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Hotter Than July
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work
After the commercial and critical disappointment of Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants from 1979, Stevie Wonder was in a difficult period. He wrote, arranged and produced Hotter Than July himself, mostly at Wonderland Studios in Los Angeles, which he had just bought. The album was released on 29 September 1980 on Tamla. Master Blaster (Jammin') was inspired by the reggae of Bob Marley, whom he had met in 1979. Other successes were I Ain't Gonna Stand for It, the ballad Lately and the cheerful Happy Birthday. On All I Do, among others, Michael Jackson sang along.
He wrote Happy Birthday in honour of Martin Luther King and used it to campaign for a national holiday on his birthday. The sleeve, too, was devoted to that. The album reached number three in America and went platinum. In England it was his most successful record, with four singles in the top ten.
Listening
Track list
- 1Did I Hear You Say You Love Me4:09Apple Music ↗
- 2All I Do5:07Apple Music ↗
- 3Rocket Love4:39Apple Music ↗
- 4I Ain't Gonna Stand for It4:39Apple Music ↗
- 5As If You Read My Mind3:39Apple Music ↗
- 6Master Blaster (Jammin')5:08Apple Music ↗
- 7Do Like You4:25Apple Music ↗
- 8Cash In Your Face3:59Apple Music ↗
- 9Lately4:05Apple Music ↗
- 10Happy Birthday5:56Apple Music ↗
30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