[.ca] Hotter Than July

From Amazon.co.uk:
By the time Hotter Than July was released, in 1980, Stevie Wonder's most fertile period was already over. The smash run that began 1972 (Music of My Mind and Talking Book) and ran through Innervisions (1973), Fulfullingness' First Finale (1974) and 1976's Songs in the Key of Life was winding down. There was still enough magic left in Wonder for one last hurrah, however--and while July isn't its forerunner's equal in the heights it scales or consistency, it's still bears the marks of Wonder's best work: there's the regretful "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It", the reggae-crossover "Master Blaster (Jammin')", an oft-imitated classic (see Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives", for one); and the enormously successful paean to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Happy Birthday". --Randy Silver

Stevie's Most Straightfoward Pop Album:
After Stevie released the confused experimental record, "Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants", he returned to his R & B roots and released "Hotter Than July". This is the true follow-up to his 1976 double-album masterpiece, "Songs In The Key Of Life". "Hotter Than July" is a very straightforward pop record because of its 80's production and sound. It's a more glossy production. The opening, "Did I Hear You Say You Love Me", is an upbeat dance number with energetic synthesizer and guitar hooks. "All I Do" is one of the best songs on this album. It's a funk/disco-type track with a oh-so-fly beat. "Rocket Love" is probably my favorite song on this disc. It's a sexy ballad with Stevie talking about a woman any man would be incensed by, who would depart too soon with his love. The song, itself, has a variety of synthesizers and drum machines being played throughout the song. It's just a classic. Next, there's "I Aint Gonna Stand For It", which is a country/pop-type tune with laid-back slide guitar hooks. "As If You Read My Mind" is one of my personal favorites on here. The song has a tropical vibe in it. The drum beats have a reggae feel in them. "Master Blaster (Jammin')" is a reggae tune in the sprit of and in tribute to Bob Marley. "Do Like You" is a funky ode to Stevie's son, who dreams of being a dancer. "Cash In Your Face" is the only downside on this album. The rhythms are not-so even, but the song is worth a listen. It has a massage of housing and job discrimination. It really takes me back to the Innervisions period, where he was at his political peak. "Lately" is just a classic. It's a lovely ballad that has him playing a piano and bass synthesizer, I think. It's probably the best composition Stevie has done. "Happy Birthday" is a celebration of the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King. The song makes you celebrate life. It was really a vocal plea for making Dr. King's birthday recognized as a national holiday. It's an exciting song. Overall, "Hotter Than July" is a consistent and great album. I consider this as his best album from the 80's-era. The synthesizers are a little dated, but the rhythms are top notch. They vary so much that it is a wonder that they are all inside the mind of one man and that they can all be delivered from a genius. All I can say is that it's a great follow-up to Songs In The Key Of Life. "Hotter Than July" is quite a sheer of artistic brilliance. This is truly a disc that you will play over and over again. A-

Stevie Wonder - Hotter Than July (Motown, 1980):
No, this album isn't as great as Innervisions or Talking Book, but yes, it's still a classic. With one song that I can do without ("Do Like You"), this album shows that Stevie still had some tricks up his sleeve. "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" is just plain catchy while "Lately" (later covered by Jodeci) brilliantly narrates a lover leaving her man for another. Of course I can't forget about the MLK, Jr. tribute "Happy Birthday" and the reggae-influenced "Master Blaster (Jammin')", two hits that helped sell this album. This is the last of the great Stevie albums and Hotter Than July is definitely hot. -EJR

Overlooked Classic!:
Stevie Wonder had just pumped out 10 years worth of some of the best albums of any genre before surprising (and disappointing some) fans with the uncommercial and thematic "Journey through the Secret Life of Plants" in 1979. That album was poorly received despite its musical warrants. "Hotter Than July" marked Wonder's return to more mainstream fare, but is not always mentioned alongside his more groundbreaking 1970's albums. Nonetheless, this is a good record. Stevie was still doing what he did best: writing sincere commentary on the state of the world, and conjuring up some of the most perfect love songs ever heard. "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" was a modest hit and is Stevie mixing a country sound with soul. "Master Blaster" was a big hit based on Bob Marley's "Jammin'." "Rocket Love" and especially the intimate "Lately" (later covered by Jodeci) are gorgeous ballads that alone make the purchase worthwhile. "Do Like You" is a playful song about a kid who loves to dance, and while not the best song on the album, it's enjoyable. "Cash in your Face" and "Happy Birthday" are not as strong as his earlier social/political songs, and may be the weak point of the album. Sonically different than his masterpieces (it was the 80's and the chinsy synths started showing up), it is still very deserving of a listen or two...or hundreds.

Not as hot as July:
In 1980 Stevie Wonder was still one of the major players in music. His last five albums, released in the 70s, had all been major successes both musically & commercially, and the man was basically On Top. However then he released a strange soundtrack 'Secret Life Of Plants' to accompany a film of the same name that was never released (Great book by the way), which left people confused by the kinda odd subject matter and style of the album. 'Hotter Than July' was quickly released to undo the damage, but it does sound kinda rushed in places as a result. The reggae cut 'Master Blaster' is the real killer jam here, and love songs like 'Lately' and the almost eerie 'Rocket Love' are Stevie on top form, but a lot of the other material here is less memorable and distinctive than the albums he was cutting in the 70s. 'Happy Birthday' is leaning into pop rather than the funk Stevie excelled at. Overall this is a solid album with some great moments, but not as essential as the work that preceded it. Still, its worth pointing out that there are no bad songs here, and even a lazy Stevie Wonder is actually more enjoyable than any of the contemporary R & B jokers out there these days. Too bad.

