Stevie Wonder / Musikladen 1974 Complete Edition (2DVDR)

DVDR1

Full Version

I'm So Glad To Be Alive
Contusion
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
I Can See The Sun In Late December
He's Misstra Know It All
Living For The City
Superstition

Rebroadcast Version

Superstition
Living For The City
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
He's Misstra Know It All
I Can See The Sun In Late December

DVDR 2

Effect Version

Living For The City
I'm So Glad To Be Alive
Contusion
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
I Can See The Sun In Late December
He's Misstra Know It All
All In Love Is Fair (intro)

Edit Version

Superstition (outro)
I'm So Glad To Be Alive
Contusion
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
I Can See The Sun In Late December
He's Misstra Know It All

TV show *Musikladen* #10, Radio Bremen, January 23, 1974

Ollie Brown – drums
Mike Sembello – guitar
Marlo Henderson – guitar
Reggie McBride – bass
Deniece Williams – vocals
Lani Groves – vocals
Shirley Brewer – vocals

A live performance from the TV program *Musikladen*, recorded in Bremen, West Germany, on January 23, 1974. This stands as one of the finest live video documents capturing Stevie at the peak of his powers in the early 1970s. Fresh off the release of the masterpiece *Innervisions*—a time when his creative energy was at its zenith—Stevie performs with his band, deftly playing the clavinet, Fender Rhodes, and synthesizer. The sound is heavily funk-infused, featuring tempos faster and groovier than the studio recordings, along with extensive jamming and improvisation. The interplay between band members is intense, delivering a performance of spine-tingling coolness. The lineup includes Michael Sembello—who would later score a massive hit with "Maniac"—and Deniece Williams, who went on to achieve great solo success; Deniece, in particular, stands out remarkably among the backing vocalists, commanding a presence that rivals Stevie's in their duets.
The arrangement of "Higher Ground" is an even more aggressive funk take than the original. "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" features dynamic Latin rhythms and piano work, offering the kind of expansive, free-flowing musical development unique to a live setting. One cannot help but admire the cool, impassioned performance of "Living for the City," where the socially conscious lyrics merge seamlessly with the funk groove. On "Superstition," the guitar and backing vocals fill in for the absent horn section to reinforce the riffs, creating an impact distinct from the studio version.
The years 1973 to 1976 marked a golden era for Stevie Wonder, during which he produced *Innervisions*, *Fulfillingness' First Finale*, and *Songs in the Key of Life*; this *Musikladen* footage stands as a precious document that vividly captures both his creative genius and his live performance prowess.

This release packs in a wealth of footage, inviting fans to delve even deeper into the intricacies of the performance.

First, there is the "Full Version," said to match the original broadcast; it is a superb professional-quality recording. Next is the 22-minute version from the rebroadcast, which features edits and omits certain songs. Then, the second DVD (DVDR2) contains two additional variations: an "Effect Version"—featuring no on-screen text but with visual effects applied to the top and bottom of the frame—which includes the opening segment of "All In Love Is Fair" (omitted from the original broadcast); and an "Edit Version" that likely captures the finale of "Superstition" transitioning into "I'm So Glad To Be Alive." While the camera angles appear largely identical across these versions, this collection serves as the perfect resource for analyzing the actual sequence of the performance.