Stevie Wonder (October 18, 2005) – A Time To Love Album US:
A Time To Love is the twenty-fifth studio album by Stevie Wonder and marked his first new studio album in ten years.
The album is particularly notable within the Prince catalogue for So What The Fuss, which features Prince on guitar alongside the reunited En Vogue on background vocals.
Other contributors across the album included Kim Burrell, Hubert Laws, Kirk Franklin, India.Arie and Paul McCartney. These contributions appear on separate tracks, making A Time To Love an unusual meeting point for a wide range of musicians within Stevie Wonder's catalogue.
Before the official physical release, the album was made available digitally. An exclusive iTunes release appeared on September 27, 2005, followed by its inclusion in The Complete Stevie Wonder digital box set on October 12, 2005. The official album release followed on October 18, 2005.
RECORDING
The album was recorded at Wonderland Studios in Los Angeles, California.
Stevie Wonder handled vocals and a range of instrumentation including drums, bass guitar, keyboards and percussion.
On So What The Fuss, Prince contributed guitar, while En Vogue members Dawn Robinson, Maxine Jones, Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron provided background vocals.
The album was produced by Stevie Wonder, with Femi Jiya credited as mixing engineer and Brian Gardner responsible for mastering.
STYLE & THEMES
A Time To Love places Stevie Wonder's vocals, songwriting and multi-instrumental performances at the centre of an album featuring a broad collection of guest performers.
The album moves through love, relationships, spirituality and social themes, with collaborations used throughout the record.
So What The Fuss stands out within the Prince-related catalogue because Prince contributes guitar to a Stevie Wonder recording rather than appearing as composer or lead performer.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• If Your Love Cannot Be Moved — Features Kim Burrell.
• Sweetest Somebody I Know — Stevie Wonder album recording.
• Moon Blue — Album track.
• From The Bottom Of My Heart — One of the singles released from the album.
• Please Don't Hurt My Baby — Album recording.
• How Will I Know — Features Aisha Morris.
• My Love Is On Fire — Album track.
• Passionate Raindrops — Included on both the CD and vinyl configurations.
• Tell Your Heart I Love You — Opens the third side of the vinyl edition.
• True Love — Album recording.
• Shelter In The Rain — Released as one of the album's singles.
• So What The Fuss — Features Prince on guitar and En Vogue on background vocals. The track preceded the album as a single.
• Can't Imagine Love Without You — Included late in the album sequence.
• Positivity — Features Aisha Morris and was released as a single.
• A Time To Love — Closing title track featuring India.Arie.
RELEASE HISTORY
A Time To Love first appeared as an exclusive digital release through iTunes on September 27, 2005.
On October 12, 2005, it was included in the $189.99 iTunes-exclusive digital box set The Complete Stevie Wonder.
The official album release followed on October 18, 2005 through Motown Records.
The complete album has a running time of 77:39.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
AMERICA
Country | Chart | Entry Date | Peak | Weeks |
USA | Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | November 5, 2005 | 2 | 22 |
USA | Billboard Top Pop Albums | November 5, 2005 | 5 | 18 |
EUROPE
Country | Chart | Entry Date | Peak | Weeks |
UK | Gallup Top 40 Album Chart | October 29, 2005 | 24 | 3 |
CERTIFICATIONS
Institution | Country | Date | Certification |
RIAA | USA | December 15, 2005 | Gold (500,000) |
Date: 18 Oct 2005
PERSONNEL
Stevie Wonder — vocals, drums, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion
Prince — guitar on So What The Fuss
Dawn Robinson — background vocals on So What The Fuss, credited as En Vogue
Maxine Jones — background vocals on So What The Fuss, credited as En Vogue
Terry Ellis — background vocals on So What The Fuss, credited as En Vogue
Cindy Herron — background vocals on So What The Fuss, credited as En Vogue
Kim Burrell — featured performer
Aisha Morris — featured performer
India.Arie — featured performer
PRODUCTION
Produced by Stevie Wonder
Recorded by
Engineered by
Mixed by Femi Jiya
Mastered by Brian Gardner
Photography by
Artwork by
Design by
Label: Motown Records
Catalogue Number:
Barcode:
Recorded At: Wonderland Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Cat No. | Date | Format |
Stevie Wonder | A Time To Love | Motown Records | Digital | — | September 27, 2005 | iTunes Digital Release |
Stevie Wonder | A Time To Love | Motown Records | Digital | — | October 12, 2005 | The Complete Stevie Wonder Digital Box Set |
Stevie Wonder | A Time To Love | Motown Records | — | — | October 18, 2005 | CD |
Stevie Wonder | A Time To Love | Motown Records | — | — | October 18, 2005 | 2LP |
TRACKLIST TABLE
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
CD | — | If Your Love Cannot Be Moved • Sweetest Somebody I Know • Moon Blue • From The Bottom Of My Heart • Please Don't Hurt My Baby • How Will I Know • My Love Is On Fire • Passionate Raindrops • Tell Your Heart I Love You • True Love • Shelter In The Rain • So What The Fuss • Can't Imagine Love Without You • Positivity • A Time To Love |
2LP | — | LP1 Side One: If Your Love Cannot Be Moved • Sweetest Somebody I Know • Moon Blue • From The Bottom Of My Heart LP1 Side Two: Please Don't Hurt My Baby • How Will I Know • My Love Is On Fire • Passionate Raindrops LP2 Side One: Tell Your Heart I Love You • True Love • Shelter In The Rain • So What The Fuss LP2 Side Two: Can't Imagine Love Without You • Positivity • A Time To Love |
SINGLES RELEASED
Single | Notes |
So What The Fuss | Preceded the album; features Prince on guitar |
Positivity | Album single |
From The Bottom Of My Heart | Album single |
Shelter In The Rain | Album single |
NOTES
• Stevie Wonder's twenty-fifth studio album.
• His first studio album in ten years.
• So What The Fuss features Prince on guitar.
• En Vogue provide background vocals on So What The Fuss.
• The album also includes contributions from Kim Burrell, Hubert Laws, Kirk Franklin, India.Arie and Paul McCartney.
• The complete album runs 77:39.
• Reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Pop Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
• Certified Gold by the RIAA on December 15, 2005.
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault,
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