Stevie Wonder Releases Four Unheard Tracks from Songs in the Key of Life Sessions

Key points

• Four new tracks, including 'It's Easier' and 'I'm Into Livin'', have been released as an EP to mark the 50th anniversary of Songs in the Key of Life.
• The songs were written and produced by Wonder, with 'My Life Story of Love' co-written by former Supremes member Susaye Greene.
• Original engineers John Fischbach and Gary O Adante recently mixed the tracks for their new release.
• The EP release coincides with the start of an 18-date world tour where Wonder will perform the 1976 album in full, beginning in Birmingham, UK, on October 13.
• The tour includes stops across Europe and the US, with US dates in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit, and Los Angeles.

Background

In September 2026, Stevie Wonder announced an 18-show fall tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Songs in the Key of Life, with European and UK dates followed by U.S. stops. He also teased a new studio album, Through the Eyes of Wonder, due next year, which was reported to include four songs he was working on during the Key of Life era. The tour marks his first full-album outing since 2024, and the album is now part of the National Recording Registry.

How outlets are covering it

Pitchfork's coverage was limited to a consent and privacy notice, providing no substantive information about the story. The Telegraph's coverage was blocked by an access issue, preventing any analysis of their perspective. The Guardian provided detailed coverage, highlighting the release of four unheard songs from the 1976 sessions as a new EP, the 50th anniversary of the album, and the upcoming world tour. The Guardian emphasized the stylistic continuity of the new tracks with Wonder's 1970s work and noted the involvement of original engineers and backing vocalists like Thelma Houston and Deniece Williams. The Guardian also mentioned Wonder's most recent new material, the 2024 single 'Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart', and the 2020 announcement of the 'Through the Eyes of Wonder' project, which has not seen further news since.

Why it matters

The release of four unheard songs from the 1976 sessions of Songs in the Key of Life expands the scope of what was already the most epic studio album in Stevie Wonder's catalogue. The 50th anniversary of the album, which won album of the year at the Grammys and contains landmark tracks like 'Sir Duke' and 'Isn't She Lovely', is being marked with both the new EP and a world tour where Wonder will perform the original record in full. This highlights the enduring legacy of the album and Wonder's continued relevance in the music industry.

What to watch

Stevie Wonder will begin his 18-date world tour on October 13 in Birmingham, UK, performing Songs in the Key of Life in full. The tour will include stops across Europe and the US, with US dates in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit, and Los Angeles. The tour will conclude in Los Angeles on December 19. Additionally, Wonder has teased a new studio album, Through the Eyes of Wonder, due next year, which is reported to include four songs he was working on during the Key of Life era.