Where I'm Coming From
Encyclopedia
Where I'm Coming From is the thirteenth studio album released by Grammy Award
-winning American
singer
Stevie Wonder
on the Motown
label on April 12, 1971.
This album is considered a groundbreaking record for Wonder, in that it is the first album in which he had complete artistic freedom
in its production (Stevie Wonder had taken charge of his own music starting with this album). It was the last album produced under his first contract
with Motown Records.
This is Stevie Wonder's thirteenth album overall. The album was released on April 12, 1971 and debuted on the Billboard Pop Albums
at #62 on the Billboard
R&B Albums Chart at #10.
All nine songs were written by Wonder and Motown label-mate
Syreeta Wright
, then his first wife (1970–1972.)
had maintained tight control over his company's productions, and as the artists' careers progressed, they began to feel the need for the allowance of social consciousness
and artistic freedom in their recordings. Stevie Wonder was one of the Motown artists, along with Marvin Gaye
, who wanted to expand with new styles and musical techniques, some of which became more apparent in the earlier album For Once In My Life
.
Although Wonder had begun producing his own recordings, Motown still retained control over the content of his albums. Tensions increased as Wonder approached his twenty-first birthday; his contract had a clause which allowed Wonder to void it upon becoming a legal adult. When the president of Motown approached Wonder about renegotiating his contract, Wonder refused and asked for his contract to be voided.
Anticipating this event, Wonder took advantage of the fact that Motown would be forced to accept whatever he gave to them, and was able to produce Where I'm Coming From without any outside interference from the company. In particular, the song "I Wanna Talk To You", which portrayed a racially-charged dialog between a black man and an old southern white man (Wonder portrayed both characters) is also a subvert reference to his breakaway from Gordy and Motown (particularly apparent in the ad-libbed line "I'm gonna take my share...!")
Where I'm Coming From, which departed drastically from the Motown Sound employed in previous Stevie Wonder albums, yielded the U.S. number-eight hit single, "If You Really Love Me". The soft ballad "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" (a predecessor to the Wonder's later recording "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You?)") was also successful. Much of the rest of the album was social commentary
and war
-themed songs.
The album foreshadowed Wonder's next four albums in its production
techniques, such as use of the Hohner
clavinet
. The most notable difference on Where I'm Coming From from subsequent Wonder albums was the lack of synthesizer
s, which Wonder first began using with his next album, Music of My Mind
. Like Wonder's earlier albums, several tracks on Where I'm Coming From use the company's studio musicians, The Funk Brothers
, and also make use of string orchestra
s.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
on the Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
label on April 12, 1971.
This album is considered a groundbreaking record for Wonder, in that it is the first album in which he had complete artistic freedom
Artistic freedom
Artistic freedom is the extent of freedom of an artist to produce art to his/her own insight. The extent can deviate to customs in a certain school of art, directives of the assigner, etc....
in its production (Stevie Wonder had taken charge of his own music starting with this album). It was the last album produced under his first contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
with Motown Records.
This is Stevie Wonder's thirteenth album overall. The album was released on April 12, 1971 and debuted on the Billboard Pop Albums
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at #62 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B Albums Chart at #10.
All nine songs were written by Wonder and Motown label-mate
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Syreeta Wright
Syreeta Wright
Syreeta Wright , who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was a Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter most notably known for her work with Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston.-Early life and career:...
, then his first wife (1970–1972.)
History
Motown's founder Berry GordyBerry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
had maintained tight control over his company's productions, and as the artists' careers progressed, they began to feel the need for the allowance of social consciousness
Social consciousness
Social consciousness is consciousness shared within a society. It can also be defined as social awareness; to be aware of the problems that different societies and communities face on a day-to-day basis; to be conscious of the difficulties and hardships of society.- Theory :Many studies have been...
and artistic freedom in their recordings. Stevie Wonder was one of the Motown artists, along with Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, who wanted to expand with new styles and musical techniques, some of which became more apparent in the earlier album For Once In My Life
For Once in My Life (album)
For Once in My Life is a 1968 soul album released by singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder on Motown, as his tenth studio album. Then eighteen years old, Wonder had established himself as one of Motown's consistent hit-makers. This album continued Wonder's growth as a vocalist, songwriter and producer...
.
Although Wonder had begun producing his own recordings, Motown still retained control over the content of his albums. Tensions increased as Wonder approached his twenty-first birthday; his contract had a clause which allowed Wonder to void it upon becoming a legal adult. When the president of Motown approached Wonder about renegotiating his contract, Wonder refused and asked for his contract to be voided.
Anticipating this event, Wonder took advantage of the fact that Motown would be forced to accept whatever he gave to them, and was able to produce Where I'm Coming From without any outside interference from the company. In particular, the song "I Wanna Talk To You", which portrayed a racially-charged dialog between a black man and an old southern white man (Wonder portrayed both characters) is also a subvert reference to his breakaway from Gordy and Motown (particularly apparent in the ad-libbed line "I'm gonna take my share...!")
Where I'm Coming From, which departed drastically from the Motown Sound employed in previous Stevie Wonder albums, yielded the U.S. number-eight hit single, "If You Really Love Me". The soft ballad "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" (a predecessor to the Wonder's later recording "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You?)") was also successful. Much of the rest of the album was social commentary
Social commentary
Social commentary is the act of rebelling against an individual, or a group of people by rhetorical means, or commentary on social issues or society...
and war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
-themed songs.
The album foreshadowed Wonder's next four albums in its production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
techniques, such as use of the Hohner
Hohner
Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a company specialising in the manufacture of musical instruments. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner , Hohner is identified especially with harmonicas and accordions. The Hohner company has invented and produced many different styles, and most of the...
clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
. The most notable difference on Where I'm Coming From from subsequent Wonder albums was the lack of synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, which Wonder first began using with his next album, Music of My Mind
Music of My Mind
- Side One :# "Love Having You Around" – 7:21#* Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, talk box, drums, Moog bass#* Art Baron – trombone#* Background Singers – uncredited...
. Like Wonder's earlier albums, several tracks on Where I'm Coming From use the company's studio musicians, The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
, and also make use of string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
s.
Side One
- "Look Around" – 2:45
- "Do Yourself a Favor" – 6:10
- "Think of Me as Your Soldier" – 3:37
- "Something Out of the Blue" – 2:59
- "If You Really Love MeIf You Really Love Me"If You Really Love Me" is the title of a song written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright. Wonder recorded the song and released his version as a single from his 1971 album Where I'm Coming From. The single proved very successful, peaking in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 , Billboard's R&B...
" – 3:00
Side Two
- "I Wanna Talk to You" – 5:18
- "Take up a Course in Happiness" – 3:11
- "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in SummerNever Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer"Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" is a 1971 song by Stevie Wonder. It comes from his album Where I'm Coming From. The song is a ballad, describing a failed relationship using the metaphor of changing seasons...
" – 2:53 - "Sunshine in Their Eyes" – 6:58