Stevie Wonder - Smile Please

[saqlynne]

this one too!

[brandooo87]

I need to buy this album. This is officially my favorite.

[TheJacksonsTriumph]

Fulfillingness First Finale never get's it's respect like Talking Book,Innervisions, and Songs In The Key Of Life one of his underrated Classics during the classic period

[soprano403]

At 55 i have been a wonder fanatic for years, i always said that ''Superwoman''

and part two of that song was my all time favorite song by Stevie, then i realized

that ''Smile please is. It is like a wonderful old friend the melody is like a warm

blanket that that comforts you no matter how cold the world gets. Thank you

Wonderman, thank you!!

[speechrighter]

@soprano403 Well put, Soprano! I'm a big FFF fan. Remember exactly when it hit the stores: August 1974.

[tau50tohe]

wish there were lyrics.  Love this song

[john48224]

Please smle for me!!!

[superviewer]

Stevie Wonder's a musical genious. I got all of his albums motherf...... (-: On inspiration Sly Stone obviously was one inspiration for Stevie's golden age. If you don't know you should listen to some Sly and the Family Stone albums and come back to Stevie.

[forestian728]

well stated...Sly and the Family Stone were and still are terribly profound--look at what they did to Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and just about everyone else. I personally find it very hard to move too far away from the music of Sly and Stevie, in particular.

[superviewer]

@forestian728 My next step is to look into the inspiration of Sly - I haven't gotten this far yet (-:

[forestian728]

@superviewer I wonder...surely Stevie Wonder and Sly Stone (perhaps with Larry Graham and "The Family") had various encounters. I guess their times just missed each other. By the time Stevie was at his "best"--73ish--Sly had already flown too close to the sun and crashed. A toast to the what-could-haves^^

[forestian728]

well stated...Sly and the Family Stone were and still are terribly profound--look at what they did to Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and just about everyone else. I personally find it very hard to move too far away from the music of Sly and Stevie, in particular. Two gems of western cilivization.

[bongoloid77]

Life is gonna be what it is...

[ravenwindsong]

Wow That is amazing Stevie great song ;)

[fluffer1987]

Sheer genius. Stevie Wonder is aptly named.

[iampsalmbody]

Truth in Love :)

[lateforthesky61]

If you're agnostic, Stevie is the doorway to belief in some greater reality.

Yes, the world is harsh and full of brutality, but SIMULTANEOUSLY it offers

the beauty of Stevie and his music. It's always there. When you avert your eyes from

the horrors, and pause to reflect,  there will always be Stevie and his glorious music!

[camcandy79]

@lateforthesky61 you should listen to his song Evil and They won't go when I go.

[yolonlovell]

I am 53 now, and have been a wonder fanatic for many,many years

No one touches me like stevie, no one.! This song is a warm loving

caring friend. To me a new stevie release is an event indeed. When

this album first came out i played this song to death. 36 years later

i still play it all the time. Thank God for the musical mind of the

wonderman.

[imblessed723]

@yolonlovell Yes....I love your post. Stevie Wonder is my favorite artist. I am 55. His songs will be a part of me forever! It brings back so many memories of being in college with my dear husband, who has been deceased for 11 years. My favorites are "Creepin"  "Smile, Please" and "Overjoyed"

[staleyebrown]

Stevie is dah man!

[thosenuts]

brings joy 2 my heart bb erytyme

[RaceIsOpen]

dang, dang, dang!...lol..this was my song!...ooppss! still is my song!

[smellmyfarts]

I too own the box set, At The Turn Of The Century, but you still have to augment your 'collection'. Fullingness First Finale is not part of the box and should be added. I'm sure others wil post suggestions as well.

[devernie1]

True dat. To me, Fullingness First Finale is second only to Songs in the Key of Life, and a very close second at that. These songs really take me back.

[CoventGardenSinger]

This is such a beautiful song. i remember when I first brought this album . This opening track really did bring a smile to my face . Such a sweet melody.

Dave

[Killahboot]

Fullfillingness.... is Stevie's crowning artistic achievement. Every song is incredible.

[Sybenett]

True that.

Sy-

[olanchazul]

absolutely right¡¡. never heard this one before today; but is UNBELEVIABLE¡ stevie is the best of all

[lifeisthedash]

ACTUALLY every 70's album he did is inceredible and art. If u can put music on display in a museum his 70/s albums should be on display. So masterful in singin and musicality!

[wy424]

It was after I heard Stevie sing "They Won't Go When I Go" that I decided to look for that song. Considering I don't buy music digitally, I decided to buy "Fullingness" because I liked the song so much. Have and behold, I am in love and awe over this album! I am SO VERY happy that I bought it! I've listened to Smile Please all day long! I am 19 and love old school soul. I consider to Stevie be the Mozart of our time. You can agree or disagree. I don't care. All I know is that Stevie is genious!!

