Stevie Wonder released a four-song EP on September 28, 2026, featuring previously unreleased recordings from the 1976 sessions of his album Songs in the Key of Life. The surprise release marks the 50th anniversary of the diamond-certified album and precedes a world tour commemorating the landmark work.
The new collection, titled Songs in the Key of Life 50: The EP, unvaults four studio recordings that Wonder held for half a century. The tracks were released to streaming services at 4:54 a.m. PDT, a time chosen to honor an inside joke among Wonder’s musicians. Bassist Nathan Watts had exclaimed Fo’FiftyFo’
when the original 1976 sessions wrapped at that exact time, according to reports from Rolling Stone and Udiscovermusic.
The Unreleased Tracks and Production
Wonder personally curated the EP, which consists of four unheard songs written and produced by the artist. To ensure sonic consistency with the original 1976 LP, Wonder enlisted original recording and mixing engineers John Fischbach and Gary O. Adante—the latter of whom was credited as Gary Olazabal on the original release.
- It’s Easier: An upbeat breakup song described as a bossa nova-esque number.
- My Life Story of Love: A track co-written with former Supremes member Susaye Greene that uses bucolic imagery to describe a blossoming relationship.
- I Can See the Sun in Late December: A slow jazz ballad focused on nostalgia and determined optimism.
- I’m Into Livin’: A squelchy, jazzy funk track where Wonder pledges himself to a single lover.
Wonder performed most of the instruments himself, including electric bass, drums, and the GX-1-Dream Machine. However, the recordings feature several collaborators from his golden period. Gregory Phillinganes played the Rhodes on My Life Story of Love
, and Nathan Watts played bass on It’s Easier
and I Can See the Sun in Late December
. The track I’m Into Livin’
features backing vocals from Thelma Houston, Deniece Williams, and Shirley Brewer.
Wonder’s Reflection on the 50-Year Gap
“We’ve lived with Songs in the Key of Life for 50 years, but there’s still more to hear. 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.”
Stevie Wonder, via press statement
The original 1976 album remains a cornerstone of Wonder’s career, earning him his third Grammy Award for Album of the Year and later induction into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. It is often cited as the peak of his 1970s style, blending psychedelic soul with funk and jazz. While Wonder released a single in 2024 titled Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart
, he has not issued a full studio album since 2005’s A Time to Love.
50th Anniversary Tour Dates and Locations
To accompany the EP, Wonder is launching a world tour to perform the 17 songs from the original double album in full. The anniversary tour begins October 13 in Birmingham, England, before moving through Europe and the United States.
| Region | Key Dates/Cities |
|---|---|
| UK & Europe | Oct 13 (Birmingham), Oct 15 (Paris), Oct 18 (Copenhagen), Oct 20 (Oslo), Oct 22 (Stockholm), Oct 24 (Hannover), Oct 26 (Cologne), Oct 28 (Amsterdam), Nov 1 (Dublin), Nov 3 (London), Nov 8 (Manchester), Nov 11 (Glasgow) |
| United States | Nov 19 (New York), Nov 21 (Chicago), Nov 23 (Washington DC), Dec 8-9 (Detroit), Dec 19 (Los Angeles) |
The tour will conclude on December 19 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, according to tour dates provided by Consequence.
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