This is another in the list of CD's in my collection that you wouldn't expect a metalhead to have. I mean, the guy who runs Black Sabbath's website - liking Stevie Wonder?!? To be honest, before I bought this, when I thought of Stevie Wonder, I thought of three things. First, he's blind. Second, Eddie Murphy used to parody him on Saturday Night Live. Third, his song "Superstition", which I loved. That was it.

In April 2007, my stepfather died, and due to that, I had to head over to Men's Wearhouse to buy a suit for the funeral. While I was in there, I was getting fitted, and a song came on. I thought it was Will Smith's "Wild Wild West" from the (bad) movie of the same name. However, as it went along, I realized "Hey, that's not Will Smith". Listened some more, and said "That sounds like Stevie Wonder". Turns out it was, it was his song "I Wish". I was quite amazed. Not only did Will lift the main "riff", there was a lot of the same song structure. I then realized I was quite deficient in Stevie Wonder music.

Then I listened to it. I was quite amazed at how much of Stevie Wonder's music I actually knew! As I listened to more of the music, I realized I knew just about all of this stuff, just not by name. To be honest, when I sat down to listen, I thought this would be one of these knee jerk purchases I make, which I later go "Why did I buy this?" Not this one, I enjoyed it a lot, especially the more I realized I knew. It's hard to quantify his music - some might say "funk", but that doesn't seem right. I just know it's good music. Worth picking up.

It needs to be stated at the outset that Stevie Wonder has more than just 21 hits. But this cd brings together the best hits from the 1960s through the 1980s. They are also remastered with the best possible sound. You get "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," "Superstition," "Living for the City," "Higher Ground, the anti Nixon "You Haven't Done Nothing," "I Wish," "Do I Do," "My Cherie Amor," and many more on one disc. Completists will wish the cd had room for "Isn't She Lovely, Frontline, Ribbon in the Sky, and a few others, but no one can quibble with what IS contained on this disc. You can always download the ones that are missing.

Stevie Wonder was the most soulful and funky singer of the 1970s. Your pop/rock collection isn't complete without this cd.

It's kind of ironic because this album is my first Stevie Wonder CD I've bought. But now that I know what I was missing, I don't want it to happen to other people.

Let me list some of the BEST songs that this disc is missing

- Isn't She Lovely

- Golden Lady

- As

- Send One Your Love

- Ribbon In The Sky

- Visions

- Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing

- Send One Your Love

- Lately

etc.

I'm pretty sure there are people who think those missing songs can make up a better collection.

So don't even bother with this one and save money for these packages

- At The Close Of A Century (4 CD Box Set)

- Natural Wonder (2 CD Set LIVE)

- Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants (Tied with INNERVISIONS for Stevie's best album)

13 bucks was well worth for me to be introduced to the greatness of Stevie Wonder. So I don't regret anyway.

Have the people who re-mixed the songs on this album ever heard the original recordings? Fingertips,(I'm not even sure where this recording even came from) dosen't sound like the same 12 year old that I remember on the 45. Superstition? the percusion at the begining, WHERE IS IT??? Living For the City, (the begining to this song used to bring shivers, but this is disapointing, no soul here!!) This mix sucks!!! I bought this because I was thinking I would like to have a fresh version of all these wonderful songs (no pun intended), but what I got was inspiration to listen to my old albums and 45's where I can at least get the original "FEEL" for these great songs.

This Definitive Collection is available in a double import CD form. It's a much better overall collection than the single domestic CD, however I agree with the reviewer who noted the sound quality could be better on the older tracks. Also, if you don't already own it, pick up Fullfillingness First Finale.