Jump to content

Isn't She Lovely: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
 
(36 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
| name = Isn't She Lovely
| name = Isn't She Lovely
| cover = Isn't_She_Lovely_-_Stevie_Wonder.jpg
| cover = Isn't_She_Lovely_-_Stevie_Wonder.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Motown CD single reissue (1996)
| caption = Motown CD single reissue (1996)
| type = promo
| type = promo
Line 8: Line 7:
| album = [[Songs in the Key of Life]]
| album = [[Songs in the Key of Life]]
| released = {{Start date|1976}}
| released = {{Start date|1976}}
| format =
| recorded = 1975
| recorded = 1975
| genre = [[Soul music|Soul]]
| genre = [[Soul music|Soul]]
| length = 6:33 (album version) <br> 3:26 (edit)
| length =
* 6:33 (album version)
* 3:20 (radio version)
| label = [[Tamla]]
| label = [[Tamla]]
| writer = Stevie Wonder
| writer = Stevie Wonder
| producer = Stevie Wonder
| producer = Stevie Wonder
| misc = {{External music video|header=Licensed audio|type=song|{{YouTube|7YGc6RMOYF8|"Isn't She Lovely"}}}}
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = song
| cover = Isn't_She_Lovely_45.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = Tamla promotional single (1976)}}
{{External music video
| 1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YGc6RMOYF8 "Isn't She Lovely"] on YouTube
| header = Official audio}}
}}
}}


Line 31: Line 22:
The song opens side 3 of ''Songs in the Key of Life'', and starts with a baby's first cry recorded during an actual childbirth. A recording of Wonder bathing Aisha as an older toddler is brought into the final section of the song, mixed with Wonder's extended [[chromatic harmonica]] solo. All of the instruments heard in the song are played by Wonder, except for some keyboard parts played by [[Greg Phillinganes]]. During the recording process, bassist [[Nathan Watts]] laid down a [[bass guitar]] line to serve as a guide track for Wonder, but Wonder eventually replaced this with his own [[keyboard bass]] performance.<ref name=Lundy2007>{{cite book |title=Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life |author=Zeth Lundy |date=2007 |publisher=Bloomsbury |page=31 |isbn=9781441170125}}</ref>
The song opens side 3 of ''Songs in the Key of Life'', and starts with a baby's first cry recorded during an actual childbirth. A recording of Wonder bathing Aisha as an older toddler is brought into the final section of the song, mixed with Wonder's extended [[chromatic harmonica]] solo. All of the instruments heard in the song are played by Wonder, except for some keyboard parts played by [[Greg Phillinganes]]. During the recording process, bassist [[Nathan Watts]] laid down a [[bass guitar]] line to serve as a guide track for Wonder, but Wonder eventually replaced this with his own [[keyboard bass]] performance.<ref name=Lundy2007>{{cite book |title=Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life |author=Zeth Lundy |date=2007 |publisher=Bloomsbury |page=31 |isbn=9781441170125}}</ref>


The more-than-six-minute song was not released as a single, as Wonder was unwilling to shorten the song to fit the [[Single (music)|7", 45 rpm format]].<ref name=Lundy2007/> With consumers demanding a single, Tamla compromised in late 1976, and a promotional version was given to radio stations. This edited version, 3:26 in length, received so much airplay that it reached number 23 on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary chart]] in January 1977. Since then, the song has become a jazz and pop standard, covered by many artists.<ref name=Perone2006>{{cite book |title=The Sound of Stevie Wonder: His Words and Music |url=https://archive.org/details/soundofsteviewon00pero |url-access=registration |author=James E. Perone |publisher=Praeger |date=2006 |page=[https://archive.org/details/soundofsteviewon00pero/page/122 122] |isbn=9780313051081}}</ref>
The more-than-six-minute song was not released as a single, as Wonder was unwilling to shorten the song to fit the [[Single (music)|7", 45 rpm format]].<ref name=Lundy2007/> Even without a single release, the song received so much airplay that it reached number 23 on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary chart]] in January 1977. Since then, the song has become a jazz and pop standard, covered by many artists.<ref name=Perone2006>{{cite book |title=The Sound of Stevie Wonder: His Words and Music |url=https://archive.org/details/soundofsteviewon00pero |url-access=registration |author=James E. Perone |publisher=Praeger |date=2006 |page=[https://archive.org/details/soundofsteviewon00pero/page/122 122] |isbn=9780313051081}}</ref>


