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Master Blaster (Jammin')

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Master Blaster (Jammin')

| cover = Master Blaster Jammin.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Stevie Wonder

| album = Hotter than July

| B-side =

| released = September 12, 1980

| recorded = 1979

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Reggae

| length =

| label = Tamla

| writer = Stevie Wonder

| producer = Stevie Wonder

| prev_title = Outside My Window

| prev_year = 1980

| next_title = I Ain't Gonna Stand for It

| next_year = 1980

| misc =

}}

"'Master Blaster (Jammin')'" is a 1980 song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, released as the lead single from his nineteenth studio album, 'Hotter than July' (1980). It was a major hit, spending seven weeks at number one on the US 'Billboard' R&B singles chart, reaching number five on 'Billboard's' pop singles chart in the fall of 1980 and peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart, and number one in New Zealand.

History



The song, built on a heavy reggae feel, is an ode to reggae legend Bob Marley; Wonder had been performing live with Marley (billing him as an opening act) on his US tour in the fall of that year. Lyrics mention "children of Jah", "Marley's Hot on the box" and the end of the civil war in Zimbabwe. The song has a similar feel to Marley's own song "Jamming," from his 1977 album 'Exodus.'

Personnel



* Stevie Wonder vocals, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, organ, background vocals

* Nathan Watts bass, background vocals

* Benjamin Bridges guitar, background vocals

* Dennis Davis drums

* Earl DeRouen percussion, background vocals

* Isaiah Sanders background vocals, pianet, organ

* Hank Redd saxophone

* Larry Gittens trumpet

* Rick Zunigar guitar

* Background vocals Angela Winbush, Alexandra Brown Evans, Shirley Brewer, Marva Holcolm

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Certifications



DJ Luck & MC Neat version



"Master Blaster (Jammin')" was covered by UK garage duo DJ Luck & MC Neat featuring singer JJ, initially titled as "On da Street" which was released on the 'Red Rose EP' in 1999. The following year, on 15 May 2000, the song was released as a single and retitled as "'Masterblaster 2000'". This version was a top-five hit, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. It samples the All-Star Remix of "No Diggity" by Blackstreet, which itself samples "As Long as I've Got You" by the Charmels.

In November 2016, UK duo Gorgon City compiled a list of their top UK garage songs for 'Billboard', with "Masterblaster 2000" at number 29. In 2018, the House & Garage Orchestra together with MC Neat and Oggie recorded an orchestral version for the UK garage covers album 'Garage Classics'.

Charts



Certifications



References



Category:1980 songs

Category:1980 singles

Category:2000 singles

Category:American reggae songs

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Motown singles

Category:Number-one singles in Austria

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Number-one singles in Sweden

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:Number-one singles in Italy

Category:Stevie Wonder songs

Category:Songs about Bob Marley

Category:Songs written by Stevie Wonder

Category:Tamla Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Stevie Wonder

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