Stevie Wonder later became dissatisfied with the early Motown albums released under his name because he felt they did not reflect his own musical development or creative input. The article argues that this frustration helped drive his push for artistic control, which eventually produced the more ambitious work for which he is best known.

Wonder was signed to Motown as a child and initially recorded material largely selected and shaped by the label, including covers and songs designed to appeal to mainstream audiences. He reportedly felt he had been used as a performer rather than allowed to grow as a songwriter and musician, particularly before renegotiating his contract in the early 1970s. His subsequent creative freedom led to albums such as *Music of My Mind*, *Talking Book*, *Innervisions* and *Songs in the Key of Life*.