Stevie Wonder’s sprawling 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life comprised 21 songs. Five became hit singles but “Pastime Paradise”was not one of them. His record label, Motown, didn’t release it as a single. Yet today, this song is as well known as the hits; perhaps more so.
Stevie Wonder, originally marketed as a junior Ray Charles clone, had matured into a serious artist in the 1970s, creating a series of albums that marked a new high for soul music in terms of political relevance, audio innovation and joyous melody. What’s more, he played the majority of the instruments himself. However, the singer was reportedly disillusioned with the music business, unhappy with post-Watergate politics, and hungry for a new challenge. He channelled his frustrations into Songs in the Key of Life, a double-album that was simultaneously celebratory and scathing. “Pastime Paradise” fell into the latter category.
The song’s lyrics are not entirely coherent, but their meaning is plain: in the west, we enjoy endless distractions, but are we satisfied? Are we working for a better future in this world or the next? Wonder set his words to a fusion few could have conceived. There was a symphonic introduction, a Latin beat, an element of Jamaican groove; and two diverse vocal ensembles: the dozen-strong West Angeles Church of God Choir, and a chanting Hare Krishna group, of which 12 members were credited, although recording engineer Gary Olazabal recalled “about a hundred” in Sound on Sound magazine.
Wonder’s role as an “early adopter” of electronic instruments was apparent when he played the orchestral parts of “Pastime Paradise” on the innovative Yamaha GX-1 keyboard. It cost a prohibitive $60,000, so few musicians had access to it, and its string sounds were especially realistic — unusual for 1976. When Wonder was listening to the finished track in another studio, he was asked about the strings by another musician. A deadpan Wonder told him the parts had been played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Released in September 1976, by the following year the album had sold 10m copies in the US and won four Grammy Awards, but “Pastime Paradise” was just starting its journey. There were little-heard cover versions of “Pastime Paradise” within two years of its release, such as a halting reggae adaptation by the Swingin’ Stars of Dominica, though arguably the song’s biggest early impact was in providing inspiration for Bob Marley’s 1980 song “Pimper’s Paradise”; the two giants of black music had met in 1975 and their mutual respect extended to Marley being mentioned in Wonder’s single “Master Blaster (Jammin’)”. In 1981, Ray Barrettocut a dynamite salsa version of “Pastime Paradise”; George Michael sang the song on tour, and in 1992 Billy Mackenzieof The Associates cut it for his debut solo album. However, the song really took centre stage when the rapper Coolio, alongside the singer LV, built “Gangsta’s Paradise”on it.
Coolio was already a star but “Gangsta’s Paradise” raised him to hip-hop’s top rank. The bleak, regretful, lushly produced song was the biggest-selling US single of 1995. However, it was touch and go: Wonder initially refused permission for Coolio to use the sample of “Pastime Paradise”, disliking the new version's profanity: the rapper excised some “N” words and a sexual reference and Wonder signed it off. Coolio claimed the Motown icon took 95 per cent of the publishing: nice work if you can get it. “Gangsta’s Paradise” featured in the Michelle Pfeiffer movie Dangerous Minds. People became aware of “Pastime Paradise” (even Coolio wasn’t au fait with Wonder’s version before LV came to him with “Gangsta’s Paradise”) and this triggered more covers and samples.
Comedian Weird Al Yankovich offered “Amish Paradise”, to Coolio’s disdain; boy band Blue delivered “Curtain Falls”on a loop of Wonder’s record; Rostov-on-Don rapper Basta chanted “Russian Paradise”, Patti Smithincluded “Pastime Paradise” on her 2007 album of covers, Twelve, and jazz star Chick Coreaperformed it on Solo Piano — Portraits in 2014. Meanwhile, Wonder acknowledged what Coolio had done to deliver acclaim for his song by performing “Pastime Paradise” with him at the 1996 Billboard Awards.
We’re keen to hear from our readers. Whose version of the song is best? Let us know in the comments below.
‘The Life of a Song: The fascinating stories behind 50 of the world’s best-loved songs’, edited by David Cheal and Jan Dalley, is published by Brewer’s.
Music credits: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue), Universal-Island Records Ltd., harmless, Virgin Catalogue, Tommy Boy Music, Volcano/Legacy, Virgin UK, Columbia/Legacy, Universal Music Group International,
Picture credit: Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images