Wonder performed the song live for [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] at her [[Diamond Jubilee Concert]] on June 4, 2012, with lyrics modified to refer to the Queen.<ref>
Wonder performed the song live for [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] at her [[Diamond Jubilee Concert]] on June 4, 2012, with lyrics modified to refer to the Queen.<ref>{{Cite news
{{Cite news
| title = Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John and Madness Lead Queen's Diamond Jubilee
| title = Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John and Madness Lead Queen's Diamond Jubilee
| url = http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2012/06/05/sir-paul-mccartney-stevie-wonder-sir-elton-john-and-madness-lead-queens-diamond-jubilee/
| url = http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2012/06/05/sir-paul-mccartney-stevie-wonder-sir-elton-john-and-madness-lead-queens-diamond-jubilee/
Line 40: Line 30:
| date = June 5, 2012
| date = June 5, 2012
| access-date = July 21, 2013
| access-date = July 21, 2013
| archive-date = October 22, 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161022003701/http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2012/06/05/sir-paul-mccartney-stevie-wonder-sir-elton-john-and-madness-lead-queens-diamond-jubilee/
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


==Releases==
==Releases==
The song was not issued as a commercial single and therefore it did not appear on the major charts in the US and UK. However, due to radio airplay, it reached number 23 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary chart]] (then known as the Easy Listening chart) on January 29, 1977.<ref name="joelwhitburn">{{cite book
Tamla released two different versions of the song – the longer album version opens with the sound of a just-born baby crying, and the outro features Aisha as a baby; a [[promotional single]] edited for radio leaves out the crying baby sounds at the beginning and has a much shorter outro, also leaving out Aisha as a baby.

The song was not issued as a commercial single and therefore it did not appear on the major charts in the US and UK. However, due to radio airplay, it reached number 23 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary chart]] on January 29, 1977.<ref name="joelwhitburn">
{{cite book
| url = http://www.recordresearch.com/adult_contemporary/top_adult_songs_1961_2006.php
| url = http://www.recordresearch.com/adult_contemporary/top_adult_songs_1961_2006.php
| title = Top Adult Songs 1961–2006
| title = Top Adult Songs 1961–2006
Line 52: Line 42:
| first = Joel
| first = Joel
| author-link = Joel Whitburn
| author-link = Joel Whitburn
| access-date = 2011-11-09
}}</ref>
| archive-date = 2019-12-31
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191231100657/https://www.recordresearch.com/adult_contemporary/top_adult_songs_1961_2006.php
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> In June 2012, after Wonder performed the song at the [[Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II]], the song finally charted in the UK (#94) due to download sales.


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
* [[Stevie Wonder]] – vocals, [[chromatic harmonica|harmonica]], percussion, [[RMI Electra Piano]], [[Fender Rhodes]], [[bass synth]], drums, talking in recording
* [[Stevie Wonder]] – vocals, [[chromatic harmonica|harmonica]], percussion, [[RMI Electra Piano]], [[Fender Rhodes]], [[bass synth]], drums, talking in recording
* [[Greg Phillinganes]] – keyboards
* [[Greg Phillinganes]] – keyboards
* Aisha Morris - bathing
* Aisha Morris bathing


