Stevie Wonder isn't just taking his album "Songs in the Key of Life" back out on the road. He's also treating fans to new music.
Wonder, whose last album "A Time to Love" was released in 2005, dropped a new EP, "Songs in the Key of Life: 50th Anniversary,"
on Monday, Sept. 28. The project features four previously unreleased songs from his mid-1970s golden era in honor of the album's milestone anniversary.The archive tracks − "It's Easier," "My Life Story of Love," "I Can See the Sun in Late December" and "I’m Into Livin'" − were in various stages of completion when Wonder finalized the album's track list. Though ultimately left on the sidelines at the time, Wonder says the songs are true to the creative spirit of the sessions.
“We've lived with
'Songs in the Key of Life' for 50 years, but there's still more to hear," Wonder said in a statement. "We didn't add these songs to the album, but they were part of what I was feeling and discovering as we made it. They bring me back to that time in my life, and now they get to become part of yours."
Released in September 1976, the soul-pop double album is widely regarded as Wonder's magnum opus. "Songs in the Key of Life" earned the Motown star three Grammy Awards while yielding timeless hits such as "Sir Duke," "I Wish" and "Isn't She Lovely."
The new songs instantly evoke the album's familiar feel, teeming with hallmarks of the original work: multi-tracked vocals, warm jazzy vibes and fleeting sound effects tucked into the mix. All four tracks were mixed by John Fischbach and Gary Adante, engineers on the original sessions.
Even the EP's official release time Monday morning — 4:54 a.m. Pacific — is a callback to the making of the iconic album. The phrase "Fo' Fifty Fo'!" — uttered by bassist Nathan Watts after a long overnight recording session — became a running inside joke in Wonder's camp.
Aside from the archive tracks, Wonder is set to continue the 50th anniversary festivities with the Songs in the Key of Life tour, which kicks off Oct. 13 in England.
Stevie Wonder new album release date
Wonder released the "Songs in the Key of Life: 50th Anniversary" EP on Sept. 28, coinciding with the original album's release date.
How to listen to new Stevie Wonder album
Fans can check out Wonder's new songs from "Songs in the Key of Life: 50th Anniversary" on streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music Amazon Music and Tidal, as well as Wonder's official YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stevie Wonder releases first new album in over 2 decades
