All it took was the STE__ and the highlights and in went STEVIE WONDER and the whole shebang. I treasured my SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE double LP, but the song that got played the most was "As" – <a href="https://youtu.be/GYQfWJNWe3I?is=K_pGnpe7V2canXNv" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/GYQfWJNWe3I?is=K_pGnpe7V2canXNv</a> (Not the live video on purpose —because the recording is unbeatable perfection.) Nice to see Erik Agard gifting us a Tuesday with his special kind of magic sprinkled all over it. In an uncommon turn, I happened to know what needed knowing and not need to question anything nor wait for crosses (and that's especially uncommon for me in any Agard puzzle) so I'm sure it's because he gave us a break. Thank you, Erik! Favorite: [It has M.S.G. in it] It did take me a second, then came the big smile. Beautiful clue.
@sotto voce With voce forte, I concur with As ! Thanks for the link.
@sotto voce one of my all time favorite songs!
I thought that was just about perfect. Easy, yes, but no bad fill, and even the crosswordese was well-clued.
What? The answer STEVIE WONDER has never appeared in a Times puzzle before today? How can that be? But it is! Thank you for rectifying that, Erik. And thank you for once again, as you always do, creating a grid so junk free, that when I look over the completed puzzle, my whole system calms down, and I feel serene and at peace. I am not exaggerating. Thank you, also, Erik, for throwiing in a pair of world-class wordplay clues on a day when simple, direct cluing is the order of the day, to introduce newer solvers to this delicious aspect of solving crosswords. [It has M.S.G. in it] for NYC has been used before but is so good that its encore is deserved. [Bloc party?] for NATION is not only brilliant, but original. I’ve come to expect the skill, polish, and the feeling that all the right decisions were made, in the creation of one of your puzzles, Erik. But I never take it for granted. Thank you for another gem today!
Related factoid – In two tracks in “Songs In the Key of Life”, Stevie played all the instruments, including Synthesizers, keyboards, harmonica, and drums.
Responding to the column, not the puzzle, which is about an artist who didn't record "September": My wife and I find the lyric "Do you remember the 21st night of September" a bit amusing, because that day in 1993, we had our daughter, Emily. We remember! Consequently, it is still Emily's birthday as I am writing this. Although I wished her a happy birthday this morning, I will repeat myself and say, "Happy birthday, Emily!" Now the puzzle: STEVIE WONDER is an artist whose music I have learned to appreciate in retrospect, because at the time it was new, I was sick and tired of being called by his name by annoying classmates who just wanted to get my goat. The "key" album here was a major hit, both popularly and critically, of the 70s. (I was 20 when it was released; the razzing was earlier, in the "For Once In My Life" era.)
@Steve L Here’s an excerpt from Rex Parker’s blog post today: “One of my favorite constructors makes a puzzle about one of my favorite albums, and it's not even my birthday? Well, it is my daughter's birthday (happy birthday, kiddo), so ... close enough. I cannot believe that *just yesterday*, on my best friend's birthday, I mentioned that she (Shaun) and I, and her then-fiancé (Steve) saw STEVIE WONDER on New Year's Eve thirty-two years ago…” Evidently, ‘tis the season for birthdays (at least for the daughters and close friends of crossword enthusiasts).
@Steve L Since you have a September baby, and a Virgo, at that, you may already know that more people are born in September than in any other month, and, of the Top 10 birth dates, nine are in September. Mine is #8.
Such a fun surprise! I got the Sir Duke clue immediately. I gave this album to my mom for Christmas the year it came out and we listened to it non-stop. At 8 yrs old, I knew all the words to Sir Duke and Isn’t She Lovely. My mom has Alzheimer’s now and I still love playing our favorites from Songs in the Key of Life for her. Thank you for this special puzzle, Erik!
Trivia-based themes are meh, at best. If you know the trivia, the whole thing is a gimme, which is not fun. If you don't, the theme will mean nothing to you, even when crosses reveal it - again, that's not particularly enjoyable. I recognize Stevie Wonder, of course, but I'm not familiar with his album titles or the titles of most of his songs. I had to rely solely on crosses for the hit and album. Even though the theme hindered rather than helped my solve, I finished the puzzle very quickly on the down pass, with it's Monday clueing (which, I suppose, was implemented by the constructor/editors to offset the trivia-based theme). It's interesting when similar words have slightly different meanings in various languages. "Fanfara" in Polish means a short, musical flourish, usually performed on a trumpet, announcing something important - much like in English. However, Polish lacks the other meanings of fanfare in English: great attention to and interest in something or a showy outward display. "Fanfaronada" is a pejorative Polish term denoting boasting or obno×iousIy showing off one's bravery. And now for something completely different - some more pics, including one featuring Lucek, from my trip to the Northern Polish region of Warmia: <a href="https://imgur.com/a/bn3RfXy" target="_blank">https://imgur.com/a/bn3RfXy</a>
@Andrzej What's wrong with boasting and showing off one's bravery? Seems to be all the rage on this side of the pond. Enjoyed the pictures.
