egroj world: Bizarre Discotheque #11: Stevie Wonder • Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants

Friday, December 9, 2022

Bizarre Discotheque #11: Stevie Wonder • Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants

Review
by Andy Kellman
Stevie Wonder broke a three-year silence, one that followed a series of six classic albums released within six years, with this double album, the score/soundtrack to a little-seen environmental documentary directed by Wild Bunch co-screenwriter Walon Green. From the release of Songs in the Key of Life through the release of Plants, Wonder had been active, actually, but only as a collaborator, working with Ramsey Lewis, the Pointer Sisters, Minnie Riperton, Syreeta, Ronnie Foster, and Michael Jackson. Even so, three years was a considerable lag between albums. Anticipation was so high that this release peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and R&B album charts. It quickly slipped to footnote status; when Wonder’s 1972-1980 albums were reissued in 2000, it was left out of the program. Plants is a sprawling, fascinating album. Though it is dominated by synthesizer-heavy instrumental pieces with evocative titles, there is a handful of full-blown songs. The gorgeous, mostly acoustic ballad “Send One Your Love” was a Top Ten R&B single, while the joyous “Outside My Window” registered in the Top 60. Beyond that, there’s the deep classic “Come Back as a Flower,” a gently lapping, piano-led ballad featuring Syreeta on vocals. Otherwise, there are playfully oddball tracks like “Venus’ Flytrap and the Bug,” where Wonder chirps “Please don’t eat me!” through robotizing effects, and “A Seed’s a Star,” which incorporates crowd noise, a robotized monologue, and a shrieking Tata Vega over a funkier and faster version of Yellow Magic Orchestra. The album is not for everyone, but it suited its purpose and allowed its maker an amount of creative wiggle room that few major-label artists experience.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/journey-through-the-secret-life-of-plants-mw0000650993

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Reseña
por Andy Kellman
Stevie Wonder rompió un silencio de tres años, uno que siguió a una serie de seis álbumes clásicos publicados en un plazo de seis años, con este álbum doble, la partitura/banda sonora de un documental medioambiental poco visto dirigido por el coguionista de Wild Bunch, Walon Green. Desde la publicación de Songs in the Key of Life hasta el lanzamiento de Plants, Wonder había estado activo, en realidad, pero sólo como colaborador, trabajando con Ramsey Lewis, las Pointer Sisters, Minnie Riperton, Syreeta, Ronnie Foster y Michael Jackson. Aun así, tres años era un lapso considerable entre álbumes. La expectación era tan grande que este lanzamiento alcanzó el número cuatro en las listas Billboard 200 y de álbumes de R&B. Rápidamente pasó a un segundo plano. Cuando en 2000 se reeditaron los álbumes de Wonder de 1972 a 1980, no se incluyó en el programa. Plants es un álbum extenso y fascinante. Aunque está dominado por piezas instrumentales cargadas de sintetizadores con títulos evocadores, hay un puñado de canciones completas. La preciosa balada acústica "Send One Your Love" fue uno de los diez primeros sencillos de R&B, mientras que la alegre "Outside My Window" se colocó entre las 60 primeras. Además, está el clásico "Come Back as a Flower", una balada a piano con Syreeta a la voz. Por lo demás, hay temas juguetonamente extravagantes como "Venus' Flytrap and the Bug", en el que Wonder grita "¡Por favor, no me comas!" a través de efectos de robotización, y "A Seed's a Star", que incorpora el ruido de la multitud, un monólogo robotizado y un chillido de Tata Vega sobre una versión más funky y rápida de Yellow Magic Orchestra. El álbum no es para todo el mundo, pero se ajustaba a su propósito y permitía a su creador un margen de maniobra creativa que pocos artistas de grandes sellos experimentan.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/journey-through-the-secret-life-of-plants-mw0000650993

Tracks:
1 - Earth's Creation
2 - The First Garden
3 - Voyage To India
4 - Same Old Story
5 - Venus' Flytrap And The Bug
6 - Ai No, Sono
7 - Seasons
8 - Power Flower
9 - Send One Your Love (Instrumental)
10 - Race Babbling
11 - Send One Your Love
12 - Outside My Window
13 - Black Orchid
14 - Ecclesiastes
15 - Kesse Ye Lolo De Ye
16 - Come Back As A Flower
17 - A Seed's A Star / Tree Medley
18 - The Secret Life Of Plants
19 - Tree
20 - Finale

Credits:
    Art Direction – John Cabalka
    Coordinator [Album Cover Coordination] – Keith Harris (2)
    Engineer [Additional] – Jay Mark
    Engineer [Additional], Programmed By [Synthesizer] – John Fischbach
    Engineer [Assistant] – Ann Bolling, Bob Harlan, Charlie Brewer*, Jim Dougherty, Laura Livingston, Lindy Griffin
    Engineer, Mixed By, Producer [Associate], Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Gary Olazabal
    Illustration [Album Package] – Margo Nathas*
    Lacquer Cut By – J.H.*
    Layout – Ginny Livingston
    Liner Notes [Bambara Translation] – Abdoulaye Soumare
    Liner Notes [Japanese Translation] – Kenji Miura, Mary Ann Monkoski*, Yoshi J. Maejima
    Lyrics By – Stevie Wonder (tracks: A4 to A6, B4 to C2, C5, D1, D2)
    Mastered By – Stan Ricker
    Music By, Performer [Instruments], Producer, Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Stevie Wonder
    Programmed By [Synthesizer, Sequencer] – Bill Wolf, Clark Spangler, Gordon Bahary
    Technician [Computer Music Melodian Design] – Harry Mandell

Label:    Tamla – T13-371C2
Released:    1979
Genre:    Electronic, Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style:    Jazz-Funk, Soul, Disco
https://www.discogs.com/release/491756-Stevie-Wonder-Journey-Through-The-Secret-Life-Of-Plants