Characters (Stevie Wonder album)


Characters is the twenty-first studio album by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder released in late 1987. The album features six singles including the Grammy-nominated "Skeletons" and "You Will Know", which both reached number one on the Billboard R&B Singles chart.

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 first 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" 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" - 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
  2. "Skeletons" - 5:24
  3. "Get It" - 4:31
  4. "Galaxy Paradise" - 3:52
  5. "Cryin' Through the Night" - 5:48
  6. "Free" - 4:12
;CD Bonus tracks
  2. "Come Let Me Make Your Love Come Down" - 5:20
  3. "My Eyes Don't Cry" - 7:05

    Personnel

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications