After his nearly all-instrumental album ‘Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants’, Stevie Wonder’s ‘Hotter Than July’ is a return to classic form with his usual repertoire of soul, funk, political, and love-themed songs.

Released in late 1980, 29^th September to be precise, this album skyrocketed Wonder to a Top 3 pop album spot and No. 1 R&B for more than three months on the US Billboard Chart, led by the hit singles Master Blaster (Jammin'), Lately and I Ain't Gonna Stand For It. It also hit off for the beautifully composed Happy Birthday, a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

Many would’ve purchased this album for the hit song Master Blaster and maybe to play Happy Birthday for their birthday celebrations, which in those days few artists really came out with a song Happy Birthday.

By the time 1980 rolled around, Stevie Wonder had already won the Grammy for Album of the Year three times in a row, had six #1 US singles, and 42 Hot 100 singles, as well as similarly impressive record in various other countries. He was indisputably an international superstar.

Checking out a few songs, we can pick Happy Birthday with its jumpy sound almost addressing and sounding like a children’s song while the bass thumps along. Even on ballads like Lately he uses the usual emotional chord and words very cleverly. The other upbeat funk track which we can mention here is the reggae fusion of Master Blaster (Jammin’) which is undoubtedly the album’s highlight both musically and lyrically. The groove, the infectiousness, takes over you immediately.

Lyrically, the songs mean a lot, as Wonder knows only too well, his fans love his love songs and lyrics are the biggest part of any song and you know very well his songs have some really mushy lyrics. Songs like Rocket Love compares his break up to being dropped thousands of miles from space back to Earth. There are also three tracks that are politically based with a hard hitting message. The song Cash in Your Face, has lyrics like “, you might be a great doctor, you might be a great lawyer, you might possess the key to the city” but “We don't want your kind living in here” shows racism.

‘Hotter than July’ was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the American Music Awards in 1982 and as a whole, ‘Hotter Than July’ may not be Stevie’s best work, but it’s still incredibly entertaining, accessible, and lyrically impressive. The total pop sounding album focuses on catchy hooks and lyrical importance, and he scores well on this, although it’s still far less in its run like any of his Grammy winning albums.

Label: Motown Tamla

Released on: 29^th September, 1980.

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira