Stevie Wonder: Where I’m Coming From and For Once In My Life
The late 1960s had seen a growing number of 'personal' albums: records written, performed and produced by the artists themselves. By 1970 the trend had yet to infiltrate Motown, which was sticking to the same album pattern it had throughout its existence - a couple of hit singles, filled out with numerous covers of popular songs and stock songs culled from the Jobete archives.
Stevie Wonder had been growing in ambition since 1968's For Once In My Life, and yearned to create an album free of Motown's interference. With his 21st birthday approaching and with it the ability to void his contract with the company, Berry Gordy allowed Stevie to produce his own record. This, along with Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, were the first albums from Motown which were allowed such a privilege.
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