[28ken1983]

so where did u get his album?

[wy424]

I bought it from Amazon. You can try to check your electronic stores to see if they have it, because there are some cases that they do. But, if you just want to get it ASAP, go online.

[28ken1983]

ok. thanks

[scampbell04]

I agree with you 100% he is a genius. I'm so glad you discovered his music.

You should buy the album Songs in the Key of Life next. That one is considered by most people to be his masterpiece. Also check out Innervisions and TalkingBook.

[wy424]

It's funny that you replied back to me now, because on Friday I bought "Stevie Wonder: At the Close of the Century". It's a 4 disc box set of 70 Stevie songs.

I have always listened to Stevie. My mom always had the old school R&B radio stations on and I knew at a young age that Stevie was something special. I always knew about the obvious hits like Do I Do, Superstition, Signed Sealed Del., etc.

[wy424]

But, there is music that, for the most part, only people who grew up with know about. Actually, as I'm replying back to you, I'm listening to Superwoman... All I can say about that song is.... nothing! lol I can't say a thing because Stevie just hits a chord with you. For someone who is visually blind, he sees the world clearer than others would. I just feel blessed to know that there was only one boxset in the store and I have it. I really do feel as if I just bought something priceless.

[litenslick]

@wy424 I'm so glad to hear this from a 19 year old. I grew up with this stuff, and now realize just how precious all this music is. He is the best - EVERYONE has been influenced by him - Alicia Keyes, Beyonce, etc. Such refreshing lyrics too!!!! No talk of drugs, sex, and negative things!!!! Just smile!!!!! :)

[Powiean]

@wy424

Totally agree. I love Stevie so much, I'm going to see him in July, can't wait!

I'm only 16 and he's my god! Him and Ray Charles, they're amazing!

[sup3rm2n090578]

@wy424 I am in my 30's and agree wit u totally music ain't tha same anymore

[olytanis]

@wy424 The awesome thing about buying albums is buying them for something you want, then finding something else on the album you like even more.

[kingbrotherman]

@wy424 Congradulations for being so wise @ 19...Old School has a character that is unmatched!! Thx for the post!!

[levanabrzeni]

@wy424

How can we disagree. This is a phenomenal song

[tysonleefortman]

@wy424 still gives me chills. the emotion in the vocals, the profound chord progressions. wow wow wow

[RJLKMRD]

@wy424 Good Call!

[aeiou980]

Why does Stevie always smile?

[xpinkdog]

Ho ho ho - yeah, yeah, yeah, thank you Stevie, and thank you Mojo for the upload.

[LynnaRenae]

This is the best album of Stevie's by far! We listened to it alot in 75+ in the post hippie era in AUSTIN, Texas! All us blues afficianados listened to it! It's lovely...Lynne

[Sybenett]

Girl, please there's always time for Fulfillingness First Finale, you know the deal this isn't Jay-z o.k. I feel sorry for these rap fans they will never have the pleasure of waiting for the release of Innervisions's, Song's In the Key of Life, Hotter Than July, etc, etc, etc, Super Genius.

Sy-

[MsDahliaJones]

i agree 100%

[Sybenett]

Thank you sister.

Sy-

Certified.

[kc718201]

So what you're saying is nobody can like Jay-Z and Stevie? It has to be one or the other. And if you think Jay ain't a genius your sadly mistaken

[nidiaaw]

@kc718201 Jay-Z is a genius on what planet? I think the word genius is used too loosely. I didn't even consider Stevie a genius until Songs In The Key Of Life. Then he followed that with Secret Life Of Plants and too me he was certified!! But Jay-Z? Great rapper and a good engineer but a genius? Ahh.......NO!

[kc718201]

@nidiaaw They're both geniuses to me....Sorry! And you were a little late on Stevie Huh. The man's been a genius since Music Of My Mind. Innervisions certified it. Songs cemented it.

[iodine125]

@Sybenett

Thank god for youtube- My records of Stevie from those days are so scratched you can't listen to them anymore. Love this music; all of it!

[MGillDesign]

I always loved this album because of its sense of sadness and spiritual, more than any other Stevie album.

It stands on its own as unique.

[aliquippawill]

This album, "Fullfillingness First Finale", for some reason is not considered on the same quality level as Stevies' 2 previous L.P.s, "Talking Book" and "Innervisions". That should not be the case, by any stretch of the critical imagination. "Fullfillingness" was an absolute DIAMOND! Stevie was obviously in a little less political, more upbeat frame of mind with the creation of this masterpiece, and, as usual, the musical "critics" of the day, failed to capture Stevies' "vision". PURE GENIUS!

[devernie1]

Totally, completely agree! I've been saying for years that "Fulfillingness" is probably Stevie's most under-rated works. Looking back, it's on a par, in many ways, with his "Songs in the Key of Life." While Stevie cannot "see" things in the same way we do, his VISION is truly immense!

