Also check out Stevie Wonder’s DMDB page!

1. The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie (1962)
2. A Tribute to Uncle Ray (1962)
3. With a Song in My Heart (1963)
4. Stevie at the Beach (1964)
5. Uptight, Everything’s Alright (1966)
6. Down to Earth (1966)
7. I Was Made to Love Her (1967)
8. Someday at Christmas (1967)
9. Eivets Rednow: Alfie (1968)
10. For Once in My Life (1968)
11. My Cherie Amour (1969)
12. Signed, Sealed & Delivered (1970)
13. Where I’m Coming From (1971)
14. Music of My Mind (1972)
15. Talking Book (1972)
16. Innervisions (1973)
17. Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974)
18. Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
19. Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants (1979)
20. Hotter Than July (1980)
21. The Woman in Red (soundtrack: 1984)
22. In Square Circle (1985)
23. Characters (1987)
24. Jungle Fever (soundtrack: 1991)
25. Conversation Peace (1995)
26. A Time to Love (2005)
    

Released: 9/62 Peaked: -- -- Sales: -- -- --

Tracks: 1. Fingertips 2. Square 3. Soul Bongo 4. Manhattan at Six 5. Paulsby 6. Some Other Time 7. Wondering 8. Session Number 112 9. Bam

Review: Wonder’s first single, “I Call It Pretty Music But The Old People Call It The Blues” was released in August 1962 and failed to chart. It featured the legendary Marvin Gaye on drums.

In contrast with the single, producer Clarence Paul decided to showcase Wonder’s instrumental abilities with an almost entirely instrumental big band jazz album. Wonder's harmonica playing is already distinctive ("Some Other Time"), and his drumming is pretty good ("Manhattan At Six"), but the tunes are nothing remarkable, including two co-written by Little Stevie himself ("Wondering", "Session Number 112"). The arrangements fall far short of brilliance although they're noteworthy for featuring much more prominent flute than was customary during this period ("Fingertips").

Released: 10/62 Peaked: -- -- Sales: -- -- --

Tracks: 1. Hallelujah, I Love Her So 2. Ain't That Love 3. Don't You Know 4. Masquerade 5. Frankie and Johnny 6. Drown in My Own Tears 7. Come Back Baby 8. Mary Ann 9. Sunset 10. My Baby's Gone

Review: "Little Stevie Wonder, Tamla's 11 year old musical genius, is blind, a similarity he shares with a famed musician and vocalist of today", shamelessly announce the liner notes of this album. Unfortunately, at 11 Wonder certainly didn't have the voice to do justice to Ray Charles, even when singing Charles' songs (others are "originals in the style of his idol") and, since he doesn't play on the record, there's no similarity there either. Today, listening to a child emote his way through songs like "Drown In My Own Tears" is a curiosity at best, and the album is only for hard-core Wonder fanatics.

Charted: 5/21/63 Peaked: 1 -- Sales: -- -- 0.5

Tracks: 1. Fingertips (#1) 2. Soul Bongo 3. La La La La La 4. I’m Afraid the Masquerade Is Over 5. Hallelujah I Love Her So 6. Drown in My Own Tears 7. Don't You Know

Review: Gordy apparently had a lot of faith in the young prodigy, following up several flop singles with two equally unsuccessful albums. Third time was the charm, though, as Little Stevie gave Motown its first #1 album. "Fingertips" was a #1 pop and R&B hit. The song showcased Wonder's lively stage personality and sense of humor, if barely hinting at any of his other talents. Side two of the album is live versions of several numbers from Uncle Ray, and side one includes a version of Jazz Soul's "Soul Bongo".

