Customer Reviews

Hotter Than July

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

I saw 'Hotter Than July' at a record store being sold at a decent price, and noted that it included songs that I recognized by name: "Rocket Love", "Happy Birthday", "Lately", and "Master Blaster (Jammin)". On impulse, I bought it.

I'm glad I did. You see, "All I Do" has been remade into a dance/techno song by a British group called the Cleptomaniacs this year; so when I heard the original - it just made me feel so enlightened. For the record I prefer Mr. Wonder's version, but both versions of "All I Do" are enjoyable.

"Lately" was immortalized by an R&B group named Jodeci in the spring/summer of 1992; and they actually performed the song with Stevie on the Arsenio Hall show - and it was great. "Lately" (for me) is a sad and moving song that is also very beautiful.

It scares me to think that as late as 1980 we still didn't celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday as a national holiday; but hey, at least now I know the words to the whole song besides the chorus. "Happy Birthday" serves as a wonderful finale to the album.

But my favorite song on here would have to be "Rocket Love". My favorite Stevie Wonder songs are the slower, or midtempo songs that seem to just float, and take you on majestic, magic carpet rides. "Send One Your Love", "Superwoman" and "Ribbon In The Sky" do this for me.

But something tells me this isn't his absolute best album (assuming they can be ranked)...and from what I've been able to gather, 'Innervisions' and 'Songs In The Key Of Life' seem to be the top two. At any rate, just know that this disc is a good investment. I'm listening to it right now as I type this. It's on "Lately"...

Thanks for reading.

Hotter Than July is an aptly titled album as Stevie Wonder turns up the heat on this release. After the experimentation of The secret Journey Through The Life Of Plants, Mr. Wonder returns to his normal form with a collection of funkified numbers. "All I Do" is a fiery song that sieges right into "Rocket Love" that goes up into orbit. "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" finds Mr. Wonder singing in an almost unrecognizable voice that is more of a growl. "Lately" is a stirring ballad while "Happy Birthday" is dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. and is an open plea to make his birthday a national holiday, which it was not at the time. In fact, Mr. Wonder was a driving force behind the movement that was successful in getting Dr. King's birthday recognized, which despite the criminally long delay in doing such, was richly deserved. "Master Blaster (Jammin')" was another tribute song, this time to late reggae legend Bob Marley. The song has a dark, funky beat and sounds like it was recorded on some stoop on a hot summer night. Hotter Than July capped off an unbelievable run of albums and while it is not normally mentioned with them, belongs in the same league as his 70's albums.

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.

What an amazing CD this is. Originally released in 1980 and still sounding up to date. Not as great as his 70s masterpieces, but hey, still a fabulous outing, with varying musical influences and outstanding songwriting. The album made it to #3 on the Billboard album charts.

The tribute to Bob Marley, `Master blaster (jammin')' is a delightful bouncy Reggae number with great horns and outstanding vocals, which made #5 in the US and the UK top 10.

There's the mid tempo, Disco-tinged, synth driven `All I do' featuring backing vocals from Michael Jackson (repaying the favour for Stevie's `I can't help it' from his `Off the wall' album the previous year) and a great sax break.

`Rocket love' is a tender atmospheric ballad with great `Do do do...', dramatic strings, and lyrics comparing a woman's love to a ride in a rocket. Classic Stevie!

`I aint gonna stand for it' (a UK top 10 and US #11) features backing vocals from the Gap Band (whose vocal styling was clearly inspired by Stevie), and is an upbeat song with faint Country elements in the verses, which connects to the next song, `As if you read my mind' with a great piano bridge. Percussion on this song is outstanding.

Other standouts are the tender much covered piano ballad `Lately' (a UK top 10) featuring an achingly passionate delivery from Stevie, and closing track, the sunny, poppy `Happy Birthday' which was a tribute to Martin Luther king Jr, and was a part of the push to get his birthday declared a national holiday, which it eventually was.

It was a real hot July....

