Released September 12, 1980 Recorded 1979 | Format 7", 12" Genre Reggae | |
B-side "Master Blaster (Instrumental)" (7")
"Master Blaster (Dub)" (12") Length 6:11 (12")
5:08 (Album)
4:49 (7") | ||
"Master Blaster (Jammin)" is a 1980 single by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder from his 1980 album Hotter than July.
Contents
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" and the end of the civil war in Zimbabwe.
The song was the leading single from Wonder's Hotter than July album. It was a major hit, spending seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B singles chart, reaching number five on Billboard's pop singles chart in the fall of 1980 and peaking at number two on the UK Singles chart. The song includes the line "hotter than July", per the album title.
Personnel
DJ Luck & MC Neat version
In 2000, "Master Blaster (Jammin')" was covered by UK garage duo DJ Luck & MC Neat featuring singer JJ, retitled as "Masterblaster 2000". This version was a huge hit, peaking at no. 5 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.
Other versions
A 1998 version with Wyclef Jean appears on the soundtrack to the film How Stella Got Her Groove Back. "Master Blaster (Jammin')" has also been covered by James Last (1981), Jehro (2006) and Minnie Driver (2014).
On 31 December 2014, Ed Sheeran covered this on the Jools Holland Hootenanny music show. Ed sang accompanied by Jools' Rhythm and Blue Orchestra.
During the Stevie Wonder: Songs In the Key of Life – An All-Star Grammy Salute Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran performed a version of the song. The show aired on 16 February 2015 on CBS.