@Andrzej “The northern Polish region of Warmia” sounds like it was named by the local tourist office (tagline: “Honestly, there are several weeks each summer when there’s almost no sleet”)
I love this puzzle, I love that Stevie Wonder album, wish there was just one, maybe two more, Wonder themers, because that album and Innervisions (1974 -- with Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing!!) just bring the joy, the sunshine, and the more reminders the better of a world with joy and light. I can feel it all over, people! Music is a world within itself With a language we all understand With an equal opportunity For all to sing, dance, and clap their hands But just because a record has a groove Don't make it in the groove But you can tell right away at letter A When the people start to move (first part of Sir Duke)
@john ezra You can feel it all oh-over! You can feel it. All. Over. People. :-D
One of my favorite albums of all time!! And today I learned it was released on my 10th birthday 🎂.
Anybody else fire up the theme of this puzzle on their music streaming service immediately after the solve?
@Nick P Listening to it right now but later might listen to it on my Bluetooth record player I treated myself to a couple of years ago, to listen with all it's well earned scratches!
My college roommate went right out and bought this album when it came out, and we wore the grooves off. I have it on CD and listen to it still. A work of genius and wonder (pun intended). Nice to see the tribute in the puzzle, and not only because it made it easier for me!
Well, I’m not such a great fan of straight up tribute puzzles,, but it’s just a Tuesday and who can argue with Stevie Wonder? Thanks Erik for a smooth Tuesday with lots of fond memories.
@SP Ok, I'll be that guy. Stevie Wonder does nothing for me, and tribute puzzles are the pits if you don't know or don't care about the subject of the theme.
Okay that is a great album with great music, and a fun and quick puzzle, but still, all I can really say is... "KHAAAAAAAAN! KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!" "From Hell's heart, I stab at thee; for hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee!" "He has been, and always will be, my friend." 🖖😭🖖 Oh and also, every day of the week should be popular to eat tacos!! I mean, if you really want me to focus on the really terrific theme of a puzzle, don't add in Star Trek and taco clues!! Oh my gosh can you imagine eating tacos while watching Star trek! That would be like another crossword favorite, Eden. Mmmm! Har! 🖖
@HeathieJ I couldn’t agree more — tacos are best on days that end in Y! After we watch Star Trek while eating tacos, let’s listen to Stevie Wonder while eating donuts!
Very nice puzzle and easy solve. Extra points for including TUESDAYS in a Tuesday puzzle.
This album will always remind me of 7th and 8th grade school dances. Too bad that the puzzle wasn't published next Monday on the actual anniversary of the release. Hard to argue this needed to be any later in the week for difficulty.
Three cheers to Erik Agard for celebrating the great Stevie Wonder in a crossword. Personally I prefer Talking Book to SONGSINTHEKEYOFLIFE, but it’s pretty much a toss up. I saw Stevie Wonder once as the opening act for The Rolling Stones. It happened to be Stevie’s birthday and Mick Jagger came out and gave him a present: a camera.
@Marshall Walthew Amazing connect! I saw the same in Toronto.. way back.. 76? Just incredible to see those 2 paired up.
@Marshall Walthew Just deadpan on Jagger's choice of gift for Wonder?
Isn’t she lovely? What a nice ode of a puzzle to an amazing under appreciated artist. And the original writer of two of the best funk songs ever- Higher Ground (by both Stevie and then Flea and the Red Hot Chili Peppers)!
imaging an entire crossword puzzle of Stevie Wonder's songs - anyone who doesn't love his music is heartless. great puzzle Erik
Always happy to see Eric Agard's name on a puzzle, and today is a Double Agard day. He also did today's New Yorker crossword. Both great. Submitting "Double Agard" as a thing now.
A poem for the first day of fall september a/ a scratchy little beetle in its scratchy work the day’s sinking backward… in the secrecy of the d/ ivy i see times thatched grain a/ unopened and i wish a life of silent wonder
@Peter Valentine, thank you for sharing your poetic spirit with us. Love this one.
