100 Greatest songs of the 60’s #44 – Stevie Wonder – Uptight (Everything’s Alright)

Released: 1965

It seemed almost…selfish. Stevie Wonder sang. And played drums. And the harmonica. And piano. And the organ. Not bad for a twelve year old – and incredible when you remembered that this twelve year old was blind.

Having been first discovered by Ronnie White (Who was a member of Smokey Robinson’s Miracles), this prodigy found himself signed to Motown and under the wing of Berry Gordy. Some adults would perhaps have been tempted to gradually introduce their discovery to the world of show business; released in 1963, Wonder’s fourth album in two years was simply called The 12 Year Old Genius.

Even blessed with so much natural ability, the early years were a struggle for consistency, as few writers and producers knew how to get the best of such a young and versatile artist. In danger of being dropped the singer’s career turned in 1965 with Uptight (Everything’s Alright), the first single he’d co-written. Infectious and relentlessly upbeat, although he was now in effect competing with the label’s older stars it answered the doubters emphatically. Selfish? no, just brilliant.