Released: 12/28/63 Peaked: -- -- Sales: -- -- --

Tracks: 1. With a Song in My Heart 2. When You Wish Upon a Star 3. Smile 4. Make Someone Happy 5. Dream 6. Put on a Happy Face 7. On the Sunny Side of the Street 8. Get Happy 9. Give Your Heart a Chance 10. Without a Song

Review: Having tried to turn Little Stevie Wonder into Big Ray Charles, then broken him through with "Fingertips—Pt. 2", Motown now gave us Steve Wonder, Lounge Lizard. At least, that's what you'd think listening to this string-filled crooning session, in which the 13-year-old earnestly makes his way through show tunes the likes of Johnny Mercer's "Dream", "Get Happy", "When You Wish Upon a Star", and other supperclub standards. Berry Gordy's wish for all his artists may have been to play the Copacabana, but this one was far below the legal drinking age, and, although Wonder brought his usual willingness to the project, it was years beyond his abilities.

Released: 6/23/64 Peaked: -- -- Sales: -- -- --

Tracks: 1. Castles in the Sand (#52) 2. Ebb Tide 3. Sad Boy 4. Red Sails in the Sunset 5. The Beachcomber 6. Castles in the Sand (instrumental) 7. Party Street 8. The Party at the Beach House 9. Hey Harmonica Man (#29) 10. Beach Stomp 11. Beyond the Sea

Review: The first record after dropping the "Little", but the tracks are the same combination of Broadway kitsch and harmonica solos of his earlier records. Stevie Wonder once described this period in his musical development as embarrassing. He particularly spoke of the single "Hey Harmonica Man;” it featured a barking male backing chorus, a zippy beat, and some spirited harmonica playing and vocalizing by Stevie. The slower "Castles In the Sand" also failed to scale the charts, as it's a rather dull attempt to appeal to surfers and beach hangers; the instrumental version (included) is more appealing then the vocal, since the lyrics were just too wimpy. Not one of Stevie's most sterling efforts, but it's not the embarrassment he claims either. Well...maybe for him.

Charted: 5/4/66 Peaked: 33 -- Sales: -- -- 0.5

Tracks: 1. Ain't That Asking for Trouble 2. Blowin' in the Wind (#9) 3. Contract on Love (#52) 4. Hold Me 5. I Want My Baby Back 6. Music Talk 7. Nothin's Too Good for My Baby (#20) 8. Pretty Little Angel 9. Teach Me Tonight 10. Uptight (Everything's Alright) (#3) 11. With a Child's Heart

Review: Stevie's career took a sharp swing upwards when he scored a major hit with his own composition "Uptight" in 1965. Wonder was moving beyond simply paying homage to Ray Charles and establishing his own musical identity. Although still just a teenager, Wonder was already anxious to do more than simply grind out love tunes. He began demonstrating his production skills and compositional acumen. Motown rushed out this LP, which includes his moving cover of Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" plus filler extraordinaire ("Nothing's Too Good For My Baby,” an "Uptight" rerun complete with the signature "hah hah yeah") and the three year old single "Contract on Love.”

Released: 11/16/66 Peaked: 92 -- Sales: -- -- --

Tracks: 1. My World Is Empty Without You 2. Lonesome Road 3. Angel Baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me) 4. Mr. Tambourine Man 5. Sixteen Tons 6. Hey Love (#90) 7. A Place in the Sun (#9) 8. Bang Bang 9. Down to Earth 10. Thank You Love 11. Be Cool, Be Calm (And Keep Yourself Together) 12. Sylvia

Review: This album signaled more artistic growth, but didn't contain a single big hit, something that wouldn't happen again to Wonder for many, many years. There were moments of uncertainty and awkwardness ("Place In The Sun" is 30's kitsch, "Hey Love" is so insubstantial it's barely a song at all). Still, Wonder’s voice was losing its cuteness and beginning to gain the richness and edge that punctuated many of his future albums.

Released: 8/27/67 Peaked: 45 -- Sales: -- -- 0.15

Tracks: 1. I Was Made to Love Her (#2) 2. Send Me Some Lovin' 3. I'd Cry 4. Everybody Needs Somebody (I Need You) 5. Respect 6. My Girl 7. Baby Don't You Do It 8. Fool for You 9. Can I Get a Witness 10. I Pity the Fool 11. Please, Please, Please 12. Every Time I See You, I Go Wild!

