Fulfillingness' First Finale

This is one of Stevie's best musical offerings ever. We sometimes forget about this one due to the fact that it came right in between the Masterpiece "Innervisions" & the Tour de Force "Songs in the Key of Life", it also was recorded and released right after his recovery from the horrible car accident that put him in a coma for several days and nearly ended his life.However, with all of that said, you find some of his best ballads & lyrical content on this album and 2 of his funkiest & grooving songs "Boogie on Reaggae Woman" & "Haven't Done Nothin'". Stevie had a streak of 3 Album of The Year Awards in 4 years in the early to mid 1970's, Fulfillingness' First Finale was the second of the 3.This was now right in the middle of what was termed his "classical" period and he was on streak of creativity that was truly amazing. I am most impressed by the ballads on this album as they are a canvas for Stevie to show off poetic & visionary skills. "Smile Please", "Creepin", "Too Shy to Say" & "Bird of Beauty" are sheer poetic masterpieces and his vocal work on each is simply outstanding.The album also introduces us to some soon to be major players in pop & soul music, Minnie Ripperton & Denise Williams, and has the Jackson 5, amongst others, making an appearance on the jam "Haven't Done Nothing" which is a scorching tongue lashing of then President Nixon and the Congress for the miriad of injustices going on in the U.S. and their involvement in other injustices around the world.Stevie has always been a very strong and consistent activist for change and social responsibilty and went a step beyond all the other so called "social artists" of the day by actively participating in demonstrations and going before government officials to get his message across. I've always admired him for not being afraid to stand up for what he believes is right and be counted as having an opinion. This is one of the very things Bob Marley and the Wailers spoke about when discussing Stevie as for years he was also the biggest selling artist in the island nations too.My favorite song on the whole album and one of his best masterpieces of all time is the haunting "They Won't Go When I Go". For those of you who watched the tribute to Michael Jackson as Staples Center in LA following his departure from us (R.I.P.), you saw Stevie perform this very song. I love the raw truth he sings in this song, you can almost hear the pain in his soul as he penned this gem. It is a heart felt goodbye of sorts to a world full of lying, betrayal, deceit, greed and a plea to be with one's Creator in the sky.The song was co-written by Yvonne Wright, Syreeta's sister, and is one of several songs she and Stevie wrote over his classical period. She, like her sister, was an extremely talented artist in her own right and the lyrics she lent to this song are absolutely spectacular and they move my heart each and every time I hear them.This album really shows the true musical genius of Stevie, singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, producer, instrumentalist, etc. The man truly is the WHOLE PACKAGE! Earth, Wind & Fire are my favorite band, but Stevie is my favorite solo artist and both are as close to musical perfection as we've seen. This is one album that should not be forgotten when we discuss not only the greatest Stevie albums but the best of all time.

Having survived a potentially fatal car accident, while touring behind his then-just-released epic, "Innervisions", is likely the reason most of the musical touches on "FFF" are more serene. Lyrically, Stevie crafts more of a personal aesthetic to this record.The breezy pop of "Smile Please" is sweet optimism that fuses r&b and jazz that Stevie does so instinctively. But the core premise of this record is the spiritual faith and the seduction of his strong melodic flair. I'm basically agnostic, but "Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" is a song that gives me faith. It's spiritual regeneration and the overdubbed backup singers add rather than compete with Stevie's lead. Among his many other gifts, Stevie is a fantastic vocal arranger. He immerses himself in the chilling "They Won't Go When I Go". Accompanying his own classical piano work, his desolate singing ascends to the higher ground where this song could have easily emanated. Possibly a force was with him.Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I suspect that Stevie's great break-up ballad, "It Ain't No Use", is his goodbye to his former wife, Syreeta Wright. Set to a jazzy background, there's no bitterness, just awareness and acceptance. It's nice and to the point. However, it's another ballad on "Fulfillingness' First Finale" that sticks out as my favorite. The pastoral synthesizer that opens "Creepin'" is breathtaking and when singer Minnie Ripperton overlays her harmonies and Stevie overlays his harmonies and harmonica on this, the higher this climbs as a major Stevie Wonder classic. I also love its extended fantasy/reality for this timid guy to find satisfaction in his dreams.The gritty and bluesy "Boogie On Reggae Woman" invites Stevie's playful side. Oh, that mixture of eroticism and joyous groove, powered by Stevie's synthesizer and harmonica made it an obvious choice to be released for AM radio. Another standout, "Please Don't Go", has vivacious gospel/blues flourishes. Its power dynamic, in which the man is powerless, can moisten the eyes.The one and only time that Stevie readdresses politics is on the first-released single, "You Haven't Done Nothin'". It's not only his indignation at Richard Nixon and his Watergate cohorts, but his accusations at Washington's agendas. This endless rhythm of clavinet/synthesizer funk ranks amongst Stevie's best.Though there are a few guest appearances on "FFF", just as there was on "Innervisions", Stevie continues to be a blistering one-man band. And just like "Innervisions", I play and must play "FFF" often to maintain any equanimity.

