This is one of the greatest runs of albums in music history. The sheer genius on display.

When Paul Simon gave his acceptance speech for Album of the Year Grammy winner, "Still Crazy After All These Years," He thanked Stevie Wonder for not putting out an album that year. Wonder absolutely ruled the 70's with Gem after gem after gem.

This is the song that made me notice Stevie Wonder. It ropes you in with the music and nails you to the floor with the story. It's an amazing. landmark song.

Nearly 50 years and I still cry when I listen to this.

Stevie is most definitely on my Mt Rushmore of musical talents. The man is a living legend and may have more god given talent than anyone ever. Stevie can’t make a bad song!!

He's never stopped being a wonder - 'Fragile' at Sting's 60th Birthday Concert. Sheer magic.

Stevies run of great albums in the 70's were beyond good. Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life; all classics.

You're by far my favorite reactor and this one is a good reason why that's true. You get the story and the tragedy as well as the genius of the music! It's such a poignant song. It came out when I was very little and I remember hearing it well before I could truly get what it was about - and I still knew that it was a sad, angry song but also full of beauty. And to me, there's something about that part you liked - the one that gets sort of jazzy where Stevie's singing da-da-daaa's - there's something almost super-American about that bit. It sounds a bit like an alternative national anthem, one that acknowledges the ugly truth (racism) as well as the beauty. Anyway, thanks! Great one, JP.

the amount of talent Stevie Wonder has is unfair to others.

Too many others only listen to the radio edit which cuts out that whole second half, which really makes a huge impact on the song!

Stevie is so, so good. I've always been partial to Songs in the Key of Life over his other great 70s albums, maybe just because it was my first, but really you can't go wrong. Btw, I don't think there actually are any female backup vocals on this song. Every voice and instrument is Stevie himself, except for the spoken word "character voices" on the interlude.

This is a powerful and important song in the history of music. I still remember hearing this long version for the first time in the '70s. It was a time when people spoke out against the madness.

Stevie means every word he sings. I could wax lyrical about this man but it's already been said, so I'll use a word that I never use lightly...GENIUS! What a track.

What was true then, is true today.The message is lost, but the song still plays. But we keep repeating it, anyway. C'mon people fight for your rights, we've got a world to sway! We are all descended from one tribe(scientific fact). Got something to say? (grumpy old fart before coffee), Peace and Love.

Masterpiece…

This song and As are my two favorite tracks by him...these are top notch.

Innervisions is A PERFECT ALBUM.

The “female” vocalist in this song , that he refers to a few times is Stevie Wonder. He not only did all the vocals but he plays every instrument as well, as he often did in most of his albums.

70s Stevie is just awesome!

Not only did Stevie write it, he played every instrument - and he was only 23.

The song is about a on-going "American Tragedy. " It's about all familiar Black Experience in the United States of America.

My very first loved song, ❤

One of my favorite songs from the first album of one of the greatest runs of album ever, by arguably the greatest singer-songwriter (and one-man orchestra) of all time. I'm so happy we have finally come to it.

Most people didn't hear the entire track unless they purchased the album. There was a radio edit that got all the airplay of which there was plenty and didn't include the NYC narrative. Stay safe...be well... P.S. Young Micheal Jackson had to have, and did hang out in the studio during Steve's time. You can hear how Steve's vocals influenced MJ. "Hee hee."

The level you reached when analyzing music is undoubtedly, for me, the highest I know... You can listen to something and do a complete analysis, music, lyrics, arrangements, you took any detail so fast... Thank you 4 do this, and waiting 4 the rest of the album... And maybe next "Songs In The Key Of Life", one of the most heights in popular music... And we are so close to The Wall!!!!!

Great reaction. Great analysis!!!

"Living for the City" Stevie Wonder - lead vocal, background vocals, Fender Rhodes electric piano, drums, Moog bass, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer, handclaps NO FEMALE or other backup singers on this song.

Please, do every 70’s album. Do them in their entirety. They ensured that so many other worthy artists in the 70’s didn’t get Grammys. The most brilliant album run by one one of the most brilliant stars ever.

Definitely. The track placement of Visions followed immediately by Living For The City is breathtaking in its one/two sucker punch impact.

