20 songs that Stevie Wonder wrote for other musicians

In 1979, Michael Jackson released his fifth solo album Off the Wall, which was exclusively produced by Quincy Jones. One of the album’s standout tracks is the smooth sounds of “I Can’t Help It” which was written by Stevie Wonder and The Supremes’ Susaye Greene. On the track, Jackson details his feelings of being in love with his partner, even if the feelings surprised him. As he sings in the second verse, “Like a trip to Heaven / Heaven is the prize / And I’m so glad I found you, yeah / You’re an angel in disguise.” 

One of The Spinners’ biggest hits-to-date came in 1970 when they released their single “It’s A Shame.” Not only did Stevie Wonder co-write the song alongside Lee Garrett and Syreeta Wright, but he also produced the track. In the song, the group details a man’s perspective of being played by a lover, as they sing, “Why do you use me, try to confuse me? / How can you stand to be so cruel? / Why don’t you free me from this prison? / Where I serve my time as your fool” 

In 1975, Robert Flack released her fifth solo album Feel Like Makin’ Love. One of the album’s deep cuts is “I Can See the Sun in Late December,” in which Flack sings of a person who seems to have lost their way, but she can see all the good that will surely come their way. 

The world truly caught on to the wave of Rufus and Chaka Khan in 1974 when they released their highest-charting single “Tell Me Something Good.” And they have Stevie Wonder’s songwriting pen to thank for it. The song is filled with themes of sexual empowerment and helped the group win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus. 

While most people know Eddie Murphy as an actor and comedian, he also had a brief singing career. In 1985, he released his debut album How Could It Be, which included two songs written by Stevie Wonder. One of which was the album’s first track “Do I” which tells the perspective of a man being questioned by his partner if his love is real. As he sings on the first verse, “You ask me the question, do I love you ? / Baby, I’d think you would know / And you ask me the question, do I need you? / Baby, I thought that it showed.” 

A common theme in the ‘60s and ‘70s was how artists would record songs, but other artists would release their own version and the latter became more successful. That was the case for “Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do),” in which Stevie Wonder recorded the track in 1967, but Aretha Franklin released her version in 1973. Franklin’s version peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

In 1985, The Beach Boys released their self-titled 25th studio album. One of the album’s standout tracks is the Stevie Wonder-assisted song “I Do Love You.” It’s one of those tracks in which Wonder’s imprint is all over it from harmonica to piano, it easily could be a song that Wonder recorded for himself. The track presents the theme of a man who wants to spend the rest of his life with his partner. 

Stevie Wonder wrote and produced The Supremes’ 1973 single “Bad Weather.” On the track, the group sings from the perspective of a woman reminiscing about the good times in her relationship and how she wants to work things out with her partner. 

In 1967, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles released their album Make It Happen, which featured the hit single “The Tears of a Clown.” Written by Robinson along with Stevie Wonder and Hank Cosby, the song tells the perspective of a man putting on a happy face in front of people, but in reality, he’s actually sad. As the group sings on the second verse, “Now if I appear to be carefree / It’s only to camouflage my sadness / In order to shield my pride, I’ve tried / To cover this hurt with a show of gladness.”

In 1974, Minnie Riperton released her sophomore album Perfect Angel, and Stevie Wonder contributed to the production and songwriting on a few of the tracks. One of which being the titular track in which Wonder wrote and produced on. “Perfect Angel” finds Riperton detailing the feelings she has for a partner and the everlasting love they have. As she sings in the first verse, “Making storybook dreams come true / Feeling just enough love for two / There’s such magic in being with you / ‘Cause it’s true loving you.” 

Whitney Houston’s third album I’m Your Baby Tonight garnered six singles including the Stevie Wonder-assisted track “We Didn’t Know.” Written and produced by Wonder, the song tells the story of friends who realize they have stronger feelings for each other and are falling in love. Their stance is evident on the second verse as they sing, “We’ve searched everywhere / For true love to find / Yet who’d think it was us / That we were longing for all the time?” 

Stevie Wonder wasn’t just a writer for Jermaine Jackson’s 1980 hit single “Let’s Get Serious,” he also played drums, synthesizer, electric piano, and guitar on the track. The theme of the song centers around the protagonist who constantly has a lover on his mind and he wants to take the relationship to another level. As Jackson says in the song, “In your arms is the place I wanna be / With my love in you, and your love inside of me / Longing for each other just isn’t fair / When we’ve got so much we want to share.” 

The Marvelettes simply want to make their partners happy on the 1965 track “Anything You Wanna Do.” They emphasize how their commitment is true in their relationships and they're willing to spend forever with them. Their stance is evident from the beginning of the track as they sing, “Oh baby, hold me, squeeze me, kiss / Baby, do anything you wanna do / If you let me be your girlfriend / I will never make you blue / And you won’t ever have to worry about if your love is true.” 

In 1982, Paul McCartney released his third solo album Tug of War. One of the standout tracks is the Stevie Wonder-assisted song "What's That You're Doing?" On the track, Wonder and McCartney highlight how a lover makes them feel. 

In 1966, soulful quartet known as The Four Tops released their third album On Top, which featured the single “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever.” Not only did Stevie Wonder contribute to his songwriting, but he also played drums in the song. On the track, the group gives the perspective of a man who remembers the single life, but then realizes how much this new relationship with his partner has made his life so much better. 

Stevie Wonder was briefly married to Syreeta in the early ‘70s, and he produced the singer’s first two albums. They co-wrote Syreeta’s 1974 single “Your Kiss Is Sweet,” which details how people try to come in and out of your life just to play with your heart. 

In 1973, girl group Labelle released their third album Pressure Cookin,’ which featured the track “Open Up Your Heart.” The song is pretty self-explanatory as the women sing about a partner who should trust them and not neglect them in any way. 

In 1973, soulful group The Main Ingredient released their fifth studio album Afrodisiac, which featured several songs written by Stevie Wonder. One of which he teamed up with his ex-wife Syreeta on the track “I Am Yours.” On the track, the group tells the perspective of a man who’s ready to tell the world about the love of his life. 

Brenda Holloway is good all by herself on her track “I Don’t Want Nobody’s Gonna Make Me Cry.” On the track, she highlights how she doesn’t want to be with someone who can’t give their love one hundred percent of the time. She doesn’t want to be left hurting, so there’s no need to put herself through the trouble.

In 1975, The Pointer Sisters released their third album Steppin.’ One of the album’s standout tracks “Sleeping Alone” was written by Stevie Wonder. On the track, the group gives the perspective of a woman who leaves her partner, and although she’s now alone, she’s thankful for the good times they had together.