Consumer Guide Album

Stevie Wonder: Original Musiquarium I [Tamla, 1982]
Distilling an admirable but somewhat discursive album artist into one of rock and roll's most compelling songwriters (and rock-and-rollers), this would be an ideal best-of if the four (out of sixteen) new tracks matched up--only the ten-minute Dizzy Gillespie jam "Do I Do" belongs, though "Front Line"'s Vietnam-vet lyrics tries. The political side--"Superstition"-"You Haven't Done Nothin'"-"Living for the City"-"Front Line"--makes you forget he's an institution, and the "Higher Ground"-"Sir Duke"-"Master Blaster"-"Boogie On Reggae Woman" groove parlay meshes like that's the way God planned it. On the other hand, the calm, condescending cruelty of "Superwoman" has worn so badly that it not only undercuts its own seductive melody but casts a pall on "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," the most beautiful song he'll ever write. Docked a notch for male chauvinism. A-