One of probably the most usually underrated singles in Stevie Wonder’s historical past was sitting proudly at No.1 on the R&B chart on February 20, 1982. “That Girl” was one of many 4 new songs on his double-vinyl compilation, Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium 1.
The rolling, mid-paced quantity was characterised by glorious instrumentation, with Stevie taking part in Fender Rhodes, piano, synthesizer, drums, and his distinctive harmonica solo. It took over on the soul summit from “Call Me,” by the New York eight-piece Skyy.
“That Girl” stayed there for a mighty 9 weeks, to turn out to be the longest-running soul chart-topper Stevie has ever had, beating even the seven-week run of “Masterblaster (Jammin’)” in 1980. It was additionally the longest stint for any artist on the R&B peak for ten years, since Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” additionally posted 9 weeks there from early January 1971.
The monitor was a taster for the retrospective set that adopted in May, 1982. Even if Musiquarium was largely made up of present hits from Stevie’s Nineteen Seventies catalog, the gatefold album was irresistible to his followers as every of the 4 sides completed with a brand new tune.
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In addition to “That Girl,” there was “Front Line,” co-written with collaborator (and “The Crown” hitmaker on Motown) Gary Byrd; the attractive, delicate ballad “Ribbon In The Sky,” and the infectious, upbeat “Do I Do,” that includes a cameo by the good Dizzy Gillespie. These took their place alongside such classics as “Superstition,” “Living For The City,” “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life,” and “Sir Duke.”
The album went on to prime the R&B chart for 3 weeks itself, in June, and was licensed gold. It was additionally a Top 10 report within the UK, the place the one thriller was how “That Girl” ran out of steam at No.39.
Buy or stream “That Girl” on Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium 1.