When we first started composing our Stevie Wonder songs list, we quickly realized that it would be impossible only to pick 10 Stevie Wonder songs. Stevie Wonder has enjoyed a long, glorious, successful musical career for many decades. To present fans with some of his best songs from each decade, we concluded 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, so many great Stevie Wonder songs were left out. We apologize if we missed any of your favorites. We think we did an excellent job of including the important material from all of Stevie Wonder’s 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 signed his first record contract with Motown Records. In 1961, Little Stevie Wonder released his first album, 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, a Motown Records division. One year later, in 1963, Little Stevie Wonder scored 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 hit number one again on the Billboard Hot 100 with his song “Superstition.” Many would argue that the period between 1973 and 1977 was the golden year for Stevie Wonder. During that amazing time, 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 throughout the 80s and 90s. His last album, A Time To Love, was released in 2005. As of This Writing, the last song Stevie Wonder released 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 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. The song failed to break onto the US Billboard Hot 100 or the US Billboard R&B Charts. However, it did break the top 100 in Belgium.
# 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. “I Just Called to Say I Love You” was released on the 1984 soundtrack album The Woman in Red. Written by Stevie Wonder, the song “I Just Called to Say I Love You” hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. “I Just Called to Say I Love You” also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts. It pretty much hit number one in just about every country around the world. This was a monster hit.
# 23 – Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
From the album My Cherie Amour. Released in 1969. Written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells. The song “Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday” hit number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday” also hit number five on the US Billboard R&B Charts. We love the backing vocals on this one. This was a big-time production. The record company was all in on Stevie Wonder, who had started making pure magic in the studio in the late 19690s
# 22 – For Once In My Life
From the album For Once In My Life. Released in 1968. Written by Ron Miller. The song “For Once in My Life” hit number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. “For Once in My Life” also hit number four on the US Billboard R&B Charts. It hit number three on the United Kingdom Pop Charts. We love the way this one just builds with intensity with each passing measure.
# 21 – Part-Time Lover
As big as Stevie Wonder was in the 1970s, he also scored some massive hits in the 1980s. This was one of them. Part-Time Lover was released on the album In Square Circle, which was released in 1985. It was an original Stevie Wonder composition. The song “Part-Time Lover” hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Music Charts. “Part-Time Lover” also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 20 – Master Blaster (Jammin)
There is a reason whay they added the word Jammin at the end of this song’s title. This song is hot ….ouch! “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” was released on the album Hotter Than July. The record was released in 1980. Stevie Wonder wrote this scorching tune. The song “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” hit number five on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 19 – Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
You know, once you hear this song’s chorus, you will never stop singing it. I was only 4 years old when this song was released, but I can remember my mother singing this song all the time as we grew up in the Bronx. “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” was released on Up-Tight in 1965. The song was written by Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, and Henry Cosby. The song “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” hit number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 18 – Ribbon In The Sky
We love the piano introduction to this song. It is just so soulful. It’s a master class in playing soul piano. “Ribbon in the Sky” was released on the album, The Original Musiquarium I in 1982. This was another original song written by Stevie Wonder. The song “Ribbon in the Sky” hit number fifty-four on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Ribbon in the Sky” also hit number ten on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 17 – Overjoyed
From the album In Square Circle. Released in 1985. Written by Stevie Wonder. The song “Overjoyed” hit number twenty four on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Overjoyed” also hit number eight on the US Billboard R&B Charts. The song hit number one on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Music Charts.
# 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. The song “Send One Your Love” hit number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Send One Your Love” also hit number five on the US Billboard R&B Charts. The song “Send One Your Love” would hit number one on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Music Charts.
# 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. “Love’s in Need of Love Today,” was not originally released as a single.
