My Cherie Amour – STEVIE WONDER***

My Cherie Amour/Hello Young Lovers/At Last/Light My Fire/The Shadow Of My Smile/You & Me/Pearl/ Somebody Knows Somebody Cares/Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday/Angie Girl/Give Your Love/I’ve Got You

Still in his teens Motown appeared to be grooming Stevie Wonder for the cabaret circuit. He would move in a different direction a couple of years later after taking more control over his music. My Cherie Amour featured the top five title track plus the UK No. 2 Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday. (US:34 UK:17)

“Stevie seems to be heading for the cocktail hour - Las Vegas style going by a number of the arrangements, but he revels in the unusual stylings, the combination of his vocals and these settings that he brings to the likes of Hello Young Lovers and The Shadow Of Your Smile. But what is really substantial here are the stunning pop singles Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday and the title track.”

“The title hit is a sophisticated pop masterpiece, and Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday is another decent smoothie. But too much on this album doesn't live up to these and just sounds like soppy clichéd balladry. The few upbeat songs here have a 'soul teenbeat' feel that The Jackson 5 would soon handle much more convincingly. The fault mostly lies with the by-the-numbers approach that Motown seemed to exert on Stevie and the dated 'Las Vegas-y' arrangements. There are a few non-hits but about half of this album outside the outstanding title track is pretty expendable.”

“The title track is one of Motown's best from the 1960s, but this album is a peculiar mix of songs, some of which had been recorded as early as 1966 but held from release. Though the album isn't exactly cohesive, there are a few delightful songs you won't find elsewhere.”

“My Cherie Amour is another solid late 60s album from Stevie Wonder. The title cut is one of the best ballads he's ever done. It has lush orchestration and a supple vocal. Many of the other songs are in this vein.”

“If you like Stevie, then you should buy this album because it is sure to delight and enlighten you. Once you hear the first song, My Cherie Amour, I guarantee you will be singing the chorus in your head all day long because it's a happy groove. What a joy to hear Stevie's early music from his Motown era.”