Stevie Wonder rebounds with a tribute to Bob Marley and Top 5 Labor Day Songs of 1980

Stevie Wonder : Master Blaster  (Jammin')

[Purchase]

In September of 1980 Stevie Wonder returned to the charts with his infectious new single "Master Blaster (Jammin') . He'd left a lot of fans and critics confused with his double album Secret Life of Plants, so the single, a tribute to Bob Marley, was a celebrated return to form. The single spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R+B singles chart, reaching number five on Billboard's pop singles chart in the fall, and peaking at number two on the UK Singles chart.

The Independent recently ranked "Master Blaster" as Wonder's 10th greatest song, writing:

Never shy in paying tribute to his heroes, Wonder lionised Bob Marley on this sparkling reggae-funk jam that also recognises his own place in the world as a black man. Only The Police’s “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” prevented “Master Blaster” from topping the UK charts.

The dub mix, a Motown 12 inch import, is especially worth hearing:

1980 LABOR DAY PLAYLIST

1. Magazine "Model Worker"
2. Dolly Parton "9 to 5"
3 Pete Townshend " Keep On Working"
4 Bob Marley and the Wailers "Work"
5 Sheena Easton "Morning Train ( 9 to 5)"