Review: This album was rushed out to capitalize on the success of the title song, which was Wonder's biggest pop hit since "Fingertips". Other than the hit, he seemed to be on a mission to cover songs by all the major black male vocalists of the period: Little Richard's "Send Me Some Lovin'", Otis Redding's "Respect", the Temptations' "My Girl", Ray Charles' "I Pity The Fool", and James Brown's "Please Please Please". The Motown house band's work on the covers is indistinguishable from any other Motown product of the era, but that's a compliment. Stevie’s remarkably mature singing at the age of 17 demonstrated that Wonder was becoming both a remarkable mimic and an original talent on his own.

Charted: 11/27/67 Peaked: -- -- Sales: -- -- --

Tracks: 1. Someday at Christmas 2. Silver Bells 3. Ave Maria 4. Little Drummer Boy 5. One Little Christmas Tree 6. Day That Love Began 7. Christmas Song 8. Bedtime for Toys 9. Christmastime 10. Twinkle Twinkle Little Me 11. Warm Little Home On A Hill 12. What Christmas Means to Me

Review: If you have to have a Christmas album, you might as well have one by Stevie, right? Not necessarily. There are a few renditions of Christmas standards ("The Little Drummer Boy", "Silver Bells"), but most of the songs are Motown originals with hackneyed subject matter and stale orchestral arrangements. Nothing was written by Wonder (though he did come up with a couple of Christmas numbers for the Miracles a few years later) and the tunes lack cozy-up-by-the-fire familiarity.

Released: 11/20/68 Peaked: -- -- Sales: -- -- --

Tracks: 1. Alfie (#66) 2. More Than a Dream 3. House Is Not a Home 4. Medley: Never My Love/Ask the Lonely 5. Ruby 6. Which Way the Wind 7. Bye Bye World 8. Grazing in the Grass

Review: By 1968, Motown had Wonder pegged as a soul-pop shouter, so his harmonica instrumental of "Alfie", and the movie theme that had been a Top 15 hit for Dionne Warwick in 1967, was released under another name — his own spelled backwards — and on a different record label. This album consists of more harmonica instrumentals, everything from "A House Is Not A Home" to "Grazing in the Grass", and is enough to convince you that Wonder, who, after all, broke through playing harmonica, is a tuneful player of the instrument, more a Larry Adler than a Bob Dylan. Nevertheless, this is a minor item in the Wonder catalog.

Released: 12/6/68 Peaked: 50 -- Sales: -- -- 0.3

Tracks: 1. For Once in My Life (#2) 2. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day (#9) 3. You Met Your Match (#35) 4. I Wanna Make Her Love Me 5. I'm More Than Happy (I'm Satisfied) 6. I Don't Know Why 7. Sunny 8. I'd Be a Fool Right Now 9. Ain't No Lovin' 10. God Bless the Child 11. Do I Love Her 12. House On The Hill

Review: Rather than rushing out an album when "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" hit, Motown released “You Met Your Match” and “For Once in My Life” before putting out an album. As a result, this album contained all three hits, making it one of Wonder's more consistent albums of the '60s. Wonder wrote more than half the material and has his first co-production credits. The real find, however, is the tortured soul classic "I Don't Know Why" (aka "Don't Know Why I Love Her".

Released: 8/29/69 Peaked: 34 17 Sales: -- -- 0.5

Tracks: 1. My Cherie Amour (#4) 2. Hello Young Lovers 3. At Last 4. Light My Fire 5. Shadow of Your Smile 6. You and Me 7. Pearl 8. Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares 9. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday (#7) 10. Angie Girl 11. Give Your Love 12. I've Got You

Review: Motown's quality control department held up the title track from this album for three years before it became a top ten single. Aside from that song and the follow-up single, "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday", this album contained contemporary filler. Among the stranger materials were covers the show tune “Hello Young Lovers” from The King and I and the Doors’ "Light My Fire" (with Wonder sounding like Jose Feliciano). and a peculiar arrangement of "Hello, Young Lovers" from The King and I that makes it sound like "For Once In My Life".

