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    Half a century ago, Stevie Wonder defined what an 'artist's classic run' could mean

    For the occasion of its half-centennial, cultural critic and poet Hanif Abdurraqib takes the measure of Stevie Wonder's unmatchable artistic achivements in the early-to-mid '70s.
    by A Martínez Mar 02, 2022 6 minutes
    Stevie Wonder, photographed arriving in London on Jan. 25, 1974 — almost directly in the middle of what many refer to as the artist's "classic period."

    It's been called "The Greatest Creative Run in the History of Popular Music" – and it started 50 years ago this week. Stevie Wonder released five brilliant albums in the span of five years, between 1972 and '76: Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life. Three of them won Grammys for Album of the Year.

    Wonder first signed to Motown Records when he was 11 years old, and so basically grew up with Motown's head, Berry Gordy, calling the shots of his creative life – and Gordy was famously reluctant to allow his artists to make political or social statements in their music. But, when Stevie Wonder's contract was about to expire on his 21st birthday, he was able to negotiate for more creative freedom. It led to a geyser of superb recordings.

    's A Martinez spoke with poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib about this "classic period" of Wonder's, saying its.

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