u/LiamNashMiller

The seamless nature of these three tracks is immaculate. Not only sonically do they flow so well together, conceptually they all build off each other! For an album as vast and encompassing as Songs in the Key of Life, its last three tracks seem to impact me the most. I truly don't think there is a better way to end this album than what we got. While Songs in the Key of Life might not be my favorite album of his, its experience is so different than albums like FFF or Talking Book. In the context of what it does for the album, I truly think it is the greatest 3-song run ever.

What do you y'all think?

All 10 albums are really good, but I definitely like some more! Let me know how you would rank these 10 Albums! I am in the top 500 listeners for Stevie on Apple Music, so here is my opinion coming from a huge fan of Stevie.

1. Talking Book (11/10): The greatest album ever and a perfect blend of funk and soul. Every track is a 10, and I think this is his most well-rounded album. You and I, Maybe Your Baby, and so many other bangers are on this album! This is also Stevie's best-sounding album, in my opinion. I love the dryer, crisp sound because it feels like I am in the room with Stevie while he's singing.

2. Fullfillingness' First Finale (10/10): The 2nd best album experience of Stevie. This album is very ethereal and introspective. It's the slowest of his works, but the soundscapes and tracks on this album are. just amazing. Creepin', Smile Please, and It Ain't No Use are the standouts for me.

3. Music of My Mind (10/10): This album is very underrated and often gets overshadowed by Talking Book. This album features a top-3 Stevie track, Superwoman, along with amazing tracks like Evil, Seems So Long, and many more. This is Stevie's first album where I feel like he reached creative maturity.

4. Songs in the Key of Life (10/10): This is usually at the top of most lists, but I personally think those three albums are stronger works in terms of consistency; however, none of those albums gives you the experience of SITKOL. As, Another Star, Sir Duke, Summer Soft, Knocks me off My Feet, and so many more classics are on this album.

5. Hotter than July (10/10): This album is such a great experience. Stevie goes off vocally on this album, and he delves into some Country and Reggae! We see the beginnings of the creative direction Stevie will take in the later part of the 80s, and this album serves as a transition between his classic period and his 80s work. All I Do, Rocket Love, and I Ain't Gonna Stand for It are my favorites!

6. Innervisions (10/10): This is the other album that usually might take the top spot on a Stevie Album ranking. I love Innervisions so much and the conceptual nature of it. This album is full of classics such as Living for the City, Higher Ground, All in Love is Fair, etc. I just don't revisit this album as much as the others, but it still is a 10/10.

7. Conversation Peace (9/10): HIS MOST UNDERRATED ALBUM! Stevie is in his prime in terms of vocals, with amazing displays of agility and range. There are a couple of tracks on Conversation Peace I don't revisit as much, such as Taboo to Love and Tomorrow Robins will Sing. But also, there are solid tracks like I'm New (the runs on this are immaculate), Sorry, and For Your Love. This is very underappreciated imo.

8. A Time 2 Love (9/10): Stevie's latest (and hopefully not final) album is full of amazing moments. The album opens up with a bang, having Kim Burrell and Stevie trade runs and display their amazing vocals. Sweetest Somebody I Know is such a vibe and another amazing vocal performance. This album has more slow songs than Conversation Peace, and we get to hear Stevie's amazing piano work. Moon Blue is also one of the coolest tracks!

9. Characters (8.5/10): This album marks the beginning of what I like to call Stevie's vocal prime! The synth work on this album is more funky and busier than in In Square Circle, with amazing uses of them on Dark N' Lovely, One of a Kind, and You Will Know. This album heavily leans into that 80s sound, and I love it. I treat it as a counterpart to Michael Jackson's BAD, since they both came out around the same time, and they both have a duet on each album.

10. In Square Circle (8/10): Even though it is last, I still have a soft spot for In Square Circle. Stranger on the Shore of your Love is fantastic, Overjoyed is iconic, and Whereabouts is beautiful. The first half of this album is amazing, but I feel like the second half dips a bit. Land of La La, Go Home, and It's Wrong (Apartheid) just aren't for me. The synth work on this album is beautiful, but some of the production choices, such as the horn sounds on Stranger on the Shore of your Love leave a bit to be desired. Still a very solid album!