Master Blaster (Jammin')


"Master Blaster " is a 1980 single by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder from his 1980 album Hotter than July.

History

The song, built on a heavy reggae feel, is an ode to reggae legend Bob Marley; Wonder had been performing live with Marley on his US tour in the fall of that year. Lyrics mention "children of Jah", "Marley's Hot on the box" 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 and number one in New Zealand.

Personnel

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Rank
U.S. Billboard Hot 10069

Certifications

DJ Luck & MC Neat version

"Master Blaster " was covered by UK garage duo DJ Luck & MC Neat featuring singer JJ, initially titled as "On Da Street" which was released on the Red Rose EP in 1999. It was released the following year as a single and retitled as "Masterblaster 2000". This version was a Top 5 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.
In November 2016, UK duo Gorgon City compiled a list of their top UK garage songs for Billboard, with "Masterblaster 2000" at #29.

Charts

Other versions

A 1998 version with Wyclef Jean appears on the soundtrack to the film How Stella Got Her Groove Back. "Master Blaster " has also been covered by James Last, Cheb Mami with Cornelius, Jehro and Minnie Driver.
On 31 December 2014, Ed Sheeran covered this on Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny music show, accompanied by Holland's Rhythm and Blues 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.