Master Blaster (Jammin')

"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^[2] and peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart,^[3] and number one in New Zealand.^{[citation needed]}

"Master Blaster (Jammin')"
Single by Stevie Wonder
from the album Hotter than July
B-side	"Master Blaster" (instrumental) (7-inch) "Master Blaster" (dub) (12-inch)
Released	September 12, 1980
Recorded	1979
Genre	Reggae
Length	6:11 (12-inch) 5:08 (album) 4:49 (7-inch)
Label	Tamla
Songwriter(s)	Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)	Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder singles chronology
"Outside My Window" (1980) "Master Blaster (Jammin')" (1980) "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" (1980)
Official audio
"Master Blaster (Jammin')" on YouTube

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Billboard	(favourable)^[1]

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.^[4]

Record World said that it combines "topical urban street themes with reggae-pop rhythms."^[5]

Personnel

• Stevie Wonder – vocals, Fender Rhodes, clavinet
• Nathan Watts – bass
• Benjamin Bridges – guitar
• Dennis Davis – drums
• Earl DeRouen – percussion
• Isaiah Sanders – organ
• Hank Redd – saxophone
• Larry Gittens – trumpet
• Rick Zunigar – guitar
• Background vocals – Angela Winbush, Alexandra Brown Evans, Shirley Brewer, Marva Holcolm

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1980–1981) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[6] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[7] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[8] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 22 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[9] 10 Ireland (IRMA)^[10] 3 Italy (FIMI)^[11] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[12] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[13] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[14] 1 Norway (VG-lista)^[15] 4 Spain (AFE)^[16] 10 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[17] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[18] 1 UK Singles (OCC)^[19] 2 US Billboard Hot 100^[20] 5 US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)^[21] 1 US Cash Box Top 100^[22] 1 West Germany (Official German Charts)^[23] 9

Year-end charts Chart (1980) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[24] 27 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)^[25] 9 Italy (FIMI)^[26] 10 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[27] 11 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[28] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[29] 19 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[30] 13 UK Singles (OCC)^[31] 25 US Cash Box Top 100^[32] 38 Chart (1981) Position US Billboard Hot 100^[33] 69 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[34] 2

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[35]	Gold	50,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)^[36]	Gold	75,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[37]	Gold	10,000^*
United Kingdom (BPI)^[38]	Silver	250,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

DJ Luck & MC Neat version

"Masterblaster 2000"
Single by DJ Luck & MC Neat feat. JJ
from the album It's All Good
Released	May 15, 2000 (2000-05-15)^[39]
Genre	UK garage
Length	3:32 (radio mix)
Label	Red Rose
Songwriter(s)	Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)	DJ Luck
DJ Luck & MC Neat singles chronology
"A Little Bit of Luck" (1999) "Masterblaster 2000" (2000) "Ain't No Stoppin' Us" (2000)

"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.^[40] 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

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[41]	24
Scotland (OCC)^[42]	37
UK Singles (OCC)^[43]	5
UK Dance (OCC)^[44]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[45]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Review: Master Blaster – Stevie Wonder" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 38. September 20, 1980. p. 71. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 24, 2020 – via World Radio History.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 636.
3. "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
4. Patti, Mike (April 15, 2021). "Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster" Tribute to Bob Marley". The Pier. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
5. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. September 20, 1980. p. 1. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. "Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin')" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
8. "Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin')" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
9. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Stevie Wonder". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 284. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Master Blaster". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
11. "Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin')". Top Digital Download. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
13. "Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin')" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
14. "Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin')". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
15. "Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin')". VG-lista. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
16. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
17. "Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin')". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
18. "Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin')". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
19. "Stevie Wonder: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
20. "Stevie Wonder Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
21. "Stevie Wonder Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
22. . Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
23. "Offiziellecharts.de – Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin')" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
24. "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. January 5, 1981. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Imgur.
25. "Jaaroverzichten 1980". Ultratop. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
26. "Top Annuali Single 1980". Retrieved January 28, 2022.
27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
28. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1980". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
29. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
30. Swiss Year-End Charts, 1980
31. "Chart File". Record Mirror. London, England: Spotlight Publications. March 21, 1981. p. 37.
32. . Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
33. Musicoutfitters.com
34. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
35. "Billboard Vol. 94, No. 23: Majors Flight Economics with Quirky Rock Originals". Billboard. December 6, 1982. p. A-NZ 8. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
36. "Canadian single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Master blaster". Music Canada. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
37. "New Zealand single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Master blaster". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
38. "British single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Master blaster". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
39. "New Releases – For Week Starting May 15, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. May 13, 2000. p. 21. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
40. "The 31 Best UK Garage Songs Ever". Billboard. November 22, 2016.
41. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 23. June 3, 2000. p. 15. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
42. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
43. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
44. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
45. "British single certifications – DJ Luck & MC Neat – Masterblaster 2000". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 8, 2021.