One of the hallmarks of a great artist is the willingness to let the heart dictate an artistic direction, rather than fans’ expectations or commercial considerations. Stevie Wonder made just such a heart-based move when he did a double-album soundtrack for a documentary about plants.
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Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through “The Secret Life Of Plants” confounded many fans and critics upon its release in 1979. The bold move probably would have gone down smoother if it had been properly sold to the public. These days, it stands as a fascinating diversion from Wonder’s hitmaking path.
Wonder’s Winning Streak
To say that Stevie Wonder could do no wrong for the bulk of the 70s ranks as the height of understatement. He asserted himself during the decade as an artist. And he proved he was far more than a product of the Motown assembly line. Critics fell over themselves to praise his albums. Meanwhile, the public gobbled up each new single released to radio.
In 1976, Wonder hit a towering peak with the double album Songs In The Key Of Life. Only 26 when the record was released, Wonder overcame the pitfalls (bloat, self-indulgence) that usually befall double discs. Two No. 1 singles came forth from a project that was hailed as a masterpiece almost from the moment it was released.
Wonder proved as prolific as he was successful in the 60s and 70s. For the most part, he released at least one album per year. Songs In The Key Of Life, however, was followed by a three-year gap. When fans heard that another double album was on the way, they understandably became excited. But Wonder’s next release would throw them for a loop.
Planting the Seed
The 1979 documentary The Secret Life Of Plants emanated from a 1973 book of the same name by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird. Both the book and the documentary aimed to illuminate the surprising and even human-like characteristics of plant life. Stevie Wonder was a fan, so much so that he agreed to do the soundtrack for the documentary.
Wonder’s blindness didn’t stop him from his pursuit. To compose the soundtrack, he had the filmmakers describe each scene in the film to him. They also noted how long each sequence would be. In this way, he could fit his music to the visuals.
Wonder made every effort to set the music apart from other soundtracks. To that end, he recorded the album digitally, marking one of the first times that had ever been accomplished on an LP, start to finish. He also used synthesizers that allowed him to deploy a primitive form of sampling.
A Confused Fan Base
Much of the double LP features instrumental music, with New Age-y vibes juxtaposing with funkier passages. Now and again, songs with lyrics inspired by the film’s themes pop up. Some of these, including “Black Orchid” and “The Secret Life Of Plants”, can stand proudly with Wonder’s finest work in the decade.
But many folks were expecting an album full of material like that. It didn’t help that it was aggressively marketed as a typical Wonder release by Tamla/Motown, who were hungry for another smash. Some critics were quick to pounce on it, even though it wasn’t intended to be judged in the same way as his typical albums.
In any case, Wonder quickly returned to traditional pop forms on his 1980 album Hotter Than July. As for the legacy of Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through “The Secret Life Of Plants”, it’s best appreciated now as excellent chill-out music, a quirky passion project rather than a misidentified flop.
Photo by Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
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