==Notable cover versions==
==Cover versions==
* Vocalist [[David Parton]] released the song, which was a UK number 4 hit, in mid-January 1977. It spent nine weeks on the chart.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=2006 |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |edition=19th |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |page= 419 |isbn=1-904994-10-5}}</ref> It was the 54th biggest hit of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1977.shtml |title=Top 100 1977 - UK Music Charts |website=Uk-charts.top-source.info |access-date=2016-08-19}}</ref> Parton's version gave him [[one-hit wonder]] status in the UK.<ref name=Lundy2007/>
* Vocalist [[David Parton]] released the song in 1976, which was a UK number 4 hit in early 1977. It spent nine weeks on the chart,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=2006 |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |edition=19th |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |page= 419 |isbn=1-904994-10-5}}</ref> and became the 54th biggest hit of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1977.shtml |title=Top 100 1977 - UK Music Charts |website=Uk-charts.top-source.info |access-date=2016-08-19}}</ref> Parton's version gave him [[one-hit wonder]] status in the United Kingdom.<ref name=Lundy2007/>
*Jazz guitarist [[Lee Ritenour]] included the song on his 1977 instrumental album ''[[Captain Fingers]]''.<ref name=Perone2006/>
*Jazz guitarist [[Lee Ritenour]] included the song on his 1977 instrumental album ''[[Captain Fingers]]''.<ref name=Perone2006/>
*Pianist/percussionist [[Victor Feldman]] recorded a jazz instrumental version for his 1977 album ''The Artful Dodger''.<ref name=Perone2006/>
*In 2002, a punk version sung by [[Me First And The Gimme Gimmes]] was included in their fourth album, Take a Break.
*Pianist/percussionist [[Victor Feldman]] recorded a jazz instrumental version for his 1977 album ''The Artful Dodger''.<ref name=Perone2006/> Feldman also played congas on Ritenour's version released the same year.{{cn|date=July 2021}}
*Clarinetist and bandleader [[Woody Herman]] fronted a [[big band]] version in 1978 on the album ''Fatha Herman and his Thundering Herd''.<ref name=Perone2006/>
*Clarinetist and bandleader [[Woody Herman]] fronted a [[big band]] version in 1978 on the album ''Fatha Herman and his Thundering Herd''.<ref name=Perone2006/>
* [[Jermaine Jackson]] recorded a cover version of this song on his 1978 album [[Frontiers_(Jermaine_Jackson_album)|Frontiers]].
*Saxophonist/arranger [[Bill Holman (musician)|Bill Holman]] included the song on his 1987 album ''The Bill Holman Band''.<ref name=Perone2006/>
*Saxophonist/arranger [[Bill Holman (musician)|Bill Holman]] included the song on his 1987 album ''The Bill Holman Band''.<ref name=Perone2006/>
*[[Jacky Terrasson]] included the song in his 2002 album ''[[Smile (Jacky Terrasson album)|Smile]]''.{{cn|date=July 2021}}
*In November 2012, an acoustic version sung by Jimmy Higham and [[Jon Walmsley]] reached number 41 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="jimmy higham"/>
*In November 2012, an acoustic version sung by Jimmy Higham and [[Jon Walmsley]] reached number 41 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="jimmy higham"/>
*The song was covered by American actor and singer [[Kevin McHale (actor)|Kevin McHale]] in the [[Prom Queen (Glee)|20th episode of the second season]] of the American musical television series [[Glee (TV series)|Glee]].


==Chart history==
==Chart history==
Line 88: Line 82:
|1976
|1976
|[[Stevie Wonder]]
|[[Stevie Wonder]]
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>94<ref name="officialcharts">{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/stevie%20wonder |title=The Official Charts Company - Isn't She Lovely |date=6 May 2013 |publisher=The Official Charts Company |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/65Os1QCUN?url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/stevie%20wonder |archive-date=12 February 2012 }}</ref></center>
|{{center|94{{efn|The track reached #94 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] in June 2012, based on download sales}}<ref name="officialcharts">{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/stevie%20wonder |title=The Official Charts Company - Isn't She Lovely |date=6 May 2013 |publisher=The Official Charts Company |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615145144/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/stevie%20wonder/ |archive-date=15 June 2011 }}</ref>}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>23<ref name="joelwhitburn"/></center>
|{{center|23<ref name="joelwhitburn"/>}}
|-
|-
|1977
|1977
|[[David Parton]]
|[[David Parton]]
|<center>3</center>
|{{center|3}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>4<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/></center>
|{{center|4<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>}}
|<center>105</center>
|{{center|105}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|-
|-
|1977
|1977
|Leslie Kleinsmith
|Leslie Kleinsmith
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>12<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/></center>
|{{center|12<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|-
|-
|2012
|2012
|Jimmy Higham & [[Jon Walmsley]]
|Jimmy Higham & [[Jon Walmsley]]
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>41<ref name="jimmy higham">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/jimmy%20higham%20%26%20jon%20walmsley/ |title=Jimmy Higham & Jon Walmsley |publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]}}</ref></center>
|{{center|41<ref name="jimmy higham">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/jimmy%20higham%20%26%20jon%20walmsley/ |title=Jimmy Higham & Jon Walmsley |publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]}}</ref>}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|}
|}


