Yesterday I noted that Stevie Wonder was the youngest person ever to have a #1 song on Billboard’s Hot 100. Today we throw back to the week of May 12, 1973, to feature Wonder’s third #1 hit, released a decade after that first one.

‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’ was actually at #2 during the week in question, but it ascended to the top spot the following week. I’m highlighting it today because the song at #1 — ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree’ by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando — was in the same position a month ago when I kicked off Throwback Weekends.

‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’ was the second single released from the 1972 album Talking Book, following ‘Superstition’ (which also reached #1). This was during a five-year stretch when Wonder released five of the best soul/funk/jazz/pop albums ever recorded: Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life.

This is the opening track of Talking Book, and interestingly starts off with vocals by two people who aren’t Stevie Wonder. The two singers you hear first on the record are session musicians Jim Gilstrap and Lani Groves.

In total, ‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’ spent 17 weeks on the Hot 100, but just one at #1.