Stevie Wonder - Hotter Than July

Four years after the pinnacle of Stevie Wonder's mid-'70s typhoon of classic albums, Hotter Than July was the proper follow-up to Songs in the Key of Life (his Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants concept record was actually a soundtrack to an obscure movie that fared miserably in theaters). It also found Wonder in a different musical climate than the one that savored his every move from 1972 to 1977. disco and new wave had slowly crept their way into the mainstream record-buying public, and hindered the once-ample room for socially and politically charged lyrics. However, Wonder naysayed the trends and continues to do what he did best. Solid songwriting, musicianship, and production are evident in the majority of Hotter Than July. Wonder also carries on his tradition of penning songs normally not associated with his trademark sound, from the disco-tinged "All I Do" (originally planned to be released by Tammi Terrell almost ten years previously) to the reggae-influenced smash "Master Blaster (Jammin)," which went straight to the top of the r&b charts. While admittedly there are a few less-than-standard tracks, he closes the album on an amazing high note with one of the most aching ballads in his canon ("Lately") and a touching anthem to civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King, Jr. ("Happy Birthday"). While most definitely not on the same tier as Innervisions or Songs in the Key of Life, Hotter Than July is the portrait of an artist who still had the Midas touch, but stood at the crossroads of an illustrious career. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Harper Illustrations Alexandra Brown Vocals Angela Winbush Vocals Ben Bridges Sitar, Guitar Betty Wright Vocals Bill Wolfer Synthesizer Programming, Vocals Bob Harlan Assistant Engineer Bob Malach Saxophone Charles Collins Vocals Charlie Wilson Vocals Delores Barnes Vocals Dennis Davis Drums Dennis Morrison Vocals Earl DeRouen Vocals Eddie "Bongo" Brown Percussion Eddie LeVert Vocals Gary Olazabal Mixing, Engineer Hank DeVito Guitar (Steel) Hank Redd Saxophone Harry Weinger Reissue Producer Isaiah Sanders Keyboards Jamil Raheem Vocals John Cabalka Design Kimberley Jackson Vocals Larry Gittens Trumpet Lon Neuman Assistant Engineer Margaret Goldfarb Production Coordination Marva Holcolm Vocals Mary Lee Whitney Vocals Mathieu Bitton Reissue Design Melody McCully Vocals Michael Jackson Vocals Nathan Watts Vocals Nolan Andrew Smith Trumpet Paul Riser Arranger, Strings Peter Vargo Assistant Engineer Rick Zunigar Guitar Shirley Brewer Vocals Stephanie Andrews Vocals Stevie Wonder Vocals, Audio Production, Harmonica, Keyboards, Producer, Synthesizer Programming, Arranger Susaye Greene Brown Vocals Syreeta Wright Vocals Trevor Lawrence Saxophone Vartan Reissue Art Director Walter Williams Vocals