Stars on Stevie
Encyclopedia
"Stars on Stevie" a.k.a. "Stars Medley" a.k.a. "Stars on 45 III: In Tribute to Stevie Wonder" was a song issued in 1982 by the Dutch studio group Stars on 45
, in the UK credited to 'Starsound', in the US 'Stars On'. It was the first single from the band's third full-length release The Superstars (UK title: Stars Medley, US title: Stars on Longplay III) and was Stars on 45's fourth single release in both Europe and North America.
The "Stars on Stevie" medley featured a selection of songs made famous by Stevie Wonder
, ranging from his first US hit "Fingertips
" released in 1963 via classics like "Isn't She Lovely", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", "Sir Duke" and "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" to his then most recent American charttopper "Master Blaster (Jammin)". The soundalike vocals were provided by established Dutch singer Tony Sherman (born Renold Shearman in Curaçao
), who had started his career in music as early as in 1970 with Dutch-Caribbean funk band Reality and releasing a series of albums with them before going solo in the late 70s.
"Stars on Stevie" became the highest charting Stars on 45 single in the US since their first charttopping Beatles medley, peaking at #28 on Billboard
s Hot 100. In the UK it became the group's fourth consecutive Top 20 hit, peaking at #14 in February 1982, slightly higher in Ireland at #10 and it was indeed a #20 hit in most parts of Europe. In the Netherlands "Stars on Stevie" reached #6, making it their fourth Top 10 hit within the space of twelve months.
The "Stars on Stevie" medley was re-issued in 1991 under the title "Stars on Stevie Megamix" on the German Arcade label to promote The Very Best of Stars on 45 and has since appeared on a number of other greatest hits compilations with the group; the only difference between these two versions however is the sound of a live audience that has been overdubbed throughout the "Megamix", in all other respects they are in fact identical.
All tracks written by Stevie Wonder
unless otherwise noted
All tracks written by Stevie Wonder
unless otherwise noted
Stars on 45
Stars on 45 was a Dutch novelty pop act that was briefly very popular in the United Kingdom, throughout Europe, the United States and Australia in the early 1980s. The group later shortened its name to Stars On in the U.S., while in the U.K. and Ireland it was known as Starsound...
, in the UK credited to 'Starsound', in the US 'Stars On'. It was the first single from the band's third full-length release The Superstars (UK title: Stars Medley, US title: Stars on Longplay III) and was Stars on 45's fourth single release in both Europe and North America.
The "Stars on Stevie" medley featured a selection of songs made famous by 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...
, ranging from his first US hit "Fingertips
Fingertips
"Fingertips" is a 1963 number one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label. Wonder's first hit single, "Fingertips" was the first live, non-studio recording to reach number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States since Johnny Standley's 1952...
" released in 1963 via classics like "Isn't She Lovely", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", "Sir Duke" and "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" to his then most recent American charttopper "Master Blaster (Jammin)". The soundalike vocals were provided by established Dutch singer Tony Sherman (born Renold Shearman in Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
), who had started his career in music as early as in 1970 with Dutch-Caribbean funk band Reality and releasing a series of albums with them before going solo in the late 70s.
"Stars on Stevie" became the highest charting Stars on 45 single in the US since their first charttopping Beatles medley, peaking at #28 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Hot 100. In the UK it became the group's fourth consecutive Top 20 hit, peaking at #14 in February 1982, slightly higher in Ireland at #10 and it was indeed a #20 hit in most parts of Europe. In the Netherlands "Stars on Stevie" reached #6, making it their fourth Top 10 hit within the space of twelve months.
The "Stars on Stevie" medley was re-issued in 1991 under the title "Stars on Stevie Megamix" on the German Arcade label to promote The Very Best of Stars on 45 and has since appeared on a number of other greatest hits compilations with the group; the only difference between these two versions however is the sound of a live audience that has been overdubbed throughout the "Megamix", in all other respects they are in fact identical.
Side A
"Stars on Stevie" (7" Mix) - 5:19All tracks written by 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...
unless otherwise noted
- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)Uptight (Everything's Alright)"Uptight " is a 1966 hit single recorded by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label. One of his most popular early singles, "Uptight " was the first Stevie Wonder single to be co-written by the artist....
" (Moy, Cosby, Wonder) - "My Chérie AmourMy Cherie Amour"My Cherie Amour" is a 1969 soul classic by Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder.The song was originally recorded in 1966, but not released...
" - "Yester-Me, Yester-You, YesterdayYester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" is a 1969 soul song written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, released by American Motown singer-songwriter-musician Stevie Wonder on the album My Cherie Amour. The song continued Wonder's success on the pop charts...
" (Miller, Wells) - "Master Blaster (Jammin)Master Blaster (Jammin)"Master Blaster " is a 1980 single by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder from his 1980 album Hotter than July.-History:The song, built on a heavy reggae feel, is an ode to reggae legend Bob Marley; Wonder had been performing with Marley a few times in concerts on his US tour in the fall of...
" - "You Are the Sunshine of My LifeYou Are the Sunshine of My Life"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a 1973 pop single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder's third number-one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number one on the easy listening chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. This song was...
