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Stevie Wonder: Chapter 19. Stevie Wonder's last studio album to date was released during 2005.

Music Review: Stevie Wonder – A Time To Love

Stevie Wonder released Conversation Peace March 21, 1995. It would be 10 years until he released his next studio album, A Time To Love, which remains his last to date.

It is an album that should be taken on its own merits. Stevie Wonder was not the same artist as during his classic 1970s period, just as he was far removed from his early 1960s material. It represented the modern Stevie Wonder and that will do very nicely.

A Time To Love was a strong and solid album. It may not have had an outstanding or truly memorable song, but everything merged together into a pleasant and cohesive whole. There were love songs and lyrics of social awareness. There were ballads and mid-tempo soul tunes. Through it all his musicianship and production expertise helped to form a slick and polished release.

He continued to play many of the instruments and compose all the material. He co-opted a number of guest stars to provide support including Prince, Paul McCartney, En Vogue, Bonnie Raitt, Kim Burrell, Kirk Franklin, and Hubert Laws.

The best song, and certainly the most poignant, was “How Will I Know,” which featured his daughter Aisha Morris. This jazzy love ballad brought the affection for his daughter full circle. It began with the 1976 song, “Isn’t She Lovely,” which celebrated her birth from the year before (1975). Close behind was another Aisha collaboration, “Positivity,” which was a fun-filled, feel-good romp.

The biggest production was “So What’s The Fuss,” with Prince on guitar and backing vocals by En Vogue. The other major star-turn was the guitar work by Paul McCartney on the title song.

There were a number of other tracks that added quality to the album. “Sweetest Somebody I Know,” “Tell Your Heart I Love You” with Bonnie Raitt’s slide guitar, and “My Love Is On Fire” with Hubert Laws on flute are all typical Stevie Wonder love songs that fit together well. He brought out his old harmonica for “From The Bottom Of My Heart.”

Stevie Wonder has aged well and continues to make it look all so easy. As his career moves on toward the 50-year mark, his music remains accomplished, relevant, and enjoyable. A Time To Love is a fine representation of his 21st century mind and music.

About David Bowling

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