Recorded in 1972 for the Motown off-shoot Mowest, this classic  Stevie Wonder production for his wife Syreeta remains one of Stevie’s most ground-breaking work to date.  After hearing the legendary TONTO (The Original New Timbral Orchestra – the world’s largest custom-built synthesiser to you and me)  on Richie Haven’s ‘The First Blind Degree’ album, Stevie immediately asked the TONTO’s engineers Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil to co-produce/engineer his album ‘Music Of The Mind’ as well as Syreeta’s self-titled debut from which today’s SOTD is from.

TONTO featured on many Wonder mid-70’s classics as well as sessions for Quincy Jones, Bobby Womack and Gil-Scot Heron but it’s this workout which I consider to be the  heaviest and most inventive. The electronic percussion and bass are simply mind-blowing and still sound amazing today. But what about Syreeta? Apart from being Stevie Wonder’s missus, she is still regarded as one of Motown’s ‘forgotten’ stars.  Starting out as a receptionist at Motown and subsequently being discovered by Brian Holland (him off Holland-Dozier-Lamont fame), Syreeta released a few singles, dabbled (well i say dabbled – she co-wrote ‘It’s A Shame’ and ‘Signed, Sealed & Delivered amongst many others) in songwriting and returned to record this masterpiece. The combination of the experimental and fascinating production values with Syreeta’s soft and light vocals is incredible and remains one of the most revolutionary Soul/Funk albums of all time. And I’m not just saying that. Really I’m not.  Have a listen!