Released: 3/6/70 Peaked: 81 -- Sales: -- -- 0.3

Tracks: 1. Intro/ Pretty World 2. Sunny 3. A Time for Us (Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet) 4. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day 5. Everybody’s Talking 6. My Cherie Amour 7. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday 8. I’ve Gotta Be Me/ Once in a Lifetime 9. A Place in the Sun 10. Down to Earth 11. Blowin’ in the Wind 12. By the Time I Get to Phoenix 13. Ca’ Purange 14. Alfie 15. For Once in My Life/ Thank You Love

Review: In line with other Motown releases like the Temptations' Live At The Copa, this set relies heavily on lounge fodder like "I've Gotta Be Me" and "Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet"; the few Stevie hits featured - "Cherie Amour", "For Once in My Life" - are among his sappiest. Combine that with the well-known late 60's live sound quality, and most of Stevie's awesome talents are painfully obscured. The good news is, Stevie does get to show off some of his musical versatility, playing a drum solo on "Ca' Purange", whatever that is, and stretching out on clavinet during "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be- Doo-Dah-Day". Also, the LP is about an hour long, so - as Voltaire or somebody once said - it makes up in length what it lacks in depth.

Charted: 8/7/70 Peaked: 25 -- Sales: -- -- 0.5

Tracks: 1. Never Had a Dream Come True (#26) 2. We Can Work It Out (#13) 3. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours (#3) 4. Heaven Help Us All (#9) 5. You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover 6. Sugar 7. Don't Wonder Why 8. Anything You Want Me To Do 9. I Can't Let My Heaven Walk Away 10. Joy (Takes Over Me) 11. I Gotta Have a Song 12. Something to Say

Review: By the end of the '60s, Wonder was also beginning to rebel against the Motown hit factory mentality. He was anxious to address social concerns, experiment with electronics and not be restricted by radio and marketplace considerations. He was virtually self-sufficient in the studio, serving as his own producer and arranger, playing most of the instruments himself, and writing material with his wife, Syreeta Wright. Still, he gave the label another definitive smash with the title track, while sneaking in a cover of the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" and penning more intriguing tunes like "I Can't Let My Heaven Walk Away" and "Never Had a Dream Come True".

Released: 4/12/71 Peaked: 62 -- Sales: -- -- 0.5

Tracks: 1. Look Around 2. Do Yourself s Favor 3. Think of Me as Your Soldier 4. Something Out of the Blue 5. If You Really Love Me (#8) 6. I Wanna Talk to You 7. Take Up s Course in Happiness 8. Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer (#78) 9. Sunshine in Their Eyes

Review: Released one month before his 21st birthday, this is really Stevie’s first adult album. It was his first solely self-produced album and every song was co-written with his then wife Syreeta Wright (most notably on the hit “If You Really Love Me”). The lovely "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer", as the B-side to a cover of The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out", has become a Wonder standard. Wonder also introduced the funky keyboard style that would take him through the next few years, as well as the social concerns that would absorb him later on. This album was a shot across the bow, fair warning that a major, nearly mature talent had arrived.

Released: 3/3/72 Peaked: 21 -- Sales: -- -- 2.0

Tracks: 1. Love Having You Around 2. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) (#33) 3. I Love Every Little Thing About You 4. Sweet Little Girl 5. Happier Than the Morning Sun 6. Seems So Long 7. Girl Blue 8. Keep on Running (#90) 9. Evil

Review: Along with Sly Stone and Marvin Gaye, Wonder ushered in a new era of soul and R&B where albums were not just collections of singles, but cohesive artistic statements where artists could extend their music beyond the confines of a three-minute hit single.

