Hit Parade | The Everybody Say YEAH! Edition

Host: Chris Molanphy (Slate Podcasts)
Date: March 29, 2019

Episode Overview

This episode of Hit Parade, titled "The Everybody Say YEAH! Edition," unpacks the extraordinary rise and enduring influence of Stevie Wonder — from his first fame as “Little Stevie Wonder” to his status as one of the most respected and innovative figures in pop, R&B, and soul. Chart historian Chris Molanphy dissects Wonder's career through hits, deep cuts, and lesser remembered milestones, exploring what made these songs smash hits and how Wonder redefined artistic independence in the music industry.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What Makes a Chart-Topping Smash? (00:00 - 03:40)

• Chris Molanphy sets the stage by posing the perennial question: What makes a song a "smash"? Talent, luck, and timing all play roles.
• Stevie Wonder’s catalog is iconic, but Molanphy notes that many of his best-loved songs from the 60s ("For Once in My Life," "My Cherie Amor," "Uptight") never actually topped the pop charts.
• The only chart-topper from Wonder's first decade was “Fingertips (Part 2),” a live recording.

"That's Fingertips. To be exact, it's Fingertips, part two. And maybe you didn't even know there was a part one." (02:31, Chris Molanphy)

2. The “Fingertips” Phenomenon: A Star Is Born (03:40 - 15:00)

• Background: Stevie Wonder, born Steveland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, overcame blindness and harnessed prodigious musical abilities by age 10.
• Berry Gordy & the Motown Machine: Initially unsure how to market Wonder’s talents, Motown tried him as a jazz and Ray Charles-style soul act. Neither path bore immediate hits.
• Live Magic: Wonder’s breakout on the Motortown Revue circuit showed an irrepressible charisma:

  "Little Stevie was a showstopper." (10:53, Chris Molanphy)

• The unplanned, exhilarating live version of “Fingertips” (Part 2) became historic for its energy:

  "Picture a middle school age kid who doesn't want to go to bed and is using every creative stalling tactic to prevent it." (12:00, Chris Molanphy)

• Chart Milestones:
  • First live recording to top the Hot 100
  • Made Little Stevie the first to have simultaneous #1 single and album
• The ascendant energy of "Fingertips" (released during the historic week of the March on Washington in 1963) became emblematic of both Wonder's artistry and the era.

3. The Child Prodigy and Challenges of Growing Up (15:00 - 23:30)

• Wonder was initially promoted via novelty singles and was at risk of being pigeonholed as a "child act" or even a "circus attraction."
• With his maturing voice and persona, Wonder needed to reinvent himself to stay relevant and respected as an adult artist.

4. The Shift to Songwriting and Social Commentary (23:30 - 30:20)

• Wonder, now in his mid-teens, drew inspiration from the British Invasion and Motown contemporaries, leading to hits like "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (03:46, 1966).
• Began integrating social messages into his music: covers Dylan’s "Blowin’ in the Wind," co-writes "A Place in the Sun."
• Co-wrote “Tears of a Clown” with Smokey Robinson, marking his behind-the-scenes influence.

5. Struggles for Creative Control & Motown's Constraints (30:20 - 34:07)

• Motown exerted tight control, often sitting on Wonder’s tracks (e.g., "For Once in My Life," "My Cherie Amor").
• Steadily, Wonder’s desire for creative autonomy grew; his original contract tied up his royalties until age 21, incentivizing him to continue producing hits.

6. Breaking Free: The Early '70s and Artistic Revolution (34:07 - 41:20)

• With "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours" (1970), Wonder earned his first solo production credit, signaling his independence.
• He produced and wrote hits for other Motown artists (“It’s a Shame” for the Spinners).
• Upon turning 21, Wonder’s contract freedom led to "Music of My Mind" and a new sound rich in synthesizers and boundary-pushing production.

7. The "Imperial Phase": Classic Albums & Social Power (41:20 - 57:09)

• Talking Book: “Superstition” (inspired by collaborating with Jeff Beck) becomes his first #1 since "Fingertips," addressing superstition and the era’s confusion.

  "When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain't the way." (42:37, Stevie Wonder lyric)

• Songs in the Key of Life: Massive, genre-defining 1976 double album debuts at #1, includes “I Wish,” “Sir Duke,” and the beloved but never-charting “Isn’t She Lovely.”
• Wonder wins three Album of the Year Grammys with albums that blend musical invention and pointed social commentary (“Living for the City,” “You Haven’t Done Nothin’”).

8. Lasting Impact and Later Years (57:09 - 59:44)

• Stevie Wonder’s peak output from 1971-1976 is recognized as arguably the greatest creative run in popular music.
• His earlier hits, especially “Fingertips,” fade from radio rotation but remain foundational in music history.

  "In a way, it's understandable. Little Stevie Wonder's first hit was a live document of his impish refusal to leave the stage... as the single that launched one of the greatest careers in pop history..." (61:46, Chris Molanphy)

• Stevie’s influence is celebrated by a new generation at the 2015 Grammy tribute.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Wonder’s ambition:
  "From a very young age, Stevie Wonder wanted to be in charge of his own destiny." (15:30)
• Reflecting on “Fingertips”:
  "A young black man not yet in his teens inspiring a largely black crowd to clap along and raise the roof gospel style to an improvised melody." (21:35)
• About “Superstition”’s lyrics:
  "When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain't the way." (42:37)
• On child stars and Motown:
  "In his Wonder biography, Mark Hrabowski quotes several Motown staffers noting that... he was at times marketed as a carnival, sideshow attraction or a 'circus freak.'” (23:00)
• On the monumental run of albums:
  "The foundation for Wonder's epic 1970s — the period my Slate colleague Jack Hamilton has rightfully called the greatest creative run in the history of popular music — was built in Wonder's first decade..." (36:47)
• Paul Simon’s Grammy Jibe:
  "And most of all, I'd like to thank Stevie Wonder, who didn't make an album this year." (when Simon won Album of the Year in 1976) (53:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro and “What Makes a Smash?” — 00:00-02:23
• "Fingertips" and 1960s Origins — 02:23-15:00
• Child Star stardom and pitfalls — 15:00-23:30
• Songwriting, Social Songs, and Motown Dynamics — 23:30-34:07
• Artistic Revolution and Autonomy (“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” onwards) — 34:07-41:20
• The “Imperial Phase” Albums and Grammy Dominance — 41:20-57:09
• Songs in the Key of Life and its Impact — 54:50-59:31
• Legacy, 1980s and beyond, “Fingertips” legacy — 59:31-63:25

Conclusion: Wonder’s Place in Pop History

Chris Molanphy closes by reflecting on the unlikely origins of Stevie Wonder’s career and the ways he redefined what it means to be a pop artist. Wonder’s journey exemplifies why some songs — and artists — transcend the charts and become timeless. The episode ends with the resounding refrain that has echoed across decades and generations:

"Everybody say yeah!" (63:31, Beyonce and Stevie Wonder tribute)

For full context, historical richness, and music clips, listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform.