Fulfillingness' First Finale


Fulfillingness' First Finale is a 1974 album by Stevie Wonder; widely considered one of the albums from his "classic period". Released on July 22, 1974 on the Tamla label, it is Wonder's nineteenth album overall, and seventeenth studio album.
Subsequent to the epic sweep and social consciousness of Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale projected a reflective, decidedly somber tone. While masterly, the musical arrangements used in several songs could be considered sparse in comparison to others among his 1970s masterworks, especially in the bleak "They Won't Go When I Go" and understated "Creepin.
Though Fulfillingness' First Finale was largely a stripped down and more personal sounding record, Wonder had not completely foregone social commentary on the world around him. The Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "You Haven't Done Nothin'" launched a pointed criticism of the Nixon administration bolstered by clavinet, drum machine, and a Jackson 5 cameo.
Fulfillingness' First Finale was Wonder's first album to top the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart, where it remained for two weeks. It also reached number one on the Billboard Soul LPs chart, spending nine non-consecutive weeks there. Fulfillingness' First Finale won three Grammy Awards at the 16th Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The album was voted number 413 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums. It was also included in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Reception

Fulfillingness' First Finale won Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal, Best Male Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, and Album of the Year in 1974.

Track listing

All songs written by Stevie Wonder, except where noted.
;Side One
  1. "Smile Please" – 3:28
  2. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums
  3. *Michael Sembello – electric guitar
  4. *Reggie McBride – electric bass
  5. *Bobbye Hall – congas, bongos
  6. *Jim Gilstrap – background vocals
  7. *Deniece Williams – background vocals
  8. "Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" – 5:02
  9. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Hohner clavinet, drums, Moog bass
  10. *Paul Anka – background vocal
  11. *Syreeta Wright – background vocal
  12. *Shirley Brewer – background vocal
  13. *Larry "Nastyee" Latimer – background vocal
  14. "Too Shy to Say" – 3:29
  15. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, piano
  16. *James Jamerson – acoustic bass
  17. *Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar
  18. "Boogie On Reggae Woman" – 4:56
  19. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, Fender Rhodes, piano, harmonica, drums, Moog bass
  20. *Rocky Dzidzornu – congas
  21. "Creepin'" – 4:22
  22. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, harmonica, drums, Moog bass, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer
  23. *Minnie Riperton – background vocal
;Side Two
  1. "You Haven't Done Nothin'" – 3:23
  2. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, Hohner clavinet, bass drum, hi-hat, cymbal
  3. *Reggie McBride – electric bass
  4. *The Jackson 5 – background vocals
  5. *Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil – synthesizers
  6. *Horns, drum machine – uncredited
  7. "It Ain't No Use" – 4:01
  8. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums, Moog bass
  9. *Lani Groves – background vocal
  10. *Minnie Riperton – background vocal
  11. *Deniece Williams – background vocal
  12. "They Won't Go When I Go" – 5:58
  13. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, piano, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer
  14. *Bob and Malcolm - programming Moog
  15. "Bird of Beauty" – 3:48
  16. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, Fender Rhodes, Hohner clavinet, drums, percussions, Moog bass
  17. *Bobbye Hall – cuíca
  18. *Shirley Brewer – background vocal
  19. *Lani Groves – background vocal
  20. *Deniece Williams – background vocal
  21. *Sergio Mendes - Portuguese lyrics
  22. *Drum machine - uncredited
  23. "Please Don't Go" – 4:07
  24. *Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, piano, Fender Rhodes, harmonica, handclaps, drums, hi-hat, Moog bass
  25. *Michael Sembello – acoustic guitar
  26. *The Persuasions – background vocal
  27. *Shirley Brewer – background vocal
  28. *Deniece Williams – background vocal

    Selected cover versions

Weekly charts

Singles