Jan Hammer owned the #1 spot of the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of December 9, 1985, with the theme to Miami Vice. I covered that track during a week on TV theme songs that topped the chart.
At #2 that week, following a single week at the top spot, was Stevie Wonder’s ‘Part-Time Lover.’ This was the last of eight #1 hits for Wonder, and it is notable for being the first track to reach #1 on four different Billboard charts: Hot 100, dance, R&B, and adult contemporary.
Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1976…
#4 – Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder
Like Hotel California, this is a classic album with which I don’t fully vibe. But I certainly appreciate it more than that one.
Stevie Wonder’s double album is his top-selling and most critically-acclaimed work, a Grammy Album of the Year winner that is certified Diamond in the U.S. It’s a sprawling showcase of Wonder’s talents as a writer and performer, combing R&B, soul, jazz, and pop sounds in a 17-track suite.
Throwing back to the week of October 26, 1974, we find Dionne Warwick atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Then Came You,’ covered here a couple of weeks ago.
At #2 was Stevie Wonder’s political screed ‘You Haven’t Done Nothin’.’ which would reach the top spot the following week before dropping out of the top ten. Wonder was backed up on this track by the Jackson 5, whom he calls out by name after the second and third choruses.
I’ve mentioned the song that topped Billboard’s Hot 100 the week of October 13, 1984, three times before on the blog, but this is its first appearance as a song of the day.
Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You,’ the lead single from the film The Woman in Red, is famous — in my book — for winning the Best Song Oscar over much superior competition. This treacly love song beat out Deniece Williams’ ‘Let’s Hear it for the Boy’ and Kenny Loggins’ ‘Footloose’ as well as Phil Collins’ ‘Against All Odds’ and Ray Parker Jr.’s ‘Ghostbusters.’
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.
Meet Me In Montauk 