Music of My Mind was one of the first such albums. It was his first album after his renegotiated contract with Motown. He produced, wrote the songs, and played the majority of the instruments on songs devoted to his more exotic musical ideas (which incorporated gospel, rock & roll, jazz, and African and Latin American rhythms). He also added synthesizers; played with rare invention and funk, they became the signature of his sound.

Released: 10/27/72 Peaked: 3 16 Sales: 1.0 -- 5.5

Tracks: 1. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (#1) 2. Maybe Your Baby 3. You And I (We Can Conquer The World) 4. Tuesday Heartbreak 5. You've Got It Bad Girl 6. Superstition (#1) 7. Big Brother 8. Blame It On The Sun 9. Lookin' For Another Love 10. I Believe When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever

Review: Talking Book established Wonder as the self-contained singer/songwriter. His 1972 tour of the United States with the Rolling Stones introduced him to a huge white audience, which helped make #1 hits of the album’s singles. In addition, the album closer “I Believe” is a pure revelatory experience. Right from the way the title was written in braille on the cover of the album to the shape, placing and suggestions of individual tracks, Talking Book was Stevie Wonder’s most personal album. On a personal note, his marriage to Syreeta Wright ended in 1972 after only a year. He later had two children with companion Yolanda Simmons and a third child by vocalist Melody McCulley.

Charted: 8/3/73 Peaked: 4 8 Sales: 2.0 0.08 6.0

Tracks: 1. Too High 2. Visions 3. Living for the City (#8) 4. Golden Lady 5. Higher Ground (#4) 6. Jesus Children of America 7. All in Love Is Fair 8. Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing (#16) 9. He's Misstra Know-It-All

Review: If Talking Book is his most personal album, Innervisions is Wonder’s greatest political statement. The opening "Too High", an acute condemnation of drug use, quickly establishes the record's forceful yet vibrant tone, which alternates between utopian dreamscapes ("Visions") and tough-minded realism ("Jesus Children of America"). The record's dueling concerns converge on "Living for the City", which is both a brilliant examination of the myriad social ills so endemic to the ghetto experience and a stirring celebration of African-American resilience. On "Higher Ground", Wonder even points a finger at himself to detail a sinner's second chance at life — a song which took on even greater resonance in the wake of the car crash which nearly killed him just months after the album’s release.

Charted: 7/22/74 Peaked: 1 ² 5 Sales: -- -- 4.5

Tracks: 1. Smile Please 2. Heaven Is Ten Zillion Light Years Away 3. Too Shy to Say 4. Boogie on Reggae Woman (#3) 5. Creepin' 6. You Haven't Done Nothin' (#1) 7. It Ain't No Use 8. They Won't Go When I Go 9. Bird Of Beauty 10. Please Don't Go

Review: This album has one classic soul recording after another in spite of just two charted singles, though "Heaven Is Ten Zillion Light Years Away", "Too Shy to Say" and "Creepin'" received airplay during this album’s heyday. The Caribbean-inspired "Boogie on Reggae Woman" is raucous with an undertone of sadness. The socially conscious "You Haven’t Done Nothing” is dipped in funk with its midtempo groove and spirited horn arrangement. The album is focused in tone; the music is thought-provoking, from the melody to the lyrics. In the wake of his serious car accident, Wonder contemplates death and afterlife on "Heaven..." and "They Won't Go When I Go”.