There's been a lot of debate over the years as to whether this is one of Stevie's best albums or one of his worst. I suppose it depends on one's point of view but even I have to admit I was taken slightly aback when I first listened to it.

But that was many years ago and it's grown on me, taking its rightful place as one of my favourite albums of all time. Stevie did go against a lot of what he had done before but he was just breaking new ground. I think it was a brave move on his part and personally, I think history has proved him right.

It's a solid set of ten songs and Stevie seems to try a different idea, a different approach with each of them. This is what attracted the criticism of the album being all over the place but while it's eclectic all right, the songs all fit together. Stevie ensures they do with the way he times one song to start immediately after the end of the one before it with no break - something he's done on many of his albums.

"All I Do" is notable for having Michael Jackson peforming background vocals, alongside Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Jamil Raheem and Betty Wright. That might not mean anything now but this was back in 1980 just after Jackson's "Off The Wall". (Michaelmania hadn't quite taken off but it was definitely on its launch pad). The only other person who was able to snag Jackson for backing vocal duties back then (apart from Quincy Jones, that is), was Kenny Rogers, for a song on his "Share My World" album.

"All I Do" has also been covered by many r&b singers in the intervening years but not as much as "Lately". This is easily one of Stevie's most beautiful songs and it's just him, his piano and bass synthesizer. The line "Lately I've been staring in the mirror" didn't really register until years later, when I was like, hang on, this man is blind.

Another of my favourites is "Do Like You", a funky dance tune featuring the voices of Stevie's (then young) children, Aisha and Keita. I had this album on cassette until recently when I got the CD. The first time I heard the sound of glass breaking at the end of the song, it sounded so real, I actually looked up to see what had broken. Bizarre.

The other songs of mention are "Master Blaster (Jammin')", which I didn't get then and still don't get now. I can see where Stevie is coming from but I really think reggae is best left to the experts.

"Cash In Your Face" deals with the unpleasant but undenialble issue of racism. The song tells the story of a young black family man looking for an apartment and being stonewalled by the landlord or real estate agent. The prospective tenant's voice is pleading and desperate, while the landlord's is cold and unmoving. I'd been listening to the album for several months before I realised that Stevie was singing both parts - one an octave lower than the other. Brilliant.

And then, finally, there's "Happy Birthday" and the only use I've found for it over the years is, as a DJ, playing it at birthday parties and getting the guests to dance around the celebrant. It works a treat every time. That said, this song was the vocalisation of the campaign Stevie started to get Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday recognised. Given that it's now a public holiday in the US, I'd say that all on its own makes this entire album pretty iconic. I'm not sure it's his best; "Songs In The Key Of Life" wins that honour hands down, but it's definitely (one of) his most culturally influential.

....and that's exactly what a great magician like Stevie Wonder will do.... I didn't think this album held gas compared to his 70s stuff..... but man..... he kind of put me in this trance..... he's just got something that I can't describe... it's like each of his songs build up and climax near the end... he just starts going nuts with his voice and instruments... it's good stuff!!!!

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.

This 1980 album is among the finest of its time...great melodies, smooth lyrics and one of the sexiest, 'cool' songs I've ever heard, ROCKET LOVE...and no song can make you cry like LATELY...I wish the kids today had such great music to listen to. "July" represented the end of the 'golden era' of Stevie, after which his releases became very erratic & uneven...This album is a must own for any true music lover (and lover of love itself)!

While no one can deny the impact Stevie Wonder has had on the world of music, many would argue that his work in the decade of the 1980's fell a bit short.

"Hotter than July" is a bridge between 70's Stevie cool to the "I Just Called to Say I Love You" days of the future. However, "Hotter than July" is one of Stevie's strongest works of all. Still funky like the decade before, but more in tune with personal emotions and experiences like, what else, but love. The lyrics are solid, and the music is on par with the rest of the work by the greatest songwriter of all time. Truly one of the best albums I have ever heard. In the realm of Stevie, perhaps second only to "Songs in the Key of Life".