"Didn't know you would be jammin' until the break of dawn??"

I'll be the first to admit that it took me a solid 4 or 5 times of listening too it before I really liked it. This album is very much "80's" and is quite different from Wonder's previous masterpieces. It took me a while to get used to this new style Stevie was using, but after that it stands in my mind as a truly great album.



One thing about any of his albums is that they do not lack any depth lyrically, Hotter than July is no exception. He's on point as ever with "Rocket Love" & "Cash In Your Face". Musically this album is more fast paced and jams more so than his previous efforts. "Did I Hear You Say You Love Me", is a great groove and "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" is a quite impressive track with the inclusion of country elements. "Do Like You" is a solid track, and perhaps the only one I skip is "As if You Read My Mind" (You might not though). What makes this album work more than any other factor is musical gems found on here. "All I Do" & "Master Blaster" are both classics in his catalogue & of course "Lately" is one of his finest (both musically and lyrically). "Happy Birthday" is also essential if only because of its historical value. Despite the strength of some individual tracks it does lack the overall as an album that we've previously come to expect with Wonder. But, what you have is a 45 min run time album that is just full of solid tracks. It's truly a testament to Stevie Wonder that, while many great artists of the 70's collapsed when they tried to adapt to the 80's style (look no further than Led Zeppelin), he was able to still convey his musical genius.



This album is definitely not a masterpiece, nor close to touching the genius of his previous albums. Perhaps it's not his best, but does that take away from it? Are we just too spoiled by his previous efforts? Bottom line: It's still simply a great album and only further adds on to Wonder's legacy. One of the best albums released from the 80's era.

A warmer place for all

After the brilliant,yet bewildered "Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants",Stevie rushed out(by his standards) with Hotter Than July,the true follow-up to Songs In The Key Of Life.The fact that it isn't up to the standards of the Talking Book or Innervisions is already a constant,but it brings a closure to a winning streak of albums that began with 1972's Music Of My Mind(or 71's Where I'm Coming From according to true Stevie fans).Every cut is a stand-out especially Master Blaster,All I Do,I Ain't Gonna Stand For It(a country tinged tune worthy of a Garth Brooks cover),and the much interpretated classic Lately.The final cut,the MLK-tribute Happy Birthday brings the album to a glorious open-ended finish as well as beautifully closes the book on this Wonder-ful chapter of his career.

Happy Birthday!!!

This albums concluding track is the definitive Stevie Wonder
song of the 80's in the minds of many-"Happy Birthday" being the
synth-funk tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. that played a giant
part in making the human rights hero's birthday a national holiday.Horray for Wonder AND horray for delivering yet another
diverse and ear-catching album.From Stevie's sweaty,cornrowed
hair on the cover and burning piano on the back "Hotter Then July" revels in Stevie's wonderous 70's eclecticism from the
rocking lead-off "Did You Have To Say You Love Me",the smooth and
catchy dance-R&B of "All I Do" and the VERY sensual ballad
"Rocket Love"-great start but that's not the HALF of it.From the
counrty pop of "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It",the reggae-ish Bob
Marley tribute hit "Master Blaster" and the typical deeply funky
clavinet-dominated pieces "Do Like You" and the topical "Cash In
Your Face".Do ALL slow declines sound this good?AGHHHHH!!!Wrong-
Stevie Wonder NEVER declined-he just had a new beginning and here
it's a beginning well worth investigating!

I am gonna stand for this,baby!

Here is Stevie Wonder's initial project for the 1980's. This album was released in or around September 1980. According to Norm N. Nite's Rock On Almanac,MASTER BLASTER debuted on the radio that month. Wonder did not have hits at all earlier that year. I like I AIN'T GONNA STAND FOR IT which was later covered by Eric Clapton. I heard several songs on Music Choice's Classic R&B channel. One of them was ALL I DO. Anyway,it's a very good album. This is one of five albums that Wonder released in the 80's.

Remarkable!!!!

I love this album. Stevie is a wonderful talented artist. I love this whole album it contains some wonderful songs. My favorite songs on here is the remarkable song tribute to M.L.K. "Happy Birthday" I love this song. I love lately,All I do, Rocket Love, and Master Blaster Jammn'. This is a great album Stevie always does great work.

wonder into the 80's

my last fave Stevie record all the way thru though he's had moments since this release. he helped with Dr. king's holiday being passed and the song happy birthday was a song that replaced the traditional one. Stevie did it with so much soul. all i do with Michael jackson and the Ojays in the back ground still sounds great.i ain't gonna stand for it with Charlie Wilson from the gap band in country mode. again many styles and again Stevie pulls it off.lately is a solid slow-jam.as is the case with stevie so many great songs that didn't even hit.how many artist can claim that?