Stevie Wonder has surprised fans with the release of Songs in the Key of Life 50: The EP, a collection featuring four previously unheard studio recordings. The tracks—"It’s Easier," "My Life Story of Love," "I Can See the Sun in Late December," and "I’m Into Livin'"—were captured during the original sessions for his landmark 1976 double album but remained in the vault for half a century. With a world tour commemorating the album's 50th anniversary on the horizon, the legendary artist decided the time was right to share these lost pieces of his creative history with the public.
"We’ve lived with Songs in the Key of Life for 50 years, but there’s still more to hear," Wonder noted regarding the release. "We didn’t add these songs to the album, but they were part of what I was feeling and discovering as we made it. They bring me back to that time in my life, and now they get to become part of yours."
The technical polish on these tracks was handled by original mixing engineers John Fischbach and Gary O. Adante, also known as Gary Olazabal. These new additions serve as a companion to the four-song EP A Something’s Extra, which accompanied the original 1976 release. The new collection was timed to align with the 50th anniversary of the diamond-certified record, which officially debuted on September 28, 1976. In a nod to the studio culture of the era, the EP arrived on streaming platforms at 4:54 a.m. PDT—the exact hour the original sessions wrapped, an event that bassist Nathan Watts famously dubbed "Fo’FiftyFo’," a phrase that became a long-standing inside joke for the team.
The EP explores the same emotional landscape that made the original double album a critical masterpiece. "It’s Easier" functions as a resilient, upbeat breakup anthem, while "My Life Story of Love," co-written with Susaye Greene, offers a hopeful perspective on heartbreak. The collection also features the nostalgic, shuffling ballad "I Can See the Sun in Late December" and the jazzy, funk-infused "I’m Into Livin'."
True to his reputation as a multi-instrumentalist, Wonder performed the bulk of the instrumentation on the EP, including the GX-1-Dream Machine, Fender Rhodes, drums, and bass. He was joined by collaborators such as Gregory Phillinganes on the Rhodes, while backing vocals on "I’m Into Livin'" include contributions from Shirley Brewer, Thelma Houston, and Deniece Williams.
Fans can hear selections from the original 17-track masterpiece live during Wonder's upcoming world tour, which is scheduled to begin in Birmingham, England, on October 13 and conclude in Los Angeles on December 19.
