"Lately" is a song by American singer Stevie Wonder recorded for his album Hotter than July (1980). The song reached number three in the United Kingdom, and was later covered by 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 R&B charts and the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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."[1]
Personnel
Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, bass synthesizer, piano
"Lately" was notably covered by 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.[2] The group's version of the song was released as a promotional single, claiming the number one spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts as the group's fourth R&B number one hit. It was also Jodeci's highest peaking pop hit, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1993.[3] It sold 900,000 copies and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[4][5] 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. They performed this version on The Arsenio Hall Show, with Stevie Wonder making a guest appearance and performing the song with Jodeci.[citation needed]
lately, stevie, wonder, song, lately, song, american, singer, stevie, wonder, recorded, album, hotter, than, july, 1980, song, reached, number, three, united, kingdom, later, covered, group, jodeci, released, promotional, single, live, album, uptown, unplugged. Lately is a song by American singer Stevie Wonder recorded for his album Hotter than July 1980 The song reached number three in the United Kingdom and was later covered by R amp 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 R amp B charts and the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Lately Single by Stevie Wonderfrom the album Hotter than JulyB side If It s Magic Released1981 1981 GenreR amp B soul balladLength4 05LabelTamlaSongwriter s Stevie WonderProducer s Stevie WonderStevie Wonder singles chronology I Ain t Gonna Stand for It 1980 Lately 1981 Happy Birthday 1981 Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Personnel 3 Jodeci version 4 Chart performance 4 1 Jodeci version 4 1 1 Year end charts 5 Certifications 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksCritical reception EditJason 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 1 Personnel EditStevie Wonder lead vocals bass synthesizer pianoJodeci version Edit Lately Single by Jodecifrom the album Uptown MTV UnpluggedReleased1993 1993 Recorded1993GenreR amp B soulLength5 49 MTV Unplugged version 6 24 studio version LabelUptown MCASongwriter s Stevie Wonder DeVante SwingProducer s DeVante SwingJodeci singles chronology Let s Go Through the Motions 1993 Lately 1993 Cry For You 1993 Lately was notably covered by R amp 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 2 The group s version of the song was released as a promotional single claiming the number one spot on the Hot R amp B Hip Hop Singles amp Tracks charts as the group s fourth R amp B number one hit It was also Jodeci s highest peaking pop hit reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1993 3 It sold 900 000 copies and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America 4 5 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 They performed this version on The Arsenio Hall Show with Stevie Wonder making a guest appearance and performing the song with Jodeci citation needed Chart performance EditChart 1981 6 better source needed PeakpositionUK Official Charts Company 7 3U S Billboard Hot 100 64U S R amp B Singles 29Jodeci version Edit Chart 1993 3 better source needed PeakpositionU S Billboard Hot 100 4U S Hot Dance Music Maxi Singles Sales 12U S Hot R amp B Singles 1U S Rhythmic Top 40 1U S Top 40 Mainstream 17Year end charts Edit Chart 1993 PositionU S Billboard Hot 100 8 15Certifications EditRegion Certification Certified units salesUnited Kingdom BPI 9 Silver 250 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone See also EditList of number one R amp B singles of 1993 U S References Edit Elias Jason Lately Song review at Allmusic Allmusic Retrieved 2010 04 17 Vanity Fair 56 1993 240 a b allmusic Jodeci gt Charts amp Awards gt Billboard Singles Allmusic Retrieved 2010 04 17 Best Selling Records of 1993 Billboard Vol 106 no 3 BPI Communications January 15 1994 p 73 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved May 4 2015 American certifications Jodeci Lately Recording Industry Association of America allmusic Hotter Than July gt Charts amp Awards gt Billboard Singles Allmusic Retrieved 2010 04 17 STEVIE WONDER full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Officialcharts com 2016 07 19 Retrieved 2016 10 19 Billboard Top 100 1993 Archived from the original on 2006 11 10 Retrieved 2010 08 27 British single certifications Stevie Wonder Lately British Phonographic Industry Retrieved February 18 2022 External links Edit Lately Review at AllMusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lately Stevie Wonder song amp oldid 1118347549, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
