Characters (Stevie Wonder album)

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Characters
File:Stevie characters.jpg
Studio album by Stevie Wonder
Released November 6, 1987
Recorded 1986–87
Studio Livingstone Studios
(London)
Genre R&B, quiet storm, soul, synthpop, dance-pop
Length 48:37 (vinyl)
61:33 (CD)
Label Motown
Producer Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder chronology
In Square Circle
(1985)In Square Circle1985		 Characters
(1987)		 Jungle Fever
(1991)Jungle Fever1991
Singles from Characters
  1. "Skeletons"
    Released: July 1987
  2. "You Will Know"
    Released: March 1988
  3. "Get It"
    Released: May 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 2.5/5 stars[1]
Chicago Tribune (favorable)[2]
Robert Christgau A−[3]
Los Angeles Times 3/4 stars[4]
MusicHound 3/5 stars[5]
Q 5/5 stars[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide 2/5 stars[7]
Rolling Stone (mixed)[8]

Characters is the twenty-first studio album by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder released in late 1987. The album features three singles including "Get It", the Grammy-nominated "Skeletons" and "You Will Know", which both reached number one on the Billboard R&B Singles chart (the former being his final American top 40 hit of his career).

Overview

Although highly anticipated like his last album, 1985's In Square Circle upon its release, the album received mixed reviews from critics, and debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200. It became his first album since Music of My Mind not to reach the top ten of the charts.

It also debuted at number one on the Top R&B Albums chart for seven weeks, and spawned six singles including "Get It", "Skeletons" and the ballad "You Will Know" that had attained Billboard R&B chart success.

Awards and nominations

The album earned Wonder three Grammy Award nominations in 1988–89. The album's second single, "Skeletons" received two nominations for Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards. He lost Best R&B Song to "Lean On Me" (Bill Withers) and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance to Smokey Robinson's "Just to See Her" at the ceremony. Characters received a nomination at the 31st Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, losing to Terrence Trent D'Arby's debut Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby.

To promote the album, Wonder performed a one-hour "Characters" special on MTV, in which he also performed unreleased material as well as a duet with Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Track listing

All songs written by Stevie Wonder except where noted.

Side one
  1. "You Will Know" - 5:00
  2. "Dark 'n' Lovely" (Gary Byrd, Wonder) - 4:39
  3. "In Your Corner" - 4:30
  4. "With Each Beat of My Heart" - 5:28
  5. "One of a Kind" - 5:10
Side two
  1. "Skeletons" - 5:24
  2. "Get It" (featuring Michael Jackson) - 4:31
  3. "Galaxy Paradise" - 3:52
  4. "Cryin' Through the Night" - 5:48
  5. "Free" - 4:12
CD Bonus tracks
  1. "Come Let Me Make Your Love Come Down" (featuring B.B. King & Stevie Ray Vaughan) - 5:20
  2. "My Eyes Don't Cry" - 7:05

Personnel

  • Michael Jackson – Performer, Lead Vocals (track 7)
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan – Performer
  • B.B. King – Performer, Guitar (track 11)
  • Gary Olazabal – Engineer, Associate Producer, Mixing, Keyboard Programming (All tracks)
  • Stevie Wonder – Arranger (All tracks), Synthesizers (tracks 1-4, 6-7, 9, 11), Bass Synth (1, 9), Synth Horns (12), Piano (9-10), Keyboards (including Harpsichord- 10), Lead Vocals (All tracks), Background Vocals (tracks 1-2, 4, 7), Bass (tracks 2, 7-8, 11-12), Drums (1-2, 4-9), Percussion (1-2, 4, 6-7), Strings (1), Bells (1), Drum Machine (3), Harmonica (5)
  • Recorded at Livingstone Studios, London, England, U.K.

Charts

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. Characters at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert. Consumer Guide Reviews: Characters. The Village Voice. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
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  7. ↑ [1]
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  11. ↑ Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2013
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  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Characters in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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