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Elly Roberts reviews
Motown (Island Records Group)
- Cat.no: 9882094
- Released: October 2005
- Rating: 8/10
Sometimes hearts are easier to win over than minds.
After Stevie Wonders ten year hiatus both might be difficult toachieve. Hardcore fans will doubtlessly flock to see the fruit of his labours the hearts. Others will wait for word of mouth the minds. Something hasclearly stirred Tamla Motowns favourite son into action Love. Not justthe love of our nearest and dearest, but love for the sake of humanityssurvival. Littered with profound and mostly romantic lyrics, Wonder hasdelivered an album that contains strong emotional threads.
1976s Songs In The Key Of Life was Stevie Wonders last masterpiece.It spoke for itself on the back of 73s gem Innervisions and 74sFulfillingness, both spawning brilliant singles Living For The City,Higher Ground and Superstition.
Back then, Wonder was on a roll that spurred on the albums. Big hit singlechances are slim for most if not all the tracks on A Time To Love.Funk-soul single So What The Fuss faired reasonably well recently.It wasnt the monster wed expected. Positivity could do better.
As the title implies, Stevie Wonder (real name Steveland Jutkins) gets deeplysoulful and loved-up to all of us: and for us – a true humanitarian to the end.In fact hes sending a warning to the world.
A slick and meticulous album, I fear that only initial curiosity will drawthe punters, possibly giving it a rush into the album charts.Chart longevity may prove more elusive.
Wonder has elected to steer away from turkeys like I Just Called To Say ILove You, released 21 years ago From The Bottom On My Heart comesclose, but not as cheesy.
A Time To Love has predictably trademark soulful tendencies, but nothing like his early’60s or mid ’70s period.
This album of 15 tracks lacks a killer song – a true classic. However, ifyoure a friend of jazzy, funky, ballad leanings youll love it.
Good albums invariably take time to access: eventually this grows.
First impressions reveal that his singing has vastly improved there aresome truly outstanding moments particularly on his duet with daughter AishaMorris on How Will I Know is simply divine, as is title track featuringIndia Arie. Gospel singer Kim Burrell gives a classy touch on the thumpingopener. Luminaries, Paul McCartney (not another Ebony and Ivory thankfully!),Prince and Narada Michael Walden make contributions here and there.
A very sophisticated album, but hes yet to match SITKOL.
It may give Wonder his 22nd Grammy and add to the 70 million hes alreadysold worldwide, but a massive seller in the UK might not happen as theresnot a memorable enough as single to send it upwards and stay there.
Excellent bits Please Dont Hurt My Bay, How Will I Know, Cant ImagineLove Without You, Positivity.
Weblinks:Stevie Wonder online.co.uk /Motown.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. If Your Love Cannot Be Moved
2. Sweetest Somebody I Know
3. Moon Blue
4. From The Bottom Of My Heart
5. Please Dont Hurt My Baby
6. How Will Know?
7. My Love Is On Fire
8. Passionate Raindrops
9. Tell Your Heart I Love You
10. True Love
11. Shelter In The Rain
12. So What The Fuss
13. Cant Imagine Love Without You
14. Positivity
15. A Time To Love
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.