The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie

The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie is the debut studio album by Stevie Wonder, released in September 1962 by Tamla Records, a subsidiary of Motown Records. The album features Stevie Wonder on harmonica, piano, and vocals, and was produced by Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby. The album's release was a significant event in the career of Stevie Wonder, who was just 12 years old at the time, and marked the beginning of a long and successful collaboration with Motown Records and its founder, Berry Gordy.

Background

The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie was recorded in 1962, during a period of great creative ferment at Motown Records, which was also home to other notable artists such as The Supremes, The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye. The album's production team, which included Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby, drew on a wide range of influences, including jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues, to create a unique sound that showcased Stevie Wonder's talents as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. The album's release was supported by Motown Records' powerful marketing and distribution network, which included relationships with major record labels such as Columbia Records and RCA Records. The album also benefited from the expertise of Motown Records' in-house songwriting and production team, which included Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Norman Whitfield.

Composition and Recording

The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie features a mix of original compositions and jazz standards, including Frankie and Johnny, Hallelujah, I Love Her So, and Drown in My Own Tears, which were written by Henry Cosby and Clarence Paul. The album was recorded at Hitsville U.S.A., Motown Records' legendary recording studio in Detroit, Michigan, using a combination of analog recording equipment and acoustic instruments. The recording process involved a number of notable musicians, including James Jamerson on bass guitar, Benny Benjamin on drums, and Eddie Willis on guitar, who were all part of Motown Records' in-house studio band. The album's production team also drew on the expertise of arrangers such as Paul Riser and Johnny Allen, who helped to create the album's distinctive soundtrack.

Release and Reception

The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie was released in September 1962, and was initially met with positive reviews from music critics, including those at DownBeat and Billboard. The album was also a commercial success, reaching the top of the Billboard 200 chart and earning Stevie Wonder his first gold record. The album's release helped to establish Stevie Wonder as a major new talent in the music industry, and paved the way for his future success with Motown Records and other record labels, including Atlantic Records and Arista Records. The album has since been recognized as a classic of jazz and rhythm and blues, and has been cited as an influence by a number of other notable musicians, including Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, and George Duke.

Track Listing

The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie features the following tracks: Fingertips (Part 2), The Square, Soul Bongo, Manhattan at Six, Pops, We Love You, Fingertips (Part 1), Frankie and Johnny, Drown in My Own Tears, Hallelujah, I Love Her So, and Sunset. The album's track listing reflects the eclectic mix of jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues influences that characterized Stevie Wonder's early work, and features a number of original compositions and jazz standards.

Personnel

The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie features a number of notable musicians, including Stevie Wonder on harmonica, piano, and vocals, James Jamerson on bass guitar, Benny Benjamin on drums, and Eddie Willis on guitar. The album's production team included Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby, who were both experienced producers and songwriters with a long history of working with Motown Records and other record labels. The album also features contributions from a number of other notable musicians, including Paul Riser and Johnny Allen, who helped to create the album's distinctive soundtrack. Category:Jazz albums Category:Motown Records albums Category:Stevie Wonder albums