[marmont48]

So TRUE and well said. To me this is Stevie's BEST ever!

[pscmatteo]

bellissima canzone del maestro

[ANEZT32]

don't mess your face up... with bitter tears... cause life is gonna be what it is....

[lundkd10]

I was a little white 8 year old from Nebraska, and fell in love with this album. i dreamed of Stevie playing the school gym. I have one album framed in my house, and this is it. Music has never been more beautiful than this. Timeless. I love you Stevie!

[RhythmBluesSoul1]

Absolutely love the percussion on this song. It's odd how someone can come up with such a melody like this.. it's unlike anything else, really. Such is the talent of Stevie Wonder.

[ricisrock]

Inner city of philly in the 70's hearing this: my afro, tank top, jeans cut off shorts, silver capped teeth (a few), red pro keds wearin' chubby boy like me chasin girls while this played out of a car radio-Heaven

[SpunkyBlunderbus]

sounds fly dude.

:)

a world away from where I come from :)

[Sybenett]

And what's the problem brother? Were they regular or super pro keds? Ya Know, they don't nothin' about that baby.

Sy-

You had two certified genius, you lost one in 2004, now you only have one left. Still Steveland Hardaway Judkins Morris on May 13, 1950-Pressent, certified genius.

Sy-

[AvlDao]

I cherish my fortune at having memories of buying this vinyl LP on its release in 1974, removing the shrinkwrap and unfolding for a first viewing of the incredible artwork inside. It spanned over 26 inches by 14 inches and told a visual story of his music, experiences and awards.

Then placing the precious disc on the rotating platter @ 33 rpm, raising the arm, blowing the diamond needle to remove any errant dust. Searching for that first groove, then..

eternal bliss for 34 years and counting

[birdstuckinchimney]

Yes AvlDao that wa pretty much my experience with this Album as well. Truely a formative album for me.

[Mauritau]

Great song, timeless, listened endlessly as a teenager, lots of life since then...still magical. Considering technology that existed then,Stevie was just so far ahead...far, far ahead...still sounds great don't it?

[AvlDao]

Stevie, at the time in 1973 & 74, gave major props to his recording engineering team of Malcolm Cecil & Robert Margoulef. The 3 of them gave Innervisions and Fulfillingness First Finale their 'timeless' sound that simply does not age. The 2 sound engineers earned the Grammy for Best Engineered Recording for FFF and Innervions too, as voted by their peer sound engineers.

I dont know when they first began teaming up, but they did part ways before Songs In The Key of Life was released.

[Mauritau]

Thanks AvlDao, great info'dude, both albums as you clearly know are timeless, love your description of setting up your vinyl, I can see the cover as you speak and of course blowing the dust off the needle...a lot to be said about quality stretch marks brother!

[spottedliver]

I know, then they got that skinny white guy to play that steel pedal guitar.

[AvlDao]

Who was that? Are you referring to Michael Sembello...?

[lumbia33]

gil scott-heron also did stuff with the T.O.N.T.O... he worked with malcolm cecil a lot.

[musicalprodigy1]

I love it love it love it love love love it

[cbmuzik]

this is my FAVORITE song of the entire album! Stevie killed it on this tune!

[skyslope]

I used to sing this to my baby to help him sleep on fussy nights...worked like a charm.

[chrys554]

This song reminds me so much of my vacation in Hawaii - Summer of '75. Thanks so much for uploading!

[pynkchynadoll]

Isreal wrote:

i love the contentment in his voice and the movement of this song is almost like astrud gilberto's samba

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~­~~~~~~~~~~~~

I totally agree with you! ... that's what captivated me about this ballad.

[ygg69]

Yeah, Astrud and Joao Gilberto ... cool comparison !

[leoPTBR]

I dont agree with you. Pay attention to the drums and you'll realize that it's different from samba (bossa nova songs). The percussion line at the ending sounds more like Caribbean music than samba...

Well, it's my opinion! ;-)

We only can't deny that Stevie is one of the most fantastic artists in the whole world!!!!

[jamesbrown69]

this and Creepin' are unreal, so awesome. If you haven't heard Creepin', check it out, it's one of the best songs I've ever heard!

[levanabrzeni]

@jamesbrown69

Yes, ''Creepin'' is one of the greatest songs ever recorded with it's every components.

''Smile please'' is also excellent and great song, classical Stevie.

[cuseheart]

By far- the most influential artist of the late 20'th Century! All who followed- Michael Jackson, Prince, and numerous others, copied, imitated, and therefore flattered one Steveland Morris!

