Song#: 2632
Date: 02/22/1986
Debut: 76
Peak: 24
Weeks: 13
Genre: R&B, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Wonder got his 27th and final Pop Top 10 hit with "Go Home," the second single from his album In Square Circle. The album would earn Wonder his 13th Grammy. He would win for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male, which was his 4th win in that category. This third single from the album would be a big winner at AC reaching #1. It was his eighth and last song to hit the top spot on that chart. The tune would also get to #8 at R&B. However, Pop was less receptive of the ballad and it stalled before it could reach the Top 20. However, the three songs did well enough to earn Wonder his first multi-platinum album (2x) since his 10x platinum 1976 classic Songs in the Key of Life.
ReduxReview: I initially ignored this tune when it first came out, but over the years it has grown on me. I think it may have started to get my attention when an American Idol contestant sang it on the show ages ago. I remember thinking, "wow, that is actually a nice song!" It's one of Wonder's loveliest tunes and I'm glad that I rediscovered it. The chord progressions are really interesting and Wonder wrote a terrific melody over them. I kind of ride the fence about the production. While the environmental sounds keep the tune grounded in its roots (see below), it's a bit schlocky. I kind of like the water drop acting as a sort of metronome, but the birds and such are a little much. However, none of it gets in the way of the actual song. I also like the Wonder doesn't over-do his performance. Overall, it is one of Wonder's best late-career tracks.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: Wonder wrote this song for his 1979 album Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants," which served as the soundtrack for the documentary film "The Secret Life of Plants." He recorded the song, but in the end it was left off of the double LP. For In Square Circle, Wonder revived the song and re-recorded it. It has since become a popular entry in his catalog with many artists covering the tune including Celine Dion, who did a duet version with Wonder for her 2013 album Love Me Back to Life. Wonder's Journey album featured one main hit, "Send One Your Love," which reached #4 Pop, #5 R&B, and #1 AC in 1979.
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There was a radio station in my area back then where all the DJ's always called it "The Ker-Plop-Plop Song" because of the sound of the water dripping.
ReplyDeleteThey also referred to "Rebels" by Tom Petty as "The Fat Albert Song" because it had a "hey hey hey" refrain.
Ha! Both of those are funny - especially "Ker-Plop" as that describes it perfectly!
Delete"Send One Your Love" was still at its #4 peak on the first charts of 1980.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I dated the song based on its release date, which was in 1979.
Delete8/10, it's definitely a song that gets better with age, I can't believe it only got to #24 on the Billboard Hot 100, I seem to remember it being more popular than "Go Home" (which went to #10), I agree this is one of Stevie Wonder's best songs of his later years.
ReplyDelete