The track is sheer genius, after the talking narrative, Stevie's final vocal, that growl, Stevie has so much rage and sorrow in there. There's another KZfaq channel that only reacted to the single version of this song, and they missed the point! It's like only looking at the front cover of Zeppelin IV, not turning around the back, and missing the punchline. Very important track.

Great song 👍

Just love this song. Truly talented composer and musician in Stevie. Great reaction as always JP.

Perfection. Always been one of my top 3 Stevie songs.

Your reaction was spot on. Well done 👍

Great song, great reaction! Thanks, JP!

Stevie at the top of his game!

I've not heard this longer version before. Thanks Justin.

Stevie is a music God.

I love this; no whining, no professional victimhood, just truth.

I sure love me some Stevie Wonder! Thx, Justin.

"Winter In America" .."The Bottle"...."Angola, Louisiana"..." Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson.

This song and "Higher Ground" cemented Stevie Wonder in my mind as a young man. people have already said everything there is to say about him so I won't add any more superlatives. And your analysis of the song is bang on the mark. Excellent work JP.

Stevie Wonder is my all-time favorite artist. And this is one of all time favorite songs from him.

Spot on reaction to how it was for me listening to this for the first dozen times as a young teen in the early 1970's. Edit: And this is probably my favorite reaction of any song by anyone.

I love Stevie Wonder so much. Amazing Man in so many ways.

Spot on - this IS one of THOSE tracks. Historic greatness, in every aspect. This is on my playlist of top tracks across all genres, hits me hard every time. Makes me wish Stevie had gone further down this path into prog, that would've been so ground-breaking - I can only imagine what his side-long epic might have been like...

This is one of my favorites by him, also The song Big Brother is a definite listen

Great song and great analysis.

Wow, New York just like I pictured it, skyscrapers and everything

Great song both musically and lyrically. I remember liking it many years ago when it came out, but I was probably too young to really appreciate the message and the way the music enhances the lyrics.

I remember when I heard this the first time in 1976-77. I was hardly in prog and we had a party from our Art school. The friend who organized it (RIP Michel) was a Stevie Wonder fan ans we spent all night drinking, smoking, dancing with this album essentially. A great memory. It wasn't my style of musc but it was so fantastic and groovy. I still am moved by this music in remembrance of this night.

Your analysis did the song justice good stuff

such a great, epic production. the next song, Golden Lady, is my favorite of the album

Really good review. Nice how you notice the change and feel in music that reflects the lyrics. I love this song but just hate when everything goes to hell.

One of the greatest tracks ever.... (TYS)

A fantastic track and your review is excellent as usual, you are by far the best music reactor out there, That being said I see now that you are commenting during the track playthrough which is something that you never used to do and I suspect it's to fend off the idiocy of copyright but it's a great shame because to me if someone is talking especially verbalising a long sentence then you are not listening and probably talking over crucial moments in a piece of music, I'm sorry for the negativity, you're still the best though 👍

This album is now 50 years old🗣️🗣️

I haven’t heard the album version of this song, brilliant and so very progressive. Stevie wonderful!!!

Mr Duke is one of our faves.

Stevie Wonder was a huge star in the 70's, and -- like Steely Dan -- had fans both in the public mainstream and among other musicians. He plays nearly everything on his albums, and was a pioneer synthesizer artist. As for the lyrics, Stevie was following in Marvin Gaye's footsteps, but yeah -- race relations in the United States were at a boil in the late 60's/early 70's. What's sad about today's BLM movement is that after almost 70 years it's STILL a problem in this country. But hey, history is a dirty word in some of our schools unfortunately, and I worry young people won't ever know what happened in Stevie's time, let alone back in the days of Rosa Parks and the Selma marches.

Monster masterpiece here love you

I've confessed before to being a diehard rock fan but even the most blinkered rock/prog/metal/country fans couldn't fail to see the genius behind Stevie Wonder. This might be his pinnacle but there are several others. Now, how did Wonder come to write such a sappy song as I Just Called to Say 'I Love You'? Beyond me.

