Original Musiquarium I [Remaster] (CD - 1982)

Personnel includes: Stevie Wonder (vocals, various instruments); Trevor Laurence, Steve Madaio, Reggie McBride, The Jackson 5, Benjamin Bridges, Nathan LaMar Watts, Buzzy Feiton, Rick Zunigar, Scott Edwards, Daniel Ben Zebulon, Gloria Barley, Lani Groves, Jim Gilstrap, Raymond Pounds, Mike Sembello, Hank Redd, Raymond Maldonado.

Digitally remastered by Kevin Reeves.

This is a limited edition digipack.

Personnel: Stevie Wonder (vocals, various instruments, harmonica, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizers, drums, percussion); Benjamin Bridges (acoustic & electric guitars); Buzzy Feiton, Rick Zunigar, Mike Sembello (guitar); Hank Redd (alto saxophone); Trevor Laurence (tenor saxophone); Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Madaio, Raymond Maldonado, Larry Gittens (trumpet); Isaiah Sanders (organ); Gregory Phillinganges (keyboards); Reggie McBride, Nathan LaMar Watts, Scott Edwards (bass); Raymond Pounds, Dennis Davis (drums); Daniel Ben Zebulon, Rocky Dzidzornu (congas); Earl DeRouen (percussion); The Jackson 5, Gloria Barley, Lani Groves, Jim Gilstrap, Marva Holcom, Angela Winbush, Shirley Brewer, Alexandra Brown Evans, Renee Hardaway (background vocals).

Producer: Stevie Wonder.

Reissue producer: Harry Weinger.

Digitally remastered by Kevin Reeves (Universal Mastering Studios East).

Released in 1982, the double-album Original Musiquarium I summarizes Stevie Wonder's classic period of the '70s, concentrating primarily on the hits, but adding a few album tracks to hint at the depth of his albums, as well as four new songs (one for each side, all pleasant, none particularly remarkable). Though there could be some dispute about the album tracks, this does wind up as an excellent overview of Wonder's period of greatest activity, and it's a terrific listen to boot -- any record that sports such hits as "Superstition," "You Haven't Done Nothin'," "Living for the City," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," "Higher Ground," "Sir Duke," "Boogie on Reggae Woman," and "I Wish" is guaranteed to be a great listen, and it is. Wonder remains a quintessential album artist, but this record is a terrific snapshot of the highlights. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

You can divide Stevie Wonder's career into two basic parts--pre-1971, when he was recording delirious soul singles at Motown's bidding, and post-1971, when he was awarded artistic control and proceeded to make some of the greatest socially-conscious music ever committed to tape, while still keeping up the delirious soul content. ORIGINAL MUSIQUARIUM covers the cream of part two, and is therefore the cream of Stevie Wonder.

It's the rare greatest-hits album that zeroes in on its subject's actual best work with almost surgical focus, and includes new recordings that actually belong there. The new ones include the dance hit "Do I Do" and the timeless ballad "Ribbon In The Sky." The certified classics include "Living For The City" and "Superstition" in the heavy-meaning department, "Sir Duke" and "Master Blaster" in the pure-joy department and "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" in the hello-Mr.-Sinatra-we've-got-a-tune-for-you department. If you don't already own all of them, you might as well stop reading this and pick up this album now. That's an order. minimize