NEW LP
New sealed copy. 2025 reissue.
Hotter than July is Stevie Wonder’s 1980 album released through Motown’s Tamla label, recorded primarily at his newly acquired Wonderland Studios in Los Angeles. Arriving after the commercial disappointment of Journey Through “The Secret Life of Plants”, the album marked a return to a more direct blend of soul, pop, funk, and reggae influenced songwriting.
The album includes some of Wonder’s best known songs of the era, including “Master Blaster (Jammin’)”, inspired by Bob Marley, along with “Happy Birthday”, “All I Do”, and “Lately”. Beyond its musical success, the album became closely associated with Wonder’s campaign to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday, with both the song “Happy Birthday” and the original sleeve design directly supporting the effort.
Critically, Hotter than July was viewed as a strong return to form and remains one of Wonder’s most celebrated later period albums. It reached number three on the Billboard chart, became his most successful UK release at the time, and further demonstrated his ability to combine socially conscious themes with accessible pop and soul arrangements.
TRACKLIST:
A1 Did I Hear You Say You Love Me
A2 All I Do
A3 Rocket Love
A4 I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
A5 As If You Read My Mind
B1 Master Blaster (Jammin')
B2 Do Like You
B3 Cash In Your Face
B4 Lately
B5 Happy Birthday
