Frank F. from SAN FRANCISCO, CA Reviewed on 10/30/2009...
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CD Reviews
One Of The Greatest Live Albums Ever Made
Anthony Nasti | Staten Island, New York United States | 04/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"1995's "Natural Wonder" captures the raw energy, unbrideled passion and undeniable excitement it feels to be at a Stevie Wonder concert. This is something few artists can do at their concerts. Stevie Wonder is one of those few. On this two disc collection (culled from his 1995 "Conversation Peace" tour), wonder performs 24 classic songs with all the skill and soul you'd expect from Stevie.
Stevie truly pours his heart into his songs. Just listen to the passion he puts into songs like "Love's In Need Of Love Today", "Stay Gold", "If It's Magic" "Ms. And Mr. Little Ones" (a new song when it was released and a personal favorite) and "Overjoyed". And naturally, Stevie isn't afraid to have a little fun, funking it up on "Sign Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "Sir Duke" and "I Wish", as well as transforming the tender ballad "Ribbon In The Sky" into an almost nine minute jazzy jam.
I was also glad that Stevie decided to revive several lesser knowns gems such as "Pastime Paradise", "Another Star", "Village Ghetto Land" and "Rocket Love". These songs stand well against concert warhorses such as "Higher Ground" and "Superstition".
My only gripe is basically the one another reviewer said, and that's that several songs ("Master Blaster (Jammin')", "Living For The City", "Another Star") were a lot shorter than the original versions. Usually when you go to a concert, you expect the songs to be longer than the studio versions. But I won't fault the entire album because of that. Also, I noticed the list of songs that reviewer would have liked seen on this album is the same as mine. But again, I won't fault the entire album for these minor complaints.
This is an album that I think everyone should own. Also worth picking up is "At The Close Of The Century" and all of Stevie's studio albums, which are among the greatest albums of all time."
The Closest Thing to Being There!
Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 02/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For those of us that live in the "boondocks" where artists rarely or never appear, "live" recordings provide us with the stadium or concert hall experience.
"Natural Wonder," recorded in both Israel and Japan is, as the title implies, a stupendous performance by one of the 20th century's true geniuses. Backed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and a band featuring instrumental heavyweights Nathan Watts, Darryl Jackson, along with others, the Motown legend delivers with an intensity that makes him the envy of his contemporaries and his successors.
The album begins with "Dancing to the Rhythm," a highly charged tune that has Wonder's mellifluous vocal instrument matched by an outstanding Paul Riser string arrangement. This song, along with "Stevie Ray Blues," and "Mr. and Mrs. Little Ones, are previously unreleased tunes but they meld seamlessly with his more familiar hits.
And what hits they are!!!
The Academy Award-winning "I Just Called to Say I Love You". The pop/R & B smashes "My Cherie Amour," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," and so many others.
One would have to be six feet under to not be moved by "Rocket Love" or "I Wish".
The album may be ten years old but Wonder's music is timeless, still resonating with soulful passion as they did when they were first heard.
And that makes Stevie one for the ages!"
SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GRAMMY-WINNING SMASH!!
NYC Music Lover | New York, NY United States | 04/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Why this album wasn't a major, major hit for Stevie Wonder just
mystifies me. It's the first and only live album of his adult
career, and it is simply awesome. This is absolutely one of the
best live performances I've ever heard, right up there with "Judy
At Carnegie Hall", "Band Of Gypsies" by Jimi Hendrix, the
"Woodstock" soundtrack and any number of live recordings by
Joni Mitchell, the Stones, Aretha, Ella, James Brown, Bob
Seger, ANYBODY. Stevie's pipes are in amazing shape and his
performance is positively exuberant. Someone who has been
around as long as he has could have easily just gone through
the motions and still delivered a good show. But Big Little
Stevie gives his all and then some to the point where you wonder
how he does it! Not really a "Live Greatest Hits", this is
more a "History Of Stevie". Many of his biggest hits are here,
especially on the second CD, but so are some album faves and
lesser known gems. All are delivered with passion and buckets
of soul. The opening 1-2 punch of "Dancing To The Rhythm" and
"Love's In Need Of Love" will leave you breathless. It really
is that great. And the addition of the strings to an already
fine band is the icing on the cake. If you like Stevie you will
LOVE LOVE LOVE this CD!!!"
