Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (1973)

The seeing see little.

It was Helen Keller who observed this about many of those of us fortunate to have our sight who go through life without noticing or appreciating what we see.  Stevie Wonder illustrated this through the visions of his music.  His 1973 album Innervisions was one of many LPs from early in his career in which he shared his visions - good, bad, but never indifferent - about the world he was blessed and cursed to live in.  Blind since birth, Wonder has always been able to see the beauty and the complexities of life without ever perceiving anything with his eyes.  His capacity to look at life, warts and all, has given him an edge over those who see but do not look. And it gives anyone willing to listen a much-needed education.

Wonder can sense the romance and the splendor of what life can be and the bitter realities of what life is.  He presents this world view on Innervisions with music that alternates between pensive, plaintive piano ballads and sly, elliptical rhythms that cut through the air and seemingly come out of nowhere.  The warmth of touch and sensation in "Golden Lady," with an intensely spiritual jazz undercurrent, and the wistful reflection of "All In Love Is Fair" reflect a great deal of maturity and wisdom in economical lyrics with little pretension.  Meanwhile, the more pointed social commentary of "Living For the City" uses a steady beat and pulsating, almost ominous keyboard and synthesizer passages to illustrate racism in America, and the satirical portrayal of a con artist in the loose shuffle "He's Misstra Know-It-All" urges caution in dealing with such unsavory types . . . albeit in a fun, self-assured way.  (I'm convinced that Misstra Know-It-All is Richard Nixon, one of many Republican leaders who have been the bane of Stevie's existence.)

Wonder's overall message of hope is particularly evident in the determined groove of "Higher Ground," with its fuzzy Moog bass.  But "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing," my favorite song on the album - heck, my favorite Stevie song, period - is perhaps the most uplifting record he's ever made, with rhythms that seem to come from some other world and his friendly assurances to listeners to seek out their own worlds.  He's encouraging us to give ourselves a chance to check out the new and experience the personal changes that result.  And Stevie will have your back, in spirit, when you check it out.  Don't you worry, indeed. He's seen it all.  Some people with sight (like Nixon's disciples in the current Congress) never see anything.