Stevie Wonder: In Square Circle CD Track Listing

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Stevie Wonder In Square Circle (1985)
Originally Released September 13, 1985\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Although it went platinum, nothing stands as better evidence of how cyclical the pop experience is than the response to In Square Circle. Wonder actually wrote some superb songs, and several, like "Overjoyed" and "I Love You Too Much," were superior to the hit single "Part-Time Lover." But that one zoomed to the top spot and became the album's definitive tune in the minds of many. -- Ron Wynn\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Melodies Save It, October 15, 2005\nReviewer: ElvisCostellosWeiner "Chekhov Is The Greatest" (Michigan)\nthis album did it for stevie; after a decade of inspired and inspiring songs, arrangements, melodies and lyrics, he totally sold out and offered a bland, awful, completely uninspiring product, and this continued throughout to this very day. \n\nOr did he? Well, this is partially true, except for one thing; Stevie was always about selling albums. Yes, he did it in an amazing, beautiful way, but stevie has always been a commercial artist. This album reflects that; he has become very interested in digital synths with this one. And, unfortunatley, he is not as creative with digital synths as he is with analogue. Not only that, but the album does not feature his great drumming either! It's all drum machines. A disaster? \n\nWell, the arrangements are sometimes a mess. Not quite a disaster, but this album doesn't live and breath like classic stevie. In the 70's, stevie would make a song on which he played every instrument live and breath like a real funk jam. Prince was someone who inherited this tendency from Stevie, but Stevie did it better. But on this album, his arrangements are not as "living" as before, and it's easily blameable on Stevie fully embracing digital technology. For this reason, this album sounds much more dated than his 70's albums; well, in a way, all albums are dated by their time period. But I could see somebody creating an album like, say, Talking Book today; it's sound is timeless. This album is very 80's. \n\nThis is why this album loses one star; also, there are more weak songs on this one album (one or two) than all of Stevie's output in the seventies put together (zero). So, I can't help but see this as the beginning of Stevie's "unimportance" in music. Stevie has, or never will, have the impact on music he once had. \n\nSo why four stars?! I spend this whole review bashing this album, but then I give it four stars; well my fellow Stevie fans, I give this album four stars because even if Stevie has lost his edge, importance, and arrangement creativity he still has one very important thing; his pure melodic ability. All of these songs are very very melodic and catchy (part time lover) or beautiful (overjoyed). Only one misstep; Apartheid (It's Wrong) was a stupid, dated mistake. I know Stevie couldn't resist doing his political commentary thing but it just doesn't work here. \n\nAll in all, this is a very good album. But there is a reason I focused so strongly on the negatives. This is the beginning of the end for Stevie. He still has his wonderful melodic sense; it hadn't failed him at this point. Unfortunatley, however, Stevie's melodic ability begins slipping rapidly after this album, making his music very adult contemporary. Most fans shoudl stop here, proceed with caution after this. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nPerfect Circle, February 14, 2001\nReviewer: Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA)\nIn Square Circle is another classic Stevie Wonder album. The album features his usual themes; ballads, upbeat r&b and songs with a social bent. The socially conscious songs are all strong including "Land Of La-La", "Spiritual Walkers" and "It's Wrong (Apartheid)". "Part Time Lover" is a shimmering workout number that is as good as anything he's ever done. The song became his ninth and final number one song (although he would hit number one in 1986 as part of Dionne Warwick's "That's What Friends Are For" song). "Go Home" is an underrated gem with it's driving keyboards and funky beat. "Overjoyed" is a lush beautiful ballad that just soars to the heavens. In Square Circle hit number four on the charts but it marked the end of a 14 year run of chart dominance for Mr. Wonder. To date, he has not reached the top ten on either the singles or albums chart since this album.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nPure 80's, June 25, 2000\nReviewer: Timothy J. Thompson (USA)\nAlthough not a prior Stevie Wonder fan I rate this album in the top of the eighties releases. Released in the mid eighties this album mixes the techno-pop of the early eighties with the message music of the latter part of the decade all the while exhibiting the musical talent of Stevie Wonder. It never fit clearly into any peg except that of music lover. \nFor those who came of age in the eighties and now hear cuts from this album while strolling through the grocery store it is a must have CD.\n\nIt is indeed the K250 at its best. It provided fuel for the fire of the argument between digital and analog music. This time sampling wins.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNo edge,but a polished platter., February 6, 2000\nReviewer: Dean Martin Dent (SAN LEANDRO,CA)\nIn Square Circle makes it plain that the 70's are over (at least in the case of Stevie's music), but his melodic gifts makes this a worthwhile album and the best of his musical phase that began with the post-Musiquarium period. Part Time Lover is a deserved #1 song (as well as his last) and Overjoyed is the most beautiful song ever recorded. Other strong cuts includes I Love You Too Much, Whereabouts, & Never In Your Sun. Go Home about the love rejected, now regretted scenario may have sounded good on paper but doesn't hold up on repeated listens. The albums weakest moment are his social conscience songs (Spiritual Walkers, The Land of LaLa, It's Wrong) showing how much we miss the Stevie Wonder of Innervisions. In Square Circle may not have the soul of his 70's recordings, but his heart is in the right place.\n\nHalf.com Details \nContributing artists: Luther Vandross, Philip Bailey \nProducer: Stevie Wonder \n\nAlbum Notes\nFrom putting out a couple albums a year to only three studio albums between 1980 and '85, some might have thought Stevie Wonder's muse took a vacation. However, between his many cameo appearances, Steve Wonder released IN SQUARE CIRCLE in 1985. It was a slight return to the great music he penned in the '60s and '70--a playful yet earnest blend of funk and soul--but with a more tailored sound. The hit single "Part-Time Lover" best exemplifies that blend. Although the music's programmed nature is evident, Stevie's keyboard and drum parts are aces. And of course, he gets a little help from an all-star cast, including Philip Bailey, Deniece Williams, Luther Vandross and Stevie's own diamond-in-the-rough Syreeta Wright, among others.
This rock cd contains 10 tracks and runs 49min 27sec.
Freedb: 680b950a
Buy: from Amazon.com

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