Stevie Wonder has released a four-song EP of previously unreleased recordings from the sessions for “Songs in the Key of Life,” timed to the album’s 50th anniversary. The tracks — “It’s Easier,” “My Life Story of Love,” “I Can See the Sun In Late December” and “I’m Into Livin'” — were written and produced by Wonder and curated by him for this release, according to the announcement. The recordings were mixed for the EP by the album’s original engineers, John Fischbach and Gary O Adante (credited on the original LP as Gary Olazabal).
Musicians on the tracks include keyboardist Gregory Phillinganes, guitarists Michael Sembello and Ben Bridges, saxophonist Jim Horn, drummer Raymond Pounds and bassist Nathan Watts, along with background vocalists Shirley Brewer, Thelma Houston and Deniece Williams. “My Life Story of Love” was co-written with Susaye Greene, the former Supreme who also co-wrote Michael Jackson’s “I Can’t Help It” with Wonder.
The EP arrives alongside the “Songs in the Key of Life Performances – 50th Anniversary Tour,” promoted by Live Nation and produced by Wonder Productions. The European leg begins Oct. 13 at Utilita Arena Birmingham, with stops including Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin before UK dates in London, Manchester and Glasgow. The U.S. leg opens Nov. 19 at Madison Square Garden and closes Dec. 19 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, with Wonder performing the album in full.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Sujata Murthy.