Stevie Wonder: I Was Made To Love Her + Down To Earth (Japanese Pressing) CD Track Listing

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Stevie Wonder I Was Made To Love Her + Down To Earth (Japanese Pressing) (1967)
I Was Made To Love Her + Down To Earth (Japanese Pressing)\n\nThis compilation 2-fer Originally Released 1986\n\n"I Was Made To Love Her" LP Originally Released August 27, 1967\nCD Edition Released January 6, 1992\n\n"Down To Earth" LP Originally Released November 16, 1966\nCD Edition Released June 1989\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: (I Was Made To Lover Her/Down To Earth 2-fer) The release of Down to Earth/I Was Made to Love Her documents a transitional phase for Stevie Wonder. Down to Earth (1966) and I Was Made to Love Her (1967) were made at a time when Wonder was looking to move beyond the "Little" Stevie Wonder moniker, and gain more control over his work, something Berry Gordy and Motown were not quite ready for. It's good material, but not as well-known as some of the earlier "Little" Stevie Wonder sides and not as artistically strong as Wonder's work in his early-'70s prime. The two albums were combined for a time on one compact disc, which has since gone out of print. -- Sean Westergaard\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: (I Was Made To Love Her) This album was rushed out to capitalize on the success of the title song, which was Wonder's biggest pop hit since "Fingertips, Pt. 2," and would not be bettered until "Superstition" in 1972. Other than the hit, it's all filler, but not uninteresting for that. There are several contributions from the Wonder team at Motown, covers of other Motown hits, and stabs at sounding like Ray Charles, James Brown, and Otis Redding. At 17, Wonder was becoming both a remarkable mimic, and an original talent on his own. -- William Ruhlmann\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: (Down To Earth) Stevie Wonder's third album signaled more artistic growth, but was the first of his career that didn't make much commercial headway. It didn't contain a single big hit, something that wouldn't happen again to Wonder for many, many years. There were moments of uncertainty and awkwardness on such songs as "Angel Baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me)" and "Lonesome Road." Wonder was laying the groundwork for numerous classics that routinely came throughout the 1970s and '80s; his voice was losing its cuteness and beginning to gain the richness and edge that punctuated many of his future albums. -- Ron Wynn\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW (''I Was Made To Love Her'')\nThe Genius Returns, June 24, 2004\nReviewer: T. A. Shepherd "tas50l" (Palmdale, Ca. 93550)\nIn 1967, Stevie Wonder reached another peak with his seminal "I Was Made To Love Her". His best original 45 since 1965's "Uptight", gave him a permanent residence in the Motown family. (He was almost dropped from the label before "Uptight" was released.) The problem with this album is the lack of original material--there are no songs that come close to the groove that the title track laid down. Instead, the listener is met with half-hearted run-throughs of Motown covers of Marvin Gaye's Baby Don't You Do It and the Temptations' My Girl. As if that weren't enough, James Brown's Please, Please, Please is nearly massacred by the Motown "symphony" production throwing the track completely out of place. When better songs were left in the can (i.e. "Until You Come Back To Me", "Can You Feel It" and "Why Don't You Lead Me To Love"), it seems to me with a little digging this could have been a much better album. It seems Mr. Gordy just wasn't ready to trust Stevie at this time to let him record his own compositions. That said, the album does have its merits. Wonder covers Bobby Bland's "I Pity The Fool" with feeling and conviction giving it a stellar performance backed up by The Andontes and The Originals (?). He also gave the late Ray Charles a run for his money on "A Fool For You" with The Andontes singing some nice Supreme-esque oohs. Another blues tune recorded at the time was "Why Don't You Lead Me To Love". Would to heaven they would have included this one on the original LP! It later appeared as a single-only release on the flip of "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" and is the closest Stevie came to Gospel. Originals? "Everytime I See You I Go Wild" is pleasantly odd and "I'd Cry" is a ballad done at break-neck speed obviously left over from the "Down To Earth" sessions. All-in-all, it's a hodgepodge, but what's good is well worth the bucks. Two stars may be a little low, but for it's no reflection on the artist. Stevie can't make a bad record, ok? It's just that in this period, some were better than others.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW (''I Was Made To Love Her'')\nHis Best '60's Album, August 9, 2005\nReviewer: swinginglondon (London)\nIt's true. Not all the tracks are original songs, but enough of them are and I'd say about six are really, really good. I've known them all my life and I love them. Just great mid-'sixties Stevie that you haven't heard anywhere else before, not even on compilation albums. \n\nI also love his renditions of 'Respect' and 'Can I Get A Witness', they both have a grooviness and originality of their own. \n\nIf you really like Stevie's mid-'60s sound, don't hesitate tracking this album down. \n\nIt's a real finger clicker. \n\n'Everytime I See You I Go Wild' is wild and fabulous! \n\n'I'd Cry' is divine. There's a wonderful irony to the way he sang sad songs in a fast uptempo way. \n\n'Everybody Needs Somebody' has a wonderful, melodic, understated soulfulness. \n\nActually, the only song I've grown tired of is the title track and yes, there are a few fillers/duds that you'll want to skip, but the good far outweighs the bad. \n\nHe was very proud of this compilation when it came out and he was right to be.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW ('Down To Earth'')\nThe Rarest Of The Rare For Wonder, March 9, 2006\nReviewer: Andre S. Grindle "Andre' Grindle" (Dennysville Maine)\nStevie Wonder's CD reissues of his early to mid 1960's LP's are out of print and extremely rare now.For Stevie Wonder fans his 'Uptight' and 'Down To Earth' albums (both from 1966) are critical moments in his career.The hit from this album was the lovely "A Place In The Sun".The song has a gentle arrangement and a mature style suited to Stevie growing up as a person and a talent.As with any Wonder album of this period there is a lot of filler but at least the focus is off Ray Charles-nice to see a change.They scanned the classic American song book and came up with an eerie cover of "Sixteen Tons" and the lesser "Bang Bang".The real meat here are two Wonder originals in "Thank You Love" and the Uptight-like "Be Cool,Be Calm And Keep Yourself Together".Both sport that great sense of melody and excitment and are among his unsung classics and you can only get them on this CD.Because of the amount of cover/filler songs and the somewhat workmanlike Motown stock arrangements CD's like this have never been reissued.I was lucky enough to purchase this on CD just before it went out of print.The popular tunes from this album like "A Place In The Sun" on Stevie's 60's best of packages.But for fans and album listeners you'll want to pick this up.
This rock cd contains 24 tracks and runs 67min 26sec.
Freedb: 460fcc18
Buy: from Amazon.com

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