I was singing “I Wish” just the other day. I remember when the double album came out, and along with many of his other LPs, is still on the shelf below my record player. Thanks for the fine tribute puzzle to a great artist, one of my all-time favorites 🤩 A great start to the week.
If you're itching for more Agard, Erik has an doubleheader today; here's his New Yorker effort: <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/crossword/2026/09/22" target="_blank">https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/crossword/2026/09/22</a>
Maybe the second week in a row where the Monday/Tuesday difficulties felt reversed. Fun puzzle, definitely helped I'm super familiar with Songs in the Key Of Life.
I like Erik Agard's puzzles.
The puzzle played out nice and easy, perfect for a Tuesday. I remember seeing Stevie Wonder's TV appearance on the Ed Sullivan show when he was just 13 years old, but I didn't really follow his career closely. So I had no idea about the name of the album or the two songs that were clued. I have to thank Sam for the link to SIR DUKE. I listened to it and couldn't believe that, of course, I knew that song intimately, just never knew the name. That sent me to YouTube for I WISH, and the same thing happened. I never listened to the album, but the name of it must have been in the back of my head, because as soon as I had a few crosses, the name just filled itself in. Terrific puzzle, thank Erik
Wrong album, but here’s a spectacularly educational performance of a Stevie song in the street of Sesame. Brought to you today by the letter “Funk” and the number “TooCoolForSchool!” <a href="https://youtu.be/w89OA1Wh3aw?si=MweAHICVVNW0p1mj" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/w89OA1Wh3aw?si=MweAHICVVNW0p1mj</a> (Sadly, that is not me dancing on the landing.)
@JohnWM Thanks for that link, I hadn’t seen that one.
For those a bit too young to remember the 70s, here's Pastime Paradise which might sound somewhat familiar and kinda coolio: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0S4SiLxt1s" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0S4SiLxt1s</a>
@ad absurdum I see what you did there. ;-) Perfect PSA for a younger generation that maybe never heard the original, and in its entirety. Thank you for reminding me of yet another fabulous song from the album!
@ad absurdum So Im listening to the song, which i know, but really not recalling from which album, and I think gee this I think this has been sampled; I hear the intro alot. So the YouTube comments immediately tell me where i know it from. CooliO, indeed. To my mind, a companion to that song is this one from Fulfillingness' First Finale. (Ooh, four Fs. Is there another puzzle theme there?) <a href="https://youtu.be/0SEGHvLElxc?si=ZJ5Yr2KJeq2T-J77" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/0SEGHvLElxc?si=ZJ5Yr2KJeq2T-J77</a>
"Roofs" has always looked a little weird to me: why isn't it "rooves," like "leaf"-->"leaves" and "hoof"-->"hooves"? Why isn't the verb "to cover with a roof" not "roove," like "breath"-->"breathe"? Hardcore linguists will tell you that, for every sound change, and exception to that change, the is a completely logical etymological reason. But to me, there seems so much about language which is, in the end, stochastic.
@Bill For that matter, why are there words with silent 'z's??? I had a friend from Vietnam who was trying to learn English. He often got very frustrated with the seemingly endless list of exceptions to the 'rules'. You don't realize how absurd the English language is till you try to help someone else understand it!
@Bill Because leaves and hooves are part of a collective piece - a tree or an animal - whereas a roof is generally a single piece of a building. Also you know difference etymology.
Erik hits it out of the ballpark. This will be on my Tuesday POY list. Between this album, Talking Book, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Innervision, it's hard to choose a favorite. Not only does Erik get the album and a couple of singles in there i thought the other fill interesting. Things like SCARAB and FANFARE, not to mention KRISPY and DOZENS. Like Erik, my favorite Stevie song is As. Ms Voce has already posted a link, but here's a version performed by India.Arie, Jill Scott and Janelle Monae at a celebration of Mr. Wonder. Worth a listen. <a href="https://youtu.be/3P-0Q3q7G9w?si=_RBOhIzHYqreOy8c" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/3P-0Q3q7G9w?si=_RBOhIzHYqreOy8c</a>
@Vaer Fabulous! Better than the man himself singing it live.
