Master Blaster (Jammin')
1980 single by Stevie Wonder
title: "Master Blaster (Jammin')" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1980-songs", "1980-singles", "2000-singles", "american-reggae-songs", "cashbox-number-one-singles", "motown-singles", "number-one-singles-in-austria", "number-one-singles-in-new-zealand", "number-one-singles-in-sweden", "number-one-singles-in-switzerland", "number-one-singles-in-italy", "stevie-wonder-songs", "songs-about-bob-marley", "songs-written-by-stevie-wonder", "tamla-records-singles", "song-recordings-produced-by-stevie-wonder"] description: "1980 single by Stevie Wonder" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Blaster_(Jammin')" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1980 single by Stevie Wonder ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Master Blaster (Jammin') |
| cover | Master Blaster Jammin.jpg |
| type | single |
| artist | Stevie Wonder |
| album | Hotter than July |
| B-side | |
| released | September 12, 1980 |
| recorded | 1979 |
| genre | Reggae |
| length | |
| label | Tamla |
| writer | Stevie Wonder |
| producer | Stevie Wonder |
| prev_title | Outside My Window |
| prev_year | 1980 |
| next_title | I Ain't Gonna Stand for It |
| next_year | 1980 |
| misc | |
| :: |
| name = Master Blaster (Jammin') | cover = Master Blaster Jammin.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Stevie Wonder | album = Hotter than July | B-side = | released = September 12, 1980 | recorded = 1979 | studio = | venue = | genre = Reggae | length = | label = Tamla | writer = Stevie Wonder | producer = Stevie Wonder | prev_title = Outside My Window | prev_year = 1980 | next_title = I Ain't Gonna Stand for It | next_year = 1980 | misc = | rev1 = Billboard | rev1Score = (favourable) | noprose = yes "Master Blaster (Jammin')" is a 1980 song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, released as the lead single from his nineteenth studio album, Hotter than July (1980). It was a major hit, spending seven weeks at number one on the US 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.
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", "Marley's Hot on the box" and the end of the civil war in Zimbabwe. The song has a similar feel to Marley's own song "Jamming," from his 1977 album Exodus.
Record World said that it combines "topical urban street themes with reggae-pop rhythms."
Personnel
- Stevie Wonder – vocals, Fender Rhodes, clavinet
- Nathan Watts – bass
- Benjamin Bridges – guitar
- Dennis Davis – drums
- Earl DeRouen – percussion
- Isaiah Sanders – organ
- Hank Redd – saxophone
- Larry Gittens – trumpet
- Rick Zunigar – guitar
- Background vocals – Angela Winbush, Alexandra Brown Evans, Shirley Brewer, Marva Holcolm
Charts
Weekly charts
::data[format=table] | Chart (1980–1981) | Peak position | |---|---| | title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=St Ives, NSW |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6|title-link=Kent Music Report }} | 2 | | Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 22 | | Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 10 | | Spain (AFE) | 10 | | US Cash Box Top 100 | 1 | ::
Year-end charts
::data[format=table]
| Chart (1980) | Position |
|---|---|
| url=https://imgur.com/a/kTGdGUZ | title= National Top 100 Singles for 1980 |
| Belgium (Ultratop) | 9 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 11 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 18 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 19 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 13 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 25 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 38 |
| :: |
::data[format=table]
| Chart (1981) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 69 |
| US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard) | 2 |
| :: |
Certifications
DJ Luck & MC Neat version
| name = Masterblaster 2000 | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = DJ Luck & MC Neat feat. JJ | album = It's All Good | released = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = UK garage | length = 3:32 (radio mix) | label = Red Rose | writer = Stevie Wonder | producer = DJ Luck | chronology = DJ Luck & MC Neat | prev_title = A Little Bit of Luck | prev_year = 1999 | next_title = Ain't No Stoppin' Us | next_year = 2000 "Master Blaster (Jammin')" 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. The following year, on 15 May 2000, the song was released as a single and retitled as "Masterblaster 2000". This version was a top-five hit, peaking at number five 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 number 29. In 2018, the House & Garage Orchestra together with MC Neat and Oggie recorded an orchestral version for the UK garage covers album Garage Classics.
Charts
Weekly charts
::data[format=table] | Chart (2000) | Peak position | |---|---| | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 24 | ::
Year-end charts
::data[format=table]
| Chart (2000) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC) | 149 |
| :: |
Certifications
References
References
- (September 20, 1980). "Review: Master Blaster – Stevie Wonder".
- Whitburn, Joel. (2004). "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004". Record Research.
- "officialcharts.com".
- Patti, Mike. (April 15, 2021). "Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster" Tribute to Bob Marley".
- (September 20, 1980). "Hits of the Week".
- Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
- Pennanen, Timo. (2021). "Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021". Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
- Salaverri, Fernando. (September 2005). "Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002". Fundación Autor-SGAE.
- "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 13, 1980".
- (January 5, 1981). "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". [[Kent Music Report]].
- "Jaaroverzichten 1980". Ultratop.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980". Dutch Top 40.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1980".
- "The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
- [http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1980 Swiss Year-End Charts, 1980]
- (March 21, 1981). "Chart File". Spotlight Publications.
- "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1980".
- [http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1981.htm Musicoutfitters.com]
- "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1981".
- (December 6, 1982). "Billboard Vol. 94, No. 23: Majors Flight Economics with Quirky Rock Originals".
- (May 13, 2000). "New Releases – For Week Starting May 15, 2000: Singles".
- (November 22, 2016). "The 31 Best UK Garage Songs Ever".
- (June 3, 2000). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
- Zywietz, Tobias. (September 2001). "The Top 200 Singles of 2000".
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