ARTIST SPOTLIGHT = Stevie Wonder (9 songs)
Born Stevland Hardaway Morris, this singer-musician-songwriter is best known by his stage name. Born 6 weeks premature, the oxygen-rich hospital incubator atmosphere contributed to a condition that caused his retinas to detach, leading to blindness.
#1
After successful singles in 1963’s “Fingertips” & 1965’s “Uptight”, he released this, his version of Bob Dylan’s 1962 song, in 1966. While it has been covered by many artists, most notably by Peter, Paul & Mary, Wonder’s version peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 & claimed #1 on the R&B charts. His follow-up release, 1966’s “A Place In The Sun”, also peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
#2
This single, released 10/15/1968, became the most familiar & successful version of a song written by Ron Miller & Orlando Murden in 1966. Originally written as a slow ballad, Wonder’s uptempo version most-resonated with listeners, peaking at #2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 & R&B charts, held from the top spot on both charts by Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”. Interestingly, both singles had originally been vetoed by Motown’s Berry Gordy! For Wonder, this song followed success in 1967 with “I Was Made To Love Her” & early 1968’s “Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day”. His best-charting 1969 release was “My Cherie Amour” (#4 on both the Billboard Hot 100 & R&B charts; #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart).
#3
Of 3 releases in 1970, this song, debuting 06/03/1970, was the best charting; it reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 & claimed #1 on the R&B chart. This single was the 1st Wonder had produced; he was 20 years old at the time. Since, this song has been covered by many artists. His next 2 duo-Top 10 songs were 1970’s “Heaven Help Us All” & 1971’s “If You Really Love Me” (which also became his 3rd Top 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart).
#4
Hitting the airwaves 10/24/1972, this song, produced & arranged by Wonder, was the lead single from his album ‘Talking Book’. It claimed #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 & R&B charts, his 1st single to hit the top of both charts since 1963’s “Fingertips”. This song sparked a run of highly successful singles in the 1970s.
#5
Released March 1973 as the 2nd single from his album ‘Talking Book’, this song claimed #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 & Adult Contemporary charts & reached #3 on the R&B chart. It also won Wonder the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Grammy. This single also became his 5th Top 10 in Canada, peaking at #5. His other 2 releases in 1973 came from his next album, ‘Innervisions’; both faired best on the R&B chart, claiming #1: “Higher Ground” & “Living For The City”.
#6
After 1974’s “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” claimed #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 & R&B charts, he released no new music in 1975. Then, this song hit the airwaves November 1976 as the 1st release from his album ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’; this single claimed #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 & R&B charts & became his 2nd chart topper in Canada. The 2nd single from the album, “Isn’t She Lovely?”, has become a popular tune & certified Gold, despite only charting on the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at #23. His last 2 Top 10s of the 1970s were Top 5s on multiple charts: 1977’s “Sir Duke” & 1979’s “Send 1 Your Love”.
#7
Of 7 releases in 1980 & 1981, only 2, both in 1980, were successful: “Master Blaster” & “I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It”. This song, then, was the lead single from his greatest hits compilation album, ‘Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium I’. Debuting 12/30/1981, this song peaked in 1982 at #1 on the R&B, #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #19 on the Adult Contemporary charts. 3 other songs were released from that album, with 1982’s “Do I Do” being the best charting (#13, Billboard Hot 100; #2, R&B).
#8
This song, which he wrote & produced, is undoubtedly his most-successful tune. 1st featured in the 1984 comedy ‘The Woman In Red’, this single hit the airwaves 08/01/1984 & claimed #1 for 3 straight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, R&B & Adult Contemporary charts simultaneously. Internationally, the song claimed #1 in 16 other countries, including 6 weeks in England.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwOU3bnuU0k
#9
The only release from his album ‘In Square Circle’, this song proved to be his last single to claim #1 on multiple charts: Billboard Hot 100, R&B & Adult Contemporary. Elsewhere, it also claimed #1 in Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand & Spain. Later familiar tunes include 1985’s “Go Home”, 1986’s “Overjoyed”, 1987’s “Skeletons” & 1987’s “You Will Know”.