Let’s See the Life the Way It Is

 Let's See the Life the Way It IsSongs in the Key of Life

A song by song response to Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder

Let’s See the Life the Way It Is

Side One

  1. “Love is more than a wedding day” – Cody Chesnutt
  2. “Worship” – Ane Brun feat. Jose Gonzalez
  3. “Inner City Blues (Make me wanna holler)” – Marvin Gaye
  4. “Los Conquistadores Chocolatés” – Johnny Hammond
  5. “Stevie” – Duke Ellington and John Coltrane

Side Two

  1. “Dreams”  – Fleetwood Mac
  2. “You got me” – The Roots feat. Erykah Badu
  3. “Everybody Dance” – Chic
  4. “Sun” – Caribou
  5. “Is it Medicine” – The Knife

Side three

  1. “Weird Girl” – Mara Carlyle
  2. “A change is gonna come” – Sam Cooke
  3. “It’s a man’s world” – James Brown

Side four

  1. “Todo mi amor eres tu” – Michael Jackson
  2. “How to disappear completely” – Radiohead
  3. “If you want me to stay” – Sly and the Family Stone
  4. “We own the sky” – M83
A Something’s Extra
Side one
  1.   “Do the Astral Plane” – Flying Lotus
  2.   “Brown skin lady” – Mos Def and Talib Kweli
Side two
  1. “Fight the power” – Public Enemy
  2. “The Revolution will not be televised” – Gil Scott-Heron

Inspiration Album: Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder

Side One

  1. Love’s in Need of Love Today
  2. Have a talk with God
  3. Village Ghetto Land
  4. Contusion
  5. Sir Duke

Side One

  1. I Wish
  2. Knocks Me Off My Feet
  3. Pastime Paradise
  4. Summer soft
  5. Ordinary Pain

Side Three

  1. Isn’t She Lovely?
  2. Joy Inside My Tears
  3. Black Man

Side four

  1. Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing
  2. If It’s Magic
  3. As
  4. Another Star
A Something’s Extra
Side one
  1.   Saturn
  2.   Ebony Eyes
Side two
  1. All Day Sucker
  2. Easy Goin’ Evening

Mix Challenge Liner Notes

Music mix inspired by Stevie Wonder’s classic 1976 album ‘Songs in the key of life’.

This album isn’t necessarily Stevie’s best (choose one of the other from his five classic period, Innervisions and Talking Book are filled with brilliance) but it is an album that covers many different styles, which pretty much sums up people’s music listening habits nearly 40 years after it was released. The tracks are from the original gatefold vinyl that came with some bonus tracks, which means you get more music.

Arguably, and with a substantial back catalogue, Stevie is more influential on modern music than many others. This series of tracks will hopefully pay tribute to the album’s tracks and not be stylistically similar, just as the album was. I have no idea where this selection may go so come with me on a journey of the unexpected; the way life really is.