Charted: 9/28/76 Peaked: 1 ¹⁴ 2 Sales: 5.0 0.3 11.0

Tracks, Disc 1: 1. Love's In Need Of Love Today 2. Have A Talk With God 3. Village Ghettoland 4. Contusion 5. Sir Duke (#1) 6. I Wish (#1) 7. Knocks Me Off My Feet 8. Pasttime Paradise 9. Summer Soft 10. Ordinary Pain DISC 2: 11. Isn't She Lovely 12. Joy Inside My Tears 13. Black Man 14. Ngicuelela-Es Una Historia-I Am Singing 15. If It's Magic 16. As (#36) 17. Another Star (#32) 18. Saturn 19. Ebony Eyes 20. All Day Sucker 21. Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)

Review: So how do you follow two Album of the Year Grammy Awards (1973’s Innervisions and 1974’s Fullfillingness’ First Finale)? First, you take some time off. Wonder didn’t release any new material in 1975, a fact acknowledged by Paul Simon when he took home the Grammy for Album of the Year. He said, “I’d like to thank Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album this year.” Second, you come back and win Grammy’s 1976 Album of the Year. Songs in the Key of Life, a double album released after Wonder signed a $13-million contract with Motown, is often regarded by fans as Wonder’s best album. Always on the cutting edge of modern recording technology, the album is a tour de force of studio wizardry, yet it’s also a deeply personal and humane work. The album deftly blends the social commentary of his recent work with an exuberance harking back to his earliest records. It also resonates with a renewed spiritual dimension which lends the music even greater impact. Taken as a whole, the album tells his life story, spanning from childhood (“I Wish”) to the birth of his own daughter (“Isn’t She Lovely”). It takes time out to pay respects to the masters of jazz (“Sir Duke”), illuminate the struggles of the inner city (“Village Ghetto Land”) and confront society’s ills (“Pastime Paradise,” the basis of massive 1995 rap hit “Gangsta’s Paradise”). Possibly the single most influential album of the entire decade.

Charted: 10/30/79 Peaked: 4 8 Sales: -- -- 4.0

Tracks, Disc 1: 1. Earth's Creation 2. The First Garden 3. Voyage to India 4. Same Old Story 5. Venus' Flytrap and the Bug 6. Ai No, Sono 7. Seasons 8. Power Flower 9. Send One Your Love (instrumental) 10. Race Babbling

Tracks, Disc 2: 11. Send One Your Love (#4) 12. Outside My Window (#52) 13. Black Orchid 14. Ecclesiastes 15. Kesse Ye Lolo de Ye 16. Come Back as a Flower 17. Seed's a Star/Tree Medley 18. Secret Life of Plants 19. Tree 20. Finale

Review: Perhaps the most curious album in Stevie Wonder's career, this concept album about plants was ostensibly a soundtrack for a film that was never released. These were mostly instrumentals, plus a few oddball vocals, but most observers didn't know what to make of it at the time. While it didn’t catch on, the album can be seen as a precursor to New Age music. The album is now sometimes revered by critics looking for an argument (as someone once said about Dylan's 1970 Self Portrait).

The record is loaded with ethereal experiments, many of them sound-effect laden instrumentals and dull intercultural experiments ("Voyage to India"). It's all so gently arranged that it might put you to sleep.

Wonder was so hot that the record peaked at number four on the pop albums chart. “Send One Your Love” was a hit and "Outside My Window" scraped the middle regions of the pop charts, while the R&B community ignored the entire album.

Still, there's great music here, from "Send One Your Love" to "Power Flower" to "Come Back As a Flower" to "Venus Fly-Trap and the Bug".

Charted: 9/29/80 Peaked: 3 2 Sales: 1.0 0.3 9.0

Tracks: 1. Did I Hear You Say You Love Me 2. All I Do 3. Rocket Love 4. I Ain't Gonna Stand For It (#11) 5. As If You Read My Mind 6. Master Blaster (Jammin’) (#5) 7. Do Like You 8. Cash In Your Face 9. Lately (#64) 10. Happy Birthday