# 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 two 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. The song “As” hit number thirty six on the US Billboard Hot 100. “As” also hit number thirty six on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 13 – Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing
From the album Innervisions. Released in 1973. Written by Stevie Wonder. The song “Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing” hit number sixteen on the US Billboard Hot 100.”Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing” also hit number two on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 12 – Boogie On Reggae Woman
From the album Fulfillingness’ First Finale. Released in 1974. Written by Stevie Wonder. The song “Boogie On Reggae Woman” hit number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.”Boogie On Reggae Woman” also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 11 – I Wish
From the album Songs In The Key Of Life. I Wish was released as a single in 1977. Written by Stevie Wonder. The song “I Wish” hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. “I Wish” also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 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 by Stevie Wonder. The perfect song to start out our top 10 section of this Stevie Wonder songs list. The song “Higher Ground” hit number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.”Higher Ground” also hit number four on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 9 – My Cherie Amour
From the album My Cherie Amour. Released in 1969. Written by Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, and Stevie Wonder. If you were alive in the late 1960s, you heard this one on the radio all the time. The song “My Cherie Amour” hit number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. “My Cherie Amour” also hit number four on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 8 – If You Really Love Me
In the number eight spot on our top 25 Stevie Wonder songs list is a smoking tune from the early 1970s called “If You Really Love Me.” The song was released on the album Where I’m Coming From in 1971. Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright composed the song. The track’s groove and passionate vocals made for one of Stevie Wonder’s most enjoyable early hit songs. The song “If You Really Love Me” hit number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100. “If You Really Love Me” also hit number four on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 7 – You Haven’t Done Nothin
Once again, it was groove time U.S.A. with this slapping tune. On “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” Stevie Wonder delivered one of the funkiest keyboard riffs of his career. “You Haven’t Done Nothin'” was released on the album Fulfillingness’ First Finale in 1974. Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright wrote the song. This was a huge hit! The song “You Haven’t Done Nothin'” hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. “You Haven’t Done Nothin'” also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts. In 1974, you couldn’t go for fifteen minutes without hearing this one played on the AM radio.
# 6 – Isn’t She Lovely
The stunning song “Isn’t She Lovely” was another legendary song released on the album Songs In The Key Of Life. It was written by Stevie Wonder and released as a single in 1977. It’s such a beautiful song that new mothers and fathers could all totally relate to. Surprisingly, the song “Isn’t She Lovely” did not break into any of the US Billboard music charts. However, the song would become a favorite for many parent dances for the next two decades.
# 5 – Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours
This is an early Steview Wonder song from the album Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours, released in 1970. The song was written by Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright, Lee Garrett, and Lula Mae Hardaway. This was the sound of Motown! The song “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” hit number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 4 – Sir Duke
Tell me the second you hear those classic horns at the song’s start that you are not transported immediately back to the year 1977. How could you not be? This is “Grade A Funk” that actually raised the bar for funk and soul music in the 1970s. This stuff was deep and soulful. It had “Grammy Award” written all over it the second it was released. Sir Duke was released on the album Songs In The Key Of Life.
While the album was released in 1976, Siur Duke was not released as a single until 1977. Stevie Wonder who also composed the song, hit a home run with the song’s infectious opening lick that you could not get out of your head the first time you heard it. And those lyrics were just so universal. The song “Sir Duke” hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.” Sir Duke” also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 3 – Sunshine Of My Life
As we get closer to the top spot on our Stevie Wonder songs list, we open up the Talking Book album and turn to the classic tune “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.” The album was released in 1972. However the single was not released until 1973. Penned by Stevie Wonder, It was one of those songs that instantly became a standard. It was very popular among the old-school jazz singers from the 50s and 60s. The song “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” hit number three on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 2 – Superstition
Stevie Wonder’s legendary tune “Superstition” was released on the album Talking Book in 1972. Written by Stevie Wonder, this is just one of those classic Stevie Wonder riffs that seem to come from another world. Some other great artists have covered the song many times, including another Stevie named Stevie Ray Vaughan, who released a smoking version. It’s simply a keyboard riff to die for. It was the first of two straight singles from Songbook to hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Superstition” also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
# 1 – Living For The City
From the album Innervisions. Released in 1973. Written by Stevie Wonder. It was tough to choose a song for the number one spot. So many Stevie Wonder songs could easily slip into the number one spot. I remember buying all of Stevie Wonder’s albums, starting with Talking Book, when they were first released. It was always a fantastic 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 when I first heard it was “Living For The City.” It was so powerful lyrically and melodically, and Stevie Wonder’s performance of the song was earth-shattering. For all those reasons, it’s why it is placed at number one. The song “Living for the City” hit number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Living for the City” would hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts.
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