When an LP includes "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and "You Haven't Done Nothin'", it has earned respect. Not on the level of the other 3 albums from his golden era IMO but still quality.

Knowing that I was buying the product used, I expected some wear and tear based on the age of the album. I did not expect two bad scratches on side 1, track 1, but oh well. No liner proved with the album....bummer

I got this as a random gift to my dad, and he loves it!!!

I love Stevie’s music and this album is one of about 3-4 recorded when he was at the apex of his creativity. Even more, this collection of music still stands up, still sounds great and is better than a lot of the new “music” that’s out there. Stevie is an impresario who is second to none. Just drop the needle on this one and let it play!

One of my favorite Stevie Wonder albums. Every song is a gem.

arrived as expected

I recently purchased the three early 1970's albums Talking Book, Innervisions and Fulfillingness First Finale. Obviously I was aware of the singles from radio airplay but have been very pleasantly pleased at just how good these albums are.Melodic and vibrant, this is the sound of an artist at the top of his game. Unbelievably he also plays the majority of instruments on the songs with some notable 'guests' - Jeff Beck on 'Lookin' For Anothe Pure Love' (Talking Book) for example.There is also a cutting social message in some tracks which in early 70's America would have been quite something - very different from the 'Little Stevie Wonder' of the 1960's. No wonder he insisted on full artistic control before re-signing to Motown.Fantastic.

When people talk about classic Stevie, most people go for "Songs In The Key Of Life" or "Innervisions" - but, to my mind, they have serious competition in this classic from late-74. It is probably overlooked as there was only 2 singles from it (the excellent funky, stinging Nixon rebuke "You Have n't Done Nothin'", and the cool "Boogie On Reggae Woman"), but every track is a classic. More reflective than "Innervisions" or "Songs", and bit more down-tempo, but there are some real beauties. The opener "Smile Please" is an encouraging, jazzy groover, followed by "Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" with a great gospel chorus. On the ballad front, "Too Shy To Say" is wonderfully tender and vulnerable, but equally good is the requiem-like "They Won't Go When I Go". There really is nothing bad here, though - I love the catchy "It Ain't No Use", the Minnie Riperton featuring "Creepin", and the joyous finale "Please Don't Go". An excellent addition to any collection, buy it and then Minnie's  Perfect Angel and  Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta , both of which are equally stunning and made during the same incredible period for Stevie. Brilliant. Perfect AngelStevie Wonder Presents Syreeta

Great heavens, this is a very fine album!If like me you sometimes find the brilliant Songs in the Key of Life a tad dry, a touch too meticulous (still terrific though) this is closer to the textured beauties of Talking Book or Innervisions, if less gritty.The opener Smile Please is quite simply one of Stevie's most original songs, its melody and chord structure memorable, showing the truly creative side of the Wonder genius.Paul Anka is one of the backing singers on the next track, the typically exuberantly titled Heaven in 10 Zillion Light Years Away. They Won't Go When I Go is a gorgeous, musically intriguing ballad, Bird of Beauty a very enjoyable funky Brazilian-tinged song, the superb closer Please Don't Go a frantic, intensely passionate soul belter that recalls his younger 'Uptight' years, and the two hit singles Boogie On Reggae Woman and the tremendous You Haven't Done Nothin' are just two more great numbers from this hugely underrated, gloriously involving record from 1974 - when Stevie was still only 24.There isn't a dud track here, and this set of beautifully composed, perfectly arranged, wonderful performed songs is as good an example of Stevie Wonder's uniqueness as anything he's done before or since.Simply wonderful.

I purchased this as my original vinyl LP is a little worse for wear. This remastered pressing is simply wonderful especially on a top quality record deck.i have compared the original with the new and setting aside wear the MOFI version is considerably better in all respects.I also have a cd version but I don't think this will ever be played again. MOFI pressings are normally more expensive but the few that I already have are worth the.extra expense. As for music contents this is one of Stevie Wonder's best ever albums with not a bad track.if you like vinyl and Stevie Wonder don't even consider cd.

this is one of the best vinyl pressings ever... make sure you get this mobile fidelity sound lab version incase there are others....they did an amazing vinyl pressing of rickee lee jones debut as well. the thing with mobile fidelity sound labs is they press from the original tapes,where a lot of vinyl pressings are from digital master copies,which defeats the whole idea pressing on to vinyl. if ever there was a record that was made to live on in high class vinyl,it's this beautiful stevie record...one of his very best from a peak period.