Stevie Wonder Masterpiece Double Album Songs In The Key Of Life And Platinum Smash Hotter Than July Restored And Reissued

Continuing the celebration of Stevie Wonder's 50th year and the dawn of his fifth decade as a recording artist, his widely acknowledged masterpiece 1976 double album Songs In The Key Of Life and the platinum 1980 Hotter Than July will be re-released by Universal Chronicles and Motown Records on May 2, 2000.

Earlier this year, the re-release of four other classic Wonder albums, Music Of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions and Fulfillingness' First Finale, launched this commemoration of one of pop music's true giants. Each album released in this program has been newly digitally remastered from the original tapes with 96k/24-bit technology. The original artwork, lyrics and credits have also been restored.

Three years in the making, Songs In The Key Of Life is a groundbreaking sonic masterpiece that brilliantly brings together Wonder's genius for pop music, his bold experimentation and his lyrical humanitarian concerns. Clocking in at nearly two hours in length, Songs In The Key Of Life is a cornerstone of modern pop and R&B. A 28-page booklet accompanies this special edition release.

Songs In The Key Of Life debuted at #1 on both the pop and R&B charts, and won Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male (Wonder also won for Producer of the Year). "I Wish" also hit #1 both pop and R&B, and won the Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance. "Sir Duke" was yet another #1 pop and R&B hit. "Another Star" and "As" were each Top 40, both pop and R&B. Songs In The Key Of Life also includes fan favorites "Isn't She Lovely" and "Pastime Paradise," the basis of Coolio's massive 1995 rap hit "Gangsta's Paradise."

Four years later, after 1979's soundtrack-related Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants, Wonder scorched the charts once again. Hotter Than July reached #3 pop and #1 R&B, was certified platinum and featured the hits "Master Blaster (Jammin')" (#1 R&B and #5 pop), "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" (#4 R&B and #11 pop) and the Top 40 R&B "Lately." Of special note is the album's "Happy Birthday," Wonder's tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that became the theme song for the campaign which ultimately won a national holiday for the civil rights leader.

Further re-releases are expected later this year as each of Stevie Wonder's landmark albums is reissued in a manner worthy of the acclaim and achievements earned by one of the musical greats of the 20th, and now 21st, century.