" - "Isn't She LovelyIsn't She Lovely"Isn't She Lovely?" is a song by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. In it he celebrates the birth of his daughter, Aisha. There are three verses, each ending with the phrase "isn't she lovely, made from love"...
" - "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser)
- "Sir DukeSir Duke"Sir Duke" is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. Released as a single in 1977, the track topped the U.S...
" - "I WishI Wish (Stevie Wonder song)"I Wish" is a hit song by Stevie Wonder. It was released in 1976 as a single and included on the album Songs in the Key of Life. Written and produced by Wonder, the song focuses on his childhood...
" - "I Was Made to Love HerI Was Made to Love Her (song)"I Was Made to Love Her" is a hit single recorded by American soul musician Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label in 1967 . The song was written by Wonder, his mother Lula Mae Hardaway, Sylvia Moy and producer Henry Cosby; and included on Wonder's 1967 album I Was Made to Love Her...
" (Wonder, Hardaway, Moy, Cosby) - "For Once in My LifeFor Once in My Life"For Once in My Life" is a pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records' Jobete publishing company in 1967 . The composition was originally recorded by Jean DuShon, while other artists, such as Tony Bennett and The Temptations, recorded slow ballad versions of the song...
" (Miller, Murden) - "SuperstitionSuperstition (song)"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
" - "FingertipsFingertips"Fingertips" is a 1963 number one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label. Wonder's first hit single, "Fingertips" was the first live, non-studio recording to reach number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States since Johnny Standley's 1952...
" (Paul, Cosby)
Side A
"Stars on Stevie" (12" Mix = album version) - 7:42All tracks written by 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...
unless otherwise noted
- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)Uptight (Everything's Alright)"Uptight " is a 1966 hit single recorded by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label. One of his most popular early singles, "Uptight " was the first Stevie Wonder single to be co-written by the artist....
" (Moy, Cosby, Wonder) - "My Chérie AmourMy Cherie Amour"My Cherie Amour" is a 1969 soul classic by Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder.The song was originally recorded in 1966, but not released...
" - "Yester-Me, Yester-You, YesterdayYester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" is a 1969 soul song written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, released by American Motown singer-songwriter-musician Stevie Wonder on the album My Cherie Amour. The song continued Wonder's success on the pop charts...
" (Miller, Wells) - "Master Blaster (Jammin)Master Blaster (Jammin)"Master Blaster " is a 1980 single by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder from his 1980 album Hotter than July.-History:The song, built on a heavy reggae feel, is an ode to reggae legend Bob Marley; Wonder had been performing with Marley a few times in concerts on his US tour in the fall of...
" - "You Are the Sunshine of My LifeYou Are the Sunshine of My Life"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a 1973 pop single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder's third number-one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number one on the easy listening chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. This song was...
" - "Isn't She LovelyIsn't She Lovely"Isn't She Lovely?" is a song by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. In it he celebrates the birth of his daughter, Aisha. There are three verses, each ending with the phrase "isn't she lovely, made from love"...
" - "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser)
- "Sir DukeSir Duke"Sir Duke" is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. Released as a single in 1977, the track topped the U.S...
" - "I WishI Wish (Stevie Wonder song)"I Wish" is a hit song by Stevie Wonder. It was released in 1976 as a single and included on the album Songs in the Key of Life. Written and produced by Wonder, the song focuses on his childhood...
" - "I Was Made to Love HerI Was Made to Love Her (song)"I Was Made to Love Her" is a hit single recorded by American soul musician Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label in 1967 . The song was written by Wonder, his mother Lula Mae Hardaway, Sylvia Moy and producer Henry Cosby; and included on Wonder's 1967 album I Was Made to Love Her...
" (Wonder, Hardaway, Moy, Cosby) - "For Once in My LifeFor Once in My Life"For Once in My Life" is a pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records' Jobete publishing company in 1967 . The composition was originally recorded by Jean DuShon, while other artists, such as Tony Bennett and The Temptations, recorded slow ballad versions of the song...
" (Miller, Murden) - "SuperstitionSuperstition (song)"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
" - "Sir Duke"
- "Don't You Worry 'bout a ThingDon't You Worry 'bout a Thing"Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" was a hit single from Stevie Wonder's 1973 album Innervisions, which reached #16 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #2 on the R&B chart...
" - "A Place in the SunA Place in the Sun (song)"A Place in the Sun" is a 1966 soul single by American and Motown musician Stevie Wonder. Written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, the song hit #9 on the Billboard pop singles chart, his third Top Ten hit since 1963, and one of Wonder's first songs to contain social commentary...
" (Miller, Wells) - "FingertipsFingertips"Fingertips" is a 1963 number one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label. Wonder's first hit single, "Fingertips" was the first live, non-studio recording to reach number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States since Johnny Standley's 1952...
" (Paul, Cosby)
Chart peaks
| Chart (1982) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| The Netherlands | 6 |
| UK | 14 |
| Ireland | 10 |
| US 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... |
28 |