@Sam C I'm here to point out that September 22nd is a sentiment-laden date. It's the start of autumn – astronomically, the autumnal equinox (in the northern hemisphere). And as such, it's a perfect cue for songs for second marriages (often known to occur later in life) or even for long-delayed first marrages. Try: Autumn Leaves – ten different versions at this link including what, for me, is the classic version by Bill Jones Trio but Sarah Vaughan's scat-alicious version is fun too! <a href="https://360degreesound.com/10-great-versions-of-jazz-standard-autumn-leaves" target="_blank">https://360degreesound.com/10-great-versions-of-jazz-standard-autumn-leaves</a>/ Or there's another autumnal September song, Try to Remember from the perennial musical, The Fantasticks. Here's the original cast version sung by Jerry Orbach (yes, the grizzled cop on Law & Order). <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=arzRzPWghwE" target="_blank">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=arzRzPWghwE</a> And of course, there's Kurt Weill's "September Song" (not the 1970s rock song called just "September), here given a graceful, simple, flowing performance by Ella. <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f88yoLs0yl0" target="_blank">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f88yoLs0yl0</a>
@SBK in TO isn't the Autumnal Equinox on the 21st? If you're right, you better start advocating for calendars to move it to the correct day...
@SBK in TO Autumn Leaves has been a favorite of mine since childhood, and one of my all-time singing-in-the-shower songs. But to me, nothing compares to the gone-way-too-soon Eva Cassidy version. Simply haunting. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EOpDUyqSZg" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EOpDUyqSZg</a>
@Rachel (& @SBK in TO) Not only does the equinox occur on a specific date, but also a specific time, which varies from year to year. In 2026, it occurs on Wed., Sept 23 at 12:06am UT--"Universal Time," which used to be GMT, "Greenwich Mean Time." So, a couple minutes after midnight in Iceland and Morocco; but not in Greenwich, England, which follows Daylight Saving Time, so 1:06am there. This means that, in eastern North America, it occurs this evening (Sept 22) at 8:06pm. But not all of eastern North America--in the Canadian Maritime Provinces (Atlantic Time), it occurs at 9:06pm. But not all of the Maritimes--New Brunswick doesn't observe DST, so for @JohnWM it occurs at 8:06pm. And then there's Newfoundland, where it occurs at 9:36pm. Does St. Pierre and Miquelon count as North America (10:06pm)? What about Greenland (11:06pm)? To make things even more confusing, some of the sources I consulted said that this year, it occurs at five after the hour, and others at seven after. So, @Rachel, it's possible that, in some years and in some locations, the autumnal equinox *could* fall on Sept. 21. And I thought the math on Sunday was hard!
Came close to my PB today and finished roughly 50% under my average time. Loved the puzzle especially since SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE is one of my favorite albums. In fact, three years ago this past Thursday I walked with my daughter down the aisle at her wedding to “As.”
I ran through this puzzle like it was an easy Monday. I was a freshman in college in September of ‘76. We played the heck out of that album in my dorm. Thanks for the memories! (And, thanks for giving EW&F a little love in the notes!)
I was in college when this album came out and my best friend (who played vibes in a jazz band) said people would still be talking about how great it was fifty years from now. I scoffed. I was wrong, sorry Wilfred.
Amazing puzzle about an amazing album by an amazing artist. I think I'll just leave it at that. I just posted another puzzle on Crosshare: <a href="https://crosshare.org/PeatynOaty" target="_blank">https://crosshare.org/PeatynOaty</a>. It's a lively themeless with easy-ish clueing. Give it a whirl!
Or: <a href="https://crosshare.org/crosswords/z1BSqTFDdhyDnGtSjYLS/themeless" target="_blank">https://crosshare.org/crosswords/z1BSqTFDdhyDnGtSjYLS/themeless</a>
@Peaty & Oaty Such a joyous album! Great memories—
Coincidentally, I recently finished a short (7-episode) podcast series, The Wonder of Stevie. I think it's really well done, well worth your time even if (especially if?) you're only vaguely familiar with '70s Stevie Wonder.
What a fun and quick puzzle today! I’m inspired to listen to this album in full for the first time and to learn some more about Stevie! Also I am endlessly delighted by KRISPY Kreme and DOZENS being right next to each other. 🍩
@sarahgrin That was evocative for me.... Our Band fundraisers consisted of us kids standing out in morning "drive-time" traffic with boxes of KRISPY KREME doughnuts, selling them to drivers who rolled down their windows (manually) and handed us bills. (I forget what we charged.) It was a miracle none of us got run over.
@MOL I used to work in a building across from the NYSE. A highlight of my working life was the day Krispy Kreme went public, and they gave out donuts in front of the Exchange. 🍩 (When Waste Management went public, they gave out tiny garbage trucks. )
@sarahgrin There was a radio station in Atlanta that had a game called, "cop in/cop out." They would send someone to a Krispy Kreme location, and the caller had to guess whether or not there was a police car in the parking lot. The odds for "cop in" were pretty good.
