Stevie Wonder was among some artists on the Motown to receive some artistical freedom and write his own songs. At first he started producing his own recordings but the content (lyrics and music) was still created by Motown songwriter collectives like Holland-Dozer-Holland or Ashford and Simpson. When he became 21 his contract with Motown lasted only one album and tensions increased. Motown decided to give him the freedom to record whatever he wanted. Just like Marvin Gaye who released his first self created album "What's Going On" around the same time as Stevie's "Where I'm Coming From".

Syreeta and Stevie

At the age of 20 Stevie married with another Motown artist Syreeta Wright. She was songwriter and also former Motown secretary. She helped Stevie with his next solo album. Stevie was one of the biggest artists of the Motown label. He contracted them at the age of 11 years old and at 13 he released his first hit single "Fingertips" reaching #1 in the US. He became blind soon after his birth already.

The first song he wrote for "Where I'm Coming From" was "I Wanna Talk To You" about a racially charged conversation between a black man and an old southern white man. Which also symbolised his breakaway from Motown. The first hit single of the album was "If You Really Love Me" (#8 in the US) and the haunting tale of loss "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" was the other single. "If You Really Love Me" was the last song to feature the Motown background band The Funk Brothers. On the rest of the album Stevie played all the instruments himself. Music on the album was including social  commentary and war-themed songs. It was also the first time he played synth bass on most of the songs except for "Think Of Me As Your Soldier" and "Take Up A Course In Happiness" where an electric bass was used instead. The opener "Look Around" warns us about all the dangers in the world. "Think of Me as Your Soldier" and "Something Out of the Blue" are odes to his love for Syreeta.

"If You Really Love Me" single cover
Michael Jackson meets Stevie Wonder

All songs were written by Stevie with his then wife Syreeta Wright. Arranged by David Van DePitte, Jerry Long, Paul Riser and Stevie Wonder. He married Syreeta in September 1970. Stevie played almost all instruments on the album. From this point Stevie kept on improving his music an released fantastic albums during the 70's. "Where I'm Coming From" is for me one of his best albums where it all started.

Original album cover

Where I'm Coming From (1971)
Look Around / Do Yourself a Favor / Think of Me as Your Soldier / Something Out of the Blue / If You Really Love Me / I Wanna Talk to You / Take Up a Course in Happiness / Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer / Sunshine in Their Eyes

AUDIO/VIDEO

Look Around

If You Really Love me

Sunhine In Their Eyes