The music is incredible, but the lyrics slapped in the face the very first time I heard it as a young teenager. I'm an older white guy "livin' for the suburbs", but who else but Stevie Wonder could have writtin this song? No one.

Brilliant. And your review, too. Sorry to be boring like this, but I concur 100%, so there's nothing more to add.

Groove with a message. Spot on. I hope you react to Mistra Know it All. Similarly powerful with a groove. And oh so relevant to today.

More progressive than the vast majority of 'progressive music'. Stevie's 70s output was immaculate, but this track was his crowning achievement. Especially since he did practically all the vocals and instrumentation on it (Except for the spoken word bit and some of the synth programming)

We'll run out of superlatives with this album.

Wow, are you sure this is your first time hearing this song? You totally got everything with the changes of the music and how gritty Stevie's voice got. Excellent reaction you nailed it.

I was 9 when this came out. The radio I listened to then played the whole song with no censoring and it made a big impression on me. This was at the same time that the schools in Memphis where I was living were ordered to integrate. I was bussed to what had been a predominantly black school. My (white) teacher proceeded to divide the room by race. I remember well something went missing once and she seemed to only accuse the black boys. Stevie was creating the perfect soundtrack for that period with some amazing music and a timely message.

Loved this album as a kid. This song facilitated me. The music, the instruments, the vocals and the lyrics. The story was another world from what I knew. Just thought, he goes from the repressive racially divided south to a liberal northern city, and that’s where he finds trouble.

This is why they call him Wonder.

Just an absolute powerhouse of a song. He won best album a few years in a row. When paul simon won best album his first comment was "I would like to thank stevie wonder for not putting out an album this year"

With the help of Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff, Stevie brought in the era of synth work to popular music. I’d be cool if you gave some love to Tomita, say Firebird or The Planets too. Just sayin.

One of the best songs from Stevie's best album. Can't go wrong with that! The single version is a more cohesive listen, perhaps, since it edits out the whole spoken words bit, but by doing so, it also kind of makes the song lose its point. - Both are worth hearing, though.

Easily one of the grooviest songs ever written. ✌

Personally, I get a tough, gritty feel to the track from the opening keyboard chords.

Man Justin, you’re so astute! For a first listen, you picked up every thing that song laid down. I got this record shortly after release, 12 year old white kid, given a reminder dose of American reality. I grew up in the Detroit area, Stevie’s hometown. I was 6 years old in ‘67 during the first race riot of my lifes .experience. There was a curfew , had to be inside by dark. I was sitting outside at the curb trying to make honey out of clover blossoms that i was chopping up with a garlic chopper! I seriously remember that shit! I lived, and loved the music out of Motown. So when i heard Livin for the City, I was awestruck like you, at 12 years old. Thats our history, and fuck you republicans that want to stop teaching that history to kids (Ron DeSantis!). How dare those fuckers! My handle here is Uncletom, but only because i got no kids at 62 yo now, but i have 17 nieces and nephews . You wouldn’t believe the conversations ive had cuzza that! 😎 To me, thats the best song Stevie ever recorded. So glad I learned empathy so young

50 years later, and this song has lost NONE of its impact. Perhaps after you've finished this album, whether on your own time or not, I would strongly suggest checking out a mid 70s live television performance on a German music show called Musik Laden. It is quite simply one of the most riveting half hours' worth of music you will ever witness. The music may be lost on some of the audience, but the folks filming clearly got it. Raw, urgent, mistakes and all, this is not to be missed.

Notice how the spoken sektion with the city noise near the end, is more or less copied by the ending of "the Message" by Grandmaster Flash. So yet another thing Rap stole ;-)

DETROIT music

Is that Stevie sounding like a woman? They say he did pretty much all the parts. Not sure if he had the Fairlight to alter his voice for this.

Not so much Civil Rights as that was at least 5 years before. This was the WOKE song of the generation blinded by Vietnam and ignoring the problems of the Main St economy because the war ate all the resources and energy. It was a dismal time.

"Living for the City" is superb but probably drags a little too long for my taste and in this sense I prefer the version published as a single which goes straight to the point. The disproportionate length of the songs is what will weigh down his double album Songs in the Key of Life in my opinion, but we are not there yet ! 😉