Review: Rushed out to reassure a public confused by Plants, this album is full of huge hooks and gorgeous melodies ("Did I Hear You Say You Love Me", the ballad "Lately", "As If You Read My Mind" with Syreeta). Hotter than July returned to the street-dancing spirit of earlier periods (updated in contemporary idioms such as reggae and rap). It also became his first platinum album. The album's biggest single was the irresistible reggae number "Master Blaster (Jammin')". However, the standout track was "Happy Birthday", the theme song for the campaign to make Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. In 1984, his efforts culminated in success when President Ronald Reagan announced that the third Monday of each January was to be officially known as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Charted: 8/28/84 Peaked: 4 2 Sales: 1.0 0.3 8.0

Tracks: 1. The Woman in Red 2. It's You (with Dionne Warwick) 3. It's More Than You 4. I Just Called to Say I Love You (#1) 5. Love Light In Flight (#17) 6. Moments Aren't Moments (by Dionne Warwick) 7. Weakness (with Dionne Warwick) 8. Don't Drive Drunk

Review: In 1984 Detroit gave Wonder the key to the city (he later considered a run for mayor) and he played harmonica on Elton John’s "I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues". “I Just Called to Say I Love You” became one of Britain’s ten largest-selling singles of all time. In the United States, the song won the Oscar for Best Song. When he dedicated the award to Nelson Mandela, he angered South African radio stations, which then banned all his music.

The song’s parent album, this soundtrack to a Gene Wilder comedy, frustrated fans as well. Despite its success, "I Just Called to Say I Love You", seemed like a formulaic TV commercial-in-the-making. The album also featured the hit "Love Light In Flight" and the admirably silly public service announcement "Don't Drive Drunk".

Charted: 9/13/85 Peaked: 5 5 Sales: 2.0 -- 6.5

Tracks: 1. Part-Time Lover (#1) 2. I Love You Too Much 3. Whereabouts 4. Stranger On The Shore Of Love 5. Never In Your Sun 6. Spiritual Walkers 7. Land Of La La (#86) 8. Go Home (#10) 9. Overjoyed (#24) 10. It's Wrong

Review: In 1985, Wonder participated in the recording of USA for Africa’s "We Are the World". His single "Part-Time Lover" became the first to simultaneously top the pop, R&B, adult contemporary, and dance/disco charts.

The parent album, unfortunately, relies heavily on synthesizers and the songs, while effective, are mostly missing his touch of genius. Still, some of the songs work, including the ballad "Overjoyed", the funky "I Love You Too Much", and the retro "Go Home" punctuated with horn riffs.

In the following year, Wonder teamed with Elton John and Gladys Knight on Dionne Warwick’s #1 "That’s What Friends Are For", although the song was deemed relatively lightweight.

Charted: 11/6/87 Peaked: 17 33 Sales: 1.0 -- 3.0

Tracks: 1. You Will Know (#77) 2. Dark 'N Lovely 3. In Your Corner 4. With Each Beat Of My Heart 5. One Of A Kind 6. Skeletons (#19) 7. Get It (with Michael Jackson) (#80) 8. Galaxy Paradise 9. Cryin' Through The Night 10. Free 11. Come Let Me Make Your Love Come Down 12. My Eyes Don't Cry

Review: Wonder shocked fans by taking only two years to release his next album. Unfortunately, his formerly mass audience realized that Wonder was willing to settle for good pop music without challenging himself to make great pop music and the album was the first to miss the pop Top Five in 15 years.

The biggest single was the "Superstition"-like dance track "Skeletons". Wonder also charted with the pretty "You Will Know" and an uptempo duet with Michael Jackson, "Get It".

Charted: 5/22/91 Peaked: 24 -- Sales: 0.5 -- 1.5

Tracks: 1. Fun Day 2. Queen in the Black 3. These Three Words 4. Each Other's Throat 5. If She Breaks Your Heart 6. Gotta Have You (#92) 7. Make Sure You're Sure 8. Jungle Fever 9. I Go Sailing 10. Chemical Love 11. Lighting Up the Candles

Review: Wonder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Perhaps inspired by his own legendary status, he turned out his best work in a decade. Although it can't compare to his glory days, this is very much a Stevie Wonder record: he wrote all but one of the songs and performed everything except a few bit parts. Stevie goes easy listening on "Make Sure You're Sure", hip-hop on "Each Other's Throat", and techno-pop on "Chemical Love"; and (horrors!) gives away the lead vocal as on "If She Breaks Your Heart".

