"[2] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic wrote "Wonder remains a quintessential album artist, but this record is a terrific snapshot of the highlights.

"Isn't She Lovely" was not released as a single from Songs in the Key of Life, while "Superstition", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", "You Haven't Done Nothin'", "I Wish", and "Sir Duke" all topped the Billboard Hot 100.

"Living for the City" and "Boogie On Reggae Woman" appear in slightly different versions to those on their albums, and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is the single mix with the horns added.

It also included four new songs, each tagged on as the last track on each album side: "Front Line"; "Ribbon in the Sky"; "That Girl"; and "Do I Do".

The latter track features a solo by bebop innovator Dizzy Gillespie.