Enjoyable and not too difficult puzzle. Now I’ll (again) offer an ioinion that no one asked for 😁: As at least one other commenter hinted at, it feels like a missed opportunity not to have run this on the actual 50th anniversary next Monday. The editors could probably justify any mismatch with Monday difficulty by pointing at the calendar. (There are enough comments about people finding it difficult that I won’t pretend it’s a Monday for everyone.) Thoughts?
@CrispyShot The comments I saw about difficulty seemed to have more to do with not knowing the songs and album than about anything else. So that would be the same no matter what day it ran on. It felt Monday level to me, too, but I knew the music. Maybe the editors just try to avoid puzzles with any kind of niche theme on a Monday? (Although it pains me to think of this music, or Stevie Wonder himself, as “niche”. 😔)
SIR DUKE? I never knew that was the title of the song. I think I was listening to Led Zeppelin at that time, so not a fan of our featured artist. I'm guessing it was a tribute to Duke Ellington.
@Grant it was but it celebrated many jazz legends
@Grant It was the first 45 single I ever bought! I think I bought it with my allowance. I loved that song so much—I still do. Stevie Wonder is national treasure. (“Living for the City” and “I Wish” are probably my favorite songs of his.)
The best thing, if not the only good thing, that my older brother did for me was to turn me on to Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life". 1976 we had the bicentennial and arguably one of the best albums (one of the best triple albums?) of all time.
Sorry, a close second and third to Frampton Comes Alive and Wings Over America. Triple albums extraordinaire. hey, within an era.
@Dale M I forgot another huge triple album of the era "One More From the Road" from the gym teacher.
Amazing musician… amazing album… may need to play it as we clean the apartment today. Puzzle was well within my wheelhouse. Personal Tuesday best time.
Wasted a good long while wondering how "argue against" could be DEBUT. I even cheated and went to Google. Maybe it's an archaic definition, I thought. Maybe it's related to the word REBUT and they have the same root, I thought. And REBUT means something like "argue against", I thought. That's right - I was using the correct word as part of my internal logic to explain why the incorrect word was right. Felt like an idiot.
Easiest Tuesday ever (even without getting the revealer until the end)!
@VN :45 over my best Tuesday time so not the easiest for me but still a very straightforward solve…
@VN Hi, I think this is the first time I've seen you here! I was first yesterday, it really took me by surprise.
I don’t know the album so I had to look up SIRDUKE. However the rest was easypeasy. Loved the Has MSG in it clue.
My Diary of a Crossword Fiend review: <a href="https://crosswordfiend.com/2026/09/21/tuesday-september-22-2026/#ny" target="_blank">https://crosswordfiend.com/2026/09/21/tuesday-september-22-2026/#ny</a> Stop by, say "hi" and read about some other puzzles you might want to solve!
@Eric Hougland, good review. You have more self control than I do...I would have said the heII with yogurt and berries and gone straight for the flapjacks!
@Eric Hougland CDs don't have to take up space. I have all of mine in CD leather storage albums (with 200 capacity, I think, so I have 2) with their paper covers, so there's no need for the jewel boxes. So practical! You flip through it like you're reading a book. And I've just read an article saying that CD sales are seeing an uptick and outpacing LPs. As usual, I enjoyed your review. ;-) (And I'm with JE – go straight to the pancakes, and don't wait for the weekend!)
@Eric Hougland Nice review. Putting in a plug for Passion Fish, a 1992 movie starring Mary McDonnell and ALFRE Woodard, among others.
@Eric Hougland Don't know how to say "hi" there, so saying it here. Liked the review!
I hate it when I forget to copy my very enthusiastic comment, knowing the emus' great love of holding back completely innocent comments that don't break any sensible standards. Well, we'll see if it shows up tomorrow morning sometime. 🖖 It would be tragic to deprive you of the original and most enthusiastic version of my opinions. I'm not a monster, you know! Har!
Such a fun Tuesday puzzle! Brings back fond memories.
Fairly easy and love a tribute to Mr. Wonder.
Easy Tuesday for us old Stevie Wonder fans. My favorite albums were Innervisions and Talking Book but Songs in the Key of Life was my first double album (I didn't have the White Album) and has one of my favorite cover art designs. Nice fill and wouldn't mind a fresh, just out of the oven, Krispy Kreme glazed donut this morning.
Not a huge fan of Stevie Wonder but I got most of these blind
@Grant R Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Andrea Bocelli walked into a bar. They're all fine, but we all held our breath for a moment.
Know very little of Stevie Wonder, so learnt a few things on this puzzle. For me, not so shabby a Tuesday!