| features in: Album Chart of 1962 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s |
Despite the almost unimaginable awfulness of being blind from birth, the young Stevland began to learn the piano at the age of seven, and had also mastered drums and harmonica by the age of nine. On top of this, he sang in a church choir, giving him a balance between the sacred and his beloved musical heroes, Ray Charles and Sam Cooke. In 1961, he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles, who arranged an audition at Motown Records. Berry Gordy immediately signed the young lad to the label. Stevie was placed in the care of writer / producer Clarence Paul, who supervised his early recordings. His debut LP, all recently recorded, was issued in September 1962 and was designed to showcase the twelve-year-old's talents as a songwriter and instrumentalist. This would prove to be the only studio album in which he does not sing; he is featured on bongos, harmonica, drums, organ and piano. Mentors Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby wrote and produced the material, with young Wonder himself also co-writing two of the compositions, including the album’s finest offering, “Wondering” – listen to him GO on that organ! The original studio version of “Fingertips” is also included on the set; a live version would give him his first hit single the following year. Gotta hand to the kid – he’s an achiever; and an exceptional human.
The Jukebox Rebel
15–Sep–2009
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [03:00]  Little Stevie Wonder - Fingertips (Henry Cosby, Clarence Paul) Jazz |
| A2 | [03:03]  Little Stevie Wonder - The Square (Henry Cosby, Clarence Paul) Jazz |
| A3 | [02:20]  Little Stevie Wonder - Soul Bongo (Marvin Gaye, Clarence Paul) Big Band / Jive / Swing |
| A4 | [03:47]  Little Stevie Wonder - Manhattan At Six (Henry Cosby, Clarence Paul) Latin |
| A5 | [02:47]  Little Stevie Wonder - Paulsby (Henry Cosby, Clarence Paul) Jazz |
| B1 | [05:11] Little Stevie Wonder - Some Other Time (Henry Cosby, Clarence Paul) Jazz |
| B2 | [02:51]  Little Stevie Wonder - Wondering (Stevland Judkins, Clarence Paul) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| B3 | [03:18]  Little Stevie Wonder - Session Number 112 (Stevland Judkins, Clarence Paul) Jazz |
| B4 | [03:34] Little Stevie Wonder - Bam (Berry Gordy) Jazz |
