Lately (Stevie Wonder song)

1981 single by Stevie Wonder

"Lately"

Single by Stevie Wonder
from the album  Hotter than July
B-side| "If It's Magic"
Released| 1981 (1981)
Genre|

* R&B
* soul

Length| 4:05
Label| Tamla
Songwriter(s)| Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)| Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder singles chronology
| "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It"
(1980)  | "Lately"
(1981)  | "Happy Birthday"
(1981)

|
|

"Lately" is a song by American singer, songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder, recorded for his nineteenth studio album, Hotter than July (1980). The song was released in 1981 by Tamla, reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was later covered by American R&B group Jodeci and released as a promotional single for the live album Uptown MTV Unplugged in June 1993, which reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart and the top-5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Hanif Abdurraqib of Pitchfork described the song as "a classic Wonder ballad, the artist and piano and a palpable sense of longing (forgettable to me, but only because of Wonder’s singular ability to pull this type of song off in various ways throughout his career)."[1]

Record World called it a "touching ballad [that] is perhaps his most beautiful, revealing work yet."[2]

Jason Elias at AllMusic retrospectively praised the song, believing that unlike some of Wonder's similar material, "Lately" in particular hit all the perfect emotional and musical notes. Of the song's emotional power itself Elias stated, "it's enough to make a listener fall prey to an old-fashioned cry."[3]

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1981)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 17
Ireland (IRMA)[5] | 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] | 36
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 15
UK Singles (OCC)[8] | 3
US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 64
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[10] | 33
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] | 29
West Germany (GfK)[12] | 64

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United Kingdom (BPI)[13] | Silver  | 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## Personnel

[edit]

* Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, bass synthesizer, piano

## Jodeci version

[edit]

"Lately"

Single by Jodeci
from the album  Uptown MTV Unplugged
Released| 1993 (1993)
Recorded| 1993
Genre|

* R&B
* soul

Length|

* 5:49 (MTV Unplugged version)
* 6:24 (studio version)

Label| Uptown/MCA
Songwriter(s)|

* Stevie Wonder
* DeVante Swing

Producer(s)| DeVante Swing
Jodeci singles chronology
| "Let's Go Through the Motions"
(1993)  | "Lately"
(1993)  | "Cry For You"
(1993)

|
|

Music video
"Lately" on YouTube

"Lately" was notably covered by American R&B group Jodeci for the Uptown MTV Unplugged release in 1993. Executive producer Andre Harrell referred to it as their "End of the Road", analogous to the chart-topping single for Boyz II Men.[14] The group's version of the song was released as a promotional single, claiming the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart as the group's fourth number one R&B hit. It was also Jodeci's highest peaking pop hit, reaching numbers four and seven on the Billboard Hot 100[15] and Cash Box Top 100 in August 1993. It sold 900,000 copies and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[16][17] This version also appears on Back to the Future: The Very Best of Jodeci, a greatest hits album from the group, released by Universal Records in 2005.

The group also recorded an alternate studio version of the song, produced by group leader DeVante Swing.[citation needed] It is slightly longer than the Uptown MTV Unplugged version and features an additional outro.[citation needed]

### Charts

[edit]

#### Weekly charts

[edit]

Chart (1993)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[18] | 161
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] | 50
US Billboard Hot 100[20] | 4
US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[21] | 12
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] | 1
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[23] | 17
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[24] | 1
US Cash Box Top 100[25] | 7

#### Year-end charts

[edit]

Chart (1993)  | Position

|

US Billboard Hot 100[26] | 15

## See also

[edit]

* List of number-one R&B singles of 1993 (U.S.)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Abdurraqib, Hanif (February 27, 2022). "Stevie Wonder: Hotter Than July Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
2. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 28, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
3. ^ Elias, Jason. ""Lately" Song review at Allmusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 342-343. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
5. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Stevie Wonder". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
6. ^ "Stevie Wonder – Lately" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
7. ^ "Stevie Wonder – Lately". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
8. ^ "Stevie Wonder: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
9. ^ "Stevie Wonder Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
10. ^ "Stevie Wonder Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
11. ^ "Stevie Wonder Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
12. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Stevie Wonder – Lately" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
13. ^ "British single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Lately". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
14. ^ Vanity Fair 56 (1993), 240.
15. ^ "allmusic ((( Jodeci > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
16. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 3\. BPI Communications. January 15, 1994. p. 73\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
17. ^ "American certifications – Jodeci – Lately". Recording Industry Association of America.
18. ^ "Jodeci ARIA chart history complete". ARIA. Retrieved July 21, 2024 - via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
19. ^ "Jodeci – Lately". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
20. ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
21. ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Hot Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
22. ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
23. ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
24. ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
25. ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 49\. 1993-08-14. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
26. ^ "The Year In Music 1993 - Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 52\. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 25, 1993. p. YE-20. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2024-06-02.

