Flashback | Stevie Wonder Recreates Songs In The Key Of Life

Last week Stevie Wonder announced an 11-city tour in which he’ll perform each and every song from his classic 1976 double album Songs In The Key Of Life. However, this won’t be the first time Wonder has recreated the album in a live setting. Wonder accomplished that feat last December at his House Full Of Toys benefit concert at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles with the help of many guests.

Not only did Stevie and his guests perform all 21 songs off Songs In The Key Of Life, but the three-hour-plus concert also featured two bonus tracks released during the same time period as the album. Among the guests at last December’s show were John Popper of Blues Traveler, who along with Fredrick Yonnet played harmonica on “Have A Talk With God” and took part in a harmonica trio with Wonder himself. Guitarist John Mayer helped out on “All Day Sucker,” Esperanza Spalding came out for “Pastime Paradise,” Herbie Hancock appeared on “As,” singer Joe sang on “Love’s In Need Of Love Today,” Chick Corea added keys to “Contusion” and India.Arie performed on “Saturn.” “I Wish” provided the evening’s big dance party number and “Isn’t It Lovely” was extended to the nine-minute mark with a harmonica solo.

Earlier this year fan-shot footage of the entire show surfaced thanks to Edward Nigoghossian. Take a look:

Part One:

00:00 Stevie intro -Season’s Greetings -Family
01:22 About the benefit

02:37 Stevie introduces Radio Free KJLH Performance Choir
03:50 His Mercy Endureth Forever
09:05 Go Tell It on the Mountain
10:22 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (singer’s name?)
12:22 Shelea escorts Stevie back,warm up

Songs in the Key of Life:
0:14:40 Love’s in Need of Love Today (w/ Joe, Soul Seekers)
0:22:16 ***** Stevie on performing SITKOL live
0:23:36 Have a Talk with God (w/ Frédéric Yonnet, John Popper, Joe and background vocals Jory Steinberg, Shelea)
0:27:03 Village Ghetto Land
0:32:06 Contusion (w/ Chick Corea)
0:38:27 Sir Duke
0:42:53 I Wish (w/ Keith John, Eric Benét, Joe)
0:47:31 Knocks Me Off My Feet
0:54:04 ***** Stevie on his mother & Mandela
0:55:19 Pastime Paradise (w/ Esperanza Spalding)
1:00:20 Summer Soft (w/ Ronnie Foster, Eric Benét)
1:06:41 Ordinary Pain (w/ Ledisi, Shirley Brewer)
1:14:39 Saturn (w/ India.Arie)
1:19:52 Ebony Eyes (w/ Mike Phillips)
1:24:13 ***** Intermission

Part Two:

0:00:12 Isn’t She Lovely
0:07:49 Joy Inside My Tears (w/ Joe)
0:14:45 Black Man
0:25:14 All Day Sucker (w/ Ledisi, John Mayer)
0:33:20 Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call) (w/ Esperanza Spalding, Frédéric Yonnet, John Popper)
0:39:44 Ngiculela –Es Una Historia –I Am Singing (w/ India.Arie)
0:48:15 If It’s Magic (w/ Dorothy Ashby’s original harp track)
0:53:42 Stevie on arts in school
0:54:59 As (w/ Herbie Hancock, India.Arie)
1:03:22 Living for Your Love
1:10:26 Another Star
1:17:52 Stevie’s goodbye greetings