Nelson George on Stevie Wonder's "Innervisions" (1973)

Innervisions marked a significant transition in Little Stevie Wonder's career. He began to move away from the Motown romantic ballads and towards a more conscious and experimental sound. He talked about poverty, racism, drugs, and Richard Nixon. It's an album filled with social justice anthems, made almost entirely by Stevie himself at 23 years old.  

Culture critic and writer Nelson George sits down with us (remotely) to talk about Stevie embracing of new musical technology, the changing landscape of black radio at the time, and  Stevie's own transformation as an artist during the early 70s

More on Nelson George

Nelson George Remembers Life As A City Kid (NPR) A few of Nelson's archived articles Twitter|Website

More on Innervisions

BBC's review of InnervisionsStevie Wonder Emerges As A Visionary with Innervisions (Ultimate Classic Rock)Malcolm Cecil on working with Stevie (Wax Poetics)

Show Tracklisting (All songs from Innervisions unless otherwise indicated):

Don't You Worry 'Bout A ThingLiving For The CityToo HighLiving For The CityToo HighNew York Voices: Too HighGolden LadyJesus Children of AmericaDon't You Worry 'Bout A ThingBarbra Streisand: All In Love Is FairHigher GroundCurtis Mayfield: Future ShockDonnie: Heaven SentHarold Melvin and the Blue Notes: Hope That We Can Be Together Soon

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!