" of recording. It was released on September 28, 1976, by Tamla Records, a division of Motown.
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Note: Edited review a bit after recent listen.Songs in the Key of Life is the eighteenth album by American singer, songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder. Given Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, Talking Book and Hotter Than July have all been announced on SHM-SACD, it can prove to be a very expensive year indeed, especially if the mastering is just as pleasant as SITKOL. Be warned that once you go SHM-SACD it can be a very expensive (but rewarding) path to sonic ecstasy. Overall, a worthy investment if you're a fan of this album. One thing to note is that the SHM-SACDs typically are not hybrids, so don't dive in expecting this to be a dual layer disc that you can play on any old standard CD player. Personally, I'm not sure if I buy into it, but the discs do look uber sexy if that matters to you. Apparently there's some science behind this claim that I won't go into here, but Google is your friend if you want to learn more. The SHM coating is supposed to enhance sound quality. You can easily tell great care went into the manufacturing of these discs. Universal Japan SHM-SACD build quality is second to none.
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Given it's a Japanese import there's an obi strip for your viewing pleasure (apparently this matters to some collectors). The disc itself is packaged in an mini-LP style case and rest in a scratch resistant inner sleeve housed in a hard paper outer sleeve.
#Stevie wonder songs in the key of life update#
However, I've read that there is a firmware update available to address this issue on some units. It plays back on my Yamaha DVD-S1800 with no issues. There are reports that this SACD has issues playing back on some players during track one. It's perfectly "imperfect" if that makes any sense. Overall, I prefer the way it sounds as is and feel no need to tweak any settings. If one desires more emphasis on the top end you only need to adjust your treble a bit and you should be plenty happy. It seems like great care was taken to preserve the natural sound of the original recording (regardless of the source) and provide us with a nice solid flat transfer. It has all the characteristics of a nice vinyl pressing, but without the surface noise, snap, crackle and pop. Listening to the SACD I feel like I've been transported back in time to the days of 70s hi-fi, where the sound is beautifully analog, warm and smooth, which IMO adds more depth and character to this particular pressing. I also find the recording generally mellow, and in a very good way. Mids are forward and lush, and highs are well controlled and not harsh in the slightest. Regarding the SHM-SACD, the low-end is well extended, mostly punchy, but slightly boomy on some tracks. Not much difference to justify the extra cost there. So unless you have a dedicated SACD player you're better off trying to find yourself the original Tamla 2 CD set, which is sonically comparable to the AF gold disc. Imagine this: would you rather have creamy smooth full-flavored ale or a Budweiser? The SHM-SACD is hands down the most dynamic, full-bodied presentation of this classic recording I've come across. I own Songs in the Key of Life on vinyl LP, the original Motown/ Tamla 2 CD set, and previously the AF gold disc. The 5 star rating is for the content of the disc and the sound quality of the mastering.