An overlooked classic:
To start, the only reason I'm giving this album 4 stars is becuase the review only goes as high as 5 stars. This is not in the same league as Stevie's 70's masterpieces but I still feel that it's one of the best albums of the 80's. The title is basically talking about the world of music being hotter than July. In other words, there's a lot going on in regards to musical taste. At the time of the album release, rock was still going strong, country was becoming more popular, Bob Marley had brought Reggae to the masses, and the world was waiting for a new Stevie Wonder album after the confusing, at least to most of the public, Secret Life OF Plants album. This was it. The album sold quickly and had a top 10 hit with Masterblaster and Happy Birthday. I usually do my reviews by going song by song but this album boast a song so amazing that I have to give it it's due. That song is Lately. First off though, I will mention the other 2 songs that should be given their due too. Ain't Gonna Stand For It.: Stevie goes country, in a playful way. This song is another romp in the same league as Say it 'Cause I Love Having You Around and Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing. It's a great dance song and in the middle section Stevie really rocks out. Don't take this song seriously. Just have fun with it. Happy Birthday: This is basically a sing-a-long. Nothing really special musically going on in it. So why am I including it as one of 3 significant songs on the album? Mainly because of the public importance of the song. Can music actually make laws? This one did. Stevie wrote this in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luthur King, Jr. and it was the theme song throughout the efforts to make his birthday a national holiday, which Stevie spearheaded. Within one year of campaigning, President Reagan signed the bill to bring the holiday to life. This song will live on as the soundtrack to the campaign and also as the new way we all sing happy birthday at birthday parties around the world. Lately: To me, there are 5 songs that made the 80's. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2, Every Breath You Take by the Police, Billy Jean by Michael Jackson, When Doves Cry by Prince and Lately. Of the 5 Lately is the least known, although in the past few years more and more people have come to know it's greatness. Stevie has always been ahead of his time and Lately is just anothe examlpe of that. Let's look at it on two different levels. Musically: The song is in a major key but yet 90% of the chords heard are minor 7ths. Something never done before in popular music.When this song originally came out in 1980, these chords were so strange I remember my friends asking, what happened to Stevie? Did he go tone deaf because this whole song is out of tune! Twenty-three years later we hear it and it doesn't sound strange at all. Because of this song, these types of chord arrangements have become common when referring to some of the better artist of the last decade. These minor 7ths help the atmosphere of mystery and confusion in the song. Another interesting thing Stevie does, on the piano part, he continually plays these two 8th notes in the bass section. This represents the thoughts that go through our mind when we suspect that we're losing our lover. With these 8th notes he plays with dissonance. He plays the same note even though the chord has changed. The chorus of the song includes a clash if you will, of huge minor 7th chords that climb to a major. For the climax, he holds down the pedal on the piano that makes the note linger as he plays these chords again. This make for even more dissonance. Why so much? How do you feel when you think you're going to lose your lover? Not too happy and in tune I bet. That's why so much dissonance. At the end of the song Stevie changes keys but not the way it's normally done in popular music. He climbs to three keys higher than the original key of the song. The song finally ends in yet another key that could represent either the end of the relationship or a new beginning. You make the choice. Quincy Jones uses this same technique less than a year later on his classic "The Dude album on the song Just Once. Not to mention a number of other songs throughout the 80's and 90's that have used the "key change, you make the call" trick. Lyrically: The song is about losing a lover to someone else. In other words, it's about cheatin'. Stevie says he has a feeling that something is going on but doesn't have a really vivid reason to suspect anything. In the chorus, he sings "Well I'm a man of many wishes, hope my premonition misses". Stevie is the optimist you know. But in this song he speaks for all of us. We don't want to admit the truth. But, as he says, "But what I really feel, my eyes won't let me hide. 'Cause they always start to cry. 'Cause this time could mean goodbye". A line so simple and yet so powerful. The second verse starts with Stevie wondering why he is with this person, "Lately I've been staring in the mirror, very slowly picking me apart. Trying to tell myself I have no reason with your heart". The "picking me apart" line is really interesting. When you're in a predicament like that, how often have you sat there wondering about yourself? You think, what's wrong with me instead of thinking, why is he/she doing this to me? Lately is a masterpiece of songwriting. It is an art song in the same league as anything Chopin or Liszt has done. Yet it deals with something that everyone has felt. Whether their rich, poor, educated or not. You will feel this song in your bones. Listen to it again and again. Hotter Than July is a very good album with some good songs on it. Lately brings it up to another level.

• Did I Hear You Say You Love Me
• All I Do
• Rocket Love
• I Ain't Gonna Stand for It
• As if You Read My Mind
• Master Blaster (Jammin')
• Do Like You
• Cash in Your Face
• Lately
• Happy Birthday