May 28: Stevie Wonder’s ‘Jungle Fever’ Soundtrack Was Released On This Day In 1991

0 Posted by - May 28, 2022 - BLACK MUSIC, LATEST POSTS, On This Date

By Victor Trammell

Photo credits: Motown Records

Stevie Wonder, the legendary R&B singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist is the music mastermind who created and orchestrated the Jungle Fever soundtrack album.

Songwriter Stephanie Andrews contributed just one song to Wonder’s full-length movie soundtrack album titled, “Chemical Love.” Together with guitarist Nathan Watts, Wonder produced the whole record. A few years later, after working on the movie soundtrack with the iconic vocalist, Watts went on to work as Wonder’s musical director.

The project was made for the film of the same name, which was directed by Spike Lee. On May 28, 1991, the renowned Motown record company released Wonder’s movie-based offering at the height of R&B’s golden “New Jack Swing” era. Sonically, there are songs on the LP, which reflect the genre’s classic sound of that time.

The project was  Wonder’s ninth studio album. It was also his fifth consecutive album to top the Billboard R&B Albums Chart.  From the soundtrack, three singles were released. “Gotta Have You” was the first and largest hit single (Hot 100 No. 92, R&B No. 3). “Fun Day” was the second single from the soundtrack (R&B No. 6, UK No. 63).

The song “These Three Words” is the project’s the last single (R&B No. 7).

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