Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel includes: Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Betty Wright, Angela Winbush, The O'Jays. | | All tracks have been digitally remastered. | | Personnel: Stevie Wonder (vocals, harmonica, keyboards); Alexandra Brown, Jamil Raheem, Walter Williams , Eddie LeVert, Marva Holcolm, Mary Lee Whitney, Kimberley Jackson, Melody McCully, Delores Barnes, Susaye Greene Brown, Dennis Morrison, Michael Jackson, Angela Winbush, Stephanie Andrews, Syreeta Wright, Betty Wright, Bill Wolfer, Nathan Watts, Earl DeRouen, Shirley Brewer, Charles Collins , Charlie Wilson (vocals); Ben Bridges (guitar, sitar); Rick Zunigar (guitar); Hank DeVito (steel guitar); Paul Riser (strings); Hank Redd, Trevor Lawrence, Bob Malach (saxophone); Nolan Andrew Smith, Larry Gittens (trumpet); Isaiah Sanders (keyboards); Dennis Davis (drums); Eddie "Bongo" Brown (percussion). | | Audio Mixer: Gary Olazabal. | | Recording information: Crystal Sound Studios, Holllywood, CA; I.A.M. Studios, Irvine, CA; Wonderland Studios, Los Angeles, CA. | | Illustrator: Al Harper. | | Arrangers: Stevie Wonder; Paul Riser. | | By the time HOTTER THAN JULY was released in 1980, Stevie Wonder had spent the '70s making his transition into adulthood by redefining pop music and winning widespread public and critical acclaim (along with a boatload of Grammys). As was usually the case on previous albums, Wonder's first release of the '80s featured him playing a variety of instruments, supported by a number of famous guests including Angela Winbush, Michael Jackson, Betty Wright and members of the Gap Band. | | The result was an album of breezy love songs ("Rocket Love"), deliciously upbeat pop ("I Ain't Gonna Stand For It") and a thinly disguised tribute to Bob Marley ("Master Blaster [Jammin']"). But the one song that Wonder gave himself most to was "Happy Birthday," a relentlessy positive compostion specifically written as part of this gifted artist's fight to get Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday recognized as a national holiday. Stevie Wonder eventually won that fight and by the mid-80s, his dream had become a reality. |
Producer: Stevie Wonder; Stevie Wonder; Harry Weinger (Reissue) |
Engineer: Gary Olazabal |
Musical Guests | | Angela Winbush | | The O'Jays | | Betty Wright | | Michael Jackson | | Eddie Levert, Sr. |
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