Songs In The Key Of Life  by Stevie Wonder

From the start of the '70s, Stevie Wonder was in an exceptional creative surge, releasing one masterpiece after another, so no one seemed prepared for what he did in 1976 with the release of the double album titled "Songs In The Key Of Life." This work is a masterpiece of black music of all time. It's as if its creator managed to incorporate every kind and deviation of soul music from the early '60s to its release day, delivering them in a fresh and contemporary way. And as if these songs weren't enough, the initial edition also included an EP with four additional songs, "A Something's Extra."

The "Songs In The Key Of Life" consists of seventeen compositions of progressive soul, R&B, funk, Latin, soul jazz, and plain pop music. Some are written to be heard on radios and clubs (Sir Duke and Another Star), and others are proof of their creator's genius (Contusion). The album influenced every great artist of black music - and beyond - for at least the following two decades. From Elton John, George Michael, Michael Jackson, and Mariah Carey to Coolio and Whitney Houston.

Upon its release, the album went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard, making it the first double album by an American artist to achieve such a feat. It stayed at the top for thirteen consecutive weeks and sold 5,000,000 copies in the U.S. In this way, Stevie Wonder not only reached his peak but also led others towards a peak that now seemed to have moved much higher for soul music. For the record, let's just say the obvious: the production was by him.