[cbmuzik]

uhm, you forget one thing. Stevie is a composer. Mike and Prince were both composers and performers. Stevie didn't influence these guys by himself. Go back and look at James Brown and you DEFINITELY see MJ and Prince! Stevie influences a "different" segment of the music world...not those two...and if so, not as much as James Brown did those two.

[MarkoSogz]

Stevie didnt influence Michael so much but there was an interview with Prince on Larry King and Prince himself said that his biggest inspiration is Stevie Wonder, that he would have never performed it if wasnt for Stevie...Try to look for the interview i m not foolin u. You know when it comes down to Stevie..he really did inspire almost any soulful artist with his beautiful music. Stevie is MAGICAL and his music is for all eternity..he made a huge impact on this planet.

[newmark401]

Oh, my, strange you should mention Michael... I wonder what Stevie thinks about him?

[clenten]

Stevie reportedly broke down at two of his concerts in the past week. I saw a news clip of him singing a song he wrote for MJ from Off the Wall.

[WilmaBridget]

He seemed really upset at the memorial. I guess they grew up together so they were probably good friends.

[KennyThrusts]

@cbmuzik Obviously Stevie doesn't "dance", but if you listen to the music, the vocal intonations, the instruments used in Michael's early work- especially w/ the Jackson 5 in the late 70's & early 80's, its ALL Stevie Wonder. On the song "You Haven't Done Nothing" off the "Fulfillingness First Finale" album, he uses the J5 on background vocals. Michael raved about working w/ Stevie in the studio & how much he learned from that experience. Listen 2 vocalists today- all u hear is Stevie Wonder

[Braenchild1]

@KennyThrusts

I don't completely agree. Stevie has influenced a LOT of today's R&B artists, yes. What I don't agree with is there being an obvious Stevie Wonder influence in the work of The Jackson 5/Michael Jackson. Stevie inspired Michael, sure... but he didn't influence him per se. Michael Jackson is an amalgam of many people/things (James Brown, Bob Fosse, Fred Estaire, etc.), but Stevie Wonder is not among them. When you think singular artists, MJ has his own great idiosyncracies.

[levanabrzeni]

@cuseheart

Yes.



[mediumlarge]

Im just gettin into STevie properly. I always loved his music but i never realised how many great albums he put out. Stevie dominated the 70s.

Songs in the key of life was out of this world so now im tryin his other albums. I prefer albums with more use of syntheciser cause they funky.

[wickedrosie]

to isrealfloresto- it is a samba, and does look and sound like warm aquamarine water...you can SEE it!!

and to sherodthebod- when we gettin married? on the strength of this one song- you better be careful. isa feelgood .

[Mauritau]

I was a kid when this came out, all of 17 yrs, this song helped a youngen'start the journey...sweet azzzzzzzzzzzz!

[MYTMIC]

Its a sweet song, sad and happy at the same time

[nerva2hook]

i love this song when i was young i use to dance and make that sound baraw and smile doing it it just makes you happy to see another day so please smile

[7Joker7]

This song is nice, but can someone post "Bird Of Beauty" ?

[sherodthebod]

I thought I was the ony person that like this song in the whole world

[117FUNK]

Absolutely my favorite track from this great album. Thanks for posting. Excellent!

[sherodthebod]

why is this your favorite track?

[117FUNK]

Like you, I thought I was the only person that liked this track. We obviously have good taste! Even though this wasn't a hit, I've always liked the vocal arrangements. This song always made me feel good. I always regarded it as a happy theme.

[117FUNK]

Sometimes the obscure tunes are better. This song is a good example?

[sherodthebod]

OMG I feelthe same way. Its something about how this song is arranged that makes it a hit. The energy is wonderful. If i can find the woman that likes this track we're getting married

[nerva2hook]

your right it is a unique song the intruments are so clear like your there and when i was young i use to make that same sound stevie would do smileing going baraw sounded like a lion so your not the only one who digs this song so smile

[tenish1]

(To sherodthebod) Okay honey, When's the wedding??? Youv'e found your woman, no need to look any further. LOL I understand fully what you mean. Alot of people these days, just don't appreciate good music. Stevie Wonder is so talented & his song are so full of different melodies, rythms and they all put you in a different mood or mindset as you listen to him. Stevie Wonder is just a pure music genious.

[IsrealFloresto]

i love the contentment in his voice and the movement of this song is almost like astrud gilberto's samba

it makes me feel as though i'm in aqauamarine water

the arrangements of the bom didi boms

along with "you have'nt done nothin' this is accually one of my favorite songs of all time

i've played it literally over 300 times

i

[sherodthebod]

This is one of thoughs song were you just want to conquer the day.... conquer your life.... conquer the world

[IsrealFloresto]

though it bled into me over time

those bom didi boms kind of reminded me

how my life goes UP and then down

on the piano scale

as i progress to a "brigter day" as he says

and the piano staircase on the cover just says it all

[sherodthebod]

THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!!!!