Charted: 5/21/95 Peaked: 16 8 Sales: 0.5 -- 2.0

Tracks: 1. Rain Your Love Down 2. Edge of Eternity 3. Taboo To Love 4. Take the Time Out 5. I'm New 6. My Love Is with You 7. Treat Myself 8. Tomorrow Robins Will Sing 9. Sensuous Whisper 10. For Your Love (#53) 11. Cold Chill 12. I’m Sorry 13. Conversation Peace

Review: Wonder’s gift for melody is still in place, and he incorporates understated hip-hop rhythms into his music well, yet he isn't able to make music that fits into the rigid playlists of '90s urban contemporary radio. Still, he brings contemporary production touches to excellent material, either focused on social issues ("Rain Your Love Down", "My Love Is with You") or romance ("Edge of Eternity", "I'm New", "For Your Love"). Dragged down by some throwaway numbers ("Treat Myself", "Sorry") and unconvincing optimism ("Tomorrow Robins Will Sing"), but he never loses his sense of humor (or melody).

Released: 11/21/95 Peaked: -- -- Sales: -- -- --

Tracks: 1. Dancing to the Rhythm 2. Love's in Need of Love Today 3. Master Blaster (Jammin') 4. Stevie Ray Blues 5. Higher Ground 6. Rocket Love 7. Stay Gold 8. Ribbon in the Sky 9. Pastime Paradise 10. If It's Magic 11. Ms. & Mr. Little Ones 12. Village Ghetto Land 13. Tomorrow Robins Will Sing 14. Overjoyed 15. My Cherie Amour 16. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) 17. Living for the City 18. Sir Duke 19. I Wish 20. You Are the Sunshine of My Life 21. Superstition 22. I Just Called to Say I Love You 23. For Your Love 24. Another Star

Review: The title of the double live album Natural Wonder, refers to the fact that Wonder is accompanied by a thirty-piece orchestra, replacing his usual layers of synthesizers with the "real" thing. It's a nice gimmick, but don't believe the hype: there are still three guys manipulating the keyboards, including Wonder. And while the orchestrations flesh out some of the arrangements, there are plenty of songs like "Superstition" and "Higher Ground" that get by just fine without them. There are three new songs: the somber social comment "Ms. & Mr. Little One", the amusing but slight instrumental "Stevie Ray Vaughan Blues", and the uplifting though overlong "Dancing To The Rhythm Of Your Love". He's a fantastic live performer, the arrangements are fresh (including a symphony orchestra that adds depth but isn't too intrusive), and the band is in great form; you don't need this, but you'll be glad you have it.

Released: 10/18/05 Peaked: 5 24 Sales: 0.5 -- 0.5

Tracks: 1. If Your Love Cannot Be Moved 2. Sweetest Somebody I Know 3. Moon Blue 4. From the Bottom of My Heart 5. Please Don’t Hurry My Baby 6. How Will I Know 7. My Love Is on Fire 8. Passionate Raindrops 9. Tell Your Heart I Love You 10. True Love 11. So What the Fuss (#96) 12. Can’t Imagine Love without You 13. Positivity 14. A Time to Love (with India Arie)

Review: Wonder returns with his first studio album in ten years. While three songs were released from the album (“So What the Fuss,” “From the Bottom of My Heart,” and “Shelter in the Rain”), Wonder didn’t exactly storm the singles charts. However, the album was his first top ten since In Square Circle from 20 years earlier and was his sixth consecutive studio effort to be certified for at least sales of a ½ million.