Stevie Wonder has expanded the scope of his iconic 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life, by releasing four unheard songs from the original recording sessions. This new EP, also titled Songs in the Key of Life, marks the 50th anniversary of the album, which won Album of the Year at the Grammys and features landmark tracks such as Sir Duke, As, and Isn’t She Lovely.

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“We’ve lived with Songs in the Key of Life for 50 years, but there’s still more to hear,” Wonder said in a statement. “We didn’t add these songs to the album, but they were part of what I was feeling and discovering as we made it. They bring me back to that time in my life, and now they get to become part of yours.”

The Unheard Tracks

The newly released songs are infused with the signature style Wonder developed during the 1970s, characterized by a sunlit, spiritually attuned blend of soul and R&B. The tracks celebrate love and the richness of existence while acknowledging emotional strife and social struggle. The album's arrangements are known for their psychedelic soul elements, funk, and jazz influences, enhanced by a variety of organic instrumentation.

The four unheard tracks include:

  • It’s Easier: A shimmying, bossa nova-esque number questioning the concept of love.
  • My Life Story of Love: A quintessential Wonder song featuring bucolic imagery, telling a tale of a blossoming relationship.
  • I Can See the Sun in Late December: A slow jazz ballad about determined optimism and self-discovery.
  • I’m Into Livin’: A squelchy funk track where Wonder renounces his old partying ways and commits to a single lover.