Part-Time Lover
Encyclopedia
"Part-Time Lover" is a 1985 single by Stevie Wonder
, from his album In Square Circle
. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
, R&B, dance
and adult contemporary charts. The song's simultaneous chart success made him the first artist to score a number-one hit on four different Billboard charts. The song also reached number three on the UK singles chart
. The song also featured R&B crooner Luther Vandross
humming at the end of Stevie's verses and on backing vocals. Stevie Wonder
earned a Grammy Award
nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
in 1986, for the song. Wonder is noted in the liner notes of the 4-CD set "Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection Volume 2 1972-1992" as describing the music for the song as an ode to "You Can't Hurry Love
" and "My World Is Empty Without You
," both by The Supremes
, former Motown label mates of Wonder.
for 2Pac Shakur's "Part-time Mutha".
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, from his album In Square Circle
In Square Circle
In Square Circle is a 1985 album released by Grammy Award-winning American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder...
. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, R&B, dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
and adult contemporary charts. The song's simultaneous chart success made him the first artist to score a number-one hit on four different Billboard charts. The song also reached number three on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The song also featured R&B crooner Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
humming at the end of Stevie's verses and on backing vocals. Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
earned a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
in 1986, for the song. Wonder is noted in the liner notes of the 4-CD set "Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection Volume 2 1972-1992" as describing the music for the song as an ode to "You Can't Hurry Love
You Can't Hurry Love
"You Can't Hurry Love" is 1966 song originally released by The Supremes for the Motown label.Written and produced by Motown production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song topped the United States Billboard pop singles chart and in the UK in the top 5, released and peaking late summer in 1966...
" and "My World Is Empty Without You
My World Is Empty Without You
"My World Is Empty Without You" is a 1965 song recorded and released as a single by The Supremes for the Motown label.-Overview:Written and produced by Motown's main production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song's slow tempo accompanies a somber lyric which delves into the feelings of...
," both by The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
, former Motown label mates of Wonder.
Sampling
The bassline and humming was sampledSampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
for 2Pac Shakur's "Part-time Mutha".
Cover versions
- Montreal acoustic cover band The Lost FingersThe Lost FingersThe Lost Fingers is a Canadian gypsy jazz music group based in Quebec City. Its members are Alex Morissette , Dr. Christian Roberge , and Byron "Maiden" Mikaloff ....
recorded a cover of the song for their 2008 album Lost in the 80s. - Reggae artist Tanya StephensTanya StephensVivienne Tanya Stephens, better known by her stage name Tanya Stephens is an influential reggae artist who emerged in the late 1990s...
on her 1998 album Ruff RiderRuff Rider-Track listing:# "DRAW FI MI FINGER"# "HANDLE THE RIDE"# "PART TIME LOVER"# "MAN AH FRACTION"# "BIG NINJA BIKE"# "CRY BAWL"# "WUK FI GAWN"# "119"# "JOE GRIND"# "THINK IT OVER"# "SOMETHING BLUE"# "2000 YEARS"# "DEDICATED"# "MAN FI RULE"# "#2"# "HORNY"...
. - The band, CopelandCopeland (band)Copeland was an indie rock band, originally formed in 2001 by singer Aaron Marsh with his friend, bassist and backup singer James Likeness, in the city of Lakeland, Florida.-Inception:...
, covered the song on their album, Know Nothing Stays the SameKnow Nothing Stays the SameKnow Nothing Stays the Same is the follow-up to Copeland's 2003 debut album Beneath Medicine Tree. Know Nothing Stays The Same is a 5 track cover EP.-Track listing:#"Another Day in Paradise" #"Coming Around Again"... - Korean boy band JTLJTLjtL was a South Korean dance music group, consisting of the former H.O.T. members who did not stay with SM Entertainment- Jang Woo Hyuk, Tony An and Lee Jae Won. The group was named after the initials of the members' stage name...
used the rhythm and melody of the song in the chorus of their song "One Night Lover" in their album "Enter the Dragon". - Melissa MMelissa MMelissa M or Melissa is a French R&B singer with Algerian roots. She started her musical career with Maniac from Norway based in Oslo. Maniac helped Melissa to guide her positively through the music industry...
recorded a cover of this song in French, called "Elle", in her album "Avec Tout Mon Amour" (2007). - An instrumentalInstrumentalAn instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
arrangement of the song is used for the closing creditsClosing creditsClosing credits or end credits are added at the end of a motion picture, television program, or video game to list the cast and crew involved in the production. They usually appear as a list of names in small type, which either flip very quickly from page to page, or move smoothly across the...
of Korean comedyComedyComedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
program Gag ConcertGag ConcertGag Concert is a Korean sketch-comedy TV show shown on the KBS2 network competing with SBS's People looking for a laugh and MBC's Ha ttang sa .-History:*Season 1...
. - Puerto Rican salsa musician Bobby ValentinBobby ValentinBobby Valentin, also known as "El Rey del Bajo" , is a musician and salsa bandleader.-Early years:...
cover the song in 1986 which peaked at #23 on the Hot Latin Tracks chart.
Personnel
- Backing vocals - Billy Durham, Darryl Phinnessee, Keith John, Melody McCully, Peter Byrne, Philip BaileyPhilip BaileyPhilip Irvin Bailey is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter, percussionist and actor, best known as one of the longtime members of Earth, Wind & Fire. Together with Verdine White, B. David Whitworth, and Ralph Johnson he forms the heart of the current EWF line-up on...
, Renee Hardaway, Syreeta WrightSyreeta WrightSyreeta Wright , who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was a Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter most notably known for her work with Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston.-Early life and career:... - Backing vocals, additional lead vocals - Luther VandrossLuther VandrossLuther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
See also
- List of RPM number-one singles of 1985
- List of number-one singles of 1985 (Ireland)
- List of number-one singles in 1985 (New Zealand)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1985 (U.S.)
- List of number-one R&B singles of 1985 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1985 (U.S.)
- List of number-one dance singles of 1985 (U.S.)