Stevie Wonder -  Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants

One of the best things about being vegan is hearing the stupid arguments people come up with, thinking they’re gold-plated gotchas: But but what will we do with all the animals? But but where do you get your protein? But but crop deaths, but but bees, but but almonds, but but avocados.

One of the most entertaining is the but but plants feel pain argument. OK. Let’s get a puppy and a carrot and you can chop the head off one of them, Richard. You choose.

Part of the reason for the propagation (pun definitely intended) of this argument was the book The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tomkins and Christopher Bird. So full of half-baked ideas and bogus science is it that it’ll likely be US government policy soon. It was, however, made into a very watchable film, scored by Stevie Wonder, who – being blind - wrote his music according to how each scene was described to him.

It was his first proper album since his meisterwerk Songs In The Key of Life, three years earlier, so expectations were high and the record company wallet was open. It was a double album with a convoluted, triple-gatefold, braille embossed and floral-scented sleeve, at least at first. Musically, the album was generally considered, erm…not quite as good.

But listen, this is an album full of experimental synthesizer sounds, atmospheric instrumental works, sound effects, and the occasional lovely soul song. It’s a truly beautiful album, absolutely years ahead of its time. If you don’t believe me, give Come Back As A Flower, which is as fine a tune as was ever committed to vinyl, or the proto-house of Race Babbling a go. It just didn’t contain another Isn’t She Lovely, that’s all. And that’s OK.

Rather ironically, Stevie Wonder’s now a vegan. Right on, Stevie.

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