Wonder Is A Natural At Performing Live
C. Drayton | 02/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When you've been in the business as long as Stevie Wonder and haven't released a live album, chances are you waiting for something special. And Stevie's 1995 2 - disc live album "Natural Wonder" is truly something special. It spans his entire career from 1962 to 1995 save for a few albums ("Where I'm Coming From", "Fulfillingnes' First Finale", "Characters").
Disc 1 is filled with rare gems hardly heard. These include the brooding "Rocket Love", the 17th century - style "Village Ghetto Land", the beautiful "Stay Gold" (a favorite of mine originally featured in the 1983 film "The Outsiders" (great movie) but not available on a Stevie Wonder cd until now) and the lush "If It's Magic. As for the hits, Stevie gives powerful renditions of "Master Blaster (Jammin')" and "Higher Ground", but the highlight is the 8 - minute version of "Ribbon In The Sky" segues into a long jam. Brilliant.
Two (then) new Wonder compositions are featured on this disc. The first is the opening track, "Dancing To The Rhythm", a great love song with a nice 1970s'. Next is somewhat of a torch song but with socially conscious feel to it, "Ms. And Mr. Little Ones". They are both great songs.
Disc 2's track selection may read like what you'd find on a cheap "greatest hits" album, but in fact it's a consistantly amazing live performance. It opens with "Overjoyed", a version that is just as powerful and passionate as the studio version. Next comes the first roofraiser, a loose version of "My Cherie Amour" which is better than the original. Then comes "Sign, Sealed, Delivered", and all of a sudden it's 1970 again. Great performance. Following is "Living For The City". Again, a great performance but I had a problem with this one that I'll get to later. Next are the best two performances on the cd. A wild and funky "Sir Duke" comes first with the audience cheering wildly. Next comes a riveting performance of "I Wish" that is light years better than the studio version. After that is "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life". Great performance that elevates way beyond its muzak status. Following is a funky "Superstition" that is again better than the original. Following is a beautiful version of "I Just Called To Say I Love You". I loved this song since it first came out, but hearing it surrounded by orgainc instruments instead of all the electronic synthesizers and drum machines, makes me love it anymore. Next comes the lush "For YOur Love". Again, it makes the studio version look bad. Closing out the disc and this brilliant album is the rarely heard "Another Star". Great performance, but like "Living For The City" as well as some others, I have a complaint.
As great as this album, I can't help but notice that some of these songs are severely edited from the original versions, which is a bit disappointing. This is most evident on "Living For The City" (originally 7:25 long, now 4:27), "Master Blaster ("Jammin'")(originally 5:09, now 3:36) and "Another Star" (originally 8:22, now 5:55). And this isn't really a complaint, but in the event that Stevie releases another live album (his studio album "A Time To Love" comes out around April, so there may be a tour), I'd like to see the following songs on them:
"Do I Do"
"That Girl"
"As"
"Part Time Lover"
"Uptight"
"If You Really Love Me"
"You Haven't Done Nothing"
"Fingertips, Pts. 1 & 2"
"For Once In My Life"
"I Was Made To Love Her"
"Boogie On Reggae Woman"
"Isn't She Lovely"
"Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer"
"A Place In The Sun"
"Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing"
(yeah, I named probably a whole disc, but maybe he can fit all on two or maybe even three (I can dream, can't I?))
Other than that, get "Natural Wonder" and experience the joy, pain and, well, wonder of Stevie Wonder. Trust me, you won't be sorry."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
Frank F. from SAN FRANCISCO, CA 
