Stevie Wonder celebrates his 75th birthday on May 13, and over fifty years ago, the 25-time Grammy winner gifted fans with five classic albums. During a near-decade-long streak in the 1970s, Stevie released iconic statement LPs Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life, solidifying him as an R&B and soul legend before he reached 30 years old.

Below, we explore all five of Stevie’s ‘golden period’ albums and what made them definitive works.

Music of My Mind

The second album Stevie released after parting ways with Motown, 1972’s Music of My Mind showed the musician’s maturation, refined with the use of synthesizers on songs like “Girl Blue” and “Evil.” While one of his more underrated songs, folk-tinged track “Happier Than the Morning Sun” is considerably one of Stevie’s best songwriting.

Talking Book

Released in the same year as Music of My Mind, Stevie took his emotional range into overdrive on Talking Book, the album exhibiting calmness and vulnerability on songs like the Grammy-winning “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” and “Lookin’ for Another Pure Love.” Considered one of his biggest hits, the two-time Grammy-winning “Superstition” is also on the album.

Innervisions

As the ‘70s marched forth, Stevie entered a funkier mood on Innervisions, his first project to win a Grammy for Album of the Year. Three days after the album’s release, the musician was involved in a near-fatal car accident, but Stevie miraculously made a slow but full recovery. Spiritual-leaning songs on Innervisions like “Higher Ground” and “Jesus Children of America” predicted his healing process.

Fulfillingness’ First Finale

Months after his accident, Stevie basked in the joy of his seventeenth album, Fulfillingness' First Finale, which, like Innvervisions, won Album of the Year. Radiating happiness on the album were reinvigorating songs “Smile Please,” “Boogie on Reggae Woman” and “Bird of Beauty.”

Songs in the Key of Life

Ending Stevie’s three-album Album of the Year run was Songs in the Key of Life, largely considered to be his magnum opus. As if Stevie wasn’t enough of a hitmaker, the 1976 album delivered classic songs like “I Wish,” “Sir Duke” and “As.”