The song was written, produced and arranged by Stevie himself. Although the single was released worldwide, it only reached number 86 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and failed to chart everywhere else.
My collection: 7" single no. 7453
Found: Discogs.com, received 12 November 2024
Tracks: 'Land of La La' / 'Land of La La (instrumental)'
This single was completely unknown to me, Still, 'I ain't gonna stand for it' reached number 31 in the Dutch Top 40 in early 1981. It was even more successful in the UK, where it reached number 10 in the singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 7023
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 10 September 2023
Tracks: 'I ain't gonna stand for it' / 'Knocks me off my feet'
'Sir Duke' was written and recorded by Stevie Wonder in tribute to Duke Ellington, the influential jazz legend who had died in 1974. The lyrics also refer to Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. Wonder had already experienced the passing of two of his idols (Dinah Washington and Wes Montgomery) after attempting to collaborate with them. After Ellington died in 1974, Wonder wanted to write a song acknowledging musicians he felt were important. He later said, 'I knew the title from the beginning but wanted it to be about the musicians who did something for us. So soon they are forgotten. I wanted to show my appreciation.'
Shortly after Stevie Wonder had a big hit with the slightly dodgy 'Ebony and ivory' together with Paul McCartney, he released 'Ribbon in the sky' as a new single from his greatest hits compilation 'Original Musiquarium'. It is a beautiful ballad that shows off his craftsmanship better than most of his singles at the time.
'Get it' is one of Michael Jackson's lesser known duets. The track was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'Characters' and released as its second single. Jackson worked with Wonder eight years earlier for the song 'I can't help it' for his album 'Off the wall', which was written by Wonder and former Supremes member Susaye Greene, while Wonder worked with Jackson on his top-selling 'Bad' album for the song 'Just good friends'.
Donna Summer has been around for such a long time, that many of her singles are still wellknown. From her output in the Eighties, 'State of independence' is quite probably her best known song. The track was originally written and recorded by Jon Anderson & Vangelis on their 1981 album 'The friends of Mr. Cairo'.
Some singles are just classic tracks and it can be quite surprising to come across them in the bargain bin. But that's just what happened with 'I wish' by Stevie Wonder, one of the most recognisable tunes from 1977.
One chorus and one verse, that's about it. Plus some amazing music, it has to be said. 'Ebony and Ivory' is a somewhat meagre Paul McCartney composition, but adding Stevie Wonder into the track was a stroke of genius. You would almost forget that the lyric is full of platitudes and the ultimate piece of cornyness. The song was performed live in the studio by both McCartney and Wonder, although due to conflicting work schedules, both recorded their parts for the song's music video separately.
'Part-time lover' was released as a single in 1985 and was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'In square circle'. The song reached number 1 in America, number 3 in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. The song featured R&B singer Luther Vandross humming at the end of Stevie's verses.
'Don't drive drunk' contains all the hallmarks of dodgy Eighties production. Repetitive samples, funny sounds and, frankly, a rather sub-par sound overall. And still it's a catchy song, the kind that Stevie Wonder has a knack of.
Today I'm celebrating my birthday. So I thought I'd better pick one song that would be sort of appropriate. The title certainly is. 'Happy Birthday' was released by Stevie Wonder in 1981 as part of his campaign to have the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. become a national holiday in the USA. The single bizzarrely didn't reach the US Billboard Hot 100, but reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.
Stevie Wonder has this uncanny knack of creating timeless melodies. 'Lately' is a title that may not seem familiar to you but I bet when you hear the track, you will think 'O right! I remember that!'. The single was taken from Wonder's 1980 album 'Hotter than July', and reached number 3 in the UK singles chart.
The Eurythmics released 'There must be an angel (playing with my heart)' as the second single from their 1985 album 'Be yourself tonight'. The song features a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder. It reached number 1 in the UK singles chart (the band's only number one hit in the UK to date) and number 4 in the Dutch Top 40.
I depend on my photographic memory when it comes to buying records for my collection. This doesn't always work, as is demonstrated with this single. I bought the German pressing of 'That girl' (pictured above) back in 1989. A decade later, I found the UK version of that same title (pictured below), but because the sleeve was so different, I didn't recognise it and bought it again (I didn't register where and when, so that data is missing below). The French version has a different sleeve, so I'll have to watch out that I won't buy that one too in the future.
The 1982 release 'That girl' was the lead single from Stevie Wonder's Greatest Hits compilation, 'Original Musiquarium' as one of four new songs from the collection. The single reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 39 on the UK singles chart.
'Master Blaster (Jammin')' was released by Stevie Wonder in 1980, taken from his album 'Hotter than July'. The song, built on a heavy reggae rhythm, was an ode to reggae legend Bob Marley. Wonder had been performing with Marley a few times in concerts (and actually billed him as an opening act) on his US tour in the fall of the year.
After Band Aid had sold millions of copies worldwide with 'Do they know it's Christmas?', it was almost inevitable that American popstars would rise to the challenge and come up with their own charity single. 'We are the world' was the result: a single of an epic 6'22 minutes length which is fine for the first three minutes but then turns into a long, protracted death rattle of a song, with far too many artists claiming a few lines of their own to sing.
'Part-time lover' was released as a single in 1985 and was taken from Stevie Wonder's album 'In square circle'. The song reached number one in America, number three in the UK and number 11 in the Netherlands. The song featured R&B singer Luther Vandross humming at the end of Stevie's verses.