Line 125: Line 119:
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}


==References==
== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}
{{notelist}}


==External links==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{YouTube|HK08vXDsxrI|Stevie Wonder - Isn't She Lovely}}


{{Stevie Wonder}}
{{Stevie Wonder}}

Latest revision as of 11:48, 21 October 2024

"Isn't She Lovely"
Motown CD single reissue (1996)
Promotional single by Stevie Wonder
from the album Songs in the Key of Life
Released1976 (1976)
Recorded1975
GenreSoul
Length
  • 6:33 (album version)
  • 3:20 (radio version)
LabelTamla
Songwriter(s)Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)Stevie Wonder
Licensed audio
"Isn't She Lovely" on YouTube

"Isn't She Lovely" is a song by Stevie Wonder from his 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life. The lyrics celebrate the birth of his daughter, Aisha Morris. Wonder collaborated on the song with Harlem songwriter and studio owner Burnetta "Bunny" Jones.[1]

The song opens side 3 of Songs in the Key of Life, and starts with a baby's first cry recorded during an actual childbirth. A recording of Wonder bathing Aisha as an older toddler is brought into the final section of the song, mixed with Wonder's extended chromatic harmonica solo. All of the instruments heard in the song are played by Wonder, except for some keyboard parts played by Greg Phillinganes. During the recording process, bassist Nathan Watts laid down a bass guitar line to serve as a guide track for Wonder, but Wonder eventually replaced this with his own keyboard bass performance.[2]

The more-than-six-minute song was not released as a single, as Wonder was unwilling to shorten the song to fit the 7", 45 rpm format.[2] Even without a single release, the song received so much airplay that it reached number 23 on the Adult Contemporary chart in January 1977. Since then, the song has become a jazz and pop standard, covered by many artists.[3]

Wonder performed the song live for Queen Elizabeth II at her Diamond Jubilee Concert on June 4, 2012, with lyrics modified to refer to the Queen.[4]

Releases

[edit]

The song was not issued as a commercial single and therefore it did not appear on the major charts in the US and UK. However, due to radio airplay, it reached number 23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart (then known as the Easy Listening chart) on January 29, 1977.[5] In June 2012, after Wonder performed the song at the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, the song finally charted in the UK (#94) due to download sales.

Personnel

[edit]

Cover versions

[edit]

Chart history

[edit]
Year Artist IR SA UK U.S. Billboard
IRMA Springbok Singles Chart U.S. Hot 100 U.S. AC
1976 Stevie Wonder
23[5]
1977 David Parton
3
105
1977 Leslie Kleinsmith
12[6]
2012 Jimmy Higham & Jon Walmsley
41[8]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[11] Gold 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The track reached #94 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2012, based on download sales

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Terry Barnes (December 1998). "Passings". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. p. 68. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. ^ a b c Zeth Lundy (2007). Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. Bloomsbury. p. 31. ISBN 9781441170125.
  3. ^ a b c d e James E. Perone (2006). The Sound of Stevie Wonder: His Words and Music. Praeger. p. 122. ISBN 9780313051081.
  4. ^ "Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John and Madness Lead Queen's Diamond Jubilee". WCBS-FM. June 5, 2012. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel. Top Adult Songs 1961–2006. Archived from the original on 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
  6. ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 419. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ "Top 100 1977 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  8. ^ a b "Jimmy Higham & Jon Walmsley". The Official Charts Company.
  9. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Isn't She Lovely". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
  10. ^ "British single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Isn't She Lovely". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  11. ^ "American single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Isn't She Lovely". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 22, 2021.