## External links

[edit]

* "Lately" Review at AllMusic

* v
* t
* e

Stevie Wonder

Discography

Studio albums|

* The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie
* Tribute to Uncle Ray
* With a Song in My Heart
* Stevie at the Beach
* Up-Tight
* Down to Earth
* I Was Made to Love Her
* Someday at Christmas
* Eivets Rednow
* For Once in My Life
* My Cherie Amour
* Signed, Sealed & Delivered
* Where I'm Coming From
* Music of My Mind
* Talking Book
* Innervisions
* Fulfillingness' First Finale
* Songs in the Key of Life
* Hotter than July
* In Square Circle
* Characters
* Conversation Peace
* A Time to Love

Live albums|

* Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius
* Stevie Wonder Live
* Live at the Talk of the Town
* Natural Wonder

Soundtracks|

* Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants"
* The Woman in Red
* The Last Dragon
* Jungle Fever

Compilations|

* Looking Back
* Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I
* Song Review: A Greatest Hits Collection
* At the Close of a Century
* The Definitive Collection
* The Complete Stevie Wonder

Singles|

* "Fingertips"
* "Hey Harmonica Man"
* "Uptight (Everything's Alright)"
* "With a Child's Heart"
* "Blowin' in the Wind"
* "A Place in the Sun"
* "Someday at Christmas"
* "Hey Love"
* "I Was Made to Love Her"
* "I'm Wondering"
* "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day"
* "You Met Your Match"
* "Alfie"
* "For Once in My Life"
* "I Don't Know Why"
* "My Cherie Amour"
* "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"
* "Never Had a Dream Come True"
* "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
* "Heaven Help Us All"
* "We Can Work It Out"
* "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer"
* "If You Really Love Me"
* "What Christmas Means to Me"
* "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)"
* "Superstition"
* "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
* "Higher Ground"
* "Living for the City"
* "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing"
* "He's Misstra Know-It-All"
* "You Haven't Done Nothin'"
* "Boogie On Reggae Woman"
* "I Wish"
* "Sir Duke"
* "Another Star"
* "As"
* "Pops, We Love You"
* "Send One Your Love"
* "Master Blaster (Jammin')"
* "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It"
* "Lately"
* "Happy Birthday"
* "That Girl"
* "Ebony and Ivory"
* "Do I Do"
* "Ribbon in the Sky"
* "Front Line"
* "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
* "Love Light in Flight"
* "Part-Time Lover"
* "That's What Friends Are For"
* "Go Home"
* "Overjoyed"
* "Stranger on the Shore of Love"
* "Skeletons"
* "You Will Know"
* "Get It"
* "Gotta Have You"
* "For Your Love"
* "So What the Fuss"
* "From the Bottom of My Heart"
* "All About the Love Again"
* "Faith"
* "Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate"

Featured singles|

* "My Love"
* "How Come, How Long"
* "California Roll"

Other songs|

* "You and I (We Can Conquer the World)"
* "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
* "Golden Lady"
* "All in Love Is Fair"
* "They Won't Go When I Go"
* "Love's in Need of Love Today"
* "Knocks Me Off My Feet"
* "Pastime Paradise"
* "Isn't She Lovely"
* "Black Man"
* "We Are the World"
* "Just Good Friends"
* "Seasons of Love"
* "True to Your Heart"
* "Stop Trying to Be God"

Songwriting credits|

* "It's a Shame"
* "Tears of a Clown"
* "Tell Me Something Good"
* "Uptown Festival"
* "Let's Get Serious"
* "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me"

Tours|

* Songs in the Key of Life Tour

Related articles|

* Lula Mae Hardaway
* Syreeta Wright
* KJLH
* SuperEgo
* Wonderin'
* "Wonder-ful"
* Super Bowl XXXIII halftime show

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Jodeci

* DeVante Swing
* JoJo
* K-Ci
* Mr. Dalvin

Studio albums|

* Forever My Lady
* Diary of a Mad Band
* The Show, the After Party, the Hotel
* The Past, the Present, the Future

Compilation albums|

* Back to the Future: The Very Best of Jodeci

Singles|

* "Gotta Love"
* "Forever My Lady"
* "Stay"
* "Come and Talk to Me"
* "I'm Still Waiting"
* "Let's Go Through the Motions"
* "Lately"
* "Cry for You"
* "Feenin'"
* "What About Us"
* "Freek'n You"
* "Love U 4 Life"
* "Get On Up"

Featured artist|

* "Treat Them Like They Want to Be Treated"
* "Lisa Baby"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Swing Mob

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