Stevie Wonder - Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants (1979)

Release:  1979
Genre: Soul, Funk
Format:  2 LP
Label:  Motown Records
Catalog#  1A 158-62492
Prijs:  €20,00

Stevie Wonder broke a three-year silence, one that followed a series of six classic albums released within six years, with this double album, the score/soundtrack to a little-seen environmental documentary directed by Wild Bunch co-screenwriter Walon Green. From the release of “Songs In The Key Of Life” through the release of Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants”, Wonder had been active, actually, but only as a collaborator, working with Ramsey Lewis, the Pointer Sisters, Minnie Riperton, Syreeta, Ronnie Foster, and Michael Jackson.
Though it is dominated by synthesizer-heavy instrumental pieces with evocative titles, there is a handful of full-blown songs. The gorgeous, mostly acoustic ballad “Send One Your Love” was a Top Ten R&B single, while the joyous “Outside My Window” registered in the Top 60. Beyond that, there’s the deep classic “Come Back as a Flower,” a gently lapping, piano-led ballad featuring Syreeta on vocals. Otherwise, there are playfully oddball tracks like “Venus’ Flytrap and the Bug,” where Wonder chirps “Please don’t eat me!” through robotizing effects, and “A Seed’s a Star,” which incorporates crowd noise, a robotized monologue, and a shrieking Tata Vega over a funkier and faster version of Yellow Magic Orchestra.
The album is not for everyone, but it suited its purpose and allowed its maker an amount of creative wiggle room that few major-label artists experience.

Side one
1.   Earth’s Creation (Instrumental)   (4:06)
2.   The First Garden (Instrumental)   (4:48)
3.   Voyage to India (Instrumental)   (6:29)
4.   Same Old Story   (3:44)
5.   Venus’ Flytrap and the Bug   (2:25)
6.   Ai No, Sono   (2:06)

Side two
1.   Seasons (Instrumental)  (2:53)
2.   Power Flower (Lyrics by Michael Sembello)  (5:29)
3.   Send One Your Love (Instrumental)   (3:05)
4.   Race Babbling   (8:51)

Side three
1.   Send One Your Love   (4:01)
2.   Outside My Window   (5:29)
3.   Black Orchid (Lyrics by Yvonne Wright)   (3:47)
4.   Ecclesiastes   (3:42)
5.   Kesse Ye Lolo De Ye   (3:03)
6.   Come Back as a Flower (Lead vocals and lyrics by Syreeta Wright)   (4:59)

Side four
1.   A Seed’s a Star/Tree Medley   (5:53)
2.   The Secret Life of Plants   (4:16)
3.   Tree (Instrumental)  (5:47)
4.   Finale (Instrumental)   (7:01)

Vinyl: goed
Cover: goed

http://www.ad-vinylrecords.com/product/wonder-stevie-journey-through-the-secret-life-of-plants-lp/