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Stevie Wonder - Characters Audio CD

A fair review of the Stevie Wonder "Characters" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Stevie Wonder reviews here, or go back to the Stevie Wonder tabs.

Stevie Wonder Band: Stevie Wonder
Title: Characters
Rating:
Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: You Will Know 2: Dark 'N' Lovely 3: In Your Corner 4: With Each Beat of My Heart 5: One of a Kind 6: Skeletons 7: Get It - Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder 8: Galaxy Paradise 9: Cryin' Through the Night 10: Free 11: Come Let Me Make Your Love Come Down 12: My Eyes Don't Cry

Outstanding Stevie from 1987
Amazon puts it's release date at 1991 but I've owned Characters since 1987. After many years as a fan, this 1987 release grew to be one of my favorite Stevie Wonder albums. The most outstanding tracks are "Dark 'n' Lovely", "One of a Kind", "Get It (with Michael Jackson)", "Come Let Me Make Your Love Come Down" with guitar solos by both Stevie Ray Vaughn and B. B. King. and the infectious "My Eyes Don't Cry". Yes, this collection will not disappoint !.


Stevie Wonder!
He is an amazing artist his music is great :) I love this cd it is the king of music I enjoy so Much my favorite song is Get it featuring Michael Jackson:) it is a hit also this whole album is amazing! Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder dueting wow ! great combination of amazing music buy it you won't be disappointed!:).


Moves outside the safety of the "circle", but generally stays out of trouble
Features one of his best 80s ballads "You Will Know," and the funky "Dark 'N' Lovely" which sounds more like some of his late 70s/early 80s funk numbers rather than something from 1987. The last of Stevie's 80s albums, this one isn't as solid and robust as 1985's "In Square Circle," but, like any Stevie album, still has its share of redeeming moments. Also spawned a hit with "Skeletons" which is really not one of his better songs (very melodically bland). Still worth hearing if you're unfamiliar with it, as there is no such thing as a completely disposable Stevie Wonder album. .


Get It If You're a Big Wonder Fan
Well, It got it's moments but it doesn't have enough memorable or creative songs like most other albums. In 1987, Just two years after "In Square Circle", Wonder came back with another studio album, "Characters" but for the first time I can truly say that it isn't a great album just good. Wonder settles for passable R&B ballads and contemporary Pop without taking alot of risks. "Characters" was the last Wonder album to gain moderately success. It eventually went platinum and launched a few hits including the top 20 hit "Skeletons" and a surprising duet with Michael Jackson called "Get It". The hit "Skeletons" (in the closet) deals with people with big secrets (i'e it follows the same path as "Big Brother" and "You Haven't Done Nothing. It's a funky uptempo that even had a video and is one of this albums best. "Get It" is typical 80's pop but despite MJ's appearence it isn't that good. Non-singles end up being better like "Dark'n'lovely" about the misery in the motherland Africa, midtempo love song "One of a Kind", drug problems among youth on the sentimental "You Will Know" and "Come Let Me Make Your Love Come Down" with B. B King and the late Stevie Ray Vaughn 1954-1990. "Galaxy Paradise" is alright but a little corny about finding a girl from another planet and the funky soul numbers "In You Corner" and "Crying in the Night" with backround choirs sound alot like previous takes. The rest of the (3) songs are not so memorable but they are not bad either. As a whole I can't say it is among his best but a few songs stand out and a few others surprise, if you're a big Wonder fan check this out, otherwise check out others first. "Characters" would be the last Stevie Wonder album with success, in the 90's he only released two albums, Jungle Fever" a soundtrack to the film with the same name and the lackluster "Conversation Please" before coming back with the strong effort "A Time to Love" in 2005. This was my last Wonder review, Hope They have been helpful!.


His worst mature effort... but it's not terrible
It doesn't help its cause that there's only one unqualified success on it. In Square Circle had some of lame '80s product on it, but this whole album is lame '80s product. "Skeletons" and "Get It" were both hit singles, and they're fun, but routine, funk, but the fact is you can find better songs that do the same thing on virtually every other Stevie Wonder album from 1972 on. (The third hit, "You Will Know", is awful. Unbearable. I dunno, pick a negative adjective and run with it). The song I'm talking about is the stomping, long funkfest "My Eyes Don't Cry". Now that's a total classic! I love it! Especially the percussion and keyboard riffs. And the melody. And the chorus. And everything else about it. Everything else is a zero. The funk ("Dark `n' Lovely"; "In Your Corner"; "One of a Kind") is forced; the ballads ("You Will Know"; "With Each Beat of My Heart"; the space-soul, "Rocket Love"-like "Galaxy Paradise"; "Cryin' through the Night") are overwrought. Stevie was in sad shape here. .


You can see a complete list of all Stevie Wonder discography, or go back to the Stevie Wonder tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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