Photo: File:Stevie Wonder at East End, Washington DC.jpg: John Athayde (boboroshi)derivative work: Mathonius [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
When we first started composing our Top 10 Stevie Wonder songs list, we quickly realized that it would be impossible to only pick 10 Stevie Wonder songs. Stevie Wonder has enjoyed a long glorious and successful musical career that has spanned many decades. To present fans with some of his best songs from each decade we came to the conclusion that we would have to extend our typical top 10 songs list to a Top 25 Songs list for Stevie Wonder. Even at 25 songs there were so many great Stevie Wonder songs that were left out. We apologize if we missed any of your favorites. However, we think we did a good job of including the important material from all of Stevie Wonder’s time periods. When we think of the greats like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Elvis Presley and Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder is right there with all of them
While most middle school age kids are busy picking which clubs they want to join or trying to pass a pre-algebra test, at 11 years old Stevie Wonder was signing his first record contract with Motown Records. In 1961, Little Stevie Wonder released his first album entitled The Jazz Soul Of Little Stevie. At the time of the album’s release, Stevie Wonder was 12 years old. The album was released on Tamia Records which was a division of Motown Records. One year later in 1963, Little Stevie Wonder would score his first number one single with the live version of “Fingertips.”
From 1963 to 1973, Stevie Wonder would score ten more top 10 hit singles. In 1973, Stevie Wonder would hit number one again on the Billboard Hot 100 with his song “Superstition.” Many would argue that the time period between 1973 and 1977 were the golden years for Stevie Wonder. During that amazing time period, Stevie Wonder released the albums, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale. and Songs in the Key of Life which many believe to be one of the greatest albums ever released.
Stevie Wonder continued to release albums all throughout the 80s and 90s. His last album was released in 2005 entitled A Time To Love. The last song Stevie Wonder has released as of this writing was a single entitled “Faith,” in 2016 which also featured Ariana Grande.
We hope you enjoy our top 25 Stevie Wonder songs list which covers a career spanning 57 years.
# 25 – Faith
We start out our top 25 Stevie Wonder songs list with this incredibly modern sounding track that defines all that’s great with Stevie Wonder. How could you not love this? From the album Sing: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Released in 2916. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 24 – I Just Called To Say I Love You
Two soundtrack songs in a row open up our Stevie Wonder songs list. Two soundtracks from two completely different eras. From the 1984 soundtrack album The Woman in Red. Released in 1984. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 23 – Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
From the album My Cherie Amour. Released in 1969. Written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells
# 22 – For Once In My Life
From the album For Once In My Life. Released in 1968. Written by Ron Miller.
# 21 – Part Time Lover
From the album In Square Circle. Released in 1985. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 20 – Master Blaster (Jammin)
From the album Hotter Than July. Released in 1980. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 19 – “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)“
From the album Up-Tight. Released in 1965. Written by Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy and Henry Cosby.
# 18 – Ribbon In The Sky
From the album The Original Musiquarium I. Released in 1982. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 17 – Overjoyed
From the album In Square Circle. Released in 1985. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 16 – Send One Your Love
From the album Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through “The Secret Life of Plants.” Released in 1979. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 15 – Love’s in Need of Love Today
From the album Fulfillingness’ First Finale. Released in 1974. Written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright. When this album was first released, most of us thought that Stevie Wonder had hit his peak. We were all wrong. None of us expected what was to come next. An album called songs in the key of life.
# 14 – As
From the album Songs In The Key Of Life. Released in 1976. We could have done a top 10 songs list just from this album alone. When this record was released it once so many awards. Everybody was blown away by this record. It was a double album to record set that also contained a 7 inch record with 4 more songs. That was so much music released on this album and every song was great. The album was released in 1976 Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 13 – Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing
From the album Innervisions. Released in 1973. Written Stevie Wonder.
From the album Songs In The Key Of Life. I Wish was released as a single in 1977. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 10 – Higher Ground
We start out our top 10 section of our Stevie Wonder songs list with a great song from the album Innervisions. Released in 1973. Written Stevie Wonder.
# 9 – My Cherie Amour
From the album My Cherie Amour. Released in 1969. Written by Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy and Stevie Wonder.
# 8 – If You Really Love Me
From the album Where I’m Coming From. Released in 1971. Written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright
From the album Songs In The Key Of Life. Released in 1976. Released as a single in 1977. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 5 – Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours
From the album Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours. Released in 1970. Written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright, Lee Garrett and Lula Mae Hardaway.
# 4 – Sir Duke
From the album Songs In The Key Of Life. Released in 1976. Released as a single in 1977. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 3 – Sunshine Of My Life
From the album Talking Book. Released in 1972. The single was released in 1973. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 2 – Superstition
From the album Talking Book. Released in 1972. Written by Stevie Wonder.
# 1 – Living For The City
From the album Innervisions. Released in 1973. Written Stevie Wonder. It was really tough to choose a song for the number one spot. There are so many Stevie Wonder songs that could easily slip into the number one spot. I remember buying all of Stevie Wonder’s albums when they were first released starting with Talking Book. It was always an amazing experience hearing those albums for the first time. Listening to songs before they had become hits. The one song that blew me away the most on first hearing it was “Living For The City”. It was so powerful both lyrically and melodically. Stevie Wonder’s performance on the song was incredibly powerful. For all those reasons it’s why my humble opinion has placed it at number one.
Brian Kay is the founder and Editor in Chief of ClassicRockHistory.com. He has spent thirty years in the music business often working with many of the people who have appeared on this site. Brian Kay also holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Stony Brook University in History, and New York State Public School Teacher Certifications in Music and the Social Sciences. Brian Kay is also an active member of the New York Press Club
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