Songs in the Key of Life is the eighteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder. It was released on September 28, 1976 by Tamla Records, a division of Motown. The double album has been regarded by music journalists as the culmination of Wonder's "classic period" of recording.

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12 1940 in Chicago, Illinois) is an award winning American jazz pianist and composer. Hancock is one of jazz music's most important and influential pianists and composers. He embraced elements of rock, funk, and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz.

Prince Rogers Nelson, better known as Prince, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation.

Marvin Gaye 把 1971 年专辑《What’s Going On》的标题曲拿给摩城音乐创始人 Berry Gordy 时，据传后者曾表示，那是他听过的最糟糕的东西。音乐太松散，歌词则太政治化。但就连 Elvis Presley 都唱起了抗议歌曲（1969 年的《In the Ghetto》），Marvin Gaye 为什么不可以？<br /><br />
这张专辑的奥妙就在于那份轻盈。歌曲自在呼吸，演绎自然松弛，甚至有些漫不经心，例如标题曲中负责演奏萨克斯的 Eli Fontaine 录音时甚至以为自己不过是在热身。Sly & The Family Stone 在苦涩的放克里倾泻怒火的同时（1971 年的《There’s a Riot Goin’ On》），Gaye 则用华丽的弦乐和拉丁鼓点表达着他的不满，柔和而且显得老练。哪怕是触及毒品（《Flyin’ High [In the Friendly Sky]》）和贫困问题（《Inner City Blues [Make Me Wanna Holler]》）等严肃主题时，他也轻盈得如同御风而行。这张专辑让我们明白，政治音乐不一定要剑拔弩张，也可以温暖怡人。